What did you do today in DA? [Spoilers]

Left Hawke behind in the fade. Added the Grey Wardens to the Inquisition, trusting Stroud to rebuild. Solas greatly disapproved for some reason.

Word Of God (or at least Blackwall's writer Sheryl Chee) is that Blackwall always dies if sent to the Wardens. You only HEAR about it if you're in a romance with him, though, because it's only then that they send the Inquisitor his badge.

........ DA:O ........

The journey of Warden Commander Drako Amell, The Hero of Ferelden: (DA:O, DA:A, and Witch hunt)


Made it out of the wilds without getting eaten by an ogre to a spec of a village off the highway called Lothering... Place kind of smells like arm pit, but seems quiet for now. Darkspawn won't be far behind us though. This place is going to get torched... The people here know it too.

There is a big guy in a cage mumbling to himself. Could be crazy... Could be useful... Need to hit the tavern and see what's been happening while Alistair and I have been recovering from... from... Need to keep moving...

Didn't get any good news from the Tavern in Lothering. The circle is said to be overrun by monsters, the Dwarven King is dead, strange beasts wonder the Forests were Dalish are rumored to be camped, and then there's Redcliff. Knights have been sent out in all directions in search of mythical urn, but Redcliff itself has gone silent. Heading to Redcliff first. Alistair assures me the Arl will aid us in uniting the lands against the Darkspawn. The rest though... Trouble...

Had another "dream" last night. The arch demon... I swear it's like it's looking for me. Or maybe it's just Alistiar's cooking... He says it was Lamb and Pea stew, but tasted more like mud.... probably was mud...It was mud... Even the dog wouldn't eat it.... Sten has volunteered to cook tomorrow night. No idea what Qunari cooking is like, but it has to be better than mud.

Got to Redcliff only to find the place had been fending off waves of undead for weeks. We don't really have time to deal with this. Morrigan is against staying to fight off the next wave, but we need Eamon.....

.... Long night, but we survived. Most of us anyway. An innkeeper named Loyd died in the fighting. He left the barricade and ran straight into a mob of monsters. We needed every able body, but I doubt he had ever even been in a fist fight let alone called to defend a village from a zombie raid. Everyone else is fine... relatively speaking. Next we head for the castle. The nobles have a secret passage running under the lake. I'll lead a team through there while the Redcliff Knights wait at the gate.

OH! And, by the by, Alistair is a prince.... The cheese head is a damn prince. Most people would think to mention that at some point... Worry about that later. I'll coat the inside of his helmet with fire salts or something if we survive this.... a royal bastard indeed.

After surviving waves of undead, I am taking Alistair, Leliana, and Morrigan in Redcliff castle to get at the heart of this evil. I'm told there is a maleficar inside...

...Jowain! Jowain was the mage the Arlessa hired. Long story there, but he claims not to be the one behind the demons and zombies and I... well... I believe him. Despite everything, I believe him in this case. He lied to me last time we met. Got no real reason to accept what he's saying now other than... well... he has a tell. His nostrils flare when he lies. He was never very good at wicked grace. Besides, this Conner is a far more likely suspect. An untrained mage outside the circle whose father is on deaths door... The boys good intentions have paved the road to hell for this arling. What to do next... I need to speak with Irving.

We got to the Circle Tower tonight. Templars have locked the place down. The rumors about the Circle crawling with monsters were true, if grossly over simplified. Gregor was less than pleased to see me again, but agreed to let us sweep the tower. We found everything from maleficars to the walking dead and every form of demon one can imagine. I was doubtful Irving was still alive right up to the moment we saw him.

Every room was just one nightmare after another, but there were survivors. They are beat up and most are traumatized, but Irving has agreed to come with us back to Redcliff to help with Conner's possession. Senior Enchanter Wynne has asked to travel with us and help us marshal forces against the Blight. Something is off about her though. Can't put my finger on exactly what it might be, but as things stand I can't really be picky about getting help for this war. I've already got a washed up Templar, a witch, a qunari that murdered an entire family, a spy, and an assassin. One more bit of crazy can't hurt... can it?

Got a lead on Sten's missing sword as well. Have to pursue that later though. Anyways, back to Redcliff. Maybe we can go a couple days without another disaster...Yeah, that's not going to happen. Why should our luck turn around now.

Ran into an ambush on the way back to Redcliff. Nothing we couldn't handle. Seems someone from Liliana's past is after her. Got a lead on their whereabouts. Look into that when we can.

After reaching Redcliff, we find Irving and a handful of mages setup for the ritual for Conner. I am going into the fade myself. The other mages are still reeling from their ordeal in the tower and I don't trust Jowan or Morigan for this. It is likely a demon of desire behind this possession. Not a creature to be taken lightly. With the proper leverage, I may be able to get a little more out of this than just the boys freedom... If not, I will destroy this parasite. WELL.... hmm... "destroy" is maybe too strong a word. You can't really kill a spirit, demon or not, just reduce it to a wondering wisp, but I digress. Now, into the fade...

...the ritual was a success. In more ways than one. Conner is free and I have learned a few new tricks and gotten a power boost. Who says demons are useless. The Arl on the other hand is not doing so well. Without the demon to keep him alive, his vitals have begun falling again. Even Irving is at a lose for how to help him. In an act of desperation, which is becoming a rather common occurrence, I have agreed to go out in search of a mythical urn. I've never been the religious sort, but... If Eamon dies, I don't know of anyone else who would be capable of uniting the human lands. So let's hope the Chantrys stories aren't completely full of crap.

Side note.... caught Sten in the castle kitchens raiding the place of cookies and tiny cakes. Just what I need. Looking for something that probably doesn't exist with Qunari on a sugar high in tow. Oy...My head is already starting to hurt.

Made our way to Denirum, Several people to track down. Leliana's stalker is here somewhere, there is a scholar who supposedly know the location of the sacred Urn, and Alistair wants to look for a "sister". Sister... yeah right. Why can't he just say he has a baby momma hiding here. He's a boob, but a useful one....

... Stalker was the first to get addressed. Can't be wondering around town checking every alleyway for mercs. Turned out to be a former lover over our resident bard. She was obnoxiously Orliasian. There was a bit of a back and forth, then the arrows and lightning bolts started flying. Wasn't much of a fight, but Leliana seems to have been hit hard by all this. Sent her with Wynne to the Gnawed Noble Tavern to get us some rooms for the night while we handle the rest of our business in town and hope not to attract too much attention....

.... Found Alistair's sister. Not what I expected. A money grubbing hag. He was very excited too. Not sure what he was expecting, but her only concern was how much money she could get out of him. He's been pretty quiet. I'm not really sure what to say him. Dealing with emotions is not my strong suit. I need to throw a fireball at something...

...and to top everything off, the scholar isn't here. Found some goon squatting in his house pretending to be an "assistant". Got a lead at least. We'll head out in the morning... assuming this city is done handing out emotional gut punches. Many manful tears today.

Had a good nights rest at the Gnawed Noble Tavern. A hearty, if over priced, dinner. Been a while since I slept in a bed. Morrigan came creeping into my room in the wee hours of the morning. She gets more frisky by the day it seems. On the way out of Denirum, walked past a knight that was at Ostagar. He believed the wardens to be the cause of the Kings death. Wouldn't listen to anything I had to say about the matter. Insisted on a dual to the death. Was a pretty short fight. A mace can't help you when swinging at an arcane shield. And A metal suit won't protect you from someone throwing lightning bolts. I let him swing at me for a while, but... places to go and a magic Urn to find.

...Got to lake Calenhad looking for the Redcliff knights, but it became clear what happened to them shortly after arriving. More cultists waiting to ambush anyone asking about the Urn of Sacred Ashes. Took them out and headed for this "Haven". Bound to be more of these lunatics...

...Yep, more loons. Creepiest town I've ever been in. Found the scholar at least. He's a little worse for wear, but Wynne patched him up enough to move. He lead us to the temple where the Urn was said to be. Had to fight our way through dozens of these madmen only to find the upper reaches crawling with dragons. The mother of which was indeed a damned high dragon. This creature is what the cultists worshiped as a resurrected Andraste. Despite asking Sten not to draw the attention of the big scary monster, he rushes head long in screaming "Face me dragon!" I knew I shouldn't have let him eat all those damned cookies. We survive with several tooth marks and burns, but the Dragon had Sten's axe buried in it's head. Got several scales out of the climb. There was this smith in Denirum that claimed he could make some powerful armor with these.

Found a ghostly guardian and some annoying tests waiting inside the inner sanctum. We got the ashes and headed out. I can sense a mystical aura coming off the ashes. I've sensed similar auras off of Apprentices in the tower who had... mishaps with their studies. Was Andraste a mage? That part didn't make it into the chant... Oh well, back to Redcliff.

Made it out of Haven and arrived in Redcliff a little before dusk. Had Sten and Alistair drop by Owen's shop to drop off some armor for repairs. Took a beating in those ruins. The magic in the ashes worked. The Arl is awake, and none too please with the state of affairs in his arling. He's agreed to aid us in uniting the land, but even with his help we will still need more if we are to stand a chance against the Blight. The Arl has sent for his Knights to return to Redcliff. Mean while, we are heading for Orzamar...

... Came across a merchant on the road. Seems he's had better days. Gave me a stick and called it a control rod. Supposedly it will allow me to utilize a dwarven Golem. Even claimed there was one in a town not far off. Wasn't clear why he was just giving it away until we got to the village. It was crawling with Darkspawn and a series of caverns under the town were laced with demons. If I see that merchant again, I'm ramming this stick up his... *sigh*... Took some doing, but we got the Golem moving. Not exactly controllable. Whatever it's former master did to it, it seems to have free will. Not sure that's a good thing, but it has decided to come with us as it has no where else to go. It's a lot smaller than I thought a golem would be. It's still huge and the ground shakes with it's foot steps, but... Maybe I'll ask when it's feeling less "squash the fleshy things".

... Arrived at the gates of Orzamar only to find them shut. One of Loghains flunkies was trying to get in. Found the guy that took Sten's sword from Lake Calenhad. Had to threaten to let Sten rip his arms off, but he admited to selling it to Dwen back in Redcliff. Not sure what a Dwarf plans to do with a Qunari Blade as they tend to be bigger than the tallest of dwarves, but at least we know where the blade is. Now to get past the gate guards. Loghain's man seems to be nothing but an annoyance. Maybe if I get rid of him they might let us in....

...Had to kill the idiot, but with our treaties in hand, the guard could not send us away and had to let us through. Things are... less than ideal here. The assembly is dead locked, bickering over who has be biggest nostrils or something. "Arch demon? Who cares about that. I demand my back hair be declared the softest hairs in all of Orzamar! It is the only way to ensure that we are respected by the surfacers." Okay, so I might have been looking at Morrigan's butt instead of listening to the debate on the floor, but it was something petty and nothing to do with any real problem the city was facing. It breaks down to their king is dead and every noble family is trying to out swindle the others for whose ass gets to sit on the throne while the world burns. Perfect... This is going to be a long trip.

With tensions so high in Orzamar, I hit the local tavern to get a the pulse of the people. The warrior are killing each other in the streets over the issue of who becomes the next King. It is only the king that can give me the troops i need. It seems I have no choice but to take a side. Grey Wardens do not normally get involved in these matters, but with the Blight things are anything but normal.

The choice stand between the previous kings youngest and only living son OR his most trusted adviser and general. The prince would be a tyrant. He has no patients for the assembly and believes the King should have the ultimate word on what is done regardless of what the rest of the nobles think. Something that might be helpful to my cause, but is it a good thing for the Dwarves? The other option isn't much better. He is weak. He would be slave to the assembly. Little more than a figure head. Not sure he would be capable of getting me the troops I will need.

While I detest the man, I have decided Prince Bhelen is the one to back for the throne. After listen to some of the people and visiting the Shaperate, a hall of records, I have gotten a feel for the way the city government is run. Prince Bhelen is a true master of the game while Haramont has largely been a simple observer. I thin his supporters are only backing him because they know they can manipulate him. The rumors about Bhelens plans for change are promising, but I worry about the methods he will employ. But I need those soldiers....

I've had to do a lot of back bending and noble rangling, but I have gotten bhelen the support he will need. To seal the deal, I have been asked to go into the Deep Roads to look for a "Paragon" to endorse him. I don't really understand the whole paragon thing, but he assures me that with this the Assembly will have no choice but to make him King. I still don't like him, but I have little choice. Too late to alter course now. I was joined by a dwarf claiming to be the Paragon husband. Seems like a drunken fool to me, but he may be useful. One more lunatic to our marry band. We'll see where this goes...

... I found not one, but two paragons after crawling through the Deep.We also discovered the secret behind the Dwarves Golems. Branka, the Paragon I was sent to find, promised me a army of steel and stone giants for the army. Caridin, the other paragon, was insistant on me destroying the "Anvil of the Void" to ensure no Golems could be made again. If things on the surface were not so dire, I would have sided with Caridin. Again, for the greater good, I must side with someone of questionable character. I've also secured a paragon made crown for Bhelen. I can't wait to get this over with. I've had my fill of power hunger dwaves for one lifetime. After hitting the Assembly, I am leaving this pit. I think Oghren is sticking around. He takes some getting use to, but like the fungus I am certain that is in his beard, he grows on you. Beer farts and all.

We leave Orzamar with the promise of aid from the new King and a Paragon in the deep forging Golems to battle the Blight. Had to do some things that I am not proud of, but that's politics for you. At the moment I'm more concerned about Oghren. He can't go more than a mile without stopping to puke. He ran out of things to throw up a before we even got off the mountain. What did they fill his head with in that pit? Fall up into the sky?? Ugh... How does anyone believe that? We'll be at the camp soon. Unless Oghren starts puking organs...

...While on the road we came across a woman claiming to be running from bandits. We followed her back to her caravan only to find it was a trap for us. Seems Loghain hired assassins. They weren't worth the money in my opinion. We dispatched rather quickly. One of them didn't die immediately. He is the only one of them that showed any skill. He could be useful. Calls himself Zevran. Alistair isn't thrilled at the idea of taking him along...

...Had another dream of the Arch Demon. Woke me and Alistair both up. Just in time too. The camp was surrounded by Darkspawn. I am not certain, but I think that "dream" was the Arch Demon telling it's minions to attack. A battle cry of sorts. Guess choking down that tainted blood was good for something after all.

We were going to go look for the Dalish the next day, but a traveling merchant, claiming to be a friend of Duncan's, found us and asked if we would help him. Seems he's found the path to Soldiers Peak. An ancient fortress of the Grey Wardens. Hasn't been used in a very long time. Not since the Wardens were banished from Ferelden. It's out of the way, but there could be some things we can still use there.... He says the peak is rumored to be haunted. That's why he came asking Duncan for help in going there. We'll see...

...,We arrived just after sun rise. The Fortress was Haunted. The veil was so thin I could feel it trembling. Spirits were passing through freely and possessing the long dead. Echoes of the past were around every corner showing us what had happened here. The Grey Wardens attempted to over throw the ruling King. From what I remember reading in the towers library, Arland was a cruel King and ruled with an iron fist. When Arland found out about what the Wardens were doing, he sent an army to sack the Fortress and kill the wardens... The wardens did this... they ripped the veil open and pulled demons across. It was a massacre on both sides. Wardens do what we must to battle the Darkspawn, but this... There are somethings that even Wardens shouldn't do.

We found the wardens mage in a tower. The same mage who summoned the demons and sundered the veil. I can't even begin to understand how he's still alive. I went through his research notes. He's prolonged his life through some type of blood magic. I'm still a novice at blood spells compared to this old bat. The mage helped seal the breach. The veil is thin, but whole. Against Alistair's wishes, I am leaving Avernus to finish his research minus the human sacrifice. From what I could make out from his notes, he has some promising initial results that could prove highly useful... Assuming we survive the Blight.

Levi didn't find what he was looking for, but has decided to use the Peak as a hub of sorts for his family's business. The fortress needs alot of work and we will need all the supplies we can get. We'll bed down here for the night and head south in the morning. With any luck we will find the Dalish in the forest in a day or two. The only point of concern is rumors Bodahn has heard about werewolves in the area. More likely just some large blighted wolves. Shouldn't be a problem.

We made good time getting down to the Brecilian Forest. Came across one of Loghain's press gangs along the way. They were trying to force some locals into the army. The men they were accosting were little more than farmers in metal suits. We were able to reach them shortly after the swords came out. Seems Loghain's men have orders to either conscript every able man and strong lad or kill them if they refuse to serve. Winning over the people's support is clearly not Loghain's intent. Serve or die is not a winning campaign strategy... I suppose if you kill everyone that disagrees with you then you will eventually have a united nation... all be it a fraction of what is actually left. Something to focus on later. Right now we have to find these Dalish... I swear it feels like the trees are watching us...

Two days of stomping around these woods and nothing. I was about to give up on them when a pair of human hunters came running through the brush.They were yammering about crazed elves in a nearby valley. Gave us a direction anyway. When we finally found them, they were in pretty bad shape. According to the Clan Keeper, they were ambushed by a pack of werewolves. So Bodahn isn't always full of crap. There is more going on here than what this Keeper is telling us. He's a really bad liar. Maybe he's just too use to people blindly taking him at his word. I get the feeling that if any of the clan members questioned him or his motives then they would become a pariah.

With the clan in such a state, they cannot help us against the blight. The werewolves are still out there and could attack at anytime. We're going deeper into the forest soon. Zevran, Sten, and Wynne are talking to the Elves while the rest of us restock some supplies. There is a lot more going on than we are being told....This forest... The veil is thin. Nothing like Soldiers Peak, but still... It seems to be mending so whatever tore it in the first place happened long ago. The entire area feels wrong.

...DIdn't take long for the blighted beasts of the forest and a raiding Darkspawn party to find us. Made short work of them. It wasn't until we found some of the werewolves that something unexpected happened... the alpha... it talked. Not sure how much faith I can put into what it said, but my suspicions about Zathrian hiding something are a certainty now. The wolves ran off and we chased after them a ways, but they were too fast. Found a wounded elf hunter and took him back to the camp. Sten is trying to follow the wolf tracks, but it's as if the forest itself is trying to hide them....

Darkspawn, werewolves, madman living in a stump, a runway from the Circle, and walking talking trees...one of which was a rhyming tree... That's new. Seems my being watched by the trees was not far off. There is a grand tale behind all this, but one I will have to investigate at another time. With the aid of this taking "Grand Oak" tree we were able to follow the wolves back to their lair. An ancient ruin. There is not a single inch of the forest that isn't creepy. Crawling through this ruin, we are finding the remains of several treasure hunters that did not receive a warm welcome from the inhabitants. There was even a drake in here. Was being the operative term. Another set of scales for Wade.

Upon reaching the inner sanctum, we were met by a spirit calling itself the "Lady of the Forest" In all my dives into the fade, I've never seen anything like it. It... she shared some of the forests history. Zathrian is the cause of this beastial curse. The ancestors of these wolves did something terrible and deserved what he did to them, but those men died long ago. This curse could not be allowed to persist. We retrieved the Keeper and, sadly, had to force him to end this curse. His hatred was simply to old. After hating something or someone for so long, you can't imagine your life without that hatred. I think what finally turned him was the idea that if he died his own people would be the victims of his curse with no way to cure them. The strain of breaking the curse was either too great or perhaps the curse was all that was keeping Zathrian alive. Either way, he died in the ruins and the spirit vanished soon after. The werewolves reverted to their previous forms and the Elf hunters are recovering. I told the clans new keeper about what transpired in the ruins. I'll let her decided what to tell her people and what not to. She has promised to send what hunters she could when the call is sent.

We'll be heading back to Redcliff in the morning. I've gathered all the support I can. It's time to see if Arl Eamon can hold up his end. It's getting close... I can feel a climax approaching. A lot of people are going to die no matter what we do. Let's hope this Landsmeet goes smoothly.

