13936 réponses à ce sujet

[Melbella]

.ah. I just read on the Viv thread that her character development is hidden in Cole banter. This makes me want to give her one more shot next game. I missed Cole this game anyway.

 

This is one of the things I really don't like about Inquisition. You shouldn't need a third person around in order to get to know your companions. Especially if the mechanic used for it only works randomly or not at all. It's one thing to see them interact with each other away from the PC (like in DA2) but this is something totally different - you don't find things out even if you are there, but Cole isn't.

[phoray]

This is one of the things I really don't like about Inquisition. You shouldn't need a third person around in order to get to know your companions. Especially if the mechanic used for it only works randomly or not at all. It's one thing to see them interact with each other away from the PC (like in DA2) but this is something totally different - you don't find things out even if you are there, but Cole isn't.

 

In DA2, if you didn't drag someone along, they couldn't even like or dislike what you were doing. This is why I lost Isabella the first time I played.  So, I can get how you won't find out about a lot abut a Character unless you go adventuring with them is a thing that continued on.

 

But yes; if it requires Cole, it's pretty darn restricted content.

 

On the Viv front; SHE ACTUALLY SUGGESTED CASSANDRA SHOULD BE DIVINE.  This was after i'd been atheist the whole game, , supported Cass at the War Table, cuz MAra thinks Cass rocks even if she's not religious herself. Also, I'd done Vivian's personal quest, which I guess makes us Besties cuz she has a tendency to adopt you after it. When the scene started, I thought this was going to be where she told me she should be Divine and I was gonna shoot her down. But no. I simply agreed with her, she said good things about Cass, and then said she and I should work on making it happen. I was like, whoa. You have just won so many brownie points, Madama De Fer.

 

Also, guys, I give up on the Bull/ Dorian Romance. All of my areas are cleared. I literally walked everywhere all friggin game. The last two areas, I only had just the two of them, so the supposed every 15 minutes banters would only be between the two of them. And they're still not knocking boots. Sigh. Maybe some other replay then.

[Bardox9]

In DA2, if you didn't drag someone along, they couldn't even like or dislike what you were doing. This is why I lost Isabella the first time I played.  So, I can get how you won't find out about a lot abut a Character unless you go adventuring with them is a thing that continued on.

 

But yes; if it requires Cole, it's pretty darn restricted content.

 

On the Viv front; SHE ACTUALLY SUGGESTED CASSANDRA SHOULD BE DIVINE.  This was after i'd been atheist the whole game, , supported Cass at the War Table, cuz MAra thinks Cass rocks even if she's not religious herself. Also, I'd done Vivian's personal quest, which I guess makes us Besties cuz she has a tendency to adopt you after it. When the scene started, I thought this was going to be where she told me she should be Divine and I was gonna shoot her down. But no. I simply agreed with her, she said good things about Cass, and then said she and I should work on making it happen. I was like, whoa. You have just won so many brownie points, Madama De Fer.

 

You don't have to be religious to support a friend for top shaman if you think she would be good at. Just look at it as a Job. There will have to be someone named Divine. Who do you want in that position? Given what you as Inquisitor symbolize to the general public, your word carries weight. So too does your silence should you choose not to support someone. Silence could be seen as an even louder statement than an actual statement.

 

Mara may not believe, but Cass does. Cass would make a fine Divine. She is not a student of the The Game, but with the proper instruction and a big hat... She'll do... 

[themikefest]

I played a 99.9% purple Hawke last game and currently intend to play a 99.9% angry Hawke the next game. He will be part of the problem of Kirkwall, that's for darn sure and rival everyone but Isabella because apparently she likes evil people and I've never managed to keep her past act 2.

Edit add P.S.:

His Mabari will definitely also have tasty Arishok butt.

Would your Hawke let Meredith kill Bethany?

[phoray]

Would your Hawke let Meredith kill Bethany?

 

 

There are a few things I'm not sure the details of. 

 

1. If I bring Anders with Bethany and I into the Deep Roads, can I choose NOT to make her a Warden? Because I'm going for crazy possessive here; this Hawke would rather her die than be lost to his machinations in another "world." Because I would think it'd be especially evil if he had the opportunity to keep her alive and choose not to.

