What did you do today in DA? [Spoilers]

This little house was to be my quarters for the time being. Instead of chains I got a bed, hearth, and a servant it seems.



The elf said that the lady Cassandra wanted to see me in the chantry as soon as I woke. I found some paper and ink and sat down to start writing this logbook. Then I donned my armor and stepped outside. There were people gathered outside trying to get a glimpse of little me. And soldiers all lined up in some honor guard. They called me the Herald of Andraste. Well I may be a herald of something but it sure isn’t Andraste. Not that I´d tell them that now. That could mean iron, chains, and no food again.
As soon as I got to the chantry I overheard a rather intense argument between the seeker Cassandra and chancellor Roderick. The subject being me and more specifically what to do with me. Chancellor Roderick wanted me in chains and sent off to Val Royeaux for execution. No trial at least?



Well, seeker Cassandra and “sister” Leliana had a better proposition. They had a directive from the late divine Justinia to rebuild the Inquisition of old. The idea was to restore order, close the breach and find those responsible for the chaos. They wanted me to join as a free member even though I’m not andrastian.
The Inquisition II? The 2nd Inquisition? The new Inquisition? No, The Dragon Age Inquisition!




I´ve been itching to get out of the carta business for some time now. This could be my ticket! I said I´d join, for now. I wouldn´t want to come across as over eager. Our first business would be to get the base in Haven in order. I staked out the surroundings. Helped the quartermaster and apothecary get into order. The quartermaster was a supporter of the late fereldan traitor Loghain. I´m sorry Threnn but I put more credence into paragon Brosca´s viewpoint than yours.
Then I ran into Solas and Varric. Solas said he´d stay on in the inquisition since I would. Solas is strange one. He seems to spend a lot of time in the fade. I have only a short memory of the fade and that was very unpleasant and I´m a dwarf so I don´t dream at all. But listening to Solas I really wish that I could. Oh well, stone it is and stone it will be.



Varric showed genuine concern regarding my well-being. Salroka Varric?




Next I was introduced to last two members of the Inquisition leadership. Ambassador Josephine Montilyet and commander Cullen Rutherford. Josephine would be mainly a nobility liaison and diplomat. Cullen, as a former templar, would serve as commander of the Inquisitions military forces – such as they are.
Together we laid out plans for the future. We would need some kind of magical help to close the breach. I had the tool but not the power. Naturally our first thought went to the rebel mages but Cullen insisted that templars would work as well. Cullen believed that templars could suppress the breach enough for me to close it. That sounded reasonable, I think, and frankly I was a bit wary of having mages power up the mark.
For this organization to survive in the long run it would need chantry support but there was no way to safely approach the chantry for the time being. However, there was a chantry mother helping the refugees out in the Hinterlands she had asked for a meeting of sorts with the Herald of Andraste, that is me. We decided that it was worth a shot. I would go to the crossroads in the Hinterlands and relieve the mother, secure the area, and from there win the hearts and minds of the people. Thus, increasing the Inquisitions influence enough to safely approach the chantry in Val Royeaux.
We went to the Hinterlands and I got to meet scout Harding, a charming young dwarven woman. She informed of the situation and where we could find Mother Giselle. When we reached the crossroads, there was heavy fighting between the mages and the templars. We secured the place, set up a perimeter of inquisition soldiers and I had a talk with the mother.



We agreed to us helping her help the refugees if she would help us liaison with the chantry.




We secured food, blankets, and shelter for the refugees.



Extended our reach by establishing camps further in the Hinterlands. Sealed rifts, cleared out the templars on the west road, bandits on the east road and the apostates in the witchwood. We also secured horses for the inquisition.



We now had influence and goodwill enough to go to Val Royeaux and talk to the chantry clerics.
In Val Royeaux we met a rather hostile group of clerics. Hostile mainly because a contingent of templars were in the city led by the lord seeker Lucius Corrin. The templars were not there to support the chantry mothers against us, on the contrary they proceeded to manhandle the chantry spokeswoman mother Hevara and the lord seeker held a short, contemptuous speech against both the chantry and the Inquisition. There was something really off with the man.



He then took the templars and marched off to the stone knows where.




On the way, out of Val Royeaux we received a mysterious message from “the friends of red Jenny” a rather less mysterious invitation from the first enchanter of the Montsimmard circle Vivienne du Fer. Even more important the grand enchanter Fiona, leader of the mage rebellion, met us in person and extended an invitation to come to Redcliffe for negotiations.
The mysterious message led us to Sera who wanted to help the Inquisition both personally and through her “organization” the friends of red Jenny. She proved very useful in a fight so I accepted her offer. She will be a welcome asset indeed.





Next, we went to see what Madame du Fer wanted. She also wanted to help the Inquisition. Of course, she had ulterior political motives but on the other hand she was quite open about it to me. Who am I to turn down such a bona fide offer.



My, my, we were getting important and it was me all these people wanted to see. Even though I was not in charge, a fact I never hid from any of them, the whole “herald of Andraste” thing was spreading far and wide.




That´s when the Dasher started leaning on the Inquisition for a cut. I decided it was time to cut the ties and sent our big boot to stomp around a little.



To be safe I considered our spymaster’s activities and lent her my wholehearted support in how to treat traitors. A knife in the gut usually sends a clear enough message.




Still the question remained. Mages or Templars. They had to decide soon. In the meantime, Leliana had a more personal concern. Apparently, all the grey wardens off both Ferelden and Orlais had gone into hiding, or disappeared. She asked me to look into it. We had some sightings of wardens on the Storm coast and rumours off a warden named Blackwall in the Hinterlands. I decided to go see this Blackwall on my way to Redcliffe. Blackwall knew nothing of the warden’s disappearance. He turned out to be a lone wolf out doing some recruiting for the order. That´s what he called it even though he seemed to mostly help people in need against bandits. He asked to join forces with us and I accepted.
When we got to Redcliffe things took a turn for the worse…