Side note, found a life stone with an ancient Elven spirit inside. It had been in the dark of those ruins so long most of it's memories were reduced to whispers and shadows. It's sole desire was to be released into the ether. In exchange for destroying the stone and releasing the spirit, it offered to share with me what it remembered of the ancient elven art of the Arcane Mage. So little is known about the art. I couldn't pass up the chance. It's more powerful than I had imagined. The arts of the arcane mage refocus a mages mana into physical power. Using the most basic spell, I increased my physical strength to the point that I was able to lift Shale right off the ground. I am still sorting through the Elven mages memories, but I get the feeling there is much more to be gleaned. I just need time to process...

With my troops massing, it's time to take this to the Landsmeet. I am uncertain of what to expect when we arrive in the capital, but we will be an open challenge to Loghain's power in the city. He will have to confront us directly. Arl Eamon has suggested that over throwing Loghain is not enough. We will need a candidate for the throne to replace him. He has suggested Alistair. Alistair is... less than thrilled. I confess I am not sure this is a responsibility that Alistair is prepared for, but under the circumstances... We'll leave for Denirum in the morning....

...we arrive in the city after a three day march. We had remarkably little trouble getting here. We are staying at Eamon's estate within the city. Being an Arl must be nice... Loghain showed up shortly after our arrival. He was not alone. I recognized Sir Catherine from Ostagar, but the other man I had never actually seen before. I vaguely remember reading something in the tower library about a Howe that fought along side the Couslands, but little else. Seemed like a weasel of a man to me. It was a brash, if brief, meeting to say the least. The tension in the city is much higher than when I was here last. Results of the civil war combined with news of the Blight no doubt. Yet... there is something else. I can't quite put my finger on it.

The Queen's hand maiden came to the Arl's estate. She claims to be here seeking aid for the lady, but I smell a trap. This city is crawling with men loyal to the queen. Why would she need us? We are trying to depose her father after all. Eamon convinced me to hear her out. Not sure I believe the story she spun, but the short version is that the queen is being held prisoner and to be executed. Her death would then be placed on us. Or more specifically, Alistair. We have little choice but to investigate the matter and, if need be, mount a rescue. I don't like this at all...

...when we got to the Arl Howe's estate, where the Queen is said to be held captive, there is a mob out side. Various complaining of not being paid for their work. So the new Arl is not only a back stabbing weasel and a traitor, but he's also a dead beat. Nice. We sneak in and weave our way through the mansion till we find where the queen is in fact being held prisoner. Wonders never cease, Hard to believe Loghain would go along with this. Howe must be doing this on his own. The room the queen is locked inside is sealed with magic. I could easily smash this feeble ward, but that would not be a quiet process. I have no doubt we could easily dispatch every guard in the building, but I can't be certain the Queen would make it through the fight. Steal is the order of the day. I'll have to find the mage casting the ward and.. neutralize him....

...The guards in the lower reaches are not as dense as those in the main house. We were discovered rather quickly. Luckily this place is a dungeon. It's built to hide the screams of the dying. Had to carve our way through the place to find the mage. Howe was there. One less slim to litter this world. The things we have found here, Loghain has to be aware of some of this. Perhaps not all, but... enough. A noblemen's son, a lyrium addled Templar,... a warden!... Loghain's desperation is clear and damning. *sigh* It may at least be helpful at the Landsmeet.

We get back to the Queen and find her dressed in a guardsman's uniform. It does not fit. Though I must say that it doesn't fit in some very... eye catching areas... Morrigan punched me for "leering". I saved myself with a quick "Oh I was just thinking about how you would look squeezing into a outfit two sizes too small." As we beging to make an attempt at a quiet escape out the back, we are confronted by Sir Catherine. I was the prize here. I offered myself up in exchange of my people to be released. Not that they could have actually defeated us, but the Queen's safety took priority. Catherine agreed and she took me to Fort Drakon. Catherine's idea of locking me away where no one will find me... But I have a secret... A magic ring. A gift from Morrigan. She'll find me no matter how far down Catherine tries to hide me.

... I wake up to the sound of fighting in the halls. The prisoner in the next cell is panicking. He asks me why I'm smiling. I just laugh. "Because I hear fireballs and screams.... that's my woman out there... Catherine took me away and my Morrigan doesn't share." About this time the cell block door flies open as a result of a large explosion on the other side. Morrigan rushes in with Leliana in tow and tells me to stand back. At which point I cast one of Aura of Might and rip the cell door off it's hinges with my bare hands, "Were you worried about me? That's sweet." Morrigan looks at me, "You... you could have gotten out anytime you wanted..." I shrug, "I was just waiting to see if you would come get me." she gets a devious grin, kisses me gently, I drop the aura spell... and she knees me in the nuts... "Get your clothes on moron." After groaning on the stone floor for a moment, I collect my marbles, gather my belongings, and we make short work of the rest of the guards. Don't think I deserved the high knee. Just thought that a valiant rescue would make for a better story. Oh well... We'll make up later. For now, got to get back to Eamon and figure out our next move. Ugh... going to be limping for hours...

Made up with Morrigan last night. I never expected a relationship with her to become what it has. I don't think she expected it either. I think she is starting to get nervous about the depth of her feelings for me. Not sure how she will ultimately react to this, but hopefully it is not something that she will run away from. I dare say our caring and esire for one another has reached a new level that can only be described as love. Where this goes, I cannot say, But no matter how it turns out, I regret nothing.

The team plit up for most of the day combing the city for information about Loghain's actions of late. Wynne, Alistair, Zevran, and I traveled to the Alienage to investigate the latest uprising there. Sten, Morrigan, and Leliana aided the city guard in handling some trouble they were having in an attempt to carry some favor with the public. Oghren and BoJack (what I named my pup) did some work for the less reputable members of Denirum society. We have secured a positive reputation among the people and even a few favors are owed us by certain interested parties. We also uncovered a plot that will likely aid us in the landsmeet. Loghain authorized slaver to take elves for the alienage for coin to fund his war. I think we have done all we can in preperation. Only thing left is to solidify Anora's support for Alistair for King. That's going to be tricky...

...With a bit of word smithin, I have actually convinced Anora and Alistair to marry. Alistair almost fainted at the idea. He is against becoming king, but for the strongest argument, it's the best move. I dug up Duncan's shield from the warden vault. It seems to have emboldened him. I think he will do just fine. He head for the Landsmeet soon. One way or another, this civil war will end and we will make our push on the darkspawn. Loghain's fate is the only question. Anora has given me insight into the man himself. It has changed my view of him. I'm not sure that Alistair will accept anything but his head, but... I don't know. With luck, if we can win over the nobles, Loghain will submit to the decision. If not... his death may be necessary. We'll see....

....The Lnadsmeet turned out in our favor. Loghain's reaction was less than graceful. I thought his death would be the only way forward, but Grey Warden Riordan gave another option. To put him through the Joining. Alistair was incensed at the very idea. But it was ultimately up to me. While I understand Alistair's outrage, Riordan made a compelling argument. It worked out well enough. Alistair was never going to be allowed on the front lines as the new King. That was Cailan's undoing. Had he not been on the field he would not have died at Ostagar. We would have been a man down going into the battle. With Loghain taking Alistair's place, we go into battle at full strength. If he dies in the coming battle, I don't expect tears for him. I regret the lose of Alistair, but under the circumstances, we need every able man and woman on the field.

We will head back to Redcliff to marshal our forces and come up with a strategy. Maker willing, we will have victory over this evil.

With the Landsmeet settled, we left Denirum at dawn headed for Redcliff. Along the way we came across a man being chased by one of the local Bann's men. I recognized him. He was one of Cailan's guards from Ostagar. We tried to save him, but we weren't fast enough. The soldier ran him through. We dispatched quickly. The wound was a mortal one. Even even Wynne could not heal him. Before he died, he gave me a key to a chest back at the King's camp at Ostagar. Supposedly Maric's sword is there. That blade is a vital symbol of this nation. And we have friends there that should not be left to Darkspawn... We're going back. Back to the begining of all this...

...We arrived at Ostagar to find a landscape that was barely recognizable. Bodies litter the ground. The Darkspawn roam the area freely. Cailan's armor was worn by some as trophies. Even Loghain was enraged at the sight of this. We left none alive. We found Cailan's body strung up and left to rot. We cut him down and gave him a King's pyor. We spent several hours doing the same for the rest of the men... Duncan. He was... he was ripped apart. For the first time, I am thankful Alistair is not here. I took Duncan's sword. If I get the chance, I will drive this blade into the Archdemon itself. We found Marics sword and some correspondence betwen Cailan and the Empress or Orlais. Seems they were a bit more friendly than most knew. *sigh* Enough... We have a war to plan. Back to Redcliff...

...We are a day behind the rest of the forces in reaching the castle. Things are progressing well all this considered. As our strategy meeting is coming to a close, Riordan shows up with grave news. The Darkspawn are to march on Denirum with the Archdemon at the front. My first instinct is to leave immediately, but as I look around, the men are visibly exhuasted. If we started a forced march now we would arrive with an army that would barely be able to lift their weapons. We have little choice. The men will be left ignorant of this news until the morning. Let them get one final night of rest.

Another question loms however. How exactly are we suppose to kill this beast. It is said that only a Grey Warden can truly kill the beast, but how? Upon voicing this concern, Riordan asks Loghain and myself to meet him in his quarters. The taint.. I knew it was for more than simply sensing the darkspawn. When the Archdemon is slain, it travels along the taint to the nearest Darkspawn to be reborn and continue the blight anew. The rebirth can only be prevented if it is a Grey Warden that strikes the killing blow. The Warden would take the Old God's soul into himself and the two would perish. There are only three Warden in all of Ferelden. One of us must die to end this Blight. The speech from the Joining makes a lot more sense now...

...I go to my room to try and process this information. I find Morrigan waiiting for me. From her stance and tone of voice I can tell that the secret she has been keeping from the day we met in the wilds is about to come out. She already knew about the method in which Wardens kill the Archdemon. I was surprised, though I should have expected as much. She presented an alternative method of ending this Blight which will not require the death of a Warden. A method of which will be left out of this entry as I have agreed to it and do not wish this information to fall into the wrong hands and endanger someone who will be precious to me. This method will also put something of great power into Morrigan's hands. I know not what she intends to do with it, but I have come to trust her over the past few months. She says she will leave after the battle. I expect it is to protect herself from her mother more than anything else. Her mind is made up and we don't have enough time to argue about it. At least not now... if we surive, I will tend to this matter then. Many will die tomorrow. I will not be one of them! I will stand over the Archdemons corpse and carve Duncan's name into it...

...Three days we have marched. We finally reach Denirum. The city is burning and the grounds are covered in blood. The Archdemon flies over head and the horde stands ready to meet us. After a speech to rally the troops from the Queen, we charged. Humans, elves, dwarves, warriors, rouges, and mages launch an assault as one force. The Darkspawn at the gate are cut down with few loses on our side. The bulk of the army remains behind to prevent Darkspawn reenforcements from pursuing the strike teams that enter the city. I leave Sten, Shale, and Oghren at the gates to direct the forces there. Zevran, Wynne, and Bojack are sent to search for survivors. The rest of us will make our way through the city and kill as many Darkspawn as we can. There are generals spread through out the city that are coordinating the Blight. We have to take them out first. Then we will focus on the Archdemon. With any luck, Riordan and his men will be able to take it down, but if not then it falls to us. One way or another, this monster dies today!

We charge through the market place and slay as many of these beasts as we can find. We leave behind a number of Arl Eamon's men to hold the area with Teagan to organize them. We hit the alienage next. The elves there have been forgotten by the rest of the city it seems. They have been able to hold off the Darkspawn, but only just. I call on the Dalish to help defend this area. Wave after wave of Darkspawn fall to arrow, spell, and sword. The dalish stay behind to secure the area and organize an evacuation of the elves. As we approac Fort Drakon, I see Riordan make a desperate attempt to ground the Archdemon. He manages to rip one of it's wings, but it costs him his life. No time to mourn him. The Beast is down. We have to move quickly. We race to the top of the fortress carving our way through countless Darkspawn. Just as we reach the top... Sandal? He is surrounded by a pile of Darkspawn corpses...When I ask how this happened, he just handed me a small ruin and said "Enchantment". then walked off... I have seen many shocking things over the last year and half, but this... I still don't know how to react to this... Archdemon... right...

The final battle is here. The mages and Branka's Golems are all I have left. They will have to be enough. Waves of Darkspawn keep coming as we try to bring down the Archdemon. Wade's Dragon scale armor proves to be invaluable. Well worth the extra coin I threw into it. The combination of the Golems and mages are insanely effective. The mages protective wards shield the Golems from what little could actually harm them. This will come in handy after the Blight is over. A duo of mage and golem marching through the Deep Roads could help reclaim much of what was lost over the ages. Inbetween waves, we all focus fire on the Archdemon. It takes all we have, but it finally falls... I stand over the dying beast and draw Duncan's sword and drive it into the dragon's skull. A maelstrom mof some strange power is released. I was knocked aside and to my surprise.. I'm not dead. Guess Morrigan was right after all...I look around to thank her, but... she is gone. I can still feel her though. The ring still binds us. I will find you one day...

A few days later there is to be a grand celebration. Much of the city is runble, and countless have died, but Blight is ended and Archdemon is dead. Alistair is still sulking about Loghain, but he proved himself atop Fort Drakon. Irving has asked me if I would be interested in taking over as First Enchanter at the Circle. An honor though it was, I turned him down. I can still feel the Darkspawn under ground. They are still a threat. I cannot rest. The wardens have been given the Arling of Amarathine. I will head to this "Vigil's Keep" soon. There we will rebuild the order in Ferelden. I cannot go after Morrigan yet. Duty still calls. I can't imagine where she might be now, but through the ring she gave me, I can feel her presence as if she were standing next to me. One day, Morrigan... One day...

...... (DA:A) ......

It's been almost three months since the Archdemon fell. My companions and I have gone our seperate ways. I am making my way towards Amaranthine. From Vigil's Keep I will attempt to rebuild the Grey Wardens of Ferelden. Not a small task. Many will die in the Joining, but the Darkspawn are still a threat. Wardens are needed. I have personal matters to attend to, but this task takes priority. Have to focus...

...A recruit met me at the city gates. As Commander of the Grey it seems I am not allowed to travel on my own. Aren't I special. Recruit Mhairi is high minded and far too uptight. We came across a group of bandits on the road to the Arling. I could have dispatched them with a have of my hand, but this young fire brand charged at them full steam. Her skills with a sword and shield cannot be denied. She defeated them handily. If she survives the Joining, she will be a great asset to the Order. If she survives...

...Upon reaching Vigil's Keep we notice something odd. No guard to meet us. No one on the walls. It was clear that something was wrong. We hear the screams of a man running for his life being chased by Genlocks. Not a time to indulge Mhairi, a grease slick and fire ball make quick work of them. Not sure if it was the large explosion or the ease at which I did it, but Mhairi seemed shocked. I think I scared her. Does not bode well for her Joining if this is enough to spook her.

After seeing to the runner, we head into the keep. The place is crawling with the beasts. We save who we can as we cut down the Darkspawn. We eventually make our way inside and come across a runaway mage, I don't think we ever actually met in the Circle, but I do recall some tales of his.. or tales he is claiming are his. Something for later. He takes up the rear guard as Mhairi and I sweep forward.

Soon I hear the battle cries of a dwarf. The belligerence is far too recognizable. My eyes soon see what my ears have heard... and nose has smelled... Oghren. Swinging a Battle Axe twice his size at monsters three times his size and he couldn't be happier.

We make our way through the Keep until we reach the top. There is a Darkspawn holding a Warden captive... the beast spoke. I've never heard a Darkspawn speak before. Did not even think it possible. This creature is different. Not sure what to make of it's ramblings, but we have no time to study it. Mores the pity. We kill it and finally reclaim the Keep just in time for a royal welcome. Arl Howe did not take proper care of this place. If it is to be a home base for the Wardens, it will need a lot of work. I've ordered a sweep of the entire facility to find were the Darkspawn came from.

A lot of good men and women died. All but one of the Wardens. The rank and file are shaken. Where did those things come from? One of Howe's children was in a holding cell. It was said that it took several wardens to catch and restrain him. Some call for his execution, but I have another idea. He will go through the joining along with Oghren, Anders, and Mhairi...

Mhairi did not survive. A damn shame. She was a fine warrior. I will see that she gets a knights pyre. She earned that tonight... Hell of a first day. Wonder what tomorrow will bring.

I am woken up by the shrieking voice of Mistress Woolsey. A bean counter sent by the order to attend to the financials of the Arling. Her skill set will prove invaluable, but... the old bat never stops complaining... Seneschal Varel has tried running interference for me. Between her rantings, Woolsey said something about merchants being attacked on the roads. Probably just bandits. In an attempt to just get the old bag to shut up, I will take Nathaniel, Oghren, and Anders out to investigate. I could probably send one of them out to do it alone, but I need to see them try to function as a team. But first I have to meet with the local Banns. Something about vowing oaths to me as the ruling Arl... The pomp and ceremony of this job is irritating, but I'll do what I must. Ceremonies Vs Tainted monsters... I'll take the monsters. I can throw a fireball at them.... As soon as this is over, I'll take the recruits and head for the city first to talk to some of the merchants there for any additional information they may have.

... Ran into a darkspawn raiding party. A team, my people are not. At least not yet. We took down the Darkspawn, but not as quickly as we should have. (Forgot to set up the combat AI's. They were at default. blah!) Finding our rhythm is going to take time (about 4 minutes to set them up proper). Some of the people of the farm hold were killed by the raiding party. Too few to account for all the living space. Since there were no drag marks leading away from the area, I can only assume the people ran away while a few brave souls stayed to buy them time. I haven't seen a single patrol on the road yet. I'll have to talk to Captain Garevel when I get back. This needs to be addressed quickly...

... Finally we reach Amaranthine. There are people begging their way into the city. Or trying to. This city is the Jewel of the Arling, or so they say. Nathaniel has a sister in the city. He asked to look for her. Didn't have to look far. She was near the market place. Seems that while he was away in the Free Marches, she got married. Has a child on the way. I left them to catch up while the rest of us scattered around to the merchants to find out all we could about these attacks on trade caravans. Most of it doesn't make sense. We find little more than frightened stories. But we have a heading at least. The Winding Wood. A quick resupply and we will head out...

... We stomped around those woods for hours before we came across a Caravan. It was burning and surrounded by bandits, but I don't think they were the ones that hit it. I can feel a residue of mana coming off the flames. None of the bandits were mages. They were just scavengers. Picking the bones, so to speak. They would have to be dealt with anyway so we set upon them. Killed some. Others ran off in fear. This battle was slightly more organized. The personalities of our group are in conflict, but they are beginning to respect each others abilities.

We chase after the last of the bandits when he suddenly stops. He heard something that frightened him more than us. The real culprit finally revealed herself. A Dalish mage, Velanna. After some... doing... We find out what started all this. Velanna believed that some humans had attacked her clan while she was away. Something was wrong though. I could sense Darkspawn all over the place. Under us. Around us. They were hiding and watching us from the shadows of the tree line. They had laid human weapons all around the Dalish camp to sell the idea that humans attacked the camp. Why? What the hell is going on here?... There are mining tunnels near by. That must be where the Darkspawn are hold up. I was not planning on putting the team to the test so soon, but it can't be helped...

...Upon entering the tunnels I can immediately feel a strange aura about the place. I couldn't quite place it. It was Something similar to what I feel when Darkspawn are near, but this was... different. New... or maybe old... very old... Whatever it was, it laid a trap for us and we fell right into it. I expected it to kill us, but it took us captive instead. It was unlike any Darkspawn I had ever seen. It's intelligence was beyond what I thought the creatures were capable of. It wanted to use us for experiments of some kind. I was not sticking around to find out. Far too many things left unfinished to allow myself to sit down and die in some warped experiment. Luck founds us though. Velanna's sister was with this creature. She came to us in our holding cell and gave us a key, babbled some nonsense, and then ran off. I have no idea what is going on here, but we need to escape.

