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[DWSmiley]

A play in ? acts.


Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage.


Highever is the easiest origin, imo, and the Kocari Wilds also go according to script. In the entrance to the Tower of Ishal the emissary is aggressive and will not stay out of spell range. Bows vs. staff is good but bows vs. spells is bad, so I send Alistair and my mabari, Bran, after him. When I switch back to me, I am down to 4 hit points. I really, really hate archers. By the Maker’s grace, I gulp a poultice in time. No other tense moments. A two-hander is so nice against rogues and ogres, though Alistair gets the big kill.


A couple of Ostagar tidbits, fwiw. Davith can open most chests in camp – rather obvious, perhaps, but I didn’t think of it for a long time. Not so obvious - returning to Ostagar with darkspawn blood but without the scrolls earns additional xp. Maybe that’s an exploit but Duncan and Alistair have comments specific to returning with just the blood.


In Lothering Raphael, my somewhat Chantry-embracing warrior, accepts Chantry girl’s plea without much fuss. Leliana joins as one level higher than the Warden, so if she is going to be a regular companion the optimum timing is to go up a level while fighting Loghain’s men.


Alistair is keen to go to Redcliffe but Raphael has a jaundiced view of his fellow nobles thanks to Howe and Loghain. The Circle Tower has already demonstrated it’s willingness to honour their treaty so that seems a better place to start. It turns out the situation is not good and Loghain probably had a hand in it. But at least you know where you stand with demons; they are not going to pretend to be allies. In we go and meet up with a feisty old gal who insists on coming along. Lovely Morrigan has caught my eye but I’m not going to slaughter innocents to please her. Locks are never a barrier to my faithful hound - he gets into larders and out of Towers with equal facility. Off he goes. Maybe Sten or Alistair will play fetch with him in camp.

[DWSmiley]

Act 1, Pride
 
The old gal proves quite good at keeping our health up until we remove a disturbing vial from Andraste’s statue in the Chapel. A fearsome demon emerges and Morrigan is too adept at discomfiting the creature for her own good. She falls to a vicious swipe of its blade. Thankfully, we dispatch the fiend in time to staunch Morrigan’s wound.
 
We continue poking at the intriguing statuary until we hear a distant rumble. Wynne suspects we have done it again - another demon has been unleashed, far below. The children! We race back down the stairs but all seems well until I touch the door to the basement. Note to self – stop poking around.
 
A fiery fiend flashes from the floor and fireballs fall fast upon us. Not from the demon - the other mages are blasting the room with spells that the creature is surely immune to. Being a mage does not mean being smart, it seems. We prevail despite their assistance but Morrigan needs reviving once again. Scalded and skewered, yet lovely still! I find a marvellous sword in the ashy remains.
 
Onward and upward we go. Progress is interrupted by another demon that puts us asleep. The details of my strange dream Fade away but it seems to have had a wondrous effect on body and mind. We secure the Litany of Adralla and with its aid Uldred’s pride is pricked, pincushioned, slashed, frozen and electrocuted. The templars and mages are grateful; one treaty is secured.

Modifié par DWSmiley, 07 février 2013 - 09:46 .

[DWSmiley]

Sidetracked
 
Back at camp Bodahn has heard that Rendon Howe has been named Arl of Denerim. I must go there! The Blight will just have to wait. On a much pleasanter note, Morrigan is delighted that I found her mother’s grimoire and rewards me with a kiss.
 
I find no opportunity to visit vengeance upon Howe but the trip is not a waste. Several bandits will no longer trouble the good folk of the city and some mercenaries have been brought into line. We even eliminate another demon-in-a-bottle.
 
And there is more - we uncover evidence of a lair of maleficarum. This bodes to be a dangerous undertaking but a Cousland always does his duty. Several rooms of the evil-doers are cleared without much trouble and Morrigan informs me she now can dispel magic. Excellent timing!
 
We confront a dire challenge when we burst through the next door – three maleficarum and several thugs. The nearest mage falls quickly to my blade while my companions disrupt the others. I begin to think the worst is over until a fireball blasts us. Wynne and Leliana do not get back up. My templar armour protects me as I dispatch the elite mage and Morrigan finishes off the last of the unholy trinity. But then a wretched archer puts an arrow in her back and she falls. I hate archers. ‘Tis me against five, with everyone’s life at stake.
 
I enjoy having a big blade though it can be frustrating. I nearly fell an opponent and must take another big, slow swing to inflict far more damage than needed. With poultices and indomitable will, I prevail. Bandages for les belles dames and on we go. The lair is cleansed with no further setback.
 