2. He plans to side against Meredith. Not for templars or mages; "Orsino is a whining ***** but Meredith? Meredith is a major C. " That's his reasoning for that final choice, or at least, that's what I plan for it to be. This HAwke is a bully; whiners he can deal with and try to control but strong minds like Meredith are there as challenges to be crushed.

 

So, considering all that, is Bethany even in the Circle to be killed by Meredith?

[phoray]

You don't have to be religious to support a friend for top shaman if you think she would be good at. Just look at it as a Job. There will have to be someone named Divine. Who do you want in that position? Given what you as Inquisitor symbolize to the general public, your word carries weight. So too does your silence should you choose not to support someone. Silence could be seen as an even louder statement than an actual statement.

 

Mara may not believe, but Cass does. Cass would make a fine Divine. She is not a student of the The Game, but with the proper instruction and a big hat... She'll do... 

 

 

I didn't mean to imply that Mara couldn't support a friend. She knows they don't share the same view as the Maker, but adores Cass's passion for everything and supports her. 

 

Where I'm coming from:

My first game, I was waffling pretty hard as an Agnostic that was really starting to think she was the Chosen one by Fade time. Who was then horribly disappointed to find out it'd just been an accident. And had a conversation with each possible Divine in which they tried to sell themselves to the Quiz as the next Divine. 

 

I thought I'd get that speech with each Divine no matter what. (and ended up with hardened Lel my first game.)

 

Then my second game, I'm super anti Lel, am an Elf atheist who lets people believe what they want...., tell Lel I don't support her, she gets nasty with me...Viv never brings it up after I support Cass on the War Table. I think I miss the three speeches because Viv doesn't trigger if you've already officially supported someone else.

 

This being my third game, I'm again all for Cass and super duper atheist; does NOT let people believe what they want., Lel acts like she is already picked (dun dun duunnn), support Cass on the War Table... adn then Viv brings up Divine except this time she doesn't sell herself. She sells Cass.

 

So this is where I'm coming from, it's been an odd yet awesome experience to see all the differences on this one issue.

[Qun00]

So it begins. My final DAO run. The one that will set up my definitive world state.

Now... a few pictures:

I can't take this shot seriously. All I can think is "Tamlen: Wait, let me take a selfie. Mahariel: Right now, when we're covered in demon bear blood?"

Spoiler

Spoiler

Cutting off a genlock's head.

Spoiler

[Melbella]

Wheeee! Another dragon down. The hunt for the Abyssal High Dragon was a roaring (and flaming) success. Swapped Sera for Cole just for that to get her extra codex update. Next stop: meeting up with Hawke and Alistair, then clearing the north side of the Western Approach (past the sulphur pits).

 

Andreia's now level 16, so Red Water is available. Not sure if I want to do that + Descent after WA, or make some progress in Emerald Graves first. Hmmm.....

[themikefest]

So, considering all that, is Bethany even in the Circle to be killed by Meredith?

Yes. If you side with the templars, there is dialogue that pops up for Hawke to have Meredith kill his/her sister or prevent Meredith from harming Bethany. This happens after Orsino has been killed.

 

Since you mentioned you're not going to side with Meredith, that scene/dialogue will never happen.

[phoray]

I am quite pleased with my ending slides! Extra benefit to romancing Thom till the end? I don't care that the kiss scenes are messed up/gone in my epilogue play. The posed kissing scene is like totally the worst. haha. Next up is a combination of Frostback Basin (the only DLC I haven't done ever) and writing it all up. I think I have 1000 screen shots to sort into the keepers pile.

 

I work tomorrow and actually hang out with real work type people for drinks afterwards (says the introvert.) Till next time! (you know I'll be thinking about Dragon Age anyway!)

[Fredward]

Built the Chantry in Skyhold. I like it cuz it gives me a war table mission and I like the idea of my Quisie being politically savvy enough to want to placate the Chantry BUT! You can hear the Chanters every time you go to or from the war table. Through the walls.

 

I can totally picture my Inquisitor rocking to and fro in her cupboard muttering "They're inside the walls, they're inside the walls" over and over again while the advisors look at each other in consternation.