With the door open, we make our way through the tunnels and take what armor and weapons we can find as we go until we find our gear. An Alpha Hurlock had my things. An Emissary. It was wearing my ring... It was using the power of my loves memento to fuel it's spells... I had never felt true rage before that moment... I unleashed a Mana Clash with all I could muster and cooked the Emissary from the inside out. The cavern continues to rumble as I reclaim what is mine... I'm going to need new robes, this smell is NOT coming out...

..We eventually fight our way out through dozens of Darkspawn, a pair of Drakes, and we also met a very nice Qunari who has agreed to sell his wears at Vigils Keep. Woolsey might actually go a day without complaining. Velanna has insisted on joining us and even demanded we make her a Warden. I feel her motives are all to selfish, but right now I can't be picky. On the way out of the Winding Wood, we find a healthy amount of Granite. Some proper stone for our Dwarven Stone Mason to work with. There were still some good ore veins in the mine as well. Wade will be able to use this for new arms and armor for the Vigil's troops.

I could no longer sense any Darkspawn in the area. With Velanna coming with us and the bandits being driven out, the road should be safe for future caravans. I'll increase the patrols in the area just to be sure... First things first, back to the Keep and straight to my quarters. This robe stinks of crispy Hurlock...I'm burning this thing... This "Architect" must be found. I've never seen or heard of a Darkspawn like this one. If anything of what he was babbling about was possible, separating his head from his neck is my new pet project.

After talking things over with Veral, he found much of the events in the Winding Wood difficult to believe. He's never even heard of a Darkspawn like the one that captured us. A full report was drawn up and dispatched to the Grey Wardens of Orlais and the Free Marches. Perhaps some there will have some insight into this twisted creature. Veral was less than excited about Velaana's demand to be made a Warden. He questions her motives. I don't blame him, but it's my call. She's going after the Architect with or without us. I would prefer she be of use rather than getting in the way. I am also curious about her arts. What I have seen of her power is completely alien to what was taught to us in the Circle. I suspect she will guard her secrets though. Perhaps if I offer an exchange of my knowledge of the Arcane Mage and the techniques of that school... hmmm... I'll bring it up another time. It's been a long couple of days. We'll pick things up tomorrow...

...Velanna's Joining will have to wait. It will take time to prepare for the Ritual. Meanwhile, I am taking her, Nathaniel, and Oghren to Amaranthine. Need to report to the Merchants that the woods will no longer be a danger AND there are rumors of a pair of hunters that saw a troop of Darkspawn while out on one of their hunts. WIth some luck I will be able to find some replacement Robes worth buying. For now I have pulled out the Wade's Superior Heavy Dragon Bone Armor, the Fade Wall Shield, and Starfang... I'm in a mood...

...The Merchants have agreed to give the Vigil first picks of their new stocks. I did not mention that the Elven lass behind me was the one terrorizing their shipments. I told them what they needed to know. We also found the hunters raving about seeing Darkspawn in the wilds. An odd and frightened pair, but useful. They found a collapsed entrance into the Deep Roads where Darkspawn seemed to be massing for some reason. We are soon to head out to investigate. There was also suppose to be a Warden in the city. He was on assignment when the Vigil was hit. He was not here last time we came to the city and he is still not been seen. I'm getting concerned he to has fallen. I'll give it a few more days. Then I'm going out looking for him. For now, I have my own lead on Dark Spawn to track down...

...The entrance is right where the hunters said. We don't get far before hear a woman scream. It's a female Dwarf, a member of the Legion of the Dead by the looks of her, being dragged away by some Hurlocks. I've seen what they do to the women they capture. We rush to her aid and slaughter the beasts. Sigrun, spirited little thing, tells us of her unit being sent to a Thaig. Kal something or other. She joins us as we go after the Darkspawn. I don't really know what the Legion was doing way out here, but this strong hold must be purged and Starfang craves battle.

The deeper we go, the more I feel the Veil quake. I dare not consider the number of Dwarves that died here when the Thaig was taken. We have seen some spirit echos of the final moments. The Casteless were dressed up as warriors and thrown at the Darkspawns spears while the actual warrior caste ran with the rest of the oh so superior Dwarves. I will never understand this blasted caste system of theirs, but the Casteless were the only ones that showed any sign of nobility When called on, many stepped forward knowing they would die. They did it anyway. Sigrun found a carving with a list of some of the names of those who fought and died here. I've made a tracing of them. They should receive the proper accolades for their sacrifice. Another oddity. The Darkspawn seem to be fighting each other. Is there some kind of civil war going on? Do they even do that? Whatever is going on, this will make our job a little easier.

After fighting our way through the ruin, we come to the source of all the Darkspawn here. A trio of Brood Mothers. Between the three of them, they could pop out an entire army in relative short order. We detonated a large bundle of Lyrium and incinerated them. The remaining Darkspawn seem to be scattering. Sigrun has displayed great fortitude and I have asked her to join the Wardens. With the rest of her unit wiped out, she didn't really have anywhere else to go... plus I just like her... OH! Another new horror to mention. Creatures called only "the children". Gross over sized bugs really. It's a tainted beast of some kind, but I have no way of describing it's putrid form... or smell... I caught a small one. I'll send it to Soldier Peak for Avernus to play with. He'll find out what this damned thing is. Could be important... Could be a Darkspawn version of a cockroach for all I know.

We won't reach the Keep until after nightfall. Velanna and Sigrun will undergo their Joining together... The two of them have a weird synergy going on between them. Not exactly friends, but... There is a whole non human girl power thing going there. They will be a powerful duo.

Personal note, during one of the more intense parts of the battle, my ring got... warm. I had a sense of being watched or observed in some way. I can't be sure, but I think Morrigan was... I don't know... checking on me or something. I really must study this ring more. I think it does far more than what she said it does. I swear I can "feel" her sometimes.

We arrive at the Vigil to find protesters in the courtyard. The Arling has it's problems, but nothing to warrant this. Someone stirred up a hornets nest on purpose... Likely I have quite the silver tongue and was able to disperse the crowd with a minor concession After talking to some of the people I located the leader of this tiny insurrection I had the gate guards quietly detain him on the way out. I'll have the good Captain ask him a few questions. I suspect this is a shadow play by one of the local Banns who dislike a Mage being their Arl. Something to look into later. Tonight there is to be a Joining.

Velanna and Sigrun stand ready in the main hall. They are different. Most who I have seen go through the Joining are nervous about what must be done, but these to are without fear. Velanna is determined and Sigrun is excited... almost giddy. They both faint, but they are still alive. They will be a terror to the Darkspawn. For now, I've dismissed everyone for the evening. Garevel mets me on the way to my chambers and tells me what he learned from our trouble maker. He was not even a farmer. He's a toady for Bann Esmeralda. Figures...

...Morning comes and Velanna and Sigrun are already up and digging through the kitchens fighting over a half cooked nug. So I guess they'll be fine... I continue on to take my breakfast with Varel and Woolsey. We need to discuss the matter of Bann Esmeralda. The matter of the missing warden still vexes me. Kristoff is siad to be a capable man, but his continued absence is concerning. I hate to keep putting him off, but something always comes up. Today is no different. The lower reaches of the Keep have finally been cleared of rubble. The access point the Darkspawn used was found. The Keeps basements go all the way down to the deep roads. I gather Velanna, Sigrun, and Nathaniel and head down there. Nathaniel knows the keep best and Velanna and Sigrun have a lot of energy to burn off. I'm sure there will be something down there for them to set loose on. We have to find a choke point to seal off...

...There is more down there than I thought. We found a Dwarven Barrier door a little ways down. Luckily, we have our own Dwarven builder on hand. We held the area while he finished repairs to the doors mechanism. As long as the Darkspawn exist, they will be a constant threat, but this should hold them off for a while. I'm putting up some mystical ward traps as well. Any Darkspawn come near this door, a lightning storm will be set off through out the tunnel for several yards at least. My own personal touch...

...We get back top side to find Felsi storming the halls looking for Oghren... who was hiding behind a keg of Ale... Can't say I blame him. She is really not happy that's he's here. That or this is one of their weird insult flirt things they do. I just tried to stay out of the way. Didn't know Oghren was a father. Wouldn't have changed anything, but... I offered to move them into the Keep or one of the vacant cottages just outside. There is plenty Felsi could help with around here. They shot down the idea though. Seems domestic life is not something Oghren is built for. Felsi has asked me to make sure Oghren stays in touch regardless. The "little nug" should know his father. I'll chain him to a desk until he starts writing letters if I have to.

Loghain made an appearance this afternoon. Seems he's being sent to Orlais to recruit new Wardens. He's thoroughly miserable over the idea, but fitting I suppose. Anora's idea no doubt. Perhaps Alistair will cheer up with the idea of Loghain being forced to play nice with Orliasians. Made me smile anyway. Loghain will leave for Orlais in the morning. Meantime, I have asked him to give my new recruits a once over before he leaves... Never thought this is where things would end up with him, but here we are...

...Varel tells me he's heard tell of a "Dark Wolf" in Amaranthine that might be able to help uncover Esmeralda's conspirators for a price... Dark Wolf...That's a name I haven't heard is some time. And I know damn well it doesn't belong to this impostor but... as Arl and Commander of the Grey there are somethings I cannot do. Perhaps I can make use of this impersonator. I'll head to the city tomorrow. If I delegate this conspiracy to this wolf then I can focus on finding Kristoff...

...I get to Amaranthine with Sigrun, Andres, and Oghren in tow. I send them to investigate rumors of a smuggling ring operating in the city while I track down this dark wolf. He agreed to offer his assistance for an outlandish fee. We had a chat about some of the deeds he is claiming as his own. That dropped his price tag considerably. While he was oof tending to his leads, I caught up with my team and routed the smugglers praying on the city. Also did some snooping around about Kristoff. Went through his room at the Crown and Lion Inn. Seems he was headed for Black Marsh. There are rumors about the Marsh being haunted. No idea why he would be out there or why he hasn't returned. Can't be good. We'll head there as soon as my business with the dark wolf is done. Tonight will be spent going through Kristoff's things and figuring out exactly what he was up to. The Inn keeper will not be charging us for the stay or meals or the river of Ale Oghren will no doubt consume. He is hoping I will not share my knowledge of his involvement with the smugglers to the city guard.

Only other thing of note was a slight run-in Anders had with some Templars. Wasn't much of one. They refused to stand down, so we put them down. Seems the Maker was not on their side today. I'm an Arl after all. Not a saint. Another task for the Dark Wolf. Had him sneak the bodies to the smugglers ship. Wrap that up nice and neat for the city guard to find. So, shut down a smuggling ring. uncovered a conspiracy, and got a good lead on the whereabouts of a missing Warden. Not bad... Think we'll stay at the Inn tonight... Anders seems to have caught the eye of one of the locals. Strapping young fellow caught a glimpse of Ander's cat and they've been blocking everyone else in the bar out ever since... Good luck, Sparkles....

The night at the Inn went well... mostly. Ander's hit it off with his young friend. Oghren and Sigrun joined the bar band for a few songs. Their drunken howling could be heard all the way out in the street. I spent the evening nursing a mug of Ale and fiddling with my ring. My mind was elsewhere. I didn't even mind the horrid noise those dwaves were making. I just keep thinking about those golden eyes... Where are you... We exited the city just as the sun was rising. To our two hung over dwarves, the light is blinding and brings about several strained groans. Can't help but notice a bit of pep in Anders' step this very early morning. I dare say he's glowing brighter than the sun. He's going to be obnoxiously up beat all the way to the bog...

...Doesn't take long to pick up Krstoff's trail once we reach the Marsh. Only one road in or out. Seemed to have been an old fishing village once upon a time. Just an overgrown ruin now. Place was crawling with blighted beasts though. Something bad happened here a long time ago. The Veil was very thin. I felt like I could step straight through. I could also sense a large Darkspawn presence in the area. If Kristoff was chasing them... Something was very wrong.

We found Kristoff's camp. No one had been there is several days atleast. We followed tracks deeper into the Marsh and fought our way through more Darkspawn until we finally found Kristoff... or what was left of him. He had been dead for days. Another of the talking Emissaries revealed himself. It claimed to carry a message from "The Mother". I know not what foul magic he worked, but it threw us through the Veil. It didn't work out exactly the way the Emissary had hoped though. The beast was drawn in and trapped with us.

The island of the Fade was the power center of a Pride Demon that had been feeding on souls of the people that had died in the fishing village over the years. Oghren is not taking it well. He is especially unnerved by the experience. I must say, I hadno idea you could physically enter the Fade. If circumstances were different I would find the entire ordeal fascinating. As it is, we have to find a way out before that thing does. There is a "spirit of Justice here. It's trying to free the souls that have been trapped here. It recognized us as being "different" and asked for our help. We didn't really have the time to spare, but as it stood we weren't going anywhere. There was a small chance that the spirit could help us.

We breached the inner sanctum and called out the Demon. It emerged with the Emissary. After a short clash, the demon became annoyed with our presence and used the Emissary's life force to ripped the Veil open and kick us out of it's realm. Another transfer that did not go as planned. Not only did the Pride demon get drawn into the waking world, but so too was the Spirit of Justice. The Spirit seems to be stuck in the body of Warden Kristoff. Not Ideal, but given the strength of Pride Demons, the Spirit made a great difference in the battles outcome. I'm not really sure what to do with this "Justice". Couldn't just leave it be. The spirit did not belong in this world. I decided to bring it back to the Keep with us. I don't know of anything that could seperate the spirit from the vessel, but perhaps Velanna, Anders, and I can come up with something. I'll dispatch a letter to the Circle. Irving may have some insights.

The method at which the Darkspawn sent us to the fade... This deserves some study. How does one physically entire the fade? I didn't think it possible. Never even considered it. I may leave that particular part out of my report to Weisshaupt. There is no telling what other Wardens may do with that information. I will research it on my own when I get the chance. Perhaps there is something in Elven lore that Velanna knows about the subject. For now I just want to get back to the Keep and collapse in my bed. I'll deal with the rest of this later.

It's been a few days of quiet in the Arling. Wynne was sent up from the Circle to study this "Justice". She has a... unique perspective. There doesn't seem to be a way to separate the spirit from the corpse yet. Justice itself doesn't seem to be resisting. I don't think it likes it's current situation. Anders has been seeing to it's needs for the time being. It's contact with the rest of the people here is to be restricted. Any injustice seems to elicit a hostile reaction from the spirit. Something so small as one of the kitchen staff giving her boyfriend, one of our guardsman, slightly more pudding in the mess hall was enough to get Justice to draw it's weapon. It has since been disarmed and restricted to the main hall and the Arcanaeum (this is not an actual room that you haven't found. I am just cramming it in for story telling purposes, every mage should have a special place set aside for mystical research that is properly warded so nothing foul escapes). I honestly don't know what to do with this thing... It is here by no fault of it's own, but... it cannot remain. It is a creature of pure black and white reasoning in a world that is full of grey. The longer it is here the more likely disaster is to strike.

...Holding court today. Still no sign of the Arcitect or this "Mother". More mundane matters to attend to for now. Land deals, petty crimes, and a loud mouth noble bastard. The glory of being a ruling lord...

...A missive arrived from a local bann about his daughter being kidnapped. A ransom was issued with a location for the exchange. The bann is asking that I insure her safe return. I have a different fate in mind for these kidnappers. Velanna, Sigrun, and Oghren set out with me. I had a few men setup at all exit paths prior to our approaching the villains Once the girl was safely out of their reach, we made an example of them. I only left one alive. A story won't get very far is everyone dies. The girl was hurried off before the unpleasantness really kicked off. She had seen more than enough ugliness for one life time. Upon returning to the keep a messenger arrived with a thank you from the family. A good bit of gold and the gratitude of a powerful family will go a long way to undercutting conspiracy against me. Politics... Would be so much easier to just throw a fireball or two...

...Kristoff's wife showed up today. Her reaction to Justice was... well... it was about what you'd expect. We have to find a way to fix this. Shortly after that blow up, a note from the Dark Wolf arrived. The conspirators are all meeting tonight. I can continue to play "the game" or I can end this nice and neat. I've opted for the ladder. This conspiracy ends tonight...

...I went alone to the meeting place. They had only one guard watching the ridge where they were. A weak minded fool. A combination of sleep and walking nightmare sent their guardsman charging after the conspirators. I cast walking bomb on him as he fell. The lot of them were laid low by the blast. While the survivors crawl around in the dirt, I step out and let them see my eyes glow red as I cast Blood Wound on them. While they twitch and scream, I summon an Inferno and a Lightning Storm... Problem solved... I throw a grease slick in for good measure. I sit on a grassy hill and watch the blaze. As the flames finally die down, I walk back over to view the remains. Nothing but piles of ash that the gusting wind is quickly blowing away. In a few moments there will not be anything left to to show that anyone was ever on this ridge. A few mystery scorch marks, perhaps a camp fire that got out of control... Nice and neat... Back to the Vigil.

Word was received from the city. The Darkspawn have attacked in force. The Architect or the mother, I can't say. No time to investigate. I'm taking Sigrun, Anders and Justice to the city immediately. The rest of my forces will gather and join the battle when they are at full force. The new armor and weapons are ready. I've had most of Keep's staff all moved inside the reinforced walls until the Darkspawn are beaten back into the deep roads. A messenger has been sent to the Couslands just in case we can't hold the city. We have to find the source of this...

... We arrive at Amaranthine shortly after night fall. The city is on fire. The city guard have the beasts contained for the moment, but they'll break free eventually. Two choices, level the city with artillery OR go in and purge the Darkspawn.

Just as we are about to enter, another Emissary approached from the rear... Alone. It claimed to be there, not to fight, but to warn us. The Architect sent it to warn us that the attack on the city was only a faint.The true bulk of the Mother's forces were sent after the Vigil itself. The Emissary babbled on for a moment. It wanted me to leave the city and return to the Vigil. Captain Garevel agreed... I did not. The vigil is in a far superior state than when the Darkspawn last attacked. With the increased fortifications and armaments the Darkspawn will be in for a drastically different outcome. I order that the Emissary be bound and interrogated while I lead a team into the city...

...We fought our way through the streets leaving three man teams of city guards in our wake to hold the ground once it was won. I lost count of how many of the fiends we struck down, but we eventually found their source. They were coming in from the smugglers tunnels. It took all night, but we beat back the Darkspawn. The City is damaged, but it still stands. Many people died, but many more yet live. No time to celebrate though. The Emissary died, but not before giving up what it knew of the mothers location.

I have split the remaining city forces still standing. Half are going to secure the city and the other half will be sent with Garevel back to the Vigil. I and my team will be going directly after the Mother. With her forces out attacking the Arling, Her defenses will never be as weak. I must strike at her NOW!... I want to go back and help my people, but... I can't allow this opportunity to pass... It may be the only chance we get...

...We reach the Mother's strong hold. A ruin hidden in the mountains The outside seems to be a Dragon bone yard. The area crawls with Genlocks, hurlocks, and those creepy "children"... the way the ground in trembling, there are Ogres inside too. No time to rest from the march. Their numbers are scattered. We have to make the push...

...The Architect shows himself once we are inside. He offers a partnership in attacking the Mother. He begins what I assume was a well laid out sales pitch. All I hear is a mad man spouting out nonsense. He created the chaos we now find ourselves in. Intentional or not, he is the cause and he MUST BE STOPPED!! Sigrun is the first to agree. A fierce battle erupts. The Architect's magic is powerful, but far from invincible. We struck him down, but it drained some desperately needed potions. We may not make it out of here... I ask Justice for his sword and cleanly remove the Architect's head from it's neck and burn the corpse and it's tainted companion. A Dwarf who will not be named. She was a Warden once, now just a dead disgrace best forgotten... no sign of Velanna's sister. Something for another day. For now, the mother awaits... The stench... That distinctive Brood Mother foulness... She's going to be a big one...