Again to camp and some disturbing news from Morrigan. Her mother has intentions most vile. The world abounds in evil, it seems. No wonder the Maker abandoned us. I anxiously agree to assist my appealing apostate. I am more relieved than I let on when she says there is no urgency to confront the sorceress of legend.
 
It is time to seek more allies. We need more of Ferelden’s nobility than just me. To Redcliffe!

Modifié par DWSmiley, 07 février 2013 - 11:51 .

[Ferretinabun]

"We prevail despite their assistance"

Lol

[DWSmiley]

The West Road
 
We encounter some refugees along the way who were ambushed by bandits. We move forward to help but lo, the ambush is for us! As I unlimber my sword I find myself ensorcelled, unable to move. Morrigan frees me. We seem to be in a very bad spot, surrounded by ambushers and traps. The fight quickly becomes a romp, however. Whoever assembled this gang did not recruit the best.
 
Their leader stirs from unconsciousness and curiosity stays my blade. Zevran, he claims to be. Zev, to his friends. I am not sure why his glib manner disarms me but it does. We recruit him. “A fine plan” says Morrigan, though her tone does not match her words.
 
Next comes a group of refugees beset by darkspawn. As I charge toward the emissary it unleashes a chain of lightning. An ominous vision beclouds me as I writhe in pain. An arrow to the throat, falling, dying…No! That will not be! Recovering, I smite the creature with the pommel of my sword. The fight goes well though not quickly. None of us are imperilled but the same cannot be said for the refugees, alas. Only one remains to bear sad tidings to kith and kin.
 
Morrigan casts a smouldering glance my way as we head on to Redcliffe. I will go to great lengths to see that promise fulfilled!

[DWSmiley]

Act 2, Desire
 
We arrive to another bad situation, of course. Evil things are attacking the village. The Bann is holed up in the Chantry, perhaps for good reason. I rally the villagers with the Cousland touch. The militia is soon re-armoured and drunk; a dwarf who clearly knows the pointy end of a sword from the hilt is persuaded to enlist; as is an elf in the tavern sent by my nemesis, Howe. I insist on the greedy barkeep Lloyd fighting, too, though I have my doubts he’ll live.
 
In the midst of it all I rescue a pretty girl’s little brother. I cannot resist bestowing upon her several gold pieces and a kiss, neither of which Morrigan appreciates. Finally, the knights’ morale is bolstered by holy symbols and we await the night.
 
The battle up the hill goes well. Our flanks are somewhat protected by crates and barriers – most definitely not set on fire – and Wynne’s magic augments our defence. Racing down the hill to aid the beleaguered militia, we see two villagers fighting undead captains – Murdock, the mayor, and of all people, Lloyd. With a twinge of guilt, I direct Wynne to heal Lloyd and run to his rescue. The barkeep is saved and fights on with remarkable gusto. Alas, Murdock falls before Wynne can heal again. We withstand wave after wave of the creatures. No one else dies and the village is saved.
 
Lloyd rewards me with a magic ring and Bella with a more magical kiss. Oops, Morrigan didn’t like that, either! I have ground to recover there but oh, my, that kiss was worth it. On to the windmill and a maddening Arlessa who shows not the slightest concern about the fate of her villagers. With her disposed of - though not as I would like - it is time to sneak into the castle dungeon.
 
In the dungeon we encounter another maleficarum, who admits to poisoning the Arl. I reach for my blade but when both Morrigan and Leliana urge mercy I cannot refuse. The wretch, Jowan, is released with a warning not to cross my path again.
 
More undead are returned to their proper state and we dispatch several maddened mabari. It tears at my heart to do so but there is no choice. Another girl is saved.
 
In the castle proper we confront the source of the evil – Connor, possessed by a demon. The boy’s fate seems grim until Morrigan explains there is a way to save him. First Jowan and now Connor - is Morrigan mellowing? Doubtful. But we spare the lad when we encounter him upstairs and head to the Circle Tower for the means to fight the demon. Along the way we encounter a merchant with an interesting story about a golem in a village.
 
Back to Redcliffe, where Morrigan Fades from sight. I can do nothing but pace, anxiously awaiting her return. And return she does! ‘Twas a demon of desire, she says, and ‘tis dealt with. I embrace my brave witch and we head to the docks for funerals.
 