...Tower after tower and level after level, we finally find this Mother... I've seen some ugly Brood Mothers before, but this monstrosity is beyond description. It's horrid appearance is matched only by it's demented mind. The final battle begins. I use every spell I know, every potion I have left, and hacked off more tentacles than I care to remember, but we did it. She unleashed a maelstrom of magic and waves atop waves of Darkspawn against us. Never the less... she is dead. I still stand! The remaining Darkspawn flee back into the deeps. It's over... for now... As we are leaving, I feel my ring warm again... There is something here... Something old... hidden... powerful... What I do not know, but I am in no state to go exploring. Sigrun took the worst of it though. I think she would be happy to die here, but I came into this pit in a team of four and I aim to leave the same way. My mana is drained, no lyrium left, but I hear the gurgling moans of an Alpha Hurlock not far off. It is near death, but it still holds enough life to be of use... I rip out what power I can from the beast and use it's essences to heal some of the wounds we sustained in the assault. Not enough for a full recovery, but enough to see tomorrow. Once we are no longer falling apart, we make a forced march back to the keep...

...Andraste's great flaming ass! The walls held. The grounds are littered with the bodies of fallen Darkspawn. The Vigil held. There were many loses. There will be many fires tonight. Velanna is missing. Oghren is near death, but the stubborn old fool refuses to die. He held off two Ogres .. by himself... Wynne stands over him healing what she can and I hear her whisper to him "You are a fool... a brave fool..."

There will be much work needed to recover from all the damage. My search for Morrigan seems to keep getting pushed off. I twist my ring around my finger as I look out over the horizon and think "One day, witch... One day, I will find you." then the ring warms and a familiar voice fills my mind "One day, my love. But not today."


..... (Witch Hunt) .....

Lothering... Or NEW Lothering I should say. Why am I in the arm pit of Ferelden again? Queen Anora asked me to come. The rebuilding effort here is nearing completion and she thought a visit from the Hero of Ferelden would do the people good. How, I have no idea, but I stopped trying to figure out that woman a long time ago. I've had my own rebuilding efforts to deal with. The Vigil is almost fully repaired, Amaranthine still has a year of work left at least... I can't help but notice that Alistair is not here... He's still upset with me over Loghain.

While touring the town I over heard a pair of hunters talking about a strange shack they saw on their last hunt... and a woman... The chance is remote, but... Would she have really gone back there?...I could not resist. I speak with Anora, make a good hype speech about Varel's leadership skills in handling the Arling, and take off for the wilds. She probably won't be there and I will be back in a couple days anyway, but I am a man haunted by those two most terrible words... what if... what... if...

...The Korcari Wilds... Seems like a life time ago that I first found myself here. Even years later, there are still a few Darkspawn wandering about. At least none of them are talking... A quick fire ball or stone fist and the world is made a little better. I'm not alone. I have (DA:A dog) Ajax with me. One of (DA:O dog) BoJack's brood. He's a good pup... I'm taken back when we get where we're going. I pause a moment... The high dragon form of Flemeth is gone. Either the Chasind picked it clean and took the bones or Flemeth really is immortal.

As we enter the hut, I hear someone moving about... not who I was expecting. A Dalish elf girl. Calls herself Ariane. Looks to be one of their rangers. She babbled on for a while, I wasn't really paying attention anymore. I had almost lost hope when she mentioned that she was hear looking for a woman called Morrigan. That woke me up. Seems Morrigan paid a visit to a Dalish clan and took something that didn't belong to her. What little she had to go on was something called an "Eluvian". I remember reading something about those once. A mystical device of the ancient elves... BAH... We'll have to go to the Circle...

...We made quick time in reaching the tower. Irving and Greagoir were away on Circle Business. Sandel was there... Why, I have no idea. He did enchant something for me though. A dagger. I was going to just sell it off, but it put a smile on his face. Ariane and I proceed into the main library to look for information on the Eluvian's. Takes some digging, the filing system has been changed. Everything is so scattered... might be a practical joke the mages are subtly playing on the apprentices... I remember them changing things around now and then for no other reason than to annoy us.

We eventually find what we are looking for. A mage came up to us, apparently upset at how we were handling the books. I almost punched this a$s clown in the face, I know how to handle a tomb you pompous... *sigh*... nostalgia over... He wasn't completely useless though. Ariane said she might know where a smashed Eluvian might be. Finn, a$s clown, went off on a rant about the shards of one Eluvian could be used to find others which set us off on a tour of the basement. Another place filled with bad memories for me.

The wards have not been maintained properly down here. The veil is weakening and spirits are passing through. Even the Guardians are acting up. Before we can continue our search for information, we must attend to this mess before something more... exciting comes through...

...After a night of ghost busting, we finally get the information we need from one of the relics down here. I was hoping that would be the end of my dealings with this Finn, but between his complaints about dirt on his shoes he did mumble some things that show he knows far more about the Eluvians than I and I don't have time to sit and study the tomb in detail. I reluctantly agree to take him with us... I slip the tomb into my pack... I'll read more about these Eluvians as we go. Morrigan wants one of these things for a reason and I want to know what that reason. I love her she has a tendency to omit important information on occasion... That's assuming we find her of course.

We are heading for the site of this broken Eluvian in the morning. I am not spending another night in this Tower... I'll get us some rooms at the Spoiled Princess. Too many Templars in here... Hope the drinks have gotten better...

It's taken a few days, but we reach the ruin Ariane mentioned. The place reeks of Darkspawn corruption. I can feel them all around us, but they are scattered. If we attack quickly when we come across them, we should be able to fend them off easily even in these numbers. The Darkspawn and tainted beasts don't bother me. My ring... it's been active all day... I THINK it warms when Morrigan is thinking about me or she's stressed, but why would it be active for an extended period... The runes only allow us to sense one another. With enough concentration a feeling or a single thought can be shared. The connection is extremely limited... and brief It shouldn't be active this long. Ariane noticed that I fiddle with the ring a lot. I think she is beginning to realize who personal this search is for me.

The ruin itself is remarkably well preserved, all things considered. I could spend a year in here just studying the murals in the halls. One of them in particular fascinated me. I made the mistake of taking out the tomb I stole from the Circle to try and identify the importance of the figure... Finn had a minor conniption that ended when Ariane picked a small mushroom out of the wall and ate it. Finn fainted.

After Finn collected himself, we pressed on. We have a few scraps with the beasties within, but nothing too tough. The worst that happens in reaching the broken mirror is that fin got dirt on in his robe. What a tragedy... When we reach the Eluvian, Finn actually becomes useful again in studying the remains of the relic. Ariane goes into a half remembered legend of a story of a rumor about the elves of old. I wasn't listening. My ring... it's still warm... is she in trouble? What does it mean... My contemplation is interrupted by the sound of the locals rising to kick us out. We have what we came for. Time to go...

...we find a secure spot to camp for the night and plan our next move. Cadash Thaig. Never thought I would return there... The ring has calmed down some, but it still hasn't returned to it's dormant state. I've tried calling out to her, but she won't or can't respond... The Magisters used Eluvians for communicating between cities, but they were only able to partially activate the Eluvians. Of course , they weren't trained by the Witch of the Wilds... What are you up to Morrigan. Why do you want this damned thing so badly? What does it actually do?... The tomb I have on the subject is obnoxiously vague... perhaps even misleading... I'm only half way through though. Maybe the second half will make sense of the first half... "Cross roads..." what cross roads? To where?.... What does that even mean?...

On our way to Cadash Thiag. We need to restock some supplies before we go down, so we are stopping in Orzamar for a while. Ariane is unsettled having so much rock over head, but she is doing better than Finn. He's spending so much time complaining about the dust and dirt that he is completely missing the beauty of Dwarven architecture... I really don't like him... Ajax loves it here though. Strange smells, weird food, and he seems to be fascinated by all the beards. He keeps running up to people with really long beards.

I'll have to pay my respects to King Bhelen. I hear he and Queen Rica are working on their second uh... "nug"? I think that's the right term. Dwarven slang can be confusing. Despite my misgivings about the man, he's done remarkable things with this city. I question his methods, but his results are undeniable Crime is down and the coin is flowing. The Darkspawn haven't been reported near the city in months thanks to the Legion of the Dead and Branka's Golems. There is even some talk about trying to retake a few of the old thaigs. Not just for an expedition or two, but permanently. "Reclaim our lost glory!" This is a city of hope again... Their dreaming, but they are daring to dream greatly.

...After a ceremonial dinner, I get the okay from the King to enter the deep roads. A formality, but it got us a free meal and a night in a real bed. Ajax has taken a shine to the infant prince. He could make a good nanny... for a dog...

... it takes several hours to reach Cadash. Came across a few Legionaries fighting a pack of Darkspawn, a deepstalker nest, and more spiders than I care to count.... got bit by a wild nug too... but we're here. We are looking for something called the Lights of Arlathan. These mystical objects will show us the way to the nearest Eluvian and possibly lead me to my witch. No idea what I will do when I find her, but the ring is in a prolonged state of activity again. I'm getting worried...

...The Thaig is crawling with Darkspawn and wraiths. Making the already difficult task of uncovering the lights even harder. Despite the trial we were being subjected to, I can't help but wonder what this place use to look like back in it's glory days. The constant assaults are becoming annoying though. I haven't been using any of my blood spells, I can't see these two responding well to the use of blood magic. This would be so much easier if... Bah!...

Finn manages to find the last of the relics and pin down our next destination. A place I had hoped to never see again. I know what it was that I sensed in the Mother's Lair now. An Eluvian. One that still works... Nothing in the tomb I have says how exactly it works, but it's far more than just something that allows for communication across great distances. It's a portal of some kind. You need something to activate it, though. A key of some sorts. Not the metal kind, but something... else... Ariane is no hlep in figuring it out...

We did what we came to do. Time leave. I can feel a mass of Darkspawn closing in. Glad there's a back door... assuming it hasn't caved in...

When we are clear and on the surface again, we stop to rest. Finn is about to collapse. He's probably run more in the last two days than he has in his entire life. I use the time to focus my mind on Morrigan. She still doesn't respond, but I did get a faint image of an underground lake. I recognized it. It's the one in the Mother's lair. A trick of the mind maybe? I'll find out soon enough I guess. We head for the Dragonbone wastes next... You better be there witch...

We reach the bone yard in good time. Mainly because I stopped listening to Finn's complaining. It didn't stop him from doing it anyway... Ariane has shown no interest in what the Eluvians are or what they do. I thought that Dalish lived for finding pieces of their "past glory", but if she is an example to go by, they may have forgotten their history for simple lack of interest in it.

As we enter the fields, there are sound of movement in the distance. A distance that is closing. I think I know why the ring has been so active. The place is crawling with dragons and cultists. Morrigan must have been dodging these things for days. It has to be the stress that's been jumping the link. I just hope we don't have to fight off a High Dragon. These three won't be able to survive that level of destruction...

... Fighting our way into the ruins has taken more time than I care to admit. We did not face a High Dragon, but the ancient elves left their own defenses. A beast Ariane called a Varterral. A monster straight out of a nightmare. A powerful beast, but I've faced far worse. Takes some doing. Mainly because I had to keep stopping to heal Fin and Ariane. Eventually I just marked them with a weakened life ward and let them fall. The ward was just strong enough to keep them from actually dying. I couldn't use my full power with them getting in the way... or seeing the Hero of Ferelden using Blood magic. The people need their legends in a good light after all. Can't have these two blabbing... Once it is just me and Ajax, I unleash my full fury upon the Varterral. It goes down pretty quickly then.

Once we step inside, I get a jolt from the ring. She's here... I can feel her. We have a few run ins with cultists and dragonlings on the way down. This place still gives me the creeps. When we reach the spot where I fought the Architect, I can't help but question if I did the right thing in killing him. At the time it seemed like the right thing to do, but... What if... Pointless. It's done. I throw a fireball at the already charred headless corpse. Finn asked me why I did that. I shrugged and said "Just making sure."

When we get to the underground lake, I feel the power coming off the Eluvian. It's glowing. She did it! She actually did it. The portal is open... I leave Ariane and Finn to guard the door while I go have a chat with my wayward witch. She seems nervous at my approach. Thankfully that which is most precious is not in this pit. That is somewhere safe... and hidden. I had feared she had brought it to this damned pit with her... We talk, but she is vague to the point of saying nothing about her plans. The journey has taken me from one extreme to the other. I don't know where that portal leads or what Morrigan's ultimate ends are. I'm not certain about much right now, save one thing. I am not letting her walk away again. We will face whatever comes... together.

In our time apart, I have studied the art of shape shifting, delved deeper in to the Blood arts, and Thanks to my time with Velanna I am well versed in Dalish magics as well. My power has done nothing but grow seen we were last together. I think she can sense that. to some degree. At this point, I doubt there is much that she can do that I can't. Anywhere she goes, I will be able to follow. She figured out how to activate this portal. So can I. Running in not an option. I'm sure she could sense that as well. I had a good speech made up for a case for her to take me with her, but it wasn't needed. She didn't need any convincing. She would never show it, but through the ring I could feel what she was feeling. She was glad of my desire to go with her.

I will not describe what was on the other side. Not because I wish it to be kept a secret, but because it defies description. The Eluvian took us to a place outside the boundaries of our world. It was not Thedas. It was not the Fade. It was... the Beyond. I have no other words for it. "Cross Roads" finally makes sense... Where we go from here... I cannot say. Morrigan will take me to that which is most precious soon... tomorrow... she and I have some lost time to make for tonight.

......... (DA2) ........


The Chronicles of Tyros Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall:

Where to start this... The Blight seems the best place. I was living in Highever at the time. Made a fair living with a local mercenary band. When word of the massing Darkspawn reached Highever, I dispatched a letter back to Lothering to my brother Carver to bring Mother and our sister Bethany up to stay with me until the danger had passed. A week later I received a letter from Bethany saying that Carver had run off to join the Kings men in the wilds. I should have expected as much. He has always been desperate to prove himself. I headed to Lothering that night...

...After reaching Lothering I spent three days trying to convince mother to leave with me. She refused to leave without Carver. On the third night a small army marched through the village. They had the crest of Gwaren on their shields. Teryne Loghain's men. They said little other than the darkspawn had over run their position and killed the King and the Grey Wardens. Mother rushed through their number frantically looking for her baby boy. He was no where to be found. One of the soldiers told her that if he wasn't here then he was likely dead on the battle field. She stopped resisting me then. Not the way I wanted to leave this place, but the Darkspawn were coming.

The next morning a couple of Grey Wardens came out of the wilds. This renewed her hopes for Carver. If they could survive then surely there must have been a chance for him. I had given up trying to talk her out of it. I was just going to cast a sleep spell on her and Bethany and I would carry her out in a wagon. The Darkspawn couldn't have been far behind those Wardens. We had to move. As I was about to cast my spell, Carver burst in the front door ranting about the horde. Mother was overjoyed. Bethany was just plain angry he went out there in the first place. No time for fighting. With him back it was time to run.

As we exited, the roars of the Darkspawn could be heard closing in on the town. Bethany and I hurled fireballs at the tree line to try and slow their approach and give the few people in town a little more time to escape. We four took off for one of the back roads until we came across a Templar and a female soldier. Wesley and Aveline. A married couple trying to flee the horde. The fact that Bethany and I were mages did not escape his notice. Made for a tense introduction. We put those matters aside for the moment as the Darkspawn were closing fast. We got cornered on a hill top. Bethany was killed. In a fit of rage, I poured all I had into a crushing prison spell and tore the beast that killed her into pieces.

I was exhausted afterwards and the Darkspawn were still coming. The templar was badly wounded. Aveline and Carver couldn't hold off the horde alone. I thought all was lost when suddenly a dragon appeared. It flew over and scorched the earth and wiped out the Darkspawn on the hill side. Those that she didn't kill ran off. Can't blame them. She was a fearsome monster. A monster that transformed into an old woman. A witch with powers unlike anything I had ever seen. I had never even heard of such magic. I tried to be charming. She did just save our lives after all. She even agreed to help us get to safety provided were do a favor for her. Deliver a necklace to an elf. An odd request, but we were in no position to refuse.

The Templar, Wesley, did not survive. He had been infected by the darkspawn. The corruption is lethal. It is an agonizing death. I have no love of Templars, but even I know that this is no way for a good man to die. While he was still himself I... ended him. Aveline was obviously devastated. Not only did she lose her husband, but we had to leave his body behind.

The Darkspawn had cut off our path to to Highever so we made our way to the waking sea to cross over to the Free Marches. The witch left our company once we were away from the Darkspawn. I can sense and eerie magic coming off this necklace, but a deals a deal. I'll get it to the elf at my first opportunity. First we had to get into Kirkwall. Mothers home town. Several boats filled with other refugees were headed there. I knew it would not be easy to get in.

It took us over a week to make the crossing and convince the gate guards to let us into the city. We had to sell ourselves to a local mercenary company to afford the bribes to get in. But get in we did. It's not much different than my work with the Blackstones. We'll be living in a slum, but we are safe... most of us... Bethany. I am not the religious sort, but I did pray for her soul that night. I don't know if Mages get to sit by the makers side or whatever that Chantry claptrap is all about, but I hope she finally found some peace. This life was not easy, but we found a way... That's more than many Fereldens could say.

Over the course of the last year, Carver and I have done several jobs for the Red Irons. Made a bit of a name for ourselves among some of Kirkwall's less reputable citizens. It's not the life I wanted for Carver. He wants to prove himself, but the longer we stayed with the company the more likely it was he would end up either dead or in prison. I was relieved when we finally worked off our debt to the Irons. We were forced to resort to doing odd jobs for them from time to time though for the coin to make ends meet. We were barely getting by week to week. Sometimes even day to day was questionable. One bit of hope came when we heard about a Deep Roads expedition forming by one of the Merchant guild members. We're meeting him in the morning... well... more like lurking outside the guild until he shows up and then trying to sell him on taking us along. Same difference...

...The "meeting" went poorly. This Bartrand is every bit as asinine as his reputation. I tried being charming, but Carvers aggressiveness exposed out desperation. We still made a good case, couldn't figure out why he wouldn't at least entertain the idea... a moment of contemplation that a cut-purse took advantage of. Barely had anything in there to begin with. Carver and I took after him, but he didn't get very far. When we rounded the corner he was pinned to the wall by an arrow. The archer was a stubby dwarf with a rather unique crossbow. Never seen anything like it before. A work of art. The dwarf retrieved my coin purse and introduced himself. This Varric, brother to Bartrand if you can believe it, was a charmer to be sure. A city dwarf through and through. He revealed that the reason the expedition hadn't set out yet was because Bartrand couldn't fund this little field trip on his own. So the smooth talking younger brother tried pressing us for fifty sovereigns. If we had that we wouldn't need this blighted expedition. The offer he made was one we couldn't pass up though.

With Varrics contacts we should be able to pick up plenty of odd, if illegal, jobs around the city. Carver remarked that Aveline might have some bounties we could go after. She joined the City Guard not long after we settled in. She's done quite well actually. One of the best guards in the city by all accounts. She's climbing the ranks rather quickly. If there is any legitimate work to be had, she will know about it...

...Met with Aveline. She discovered an ambush being planned and asked for us to back her up. Not sure what the bandits were expecting, but it clearly wasn't us. They were hardly a match. Upon returning to the keep, the Guard Captain was less than pleased with our efforts. So that was 4 hours wasted... or so it seemed. We learned that a lone guard was supposed to be traveling that route... with a satchel. Because of our fight, the scheduled drop of that satchel was changed and handed off to another guardsman. Suspicious satchels, only one guard for a patrol, and the Captains reaction... It was too much for Aveline. We set out to follow Guardsman Donnic on his patrol and see if he too would be met by an ambush...

...It was dark by the time we caught up with Donnic. We were almost too late. He was being attacked by the time we got to him. We quickly dispatch the bandits and tend to the Guardsman. While Aveline gives him a healing potice, I check to see why these highway men are so eager for this satchel. Their eagerness is not without cause. Various official documents, patrol routes, and information on city accounts were packed inside. Useless to a guardsman, but highly valued by those who skirt the law. We begin a straight march up to the Keep and to the Viscounts office to expose this conspiracy. I admit the sight of that man being dragged off by his own guards brought a smile to my face. An even bigger smile came when Aveline was named as his replacement. She seemed shocked, but to me she was the obvious choice. This city got a lot safer today...