Redcliffe is saved but the Arl is not. The Bann and Arlessa want me to search for Andraste’s ashes. They expect me to go on the same wild-griffon chase as all their knights? I shall if I must but for now the treaties take priority.

[DWSmiley]

Between a rock and a hard place
 
It will surely be quicker to secure the support of the highly organized dwarves than the wandering Dalish. Especially with my own, personal golem by my side - what an impression that will make!
 
The village is not far from Redcliffe and is overrun by darkspawn, as we warned. We dispatch the creatures with little fuss but my attempts for awaken the golem fail. I toss the useless control rod into a nearby basket of bird seed. At least I didn’t pay anything for it.
 
We enter an extensive cellar, searching for survivors. More darkspawn! And villagers to be rescued, who tell me the golem murdered its former master. Thank the Maker the control rod was broken! I turn to leave but the village leader pleads for us to find his daughter. She has run further into the cellar, which is apparently a mage’s laboratory. Reminding myself that a Cousland always does his duty, I tell him we will be happy to look for the lass, dead though she probably is.
 
The girl is not dead but she is in grave danger. Another child, another demon, it seems. Morrigan’s spells thankfully prevail over the demon’s in the ensuing fracas. Cold spells from a hot witch from a cold swamp. I fancy that! The girl is saved, a nice ring and helm are acquired, and to top it off the villager tells me the correct command phrase for the golem. I probably shouldn’t but…
 
An innocent chicken pays dearly for my impetuousness. With our party now one, um, entity larger we head off for the Frostback Mountains.

[DWSmiley]

Act 3, Noblesse n’oblige pas
 
Alistair did warn that getting to Orzammar could be dangerous. Bounty hunters, deserters and Loghain’s emissary…they all made a very satisfying thump when they hit the floor. We enter the city itself to see another fight, with the pretenders to the throne involved!
 
We are directed to the nobles’ Diamond Quarter and although I see no other golems, not a soul takes notice of the one by my side until the Shaper of Memories makes a half-hearted offer to buy it. If Shale won’t impress then I prefer to regroup with the ladies.
 
Both factions want our support, if I prove I can be trusted.  The test of my bona fides from Prince Bhelen’s lieutenant is more interesting; it provides an opportunity to see the legendary Deep Roads - the ancestral thaig of House Aeducan no less!
 
Our first encounter with the inevitable darkspawn goes smoothly but in the second battle I am imperilled by spells. First I feel as if I am being crushed in a collapsing cage and then I am beset by the inevitability of true death. And inevitable death would have been had Morrigan not dispelled the dreadful dweomers.
 
Later, I round a large pile of boulders and see two emisarries. This could get very bad, very quickly. I race toward them as the larger one casts a ball of fire at me. Its eyes widen in horror as it realizes its mistake. The spell has been cast at me, not the ground, and I am now too close! Both emisarries are blasted from their feet but I am not affected - nor is the rest of the party, safely behind me. The battle is not over but it is won. Nothing else is a challenge and we are soon hieing back to Orzammar with the dwarves that we were sent to find.
 
We are escorted to the palace to meet the Prince. Bhelen does not conceal his ambitions. Clearly a ruthless fellow, but his promise of full military support against the Blight rings with conviction. I am also impressed by news of his pending marriage to a casteless woman. And the casteless become my next concern. The nobles should be impressed by whoever stops a casteless gang that has been extending its reach.
 
First, though, we finish exploring the palace. Old habits die hard and poking about the throne room unleashes a dragon! Morrigan pulls a clever trick, provoking the beast with a hex then shielding herself with some sort of magical force.  It keeps trying to rip her apart, ignoring me and the blade I found in the Circle Tower.  A fatal mistake.
 
The same tactic works well against yet another of those demons in a bottle, except Wynne fails to keep her distance and is dealt a grievous blow. We must finish this fight without our healer, it seems. Yet seconds later, Wynne is regaining her feet! I have seen enough battle to know that should be impossible. I recall the story one of the mages told when we first arrived at the Circle, of a terrible battle between Wynne and a demon, and Wynne seemingly dead yet not. What could this be?
 
‘Tis time (or past time) to be brief. Casteless gang defeated, we are sent deeper into the Roads to find the Paragon Branka. First though, Wynne persuades me to backtrack to the Circle Tower on behalf of a young dwarf who wishes to study there. There and back again, the source of Wynne’s strange ability is revealed. She has been embraced by a Spirit of Faith!

[lyriumaddict104]

Are you still posting in here? I've enjoyed reading it, especially ones like "a demon in a bottle" for all the revenants we fight.