... Time to head back to Uncle Gamlen's house. We've been out all night. Mother will be worried. I made a several silvers off some of the gear I picked off the bandits. They weren't going to be needing them anymore. It's not much, but it's enough for us to eat tonight and have a few left over... assuming Gamlen doesn't find it. The money will disappear into the local brothel in a heart beat if he finds it.

I complain about Uncle Gamlen, but he did take us in when we needed him most. Despite that, I just can't trust him. What little money we have, we have because I've hidden it from him. IF we can buy our way into this expedition, will could be set for life with the relics we find down there... Got a lot of work to find and do before that happens though. I'll meet with Varric tomorrow in the Hanged Man to discuss things further.

Mother and Uncle Gamlen argued most of the night. Not unusual. This time it was specifically over their parents Will regarding the family estate. Mother can't accept that our grandparents disowned her for running off with father. Gamlen finally admits that he doesn't even have the Will anymore and that it's still locked up in the estates vaults. That ends the argument .. for the moment. Carver and I have a chat a bit later about it. He sees how distressed mother is over it and we hatch a small plan. Mother gave him her old key to the Estate. Assuming the locks haven't been changed in the last 30 years, we planned to sneak into the cellar in the morning...

...Goes well. Some slavers had set up shop in the old place, so killing them wasn't a problem. There were more of them than I hoped, but fewer than I feared. We carved our way through until we found the vault. We collect the Will and head back for Gamlen's. Our dearest Uncle will have much to answer for when Mother reads what we have. I marvel at the size of the cellar. You could fit the entire Hanged Man Tavern down here and still have room left over. The estate itself must be enormous.

After revealing Gamlen's lies, mother... did not try to kill the old bastard. She seemed to take heart in the knowledge that her parents did not hate her as Gamlen had lead her to believe. And armed with the Will that left the entire Amell Estate to her, she had legal grounds to petition the Viscount to return what Gamlen threw away as it was not his to being with. That is going to take months, if it is at all even possible. The Expedition is still our best bet at getting out of this slum. I spoke with Mother and that... Uncle Gamlen before Carver and I headed off to the Hanged Man... Not sure I can forgive Gamlen, but I can try to move past it for Mother's sake.

...Takes a while for Varric to turn up, but I had a good show. Carver was trying to hit on one of the bar maids. She's shot him down every time before, but he keeps trying. When Varric finally shows, I leave Carver to his doomed efforts and discuss the expedition with my new partner. The basics of the expedition are taken care of for the most part, but the key things like an entrance into the Deep Roads is still up in the air. That seems kind of important for a Deep Roads expedition. Varric's heard of a Grey Warden in the city, but doesn't know exactly where he is. If anyone knows a good spot to enter those Darkspawn infested tunnels, it'll be him... Assuming we can find him.

It's about this time that I hear the inevitable. The sound of a full flagon being poured out... I turn and... yep... right on top of Carver's head. As she walks off he looks up and says "Shall I take that as a maybe?" I collect my beer soaked little brother before he gets into even more trouble and we head out to find us a Grey Warden...

...The Trail eventually leads us to Dark Town. The city under the city. It's where people too poor for Low Town end up... It's also crawling with every type of criminal low life you can think of looking to take advantage of these poor sods. The Grey Warden is supposedly acting as a healer of sorts for the refugees and orphans down here. We had to fight through two gangs just to find the Warden's hiding spot. Whatever he's running from, he definitely doesn't want to be found.

Warden Anders, excuse me, former Warden Anders... Never heard of a Warden leaving the order before. Not my business. We did manage to strike a deal for some maps he has of the area though. We watch his back in a secret meeting tonight with a friend of his at the Chantry and we get the maps as a payment. Seems fishy to me, but we need those maps. The more we have to dangle in front of Bartrand, the harder it'll be for him to turn us away again...

...The Meeting did not go well. Anders' friend had been made Tranquil. The Templars used him as bait to trap Anders. As if I didn't have enough trouble with the Templars already... What happened next shocked even me. This Anders is far more than a run away warden. He's a damned abomination. He insists that it's a spirit of justice and not a demon that's inside him. I'm no expert on the fade nor it's spirits, but I know a demon when I see one. I should inform the Templars about him, but then what becomes of the people who depend on him. I'm no healer.

I don't know what to do about Anders, but we have the maps. One step closer... Heading back to Gamlen's shack. Been a long night... I've asked Carver not to mention the nights particulars to mother. I'll have to keep an eye on Anders. I can't shake the feeling that something terrible is going to happen and he will be at the heart of it.... that's probably what that strange look Aveline gives me sometimes means... I'll have to ask her about that some time.

Got a letter from Meeran this morning about a potential job investigating one of the local mines. The Bone Pit. The letter was sketchy on the details, but said we could find the owner, a guy name Hubert, in the High Town market during the day. Carver and I drop by the Hanged man to check in with Varric and see if he was interested in the job. Varric was in a closed door meeting so we had to wait, but while we waited a vivacious dark skinned woman caught my attention. She fought off five men by herself. Rather handily at that. She was... impressive. Something I assume is rather common of Men of her acquaintance.

I chatted her up a bit until Varric came down. She asked for some help later tonight. She has a duel planned with some unlucky sod this evening and wants some muscle to make sure his goons play fair. If it goes well, I'll get to see a good fight. If not, I'll get pick the valuables off the bodies of fools. Win win I say. And it might earn me some points with this vixen... so win win win. For now though, business. I collect Varric, pull Carver away from his bar maid... he's persistent I'll give him that... and we head for High Town...

...We found Hubert and asked about what problems he was having with the pit. A sleazy man, but one with a ton of gold to throw around. That tends to make up for alot. When asked about the reward he was offering, he said it would depend on what we faced in the pit, but that he would reward us handsomely. Being a businessman in good standing with the merchants guild, that statement carries more weight than it would coming from someone else. So after a quick stock up on potices, we head for the Bone Pit. Of all the things to call a mine, why "Bone Pit"?... Not sure I want an answer to that one...

...Found out why it's called the Bone Pit. I was right. I didn't want to know. The place fits the name. When we arrived there were some scavengers picking over the camp and a few bodies. They weren't the problem though. The problem was what awaited us inside the mine. As we searched for miners, we came upon a series of dragons. All at varying stages of development Mostly still dragonlings. A few drakes. Only found one survivor in the mines. We asked him what happened and sent him running for the city. He spoke a larger dragon out in the quarry. He was a big one. "Was" being the operative word.

We cleared out the dragons we could find, but I'm certain there are more lurking deeper in the mountain. For now, the tunnels are safe... -ish... job finished. So we headed back to Hubert to report. His idea of payment for services rendered... offering me half of his mine. I initially refused, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. Though after having thought about it for a time, I am starting to like the idea. Seems strange. I, a Ferelden apostate on the run from Templars, am part owner of one of the biggest mines in the Free Marches. Not Sure if Bethany would laugh or cry...

...after a stop by the Blooming Rose for a few drinks, we head out to meet with Isabella. It was a setup. A group of cut throats tried to get the jump on us... it did not go the way they planned. The man Isabella was meant to fight was hiding in the Chantry. We took him out as well along with what men he had left. What exactly this was all about is still a mystery, but I did get invited to Isabella's room at the hanged man... again something I assume is not uncommon for men of her acquaintance Did get some expensive looking items off the raiders. More money in the bank for the expedition... if I can get the blood stains out of these things that is...

...as it was getting late, we headed back to Gamlen's. I wanted to take Isabella up on her offer, but I don't like worrying mother any mother than is necessary. Another time perhaps.

Carver and I spent much of the morning doing odd jobs around town. Small things. Recovering small items and returning them to... interested parties. Not glamorous work, but you'd be amazed what some rich people will pay to get the broken pommel of the family sword back... or at least what looks close enough like the family pommel. We met back at Gamlen's for lunch with mother when a mail carrier arrived. A letter from Meeran. Said there was a dwarf named Anso who wanted to speak to me about some urgent business tonight in the Low Town market. Seemed shady to me, so we went to the Hanged man to see what Varric knew about him. Isabella over heard us and poked her head in to said "Ooooh clandestine meeting in the dark of night? Count me in."

...The bazaar was empty with the exception of this Anso. Jumpy little guy. A lyrium smuggler who had lost his lyrium. Anso asked that we get back what was stolen from him. We were sent to one fo the run down piles of mud that pass for houses in the alienage. It was a trap. No sign of any lyrium. Another trap was laid for when we exited. We were clearly not what they were expecting. Tevinters by the look of them. Eventually the true object of their obsession revealed himself. A run away slave, Fenris, who had lyrium branded into his skin. An... odd look to say the least. Lots of rage and anger as well. He asked for our help in facing down his former master.

I wasn't sure of what to make of Fenris, but he seemed desperate. And if there was a slaver in my city, he needed to be removed immediately. So I agreed to help him. There were no objections, so we set out for High Town to find and, judging from the fire in Fenris' eyes, kill a Magister. An effort that would be met with frustration... and several demons... The Magister himself was long gone. After waiting for Fenris to finish brooding over intergalactic emptiness or whatever it was he was going on about, we settled up. He offered his sword in the future if it was needed. While I detest drama queens, his skill with a blade could prove useful. If he could look passed my being a mage, I suppose I can look passed his unending "woe is me" routine.

...On the way back to Gamlen's place, we were stopped my Meeran. Some of his boys had gone missing on one of his latest contracts out on the docks. So high noble infighting. Par for the course in Kirkwall. Polite and honorable in the public eye, but in the privacy of every "noble" house you find a band of greedy back stabbers. Normally I wouldn't care why so many people wanted to this one lordling dead, but.. there were ALOT of people that wanted him dead. After I found Meeran's men and the target showed up, I couldn't resist asking about the "why". Turns out the reason the other nobles are after him is because he convinced the Viscount to aide Ferelden during and after the Blight. Which meant a 2% tax hike on the nobility Unbelievable. I'm not killing someone for helping my people... I might throw some fireballs into a few High Town windows, but this is a contract I can't see through.

Meeran was less than pleased. Bastard's lucky I didn't drive an ice spike through his face... I'm guessing I won't be getting any more offers of work from him. Not the best time to be burning bridges, but...... I think I've had enough adventure for one day...
(didn't have much time to play last night, RL stuff got in the way)

I was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of Bear pawing at a chest that was filled with some of the things we brought with us from Lothering. Bethany's Staff, Father's rings, the Witch's amulet... it was humming. I had almost forgotten it. I've made the trip to where the Witch told us to take it several times, but there was never anyone there. Perhaps this means it's time? The sound it's making is clearly bothering Bear, so it can't stay here. I go to wake Carver only to find him missing from his bunk. I get get dressed and pocket the amulet to take to my stash spot at the Hanged Man. The place is mostly empty save for those who are living there... or have no where else to go... and Carver. He's in a small room behind the bar. I'm about to go scold him when he smiles and is joined by his bar maid, Norah. Ordinarily I would tease him, but... just this once...go for it kiddo.

Isabella catches me and says "What are you looking at?..." I hurry her along before she spots him. She'd blow things for him for certain. I instead draw her eye to the shiny amulet and walk towards the back of the bar. I go into detail about where it came from and what I was asked to do with it. Fenris and Varric come around the corner about mid story and Fenris goes off into some rant about the Dalish not respecting the struggles of city Elves. I tuned him out when he dropped into his monologue voice. He can go on for a while. Varric suggested we go now. "If the thing's making noises, it's time to get it far... far away." So we all head out for where the Dalish are suppose to be. As we pass by the bar I catch a glimpse of Carver rounding second base. I will definitely tease him about this later...

...We arrive at the mountain pass just after dawn. The Dalish are less than inviting. Their self righteousness was stifling. I thought only Orliasian nobles could be that obnoxious. Their "keeper" seemed polite enough though. She may have just been buttering me up. She had additional tasks for me to undertake. She sent her "First", Merrill, along with me to the top of the mountain to perform some Dalish rite. Stranger still, when the task is done, I am to take Merrill to Kirkwall with me. There is a story to this, but no one would talk about it. So I just decide to get this over with and go looking for this Merrill. Introductions are made and we start up the mountain...

...We proceed steadily until we come to a mystical barrier. I throw a fireball at it, but it has no effect. I figure we are going to have to turn back when Merrill steps up with a dagger in hand. She slices her palm and, with a gesture, disperses the barrier. The groups reaction was about what you'd expect. I was more fascinated than anything else. My only point of concern was her confusing spirits and demons. We press on to the alter where Merrill places the amulet and then begins the rite. What happened when she finished was truly astounding. The Amulet began to glow and shake then...

(torn out page)

...mid morning reaching the Alienage. Merrill seemed a bit lost and overwhelmed... or underwhelmed. The Alienage is not exactly known for fancy living. I show her around Low Town and introduce her to a couple of people who won't rob her blind. The Keeper gave me some of their Craftsman's works to sell off for money to get Merrill setup here. Didn't get much, but we got her a place that wasn't completely falling apart. As Alienage hovels go, it was in fair shape. I'll check on her from time to time... and have one of Varric's men keep an eye on her the rest of the time. She seems like a smart girl, but in the book smarts department only. Which may have been enough in her clan, but here in Kirkwall, street smarts are what you need to survive.

Carver and I hit the bazaar after all this and discussed little Merrill. She's a blood mage and has had some interaction with at least one demon. The Dalish don't seem to differentiate between demons and spirits. It's rare that Carver and I find agreement on anything, but I can't deny that she could be trouble. She seems more innocently naive than anything else, but for a mage naivety can be lethal. I don't really hold the same aversion to blood magic as most do, but the involvement of the demon... She'll need to be watched...

Dropped by the alienage this morning to check on Merrill. She's settling in well... as well as she can anyway. She'll be fine, I think. Carver suddenly rushes in and says there is a Templar outside asking a woman about an apostate. I go to the window and try to listen in as best I can. It's soon clear that he's not here for me or Merrill and that the woman's son is in a great deal of trouble. The smart move would have been to ignore the situation and not draw any attention, but... I just couldn't. I had to ask her about her son. A heart breaking tale. An untrained child mage being stalked by demons in his dreams and spends his waking hours in fear of being stalked by Templars. This is no way for any one to grow up. Bethany and I had Father to teach us about the hidden dangers of our magic. He was an enchanter in the Kirkwall Circle. A better instructor you could not ask for, but this boy doesn't have anyone like that. He doesn't understand what's happening to him. All he knows is fear.

Knowing that getting involved with this could get the attention of the wrong sort, I agree to help find the Elf mage Feynriel. I speak with the boy's absentee father. He refuses to even acknowledge that he has a child. Useless scum. The only other lead I have is the Templar that was here earlier. The longer this goes on the more foolish I feel for not ignoring the situation. I've come this far and I can't turn my back on that woman. She is facing the nightmare that we have always feared Mother would have to face. There is little choice for me. I go to the Gallows to find this Thrask...

...Carver is brooding as the boat reaches the Gallows side of the bay. We picked up Varric and Fenris along the way, just in case the worst came about and we needed a quick talker or a strong sword arm. Luckily, neither were necessary Sir Thrask was a good sort. He seemed solely interested in what was best for the boy. A refreshing change. He points me in the direction of a former Templar called Samson. I've seen him wandering the streets at night in Low Town. Not sure how he started out, but now he's just a Lyrium addict. I saw the Templars in Lothering go through Lyrium withdrawal once. A pack of bandits kept hitting their shipments for almost a month. The effects are nightmarish. I have no love of Tempalrs, but no one deserves that. Samson leads me to a shady captain in Dark Town. Who is a pirate... and a slaver... Fenris takes great delight in squeezing the truth from him regarding the young mage's whereabouts.. Almost as much as when he cleaves the man's head in two. Why can't I make friends that find joy in baking pies or raising kittens or something normal...

...The next stop on the trail to Feynriel is a cave just outside of the city. It's were some Tevinters are coming to pick up their latest batch of slave flesh. We arrive before they can make their escape and deal with them accordingly. The matter of what exactly to do with Feynriel was another matter. From what he is describing, it's safe to say that his abilities are beginning to awaken and several demons have taken notice of him. If circumstances were different, if he had come to my attention sooner, I would send him off to the Dalish and that would be that, but this... He could become an abomination at any moment. Too dangerous... Though I am pained to do so, I take him to the Circle. I send Carver ahead to get Sir Thrask alone for the hand off. Not what I wanted, but there are nothing but bad options now...

...I spend much of the afternoon drinking in the Hanged Man. Varric and Fenris come over and tell me about dwarf looking for muscle to help build some favor with the Qunari. I'm not sure that's even possible. My mood is not exactly agreeable, but it might take my mind off of things. So once I sober up, we collect Carver and head out for the coast. We locate this Javaris, a sleazy little dwarf, and broker a deal. We help him take out some Tal Vasoth and earn some good will with the horn head ox men and we get a healthy sum of gold for our efforts. There are also some bounties out on these renegade Qunari so we'll get paid double for our work. Not to mention have our pick of whatever these raiders have stolen. So we head out to patrol the coast for bandits with horns... and really big spear like swords... Carver is far too excited at the chance to face such infamously powerful warriors as the Tal Vashoth. Fenris makes them sound like monsters...

...I had never fought Qunari before, but the more of them we faced, the more I realized why they fear magic so desperately. They are extremely vulnerable to it. I've never seen anyone have such a strong negative reaction to magic. Needless to say we made short work of them and headed back to Kirkwall to meet with Javris at the Qunari compound at the docks to conclude our business deal. A deal which the leader of the Qunari, the Arishok, seemed unaware of. While he was not pleased with Javris making a deal in his name, he seemed impress with our ability to take down the Tal Vashoth and demanded Javaris live up to what he promised us.

The qunari are a difficult bunch to take measure of. They have a sense of honor and a strict code of conduct, but it's intimacies are a bit hard for me to grasp. The chantry says the Qun is vile and wicked, but from what little I know of it, it seems largely reasonable and fair. Especially to those who are normally discounted by most other societies. I'm not suggesting I would ever convert as they would see one such as myself put in chains, but I can see why some would find it appealing.

After all this, we call it a day. I head to the Hanged Man to count up the gold we have managed to pull together. We are getting close to the 50 sovereigns Varric says we will need to deal with Bartrand. A few more odd jobs and we should have more than enough. Hard to believe as only a week ago Carver and I were desperate just to put food on the table. I'm still conflicted over Feynriel. I know it was the right decision, but to send another mage into the hands of the Templars... I doubt I will sleep well tonight.

Word of several members of the Carta lurking around the docks reached Varric. Carta usually means trouble for the Merchants guild which means trouble for House Tethras. Not really sure what they were up to so he asked Isabella, Carver, and I to accompany him to find out. It wasn't what was expected. They were here to assassinate a former Dwarven lord. Harrowmont something or other. He offered to pay us to take out the Carta. Those thieves would have eventually turned their attention to some of the shipments at the docks so we had to get rid of them. Didn't mention that the Dwarf though. More coin for the expedition fund...

...Got a full sovereign for our troubles and a few silvers off the Carta. A lucrative morning. (it's insane how important money is in Act1 but by mid Act2 you can drop 30 gold on an item and not care) Spent most of the rest of the morning checking in Merrill, Anders, and Fenris. Merrill and Fenris to make sure they aren't getting into trouble. Anders to make sure he hasn't gone full demon. Merrill seems to be adjusting to life in Kirkwall. Anders is... well... Anders. Fenris is broody as ever. The "Woe is me" routine is getting really old.

On the way out of Fenris' place, we run into Aveline. She was just coming off her patrols for the day. We were walking back to the Keep when a Magistrate called to me. He heard of me through the Red Irons and was looking for someone to track down an escaped criminal. Wouldn't tell me what the escapee did other than escape, so I assume there is far more to this than it appears. Aveline tagged along as this was really a matter that should have a City Guard involved. We also ran into Isabella on the way out of town. She asked what we were up to. I think she was just bored, so she tagged along too...

...Upon reach the ruins the escaped criminal was hold up in we learned what his crime truly was. Seems he's been kidnapping and murdering elven children. Information shared by the father of his latest victim. This put a new light on things. Once inside we found the girl that was taken. She has a strange telling of the man's behavior. As we had cleared the tunnels behind us, I told her to make a run for the exit. Kelder, the criminal we were sent to hunt down, was just ahead. Though he claimed to be plagued by demons, I felt no demonic aura coming from him. He was simply mad... and the magistrates son. Explains why he's not rotting in a prison. If we took him out of the ruins I had no doubt his father would just cover this all up. He had to be stopped. And it was left to me to do so. He'll never harm another child...

...After returning to the city and informing the magistrate, he did not live up to his end of the bargain. I suppose I didn't either, but it had to be done. If the man wasn't a Magistrate I would have... Doesn't matter. We all go to the Hanged man for some drinks and blow off some steam. Isabella tells me about a friend of hers that's looking for someone to track down something he that was stolen. Seemed easy enough. Which of course meant it wouldn't be. So, after we talk with this Martin, we head back out to the docks. Takes some doing, but we manage to find the cargo. After clearing out the raiders who stole the cargo to begin with, we go through the cargo till we find Martin's crates. Crates filled with some of the most lethal poison in Thedas. Spices and herbs my ass. We go through the rest of the crates and take a few choice items then head back to the hanged man...

...After squeezing as much gold out of Martin as I can, I divide up the spoils and we split up for the evening. I stick around to flirt with Isabella while we play a few hands of wicked grace in her room. I couldn't exactly throw my coin around so we played for clothes. Much more fun... And Carver was wrong. Those curves of hers are not due to leather armor padding under her clothes...

Aveline came by today and told me about a woman asking around about her missing brother. He was a Templar recruit. As it concerns the Templars, I really should avoid the situation, but Aveline was earnest in her appeal for me to look into the matter. She said the guard had tried to look into it, but the Templars weren't being of any help. Though dangerous, I couldn't help but be curious. If Templar recruits are disappearing it could lead the Templars to be more... vigilant. That would be even more dangerous for me. I take Carver with me (and Varric and Anders) and talk to this desperate woman. She explains her concerns and points me to the Gallows. I dare not address an officer. They would spot me for a mage in a heart beat. The other recruits are another matter. Their biggest worry is "Does my sword shiny bright enough for inspection?" They weren't hard to spot... we are told about another recruit that had disappeared and returned. He was said to be wandering the coast. It was a long shot, but if anyone knew what happened to Karen, my missing Templar, it would be him...

...When we catch up to the other recruit, Wilmod, we find him being threatened by the Knight Captain. Seemed to be handling the Wilmod a bit rough, but the situation quickly exploded. Wilmod had been taken over by a demon some how. It summoned more demons to it's side and attacked. Even Knight Captain Cullen was overwhelmed by the sight. The battle was fierce, but we defeated them. Cullen had no idea what had happened to Wilmod nor the whereabouts of Karen, but he did have a lead. The Blooming Rose. We head back to see where this lead will take us...

...We discover a blood mage in the brothel. She had been enchanting recruits and sending them off to be possessed. She claimed not to know what was being done to them, but she was of some use. She told me where she had been sending the recruits. I couldn't just leave her behind though. She tried to kill me. Couldn't just hand her over to the Templars, no telling how many she has enchanted already. She was too dangerous. She was.. dealt with and we went looking for this base of theirs. If Karen was there, it would only be a matter of time before he too ended up like Wilmod...

...The place was crawling with demons and undead. We fight our way through all sorts of horrors until we eventually find Karen and the mad leader of this conspiracy. She has been forcing demons into recruits for maker knows how long. There was only so much of her babble I could stand. We kill them all. Not that they gave us a choice in the matter, but we would have had to do it anyway. We couldn't leave them to their own devices. Meredith would have shoved a Blade of Mercy through each of their hearts and had all the fodder she needed to crack down even harder than she was already. They had to be stopped here and now. Once they were dead, Karen was released from his bonds. I sensed no Demonic aura coming from him, but it doesn't mean there wasn't a beast hiding within him. Cullen must be told of the possibility that Karen could be possessed...

...We discuss the situation with the Knight Captain. He is naturally disturbed by the news. I almost expected him to wet his dress. I convince him not to kick Karen out of the order for something that "might be". With this over, I gladly leave the Gallows. The place is just unnerving. Carver and I hit the Low Town bazaar to pick up some dinner and head home. With this job, we reached our goal of funding for the expedition. We'll approach Bartrand soon. I'll let Varric decide when to actually do that. For now, the day is done and it's time to unwind. I may hit the Hanged Man after dinner.

Talked with Varric this morning. Seems Bartrand is in a particularly foul mood today. Something to do with a business rival. So today would not be the best time to approach him about a partnership. Word has been spreading about the Viscounts son disappearing. There have been flyers around High Town about a reward for any who could find and return the boy. We went to the Keep to find out more. Seems we're not the only ones looking to collect on this bounty. A mercenary group called with Winters had involved themselves. I had heard of them during my time with the Red Irons. Rescues are not what they are known for. They are a particularly savage lot. They're as likely to kill the boy as save him. After announcing our intentions to Bran, we race to coast to search for the Viscounts son, Saemus. When we catch up to the Winters they had killed the Qunari that was said to have captured Saemus. A claim he disputes. According to him, he was there willingly. So the story isn't "A Tal Vasoth kid napped my son!" it's "My son took a Qunari on a moon lit stroll down the beach." Oh that's much better... and bound to end up in one of Varric's tales. Bran is going to brown his shorts when this is comes out.

We fought the Winters. They apparently had not had their fill of blood for the day. They won't be a problem any longer. We return to the Keep with the boy in tow. The relationship between Saemus and his father is clearly a strained one. I'm not sure if he truly desires a better relationship between Qunari and the rest of Kirkwall or if he's just doing this to embarrass his father. Either way, not our business. We collect our accolades and leave. Aveline goes off for her daily patrols. Carver, Varric, and I shop around the High Town Market to replenish some supplies...

...While we are shopping Carver notices Isabella reading a flyer stating that a man is looking for someone to search for his missing wife. The reward being offered is quite handsome. We finish our business in the markets and all go to investigate. The husband is a thoroughly horrid man. He is less interested in the safety of his wife than what her family will think if she doesn't turn up soon. I almost slugged the bastard. I started to walk away from the whole thing, but I wasn't going to ignore a someone who could be in danger because they married a gutless nug humper...

...The trail eventually leads us to Dark Town. A Templar, Emeric, had taken up the search for her. Seems she was not the first to disappear. He points us toward the foundry in Low Town. I spotted what looked like a mage in the foundry, but he escaped. He had summoned several demons to cover his escape. All we found was a ring and alot of bones. Emeric would need to be informed. I took the ring to the husband to see if it belong to his missing wife. He didn't even want the ring back. A bastard to the end. With that done, the four of us return to the Hanged Man. Later, I dispatched a letter claiming to be a shop keeper in Kirkwall to the the in-laws about my suspicions of the husband's involvement in his wifes death and included the ring along with the claim that he sold it to me. At the very least, that should get him out of my city. Perhaps tomorrow will be a good day to approach Bartrand and we can get this expedition under way...

Mother found a letter outside the front door this morning. No name on it, just some cryptic phrasing about wanting to meet out on the coast. I asked around, but our neighbors didn't see anyone. Not that they would have told me if they did. There is a bit of a running joke regarding asking questions in Low Town. "I didn't see anything. I didn't hear anything. I wasn't there. If I was there, I was asleep." Without knowing where or who this came from, it could be some kind of Templar trap so we decide to ignore it for the time being. Carver headed off to the Hanged Man in his usual "I'm angry at the world" attitude. He said he was going to check in with Varric, but Varric is rarely up before noon. With the little swagger in his step, I'd bet a week of washing Gamlen's socks that Carver was going to see Norah. Things are progressing with those two rather quickly. Can't help but notice he's smiling more these days. I take Mother and Bear for a stroll around High Town. We have collected more than enough coin to deal with Bartrand. Figured I spend some of it on Mother. Pamper her a bit...

...Mother had heard of a new cafe that recently opened near the Markets. It was okay I suppose. Orliasian. At least they didn't mind Bear. Even brought him his own saucer. Afterwards, I took mother for a bit of shopping. Got her a new outfit. Fancy one too. If she was going to be appealing to the Viscount for the Estate she would need to look like she belonged in it. Even got Bear a jeweled collar and leash So he would look like a Ferelden noble's hound. I'm leaving him behind to watch over Mother while I'm out on the expedition.I give her a couple gold and left her and Bear to their own devices while I went back to Low Town. By the time I got to the Hanged Man, Varric would be crawling out of bed and inching his way to the bar for a little "hair of the dog". How he can stay so up beat when he's hung over is beyond me...

...When I get to the tavern, the Bartender tells me Varric is in his room in the back. On my way there, I find Isabella huddled up with a glass to the door of the staffs quarters. I look back at the main floor and notice the absence of Carver and Norah. I cast a paralysis spell on Isabella and very quietly drag her away into Varrics room where I find him nursing a mug. He raises an eye brow, "What ever kinky thing you two are up to, it's not happening in here." I leave her on the floor and walk over to him, "Don't worry about her, she'll be fine. Shall we speak with Bartrand today?" After a moment of silence he just shrugs, It would be a good time actually. The men he's hired are getting twitchy. If he doesn't make a move soon, he'll start to lose them to other guild members looking for muscle. He gulps down the rest of his ale and throws a coat over Isabella's head so he can retrieve the gold from his hidden safe. After we have the purse in hand, he picks up his coat, "You sure she's okay?" I kneel down and pat her bronze butt, "Yeah, she's fine... I think... pretty sure..." and we go to collect Carver and Anders and prepare to deal with Bartrand... She's going to kill me when that spell wears off...

...Anders was less than eager to go into the Deep Roads, but if we encounter any Darkspawn, having a Warden will be handy. We make our pitch to Bartrand. He was less than eager, but he didn't exactly have a choice once I slapped a purse full of sovereigns down in front of him. When he saw the maps he about pissed himself. He probably did... Bartrand immediately started thinking of things to spend all of my coin on and walked off talking to himself... From Varric's expression, I don't think Bartrand has never been happier. Dwarves are a strange lot...With that done, all that was needed was to buy the rest of the supplies for the trip. Bartrand would handle all of that. Giving us time to handle other business. The letter I had gotten this morning for instance. As Carver and I talked about it, the part about mages sparked something for Anders. He insists that we go out there and check it out. Think I'll let him take point since he's so "We must save them!" about it...

...We arrive to find Ser Thrask waiting. Seems some run away mages were hiding in a cavern and he wants me to try and get them to come out peacefully. If the Templars had to go in, it would be a massacre. Couldn't rightly turn away, but with more Templars on the way it wasn't exactly good for me to hang around. We make a quick march through the tunnels... until we run into a mob of undead. The mages inside had turned to necromancy. Anders wanted to set these mages free, but with this...this was evil magic. They were pulling spirits through the veil and forcing them into the dead to fight and kill the living. A demon had to be at work here. There was no choice now. They had to go to the Circle... Assuming all of them had not given into demons. When we finally reach the main group, they attack us on sight. Only a handful of them refuse their leaders call to arms. When the battle is over, we lead those that did not fight out to the surface. Only one new Templar was outside. A thoroughly miserable bastard. Thankfully he was dim as he was crude. We hand off the mages and make a quick retreat before more Templars show up. Couldn't say if the mages would give me and Anders up, but they didn't even know who we were. So no real threat there...

...When we get back to the city we head for the Hanged Man to go over our plans for the Deep Roads. Along the way, we pass by a Chantry sister wandering the back alleys... at night... and walking off with a man clearly about to rob her and very likely to do far worse. Pretty thing like her, Chantry sister or no, could easily end up in a slavers collar for all sorts of depravity. Not sure if you can save someone so foolish, but we couldn't just stand by and do nothing. After a quick battle with a local band of thugs, the sister makes us the offer she was going to make to the thugs. No hesitation, not even a thank you... Unbelievable... We follow her to a house in Low Town where we find her, a pet Templar, and... a Qunari Mage... Everything about this just smells wrong, but... she was offering ALOT of gold... I'm not sure about any of this, but a jobs a job. We can't exactly walk him out the front gates, so we take him through the under city... and right into a trap. "Someone" had left a trail of bodies right to where we had to come out. It had to be Sister Patrice. I knew something was off about her from the start. Never get involved with religious zealots. They don't have jobs, they have causes that get you killed by giant albinos with swords... and magic glow sticks... I just wanted a clean break from this mess. I'll inform the Arishok in the morning then we are getting out of this mad house... Can't believe I'm excited about marching into the Darkspawn infested Deep Roads...

Today's the day. Finally going to get the Expedition moving. I left what gold we had left over with Mother incase her meeting with the Viscount required some greasing of palms. A quick stop by the docks to inform the Arishok of the mage and his men we had a... disagreement with yesterday, and it's was off to the Guild. Bartrand was giving a speech to the men when Mother showed up. She was worried about Carver and I both going. She insisted on him staying behind. He's worked as hard as anyone to see this through, but... This is a pivotal time for him. His relationship with Norah is blooming, he's become a fine warrior during our time with the Irons, and it's about time he starts making some choices on his own. That's not going to happen if he's always following me. I know he'll be angry. He may never forgive me, but this is for the best... I think. Fenris agrees to take Carvers place on the expedition and we head out. Given the way Carver reacted, I hope he will find his way into the city guard, but I have a sneaking suspicion that he will opt for the Templars just to spite me. But even in the Templars, I think he will find the fulfillment he never would have found in my shadow...

...For days we march through the tunnels. The only good fortune we had found was not running into any Darkspawn. That is until we run into a collapsed section of the road. While Varric, Anders, Fenris, and I search for a way around we run into pretty much every bit of nasty you can run into down here... and I swear I've caught Fenris looking at my butt twice now... We eventually come across young Sandel. One of our hirelings who had gotten separated from the group. He was surrounded by atleast a dozen dead Darkspawn and one petrified Ogre. He's either unbelievably lucky, or he's far more than he seems. We direct him back to the main group and continue on to try and find a clear passage... Hurlocks, Ogres, Arcane Horrors, and even Dragons, but through all of that, A thaig like no other. Red Lyrium everywhere. I've never seen or even heard of red Lyrium. What ever this place is, it's making Bartrand twitchy... more than usual.

As we explore the ruin, I keep hearing a slight hum. Not sure where it was coming from. The ruins are crawling with demons and golems. A few chests here and there. The jewel of the Thaig was a strange idol forged out the red lyrium. There was a dark aura coming off the idol. Bartrand had been following behind us. I gave him the idol. I just wanted it out of my hands Just got a really bad feeling holding it. Bartrand had the exact opposite reaction to it though. When he got hold of it... I don't know... His eyes just glazed over and... I should have destroyed that damned thing... He walked off and locked us in the vault. The bastard left us and his own brother for dead... we'll deal with him another day. We have to get out of this place first. We take our chances further in.

Bartand betrayed us too soon. There were vast riches in the depths of the Thaig... and more demons... weird ones... But hey! All the gold and jewels you can carry. It's going to take another expedition to collect all of it. Something to worry about when we find a way out of this hole... If we find a way out of this hole...

...Takes us over a week get back to Kirkwall. Doesn't seem like a month had passed, but things hadn't changed much... not till I got home. I was right about Carver. He had joined the Templars while I was gone. I'm not exactly pleased about his choice, but the armor suits him well. Whether he knows it or not, he's been the family's Templar since he could lift a blade. Father made sure he knew what to look for if Bethany or I had begun to turn. He had the skills to... deal with us if that were to happen. I do believe that the Order is where he belongs. He's angry, but finally coming into his own. Mother was strongly against it, but maybe he will have a tempering effect on some of the hatreds among the Templar's number... Many changes are coming. We're going to get the Estate back, the riches we dragged out of the Deep Roads will make us one of the richest families in the city, and best of all...I won't have to wake up to the smell of Gamlen's night farts anymore. Good things all around. We'll see what the future holds...

Almost forgot this old thing... Let's see... how to sum up the last three years... Well, the expedition paid off better than any of us had imagined. We're now one of the wealthiest families in the city. Mother got the Amell Estate back. The place is even larger than I thought way back when Carver and I breached the lower levels to get our grand parents Will... Carver... He's a full fledged Templar Knight these days. Damn good one too. Knight Captain Cullen has taken him under his wing, I hear. I've only spoken with him a few times in the last few years. He's not very sure of his choice to join the Order. He has found purpose, but the hatreds he finds among his superiors disturbs him. He is certain is his course and determined to see it through. I'm actually quite proud of him. He and Norah have had some ups and downs over Carver's choice to join the order. She worries about him almost more than Mother does. She's keeping him on his toes too. I can see a wedding and mini-Carvers coming down the road.

Let's see... the Bone Pit. With the rise in pay I made when Hubert brought me on, our work force has grown to the point that we have enough men and women working the mine to fill three shifts. Productivity has increased significantly and with the contacts I've made in the Merchants guild, we have almost as much demand as we have supply. We've had a little trouble with bandits and local wild life, but nothing major in years. It did get to the point when Hubert wanted to hire guards for the caravans. I pulled together what was left of the winters and organized them into our own private security force. The mine has never been more profitable. Between the mine, contracts with the merchants guild, and odd jobs for the city guard, I've finally got a good thing going here.

Isabella has proven a difficult puzzle to piece together. Working on it though. She's still a fixture in the Hanged Man. Still searching for her missing "relic". Whatever it is, it must be worth a fortune for her to stay in one place for so long. I get the feeling that's highly irregular for her. She can usually be found hustling some poor fool at Wicked Grace or picking some lecher's pocket. She longs for the sea though. I'll see her out at the docks eyeing the ships in the bay. I've offered to make some contacts for her. A few jobs with me and she'd be able to buy a ship in no time. I think she's just allergic to honest work. If you don't have to hook or crook your way to it, she'd just as soon be playing the card shark... My Pirate Queen.

Varric has officially taken over as the head of House Tethras in Kirkwall. He's tried several times to find Bartrand, but he's proving to be elusive. Considering the network Varric now has at his disposal, that's saying alot. Varric isn't particularly comfortable as head of the house, but he's not exactly complaining either. Despite owning the family estate in High Town, he chose to continue living in the Hanged Man. "It's the only place that feels like home." he says. He keeps the estate for when he is forced to deal with people from the guild face to face. Think it's currently rented out to a cousin or something.

Aveline has taken her place as Guard Captain. Despite being a Ferelden, she is well respected by the men and women under her command. She is a strict task master, but she cares for the guards as if they were her own family. A sentiment that clearly goes both ways. The guards follow her orders without question. She seems happy in her new role and her troops are happy with her in it.

Fenris is squatting in that mansion in High Town. He's had to fend off a few bounty hunters from time to time, but that's about it. He hires himself out as a mercenary for those that can afford him. He also takes down bounties for the City guard when he's in the mood. If a blood mage is rumored to be hiding in or around the city, he's the first to go "hunting". Something that has made him the Templar's favorite canon fodder. Most of the time he just sits in that mansion and broods. The drama he whips up around himself is thick enough to make a novelist choke. Some of the nobles have complained about him, but because of his work with the guard and the Templars, he is ignored... mostly.

Merrill is still in the alienage. She's made a few friends. I make a point to have a meal with her atleast once a week to make sure everything is okay. She's largely gone unnoticed by the Templars. They just see another elf in the crowd. She spends most of her time making Dalish potices for the alienage. She's never sure exactly how much to charge for them, but I think the other elves would still buy from her even if she overcharged them. She's adapted well to city life. Sometimes though I catch her looking out at the mountains and can tell she misses her clan.

Anders has become involved with a human trafficking ring. Sneaking mages out of the Circle. He tried to get me to help them, but for three years I've seen one abomination after another pour out of that place. There's no telling how many he has set loose. I've tried to deal with the beasts quietly, but when one is spotted, it spreads like wild fire through the city. Knight Commander Meredith, in turn, applies more pressure in the circle. He's doing more harm than good to his own cause, but refuses to see it. Varric has placed a spy in his clinic to keep tabs on him. Anders is becoming more paranoid and dangerous as time passes, but I owe him greatly. Without his maps and healing magic, we would never have made it out of the Deep Roads. Then where would mother be?

Which brings me to Mother and Gamlen. Mother is living the life she always should have since we got to this city, as a high noble woman in Kirkwall. Spends her days wandering the court and the markets, accepting invitations to parties of people of influence, and pressuring me about when she is going to get some grandchildren. As for Gamlen, he's still in his shack in Low Town. I paid off most of his debts and even gave some of the gold we brought out of the Deep Roads... the gold disappeared into the Blooming Rose and his debts were climbing again after only a few months. He's hopeless. I give him a few silver every week to carry food and water to the miners. If there is ever any noise of bandits or the like on the roads, I'll send Bear (the dog) with him when he makes his delivery. It's not much, but it's enough to ensure he doesn't starve in that hovel.

The Qunari are still here. They continue to insist that they are just waiting for a ship, but you could have swam back to Par Vollen by now. Something else is going on. You won't get it out of any of them though. Tensions have grown simply by their continued presences. The Viscount does what he can, but you continue to hear whispers about people wanting to force the Qunari out of the city... I'm sure that would go well.

...........................................................................................................................

I was called to the Viscounts office this morning. Unusual to say the least. Curiosity had me though. When I got there, the Viscount and Seneschal Bran were discussing the Qunari and a very strange request that had been made. Seems the Arishok has asked for me by name. I don't think he's ever "asked" for anything. Not sure what to make of it, I went to see Aveline while I was in the keep. Had a wee chat. The captain's uniform suits her well. Her, what some have called, over protectiveness of the guards is causing some headaches from Bran, but he's no match for her iron will... or thick head. On the way out of the keep, Bodahn ran up... literally... with what was left of the expeditions profits that were still outstanding. He also mentioned that Mother wanted a word with me. Had to pass by the estate anyway. Bodahn and his son Sandle are living with us in the estate. Bodahn is serving as a butler to repay me for saving his boy. I told him it wasn't necessary, but he insisted...

...Mother didn't really want anything particular. Just lamenting on all that has happened over the last few years... and apparently she is going to be spreading around Kirkwalls well-to-do that her son is single... joy of joys... She's smiling. That's what matters. Aveline came around and asked me to looking into something for her. Ser Emeric has been poking around outside his commission again. Seems he's become a bit of a problem with some of the nobility which makes him a problem for Bran which makes him a problem for Aveline. She's hoping I can quiet him down about some of the murders he believes are connected somehow. After I check some messages, I head out for the docks. Emeric can wait. The Arishok takes priority. I collect Fenris before hand. He was helpful in dealing with the Arishok the first time around. He could be useful this time...

...I pick up Varric along the way to the docks. You can never go wrong with having Bianca around. The situation broke down to a Qunari trap for a thief A trap that could endanger the entire city. Someone tried to steal their explosive powder formula, but got a deadly gas recipe instead. Javaris is the obvious suspect. No evidence, but who else could it be? We set out to find him before this situation gets any more out of hand. The only lead we have is a rumor about a sell off by the Coterie in dark town. That leads us through a merry chase through the sewers and out to the coast, but we catch up to the runt. Things were not were they seemed. Javaris was just a patsy. An elf stole the formula and used Javaris as her fall guy.

By the time we got back to the city it's too late. The Elf Javaris mentioned had started brewing the poison in bullk. an entire block had been covered by a blanket of the toxin. When the elf revealed herself, she rambled on for a moment spouting something about "the faithful" and blaming the Qunari... She was mad, but someone clearly put her up to this... We head back to the docks to inform the Arishok. After explaining the situation, something unexpected happened. The Arishok displayed an emotion... and it wasn't a good one... We report back to the Viscount and learn of more bad news. The Arishok sent some Delegates to the keep... they "vanished" on their way out. I swear this city seems to love crisis so days.

Bran goes into more detail than the Viscount. The trail eventually leads us to the Chantry... and sister Patrice. Excuse me, "Mother" Patrice. She is obviously the one behind all of this, but without proof there is nothing that can be done about it. When I confront her about what we know, she offers up Ser Varnell. She tells us of a place in Dark Town where Varnell is... "could" be holding the Qunari delegates. He would likely not be alone. This could be another of her death traps. Or perhaps she is hoping that if she gives up Varnell then I will not mention her to anyone... Either way, we have to find those delegates and fast!...

...We race to the sewers and follow a series of foot prints in the sludge. Most are average human size, but a few are far to large to be made by any human or elf. Varnell is definitely not alone down here and I doubt he or his zealots will simply hand over the delegates. A concern that was proven correct. Patrice alerted these "faithful" to our presences. A battle quickly followed. There were far more of them than i had thought. Patrice clearly had laid a trap for us, but she ran before the first blow was made. She'll escape this mess just as she did before... I should have let that gang kill her that night in Low Town... We'll deal with her another day, I'm sure.

When the religiously insane are dealt with, I return to the Keep and inform the Viscount. He could not believe that a Templar had done this and demanded to see for himself. So we bring him and a hand full of guards down to where the Delegates had been held. This is a situation beyond his ability to manage. I warn of of Patrice, but without evidence he can't do anything about her. For the time being, she is protected by her place in the Chantry. She WILL be trouble in the future though. I also informed the Arishok of the fate of his delegates. I'm sure he had already find out about it one way or another, but I felt it appropriate to inform him directly anyway. I can't be certain, but I think he is beginning to respect me... All I've ever done is tell him about the latest number of his men that have died, but he likes me?... The Qunari are strange...

...As the day is wearing short, I decide to head home... Home... Still seems odd to think of this city as home, but it grows on you I suppose. I saw mother gazing out of a window on the upper floor when I got home. She had an odd smile on her face. When I ask her what she's thinking about, she comes back with an answer I had never expected. She is considering getting remarried. I'm not sure how I should feel about this, but I like seeing her smile again. I playfully try to get a name out of her as she clearly has someone in mind, but she is not telling. I say that I'm happy for her and then head upstairs to make this entry... wonder if I should have Varric assign someone to spy on... No...


Met with Merrill this morning for our weekly brunch. Brought her some Blue Berry muffins. They always put a smile on her face. When I arrive she tells me there is something I need to see. There is a giant mirror sitting in her bed room. She seemed quite taken with it, so I assumed it was more than just a mirror. She called it an Eluvian. Some old elven artifact. It's suppose to be a magical mirror, but whatever it's suppose to do it's not doing it. She asks for my help in speaking with the Keeper in acquiring a tool to repair the mirror. I wasn't sure what to make of this, but it meant alot to Merrill. After some prodding and her puppy eyes, I agree to help her. After finishing off a few muffins, we head out for the mountain. Bump into Anders and Fenris on the way out. The were having a spirited... discussion... about the "Mage/Templar situation". Before either of them start to flare bright blue, I ask them to come along with us. Merrill very nervously says, "...Really...?" I just wanted to get them out of the area before the Templars or city guard came snooping...

...After making Merrill's plea we are given a task to fulfill in exchange for the tool Merrill needs. There is a Varterral near by that has killed a number of the clan's hunters. We have been asked to slay it... Not that I knew what this creature was nor what it even looked like. Merrill seemed certain so we headed out to where the beast was last spotted. A series of caves near by. We searched the pathways for over an hour fighting our way through spiders and undead before we found the beast. It had just claimed it's latest, and last, victim. After a short argument with the Keeper, she eventually hands over the artifact. An odd looking knife of sorts. Some of the argument between Merrill and the Keeper was concerning but other than "Bad Merrill" you weren't going to get anything out of Marethari. We left for the city soon after. The other clan members were giving us a foul look. I don't really understand what's going on, but it's clear that this is what drove Merrill from her clan...

After things with Merrill were squared away, I ran a few errands and then dropped by the Hanged Man. Isabella wanted a word. Seems she got another lead on her missing relic. Her leads usually end up with someone digging around in sea weed, but she seemed excited about this one. She asked me if I would go with her to check it out. She never has told me what this thing was, but I know she knows. She just doesn't want to tell me. I agree to help her. Maybe if I keep her talking, something will eventually slip. Then I notice Varric over in a corner glaring into a fire place. When I go over to see what's wrong, he tells me that he believes Bartrand is back in town. I find it hard to believe, but Varric's information is rarely wrong. Never when it's something this important. Isabella's relic will have to wait. This bastard is not escaping again!...

...We meet with Varrics contacts and get a run down on the mansion Bartrand is said to be staying in. A wealthy merchant like Bartrand should have the place clean and guards outside every door and inside every window, but the place looks like it has been abandoned for months. I can feel an dark aura around the place... something is in there...Nothing good though. We enter through the service passage and storm our way through the halls. The place is crawling with mad men and corpses. We find only one servant still alive. Not sure how much of what he said that could be believed. He was obviously traumatized by something. When we finally find Bartrand, he's barking mad. Ranting about voices and "feeding the idol". I suddenly realize what the dark aura around the house is. It's the same as what I felt coming off the statue we found in the Deep Roads. It's weaker, but it's definitely coming from Bartrand. It's infected him somehow and robbed him of his mind. What the hell was that thing?

There is little choice. Either we leave him to his insanity, or put him down. Killing him was always the likely outcome, but this what not how I saw things turning out. Whatever that Idol did to him, he won't be a danger to anyone else anymore. Varric would never show it, but I know he is heart broken. Before he died, amid his rantings, Bartrand mentioned a woman he sold the Idol to. The servant we found said that the reason they came back to Kirkwall was to get it back. Whatever poor soul has that blighted thing, Bartrand clearly believed them to still be in the city. Varric intends to search for this person. I don't know where the idol is and I don't want to know, but if it's in the city then it's a danger to everyone around it. We spread word through our respective contacts to keep an eye out for it... I hope we never find that damned thing... We return to the Hanged Man and I drink with my friend into the wee hours of the morning...

...I wake up a little past noon in one of the back rooms with a splitting head ache. Isabella stands at the door, "Well you're a fine mess aren't you?" After I pull myself together enough to walk, I drag myself home and Bodahn helps me up the stairs to my room. I don't know what we were drinking last night, but I can't even see straight. I'm just lucky the streets were mostly empty. Crowded streets are not a good place for one who can only see through one blood shot eye... Andrates flaming ass... I swear I am never drinking again...


While having breakfast with Mother, Bodahn brought in a letter delivered by what he called a runner in a hood. It was from Anders. It said he needed to meet urgently. Probably just more of his internal drama. Every perceived slight, whether it is one or not, becomes an affront to all mages in his mind. He has become more unstable lately. If I don't go see what he wants, he'll come to the house. Mother gets nervous around him. Can't say I blame her. His... intensity can be a bit much. I'll go see what he wants, but after my weekly meeting with Hubert about the Bone Pit. I should also stop by the Keep and check in with Aveline. See if there is anything she needs. I'm sure whatever Anders is on about will put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Best to get my other meetings done before hand...

...The meeting with Hubert went well. No problems with the mine or workers. The ore is piling up and the coin is flowing. Aveline mentioned some trouble with some raiders out on the coast. I'll look into that this afternoon depending on what the latest crisis Anders believes he's going through turns out to actually be. Along my way to the clinic, I bumped into Varric and Fenris in the tunnels. It seems there are several members of the Carta in Dark Town causing trouble. They were shaking down people for what little of value they had... they "were". We cleared them out rather easily. The two of them got a few minor wounds so they came with me to the clinic. Fenris doesn't like the place, but Anders isn't the only healer there. I tell them about the letter as we go. Varric said, "Oh yes, I'm sure the Divine herself has come to Kirkwall to scold Blondie personally."...

...While they are getting their injuries attended to, I go to talk with Anders. He goes into a rant about something called the "Tranquil Solution". Some plot by the Templars to make every mage Tranquil. I know Meredith has been cracking down, but even she wouldn't do that. There was clearly no talking him out of this latest bout of insanity, but he said he could prove it if I would go with him. I agreed...reluctantly and we set off for a series of tunnels nearby. Old smuggler tunnels that were still crawling with lyrium smugglers. Trafficking their lyrium to the gallows to sell to mages and Templars alike. Nice that they are equal opportunity criminals. We eventually come across some Templars hunting a young mage girl. They were being particularly asinine. While it annoyed me, it threw Anders into a rage. And what happened next is what usually happens when Anders gets angry. Justice burst forth and attacked with little regard for who exactly was in his line of fire. He almost killed the girl he was trying to save. Had I not stopped him, he would have... Anders came to and then ran off realizing what he had almost done...

...We lead the mage out of the tunnels and I gave her a few silver for traveling money and sent her on her way. Fenris wanted to send her back to the Circle, but with the death of those Templars, Meredith would have her killed. If there was a demon within her, it would have come out when the Templars caught her. She was just a scared kid who missed her family. Anders was my immediate concern. When we reach the clinic, he is hunkered over an old chest going through it frantically trying desperately not to think about what happened in the tunnels. This is one outburst he doesn't get to ignore. He nearly murdered a girl barely out of childhood. After a tense exchange I show him some papers I pull off one of Templars about his "Tranquil Solution". It said that this plan was the sole mad dream of a now dead zealot refused by both Meredith and the Divine herself. Had I let him go alone, he would have killed everyone down there and when he regained control of himself would have seen what he had done and run off as he did and never found out about this. He said he was going to leave Kirkwall, but I wasn't going to let him out of my sight. There's no telling what horrors he would unleash out in the world without someone watching him. Maker help me, I convinced him to stay. I knew this was going to put me in a bad mood...

...As I am leaving Dark Town, I remember Aveline telling me about raiders on the coast. I need to throw some fireballs at something after that mess. Varric and Fenris have had about enough for one day though and go about their day. I head to the Keep and get Aveline. Isabella is there having some private words with a shady character by the stairwell. Probably something about her missing relic... or an unpaid "bill" for someone who spent time with one of her girls. She's taken to looking after some of the prostitutes in Low Town making sure that their "clients" pay what is owed and don't get too rough. She can tell I am about to go look for some trouble and decides to come along. As we head for the coast, we come across Merrill. She's picking some herbs for some of her potions she sells in the alienage. She asks what we're up to and tags along as well. With raiders about, it's best not to be alone out here...

...Alittle ways down the coast we come across some guardsmen taking cover from arrows and lightning bolts. I take it that we had found our raiders. With the Guards backing us up, we launch a full assault on the raiders. I have Isabella tend to the traps in the area while the rest of us fight. When it's over, the whole area smells of burnt corpses and I must admit... I do feel a bit better. We also come across some dead Qunari on the beach. The work of an abomination and a number of Demons. Can't help but wonder if this creature use to be one of the mages Anders helped escape the Gallows. How many of them fell prey to demons? How many of the WERE demons?... And then there is the Qunari. Between deaths like this and converts to the Tal Vasoth, the Arishok must have lost at least half his men by now. He's already on edge, how much more can he take of this before he finally reaches he breaking point? Qun or no Qun, everyone has a limit.

We patrol the rest of the beach and clear out what remains of the bandits scattered around and head back for the city. I'm sure there are more hiding in some of the caves in the area, but today's events should keep them in their holes for a while. We split up after we enter the city gates. I go to the Docks to inform the Qunari of their missing patrol then hit the Low Town market to sell off some of the things we found on the raiders and along the coast line. They pay better than the High Town merchants for goods and don't ask questions about where they came from. (The prices aren't really better, I just think they would be better prices considering the quality of goods the Low Town merchants would be use to verse what the High Town merchants could get hold of) then I drop by the Hanged Man for a while to spend some "alone time" with Issy before heading home. Been a long day...


I meet Hubert up at the Keep to discuss a new contract with the Guards smith. Seems Bran has been squeezing the budget and the smithy is not going to be able to afford a full shipment of ore next month. We work out an arrangement A member of the Merchants guild has been looking for a shipment of sword for some of his caravan guards. The Smith agrees to make us a number of swords and arrows to make up for the missing funds. On the way out, Isabella stops me and tells me that Aveline wants a word with me. Seems odd that these two are getting so chummy lately. We go Aveline's office and she makes a rather strange request. That I take a trinket to Guardsman Donnic. A gift which utterly confuses him. Then I'm told to post the roster... Turns out this mess was Avelines attempt at courtship. It would have been funny if it wasn't so sad. The next attempt is made at the Hanged Man. Aveline was suppose to meet Donnic and I there, but she just wandered around in the back of the bar leaving Donnic and I to drink in a very awkward silence. When he leaves, I scold Aveline and tell her to arrange a patrol on the coast with Donnic and talk to the man while I clear their path. I've never seen her like this...

...In the morning I collect Isabella, Fenris, and Merrill and set out for the coast. Along the way we are confronted by Tevinter slavers. They had come for Fenris. We kill them all, but the last one tells of others in an old ruin. Someone Fenris knows. His former master's apprentice. He insists on going after her. It's further out, beyond the coast. We still have plenty of time before Aveline and Donnic are to show up for their patrol along the coast, so we dart off through the hills to the ruin. The entrance is well guarded, but I Fenris had gone almost completely feral. I doubt anything could have stood in his way at that moment. We carved our way through them and into the caves. Most of the slaves had been bled dry to summon demons and amplify the magisters power. We only found one of them still alive hiding behind crates. She was terrified. By the men looking to kill her or by the fighting, I can't say. I directed her to my estate. Couldn't just let her wander about. She'd be in the hands of another slaver or worse by night fall. I'm not sure what exactly to do with her, but in her state of mind, she is too vulnerable to be left to the mercies of Kirkwall.

We eventually find the Magister we're after. She raises demons and undead to fight us. I've never seen so many demons in one place. When we defeat the last of her foul creatures, Fenris prepares to strike a killing blow when the Magister makes a last desperate plea for her life. It does not save her though. Fenris still crushed her heart. Afterwards, Fenris storms off. I don't try to stop him. He needs time to cool off and process what all has happened. We have other matters to attend to...

...Merrill, Isabella, and I reach the coast just as Aveline and Donnic are entering the area. We hurry along up the scheduled path and clear the way. A pack of hounds and a few clusters of highmen. If we were any later, those two would have been easily out matched. With Merrill and I supporting Isabella though, we turned her in to a juggernaut. I almost felt sorry for the bandits... almost. Who I really felt sorry for was Aveline. She was stumbling over her words and just... I eventually couldn't stand it anymore and confronted them. I told him that she had feelings for him as it was clear that she was never going to do it. He was flustered with the revelation and awkwardly hurried off back to the city. Aveline was furious, but I felt it had to be done. We meet back at the keep and watch her fumble around trying to think of a way to "fix this". Donnic walks up and asks for a moment alone with Aveline. They go into her office and shut the door... I hear some books fall and then there is the sound of Aveline... giggling... I didn't know she was capable of giggling.

Isabella, Merrill, and I head out to the High Town market and sell off some of the things we found on our walk though the country side. We return to the Barracks after about an hour to check on... progress... Aveline is sitting on her desk with a smile on her face that I haven't seen in a long time. I assume things went very well...

... It's getting late so I return home. As Mother and I were sitting down for a dinner made by Orana, the slave girl from the Ruins. Mother is... uncomfortable with her here, but where else could she go? The Chantry? Would a life there be any different than here? I'm not sure Orana understands the difference in being a servant and being a slave, but I intend to help as best I can. As we began to eat, Bodahn came in and informed me that Fenris had arrived and was waiting in the entry hall. I can tell by Fenris' expression that something is weighing heavily on his mind and it's not just his standard brooding. I try to be a shoulder for him, but I'm not sure how exactly to help so I just let him vent for a while. I think it helped, but I'm not sure. I'll check on him tomorrow. I think he needs to be alone for now. I've had about enough for one day... Tomorrow I'll have to go seen about Emeric. I've put that off about as long as I can. Even Mother has been hearing some noise from the nobility about a Templar causing trouble in High Town...


I woke to a smell I had not savored in years. Pancakes. Orana had cooked a full breakfast for us. She seemed shocked when she was asked to join us in eating it. I took her out to the High Town market and bought her some new clothes and a few trinkets she fancied. I don't think she had ever received a gift before. So much must seem strange or even alien to her. It will take time for her to adjust to a life so different from what she has been accustomed to, but she was smiling. We return to the estate and with Bodahn and Sandel's help we put her things away in her room. Her favored item was a lute. She was playing it when I left her. I had to attend to other things today.

I made my rounds to check in on my friends. The past few days have been rather trying on some of them. (questioning beliefs and gifts) I try to be an anchor for my merry band of misfits. Sometimes I think I'm the only thing holding them together. We all meet at the Hanged Man around noon where Varric goes off into one of his wild stories. Had a good time. Afterwards, Aveline asks if I had spoken to Ser Emeric. I told I was going to see him this afternoon. She decided to come with me. If there was anything to his investigation then she would need to know about it anyway. Even if there wasn't, she would need to know that too. Isabella and Merrill come along as well. Issy spent most of the time trying to get details about Donnic out of Aveline. I think Merrill just wanted something to do...

...After speaking with Emeric we follow up on one of his leads. An Orliasian named DuPuis. Seriously, that's his name. A slimy little man. Caught him assaulting a woman. He fed me some story about his murdered sister and that he was stalking the true murder. Even without my lack of belief in his tale, the rest of what we found in the house makes him too dangerous to be allowed to be set loose in Kirkwall. Raising demons, kidnapping women, multiple vials of blood laid out around the mansion... He had to be stopped. And stop him we did. He summoned more demons to fight us verifying what I had already suspected about him. I find it hard to believe the city guard did not find these things, but most of them tend to get skittish around the city's nobility. They may not have gone in every room... or any of them... I know Aveline thinks highly of her Guardsmen, but they aren't all like Donnic. I wouldn't even consider his work ethic to be common among the guard force. She is working on that though. Have to credit her that...

...When we returned to the Gallows to inform Ser Emeric, we are told that he had left the Gallows to meet with me in Low Town. A letter arrived with the Amell seal on it. Those seals are tightly regulated. You can't just buy one at a market stall. Who wrote this and how did they get my family seal?... A matter that would have to be addressed later. We set out to find Ser Emeric. Whoever sent that note clearly had something planned for the Templar. Perhaps DuPuis had a partner or he could have been telling the truth even. Whatever the case, I was certain what we would find when we caught up with Emeric wasn't going to be good...

..We follow the instructions in the letter to an alleyway in Low Town. The place reeks of week old piss, sulfur, and... blood. As we approach, I already know what we will find. Either there will be a very old drunken smith with extremely poor bladder control OR a mass of demons have just claimed a victim. Odd as it is, I was really hoping for the former in this scenario... A hope that was crushed when we saw Emeric's body and a demon standing over it about to possess the corpse. We rush in and take the beast on only to find many of it's brethren near by. There was a demon of Desire leading them. Whoever summoned these creatures must be an extremely powerful summoner to bring a Desire demon through the veil and bind it to their will. They are second in power only to Pride demons. Controlling them is beyond difficult. Only a fool would even attempt it.

After the fight, a Templar rounded the corner not long after the battle, typical. Thankfully, Merrill and I were in a part of the alley where the Templar couldn't see us with our defense auras up and we had time to disspell them. That's one headache we don't need. We explain the situation and the Templar heads off to report to Meredith. I don't like giving Meredith more fodder for her arguments for tightening the leash on mages, but she needs to know if there is a mage killing people and summoning demons in the city. We accompany Aveline to the keep and piece together a report for the Viscount and then all head our separate ways. I stick around with Aveline for the meeting with the Viscount. I'm actually looking forward to hearing mother babble on about setting me up with random single noble women. If she knew about Issy and I, she would have a heart attack, come back to life, slap me, then have another heart attack... She doesn't approve of Issy. If mother only got to know Isabella... No... no, she would still hate her...

...I arrive home a little after mid day where I find Gamlen arguing with Sandel. Trying to get Sandel to say something other than "ENCHANTMENT" is rather difficult. Shouting doesn't help. Gamlen was upset about Mother not showing up for their usual afternoon tea. I wouldn't share tea with him when we were living with him, so I wasn't really concerned... until Bodahn mentioned that Mother hadn't been home all day. I had been out all night and most of the day running done Emerics leads, so I didn't know. Then Bodahn points out the lilies... white lilies .. It suddenly dawns on me. The killer I was tracking, he left white lilies at the homes of his victims. I knock over four people racing back up to the Keep to inform Aveline. She may be able to help...

...We trace mothers steps through the city and eventually come to the bazaar in Low Town. Everything was normal until we got there. Gamlen was there talking to a street kid who said he had seen Mother. He claimed to have seen a man who was injured that Mother tried to help. Aveline organizes the guards in Low Town to look for her while we follow the... blood... This could all still be just Mother trying to help someone and she lost track of time, but the longer this drags on, the worse this knot in my stomach gets. Something is very wrong...

...We find Merrill and Isabella at one of the larger blood pools. Merrill said she found this trail and that it was likely used for some type of blood magic. I explain the situation and they join our search. With every step I have one fear after another flash through my mind. We follow the trail to the Foundry. The place where Ninnet disappeared. There is a dark aura filling the foundry. Something evil is taking place here. We find a trap door inside. It wasn't here last time, or maybe it was just well hidden. We go down to find the source of this evil..

...The basement stinks of death. The place is crawling with demons and littered with the... pieces... of bodies. Amid notes of mad ramblings we find books on Necromancy and a shrine of a woman that looked like Mother. There was a note from someone helping this mad man. It was only signed with an O. I will not describe the condition in which we found Mother, but we killed the man responsible for it. I burned him, healed him, and burned him again... I killed him in the most painful way I could. If Aveline hadn't stopped me... While I try to pull myself together, Aveline goes out to find some of her guardsman to secure the area and transport Mothers remains and those of the other women to the Chantry. A ceremony will be held tomorrow. I don't care for the Chantry, but Mother did. It's what she would have wanted...

...Tonight, however, I sit in front of a fire and think about Templars and why they are the way they are... I find myself, a mage, thinking that the Templars are not being vigilant enough in their measures to keep people safe from evil magics. They seem content to punish mages that haven't done anything wrong. Assuming there are any in the Gallows that haven't had some type of dealings with demons. For four years I have seen nothing but demons and mages in league with demons pour out of that Circle. Those books on Necromancy came from the Circle. Whoever "O" is, he or she is clearly there... I'm not thinking clearly right now, but for the first time I understand the need for the Circle and the Templar Order... Father is gone. Bethany. Carver is with the Tmeplars. Now Mother... Isabella once offered me a place on her crew. Granted it was on a ship she didn't and doesn't have, but still. It didn't appeal to me then, but right now... Sailing far away from this place sounds pretty good...



It's been almost a month since Mother died. I haven't been very... social of late. Orana has been trying to cheer me up by playing her lute. She worries about me more than mother did. The only thing I've found to stir me was a letter I received from Arianni today, Feynriel's mother, who says her son is still having problems and it seems to be getting worse. She fears demons could claim him at any moment and is asking for my help. I don't know what I can do for the boy, but I can't stand by while an innocent suffers. So I have Bodahn and Sandel ready my gear. I can't just sit in this house forever... While I'm not sure why, I am surprised at what I find as I walk through the streets of Kirkwall. The same Merchants peddling the same wears in the same stalls. The same Mercenaries huddled in the same corners waiting for someone to hire them. High nobles who are too important to even acknowledge the poor and sick begging for a coin. Nothing is different. Kirkwall is Kirkwall. Not sure if that's good or bad, but... life marches on...

...When I get to the Low Town bazaar, Isabella drops the necklace she was about to steal and says she's glad to see me "out and about". She joins me as I walk to the Alienage and I explain where I'm headed and why. When we get to Arianni's house we find Merrill and Anders there as well. Seems I'm not the only one Arianni asked for help. Merrill I can understand, but she really is desperate if she's turning to Anders. Feynriel's condition is worst than her letter said. He's fallen into a deep sleep and cannot be woken up. The Demons have him now. Not completely, but enough to keep his spirit in their world. Arianni contacted the Dalish outside the city. Marethari said that Feynriel was something called a "Dreamer". A mage that can enter the fade without the aide of lyrium or blood magic and shape the fade to his will. No wonder the demons are so attracted to him. Marethari has a Dalish Rite to send us into the Fade where we can face down these monsters and possibly save the young man's soul...

...A trip through the Fade is never what it seems. Feynriel's time in the Circle has had any effect on the very structure of his mind. The landscape was that of the Gallows. Everything here is the embodiment of a thought, perhaps Feynriel knows he is in danger and built this fortress to protect himself? We are met by a sloth Demon. A weaker variety of demon, but not to be taken lightly. The other demons are far too powerful for it to over come so it tries to strike a deal with us to vanquish them for it and allow it to take over the boy. I lead it on for a moment to learn what it knows of the creatures here. A subtly that is lost on Justice. He had been in control of Anders' form from the moment we entered the fade. Justice was outraged at the simple politeness that I was showing the sloth Demon and he attacked me. Justice is use to fighting people who are afraid of him and strike out of fear. Not people who simply find him annoying and strike with precision. He went down pretty quick. Once I had learned all the sloth Demon knew, we dispatched him as well.

The next demon was a demon of greed and desire. A powerful creature that knows your deepest wants and dreams and uses them against you. It had taken on the form of Feynriel's father and was showing him the loving father Feynriel had always wanted. Breaking him from these fantasies had to be done delicately. I remember thinking that it was good that Justice attacked when he did. If he had done that here, it would have shattered Feynriel's mind and we would have lost him for certain. I nudge Feynriel to the point of seeing through the demon's illusion and he fled the dream. The demon was not happy about it. It turned it's temptations toward Isabella. Offered her a ship and crew and all sorts sexual perversions .. I tried to come up with a counter offer, but... Actually that was pretty good...Can't really beat that... So I had to fight my girlfriend and her naked horned lesbian-ish wannabe lover. Sounds like an open to one of Varric's novels.

After we are done there, it's just me an Merrill going off to face the other demon. It was a damned pride demon. You don't get higher in the ranks of power or influence than a Pride Demon. It had taken the form of Marethari and was calling Feynriel the savior of the Dalish... and my back up was Merrill... someone who is trying to "save the Dalish"... this wasn't going to go well. After dispelling the illusion, Feynriel realizes what he has been talking to and runs again. As I had thought, Pride offered Merrill what it was offering Feynriel and she jumped at it. Luckily I was prepared and had a spell already charged up and "poofed" her. That's what the others did. Just ~poof~ and gone. Fighting this beast was more difficult than the other, but I had a lot of anger built up over the last month that he made a good release for. May have over done it a bit actually...

...With the demon's gone and Feynriel's situation explained to him, I felt he was prepared to be out on his own. He understood, perhaps for the first time, the dangers his powers could bring about. He knew he had to find a way to control these abilities or they would control him. He wouldn't find the training he needed here in Kirkwall or with the Dalish. Only in Tevinter would he find a master that could properly instruct him. From what little I understand about Dreamers, no Magister would turn such a pupil away. I might even help him get there just to insure no slavers try to get their hands on him again. When I awaken, I tell Marethari and Arianni what transpired. Arianni thanked me and ran off with Anders, who was glaring at me, to go get Feynriel before he left for Tevinter. She went with Anders because he knew how mages were sneaking out and where Feynriel would pop up. Which left me with Merrill and Isabella. Merrill couldn't look at me and went home. Isabella just didn't say anything. I took her to the Hanged Man and poured drinks into her until she started talking...

...After a long night of... making up, I headed out to check on Merrill and Anders. Merrill was still beating herself up. I don't think she slept all night. I was going to scold her, but when she looked at me with those sad puppy eyes I just melted. Did my best to cheer her up without diminishing the importance of the event. I think she understood... I hope she understood.

Anders was angry when I met with him. He honestly believed that I would sacrifice a child to a demon. There isn't enough gold in Thedas or power in the Fade. When I explained what I did he felt like a right jackass. As well he should. I didn't make light as I did with Merrill. Couldn't. With Justice always a moment away from slaughtering an innocent, there can be no room for levity. I'm honestly astonished that Carver hasn't turned him over to Meredith already. I'm tempted to all the time, but he's an abomination. They'd just kill him. I don't think he deserves to die. He's a good man that tried to do a good thing that went horribly wrong. The day may come when I have to... "deal" with him, but that day is not today...

...As I walk back to High Town I feel... not quite myself, but getting there. If I keep pushing myself, perhaps I'll be able to make it through an hour without thinking about what Quinton did to..........

(end of entry)



I was having a lunch meeting with Hubert and a potential new client this afternoon in the Blooming Rose when a runner came up and gave me a letter from the Viscount. I say runner because that's what she was meant to look like. I recognized her. It was one of the city guards in plain clothes. Something is going on and the Viscount doesn't want anyone knowing about it. I finish my meeting with Hubert and wait for him to leave the Rose before I begin reading the letter. It's vague to the point of saying nothing other than the Viscount wants to see me about something important. I can tell from the writing that it was written by Bran. His hair could be on fire and he would alert people by slipping a letter under a locked door that only read, "I require a glass of water. It's warm in here."...

...I spoke with the Viscount. It's his son Saemus again. Seems he's run off to join the Qunari. I doubt his conversion is real. More likely that he is simply trying to make a political splash that his father can't ignore. If that's the case... It's working... I collect Aveline, Fenris, and Varric and set out to find Saemus. If he's conversion in true then I will leave him where I find him, but if it is just for show... I'm not sure I could force him to leave if I tried...Whatever the case may be, the could get very ugly very fast...

...Along the way to the Qunari Compound, we are attacked by a group of cut throats lurking around the tunnels leading to the docks. No idea where they came from, but from what they were saying to each other as they attacked, it's clear that someone sent them to stop us from reaching Saemus. I can't see Saemus nor the Arishok himself doing something like that. Someone else is involved here. I have a sneaking suspicion of who that someone is though... She'll show herself eventually I'm sure...

...When we get to the compound we find out that the boy is not even there. He did in fact convert to the Qun, but the Arishok tells me the boy has gone to meet with his father in the Chantry. There is no doubt in my mind now where those mercenaries came from. Patrice is behind this. I wouldn't be surprised if she coached Saemus into doing this. We race to the Chantry. Patrice is not above killing innocents to make her point...

...We were too late. Patrice and her zealots had already murdered Saemus. She set them against us while she ran off to fetch the Grand Cleric. Her thugs were no match for us and she knew that. She wanted to paint us as the murderers. It didn't work though. The Grand Cleric realized what had happened. A Qunari had followed us. Watching to report back to the Arishok. He killed Patrice. Can't say anyone shed any tears over it. Aveline fetched the Viscount and brought him to the Chantry. Patrice may be dead, but this is not over. Her constant assaults from the shadows have push the Arishok to the breaking point. One more push and I have no doubt he will lash out and we will all pay for it. Patrice may get her holy war after all...

..........

It's been a quiet couple of days in Kirkwall. No abominations or blood mages rampaging through the streets and no one has tried to kill me. Hard to believe, I know. Saemus' funeral was yesterday. It was held by the Chantry. The Qunari don't really do anything with their dead it seems. They will kill those who kill them, but the remains are simply... left. I can only assume that there is another sect of the Qunari that deals with that aspect of death. Otherwise I can only assume their lands are just littered with decaying corpses and piles of bones...

...I had lunch with Carver today. He's in line for a promotion and we were celebrating. Or trying to anyway. "Something is coming, Brother. I don't know what, but this feeling... I haven't felt this since Ostagar." Carver said. I try to play it off, but his instincts are usually right about this type of thing. I can feel it too. There is a tension in the air. The entire city is on edge. Something is going to have to give and soon. His boat comes and we say our farewells. I make a stop by the Hanged man and the Blooming Rose to talk with the barkeeps. Get a feel for what the city is talking about. None of it is good. So I head home...

...When I get back to the estate, Aveline and Isabella are arguing nothing new there, I was amazed they hadn't started pulling each others hair on sight. Seems that Aveline has some criminals trying to hide behind the Qunari and Isabella has finally gotten a solid lead on her missing relic. Isabella's tone is earnest and urgent I'd almost say frightened if I didn't know better. Though Aveline is displeased, I agree to attended to Isabella's problem first. So we three head for Low Town where her Relic is said to be. We enter the warehouse and find Tevinters trying to trade for the relic. I was about to deliver the witty smart ass remark I cooked up on the way when a group of Qunari burst in and attack. Isabella goes after the trader, Wall-Eyed Sam, and leaves Aveline and I (and Merrill and the dog) to deal with the mess left behind. By the time we finish the rabble off and get outside, Isabella is gone and Sam is dead. In place of the relic is a note from Isabella... she's gone...

...After a series of "I told you so"s from Aveline, we head for the Qunari compound. Turns out that Aveline's dangerous criminals are a pair of elf brothers who killed a guardsman that raped their sister. Hardly a crime in my opinion. When they reporter the assault to the guards, nothing happened. What exactly did Aveline expect would happen? The decision now was what to do about it with them hiding behind the Arishok's blade. Aveline wouldn't back down. She had painted herself into a corner. The Arishok wasn't about to back down either. The demand of the Qun was clear even to me. He did what most feared he would do since he set foot in the Free Marches. He ordered his men to attack...

...Aveline and I head for the Keep to rally the guard, but the Qunari are everywhere attacking everything that moves. We come across Fenris and Varric trying to hold off a platoon of Qunari that just won't stop. Aveline and I join in and we clear a path for people trying to escape. The four of us make our way to High Town as quickly as we can. We ran into a band of Grey Wardens along the way. The were headed out of town though. They said they had other bigger things at work. Not sure what could be more important than a Qunari invasion... not sure I want to know either... We continue on to High Town...

...When we reach the upper levels of the city, we find ourselves fighting one group of Qunari after another. With a large number of the city's elves helping the Qunari, the Carta, and just random looters getting in the way, the inevitable happens... we miss one. While we are reeling from an explosion, a Qunari mage ready's to deliver a final blow. A blow which was stopped by Knight Commander Meredith. Of all the people in this city, why did it have to be her... We had never met face to face. In all this chaos, hiding my powers was not an option. If she didn't know that Ser Carver's brother was a mage before... she knows now... For the moment we are allies. Once the Qunari are dealt with, that will quickly change I'm sure. She heads off on her own to gather her men while we press forward to the Keep... I may find myself in the Gallows or in chains or both when this is over... assuming we don't all die...

...Once we fight our way to the keep, we find the First Enchanter Orsino and a handful of his mages. The Qunari had killed all but the First Enchanter. If we had arrived a moment later, he too would be dead. Meredith arrives behind us soon after. You could just feel the love in the air when those two locked eyes. Love or broiling hatred. I always get those confused... I wouldn't be suprized if these two had played "the Helpless Mage and the Naughty Templar" once upon a time. Few things can build that type of spite... Gossip for another day. We press on to the Keep where we find a large group of Qunari standing guard. Meredith wants to rush them, but there are too many. Carver is among the number of Templars Meredith brought with her. I am not losing another family member to this damned city. Orsino suggests that a distraction be made to draw the guards away. The Templars position themselves to spring a trap while Orsino acts as bait. It works well. My small group slips in while the Qunari are overwhelmed by the Templars...

...The Keep is littered with bodies. Elves, humans, and Qunari. The Keeps defenses have been set. The guards are dead and the Viscounts office is empty. I can hear screams coming from the throne room. We fight our way from the few Qunari that stand between us and the door. The Arishok is in the midst of a very moving speech. Almost brought a tear to the eye.... Not really. It was more ARGH AHHH GRRRR bark bark bark snarl. I... wasn't listening. Which was bad, cause he asked me a question at the end of it and I didn't hear what it was... Awkward silence... a silence which is broken by Isabella coming back with the relic in hand. I ask if she's feeling ill. Selfless acts are not in her usual character. With the book in the Arishoks hand we can all go back to the days when the worst we had to deal with was the random demon or pick pocket, right? No. He insists on taking Isabella as well. I fight the Arishok is a one on one duel... infront of the whole of Kirkwall's nobility. He almost killed me a few times. With that kind of display, even Meredith couldn't touch me... I was now Kirkwall's Champion.