[Bardox9]

The journey of Warden Drako Amell thus far,

 

Spoiler

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20269078

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20272308

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20274342

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20281695

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20283458

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20287283

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20289122

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20291276

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20292998

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20297766

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20299702

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20303104

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20307527

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20314000

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20321289

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20324764

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20334779

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20340841

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20345142

 

The tale continues,

 

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.

[PapaCharlie9]

This is one of the things I really don't like about Inquisition. You shouldn't need a third person around in order to get to know your companions. Especially if the mechanic used for it only works randomly or not at all. It's one thing to see them interact with each other away from the PC (like in DA2) but this is something totally different - you don't find things out even if you are there, but Cole isn't.

Maybe a casualty of late-schedule editing? I get the impression that there were supposed be enough clues, particularly in her Inner Circle personal quest, to give you all that background. The Cole stuff was only supposed to be additional color on stuff you already know, not the only way you would know.

Her personal quest does feel a bit abbreviated, don't you think?

[Melbella]

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.

Just curious, but are you taking this as canon, or simply head-canon? I'm pretty sure, canon-wise, they didn't go to the Fade physically, any more than they did during Broken Circle in DAO.

[Bardox9]

Just curious, but are you taking this as canon, or simply head-canon? I'm pretty sure, canon-wise, they didn't go to the Fade physically, any more than they did during Broken Circle in DAO.

At the moment I suppose it would just be considered head canon rather than official canon.The spell looked like a half assed rift to me. Prior to DA:I I assumed it was just a dream sequence, but after the whole thing in DA:I, I think they went there physically. Solas can't be the only one capable of manipulating the veil. Any mage can use rift magic with the proper training. Who knows where the Mother came from, how old she is, where her mystical training came from, or what she was before being turned into a brood mother.

 

In Broken Circle the sloth demon just put the party to sleep. In Blackmarsh, the spell the First used seemed to have a physical effect on the party. I could be wrong, but considering we know that it is possible to go there physically, the idea is not that far fetched.

[Melbella]

Andreia had a busy day:

 

She met up with Hawke and Warden Alistair at some old Tevinter ritual tower. Living up to its name, unfortunately. She made the offensive acquaintance of one Livius Erimond, chief toady for Corypheus and all-around jerkface extraordinaire. He ran off like the snivelly little coward he was when his "my master told me how to deal with you" trick didn't work.

 

Finished up Western Approach and recruited Servis as a smuggler. She liked that he was ballsy enough to actual steal from Corypheus. Maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed, but certainly cheeky.

 

Checked out a potential alliance with the Qunari, but decided to turn it down since their intel proved to be....incomplete, at best. Heck, they didn't even know about the Red Templar operations that the Blades had told her about and that she'd taken care of before heading to the rendezvous. So, when the mission went south, she told Bull to recall his Chargers. They'd sunk the smuggling ship already, after all, so the immediate threat was neutralized.

 

Helped Cass track down (and then kill) Lord Seeker Lucius. The guy had apparently gone off the deep end and basically gave the Seekers to Corypheus, who in turn sold them to some wacko cult called the Promisers. So much crazy in the world, but now there's a little less. [Best part of this quest: Cass was equipped with "Avenger" .]

 

Used Solas' experiment results to close a newly-formed Fade rift. It certainly hadn't been in the cave when they'd explored it the first time, which made Andreia wonder if activating all those artifacts only monitored the Veil, or could possibly have an effect on it? Did they simply predict that rift, or did they create it?

 

Helped neutralize an assassination contract on Josephine by doing umpteen favors for various dignitaries and officials. But, at least Josie is safe, and she was able to get her family's trading status reinstated. [Had a bug in this quest-line.....no assassins showed up to attack Josie in her office.]

 

Finally, took Vivienne snowy-white-wyvern hunting and gave her the heart for some potion she was making. Whatever it was supposed to do, it apparently didn't work, since her lover, Duke Bastien, died anyway.

 

Next up: Emerald Graves, at least enough to get the letters needed for Cullen's quest. Then it will be off to the Deep Roads.

[phoray]

 

 

Finished up Western Approach and recruited Servis as a smuggler. She liked that he was ballsy enough to actual steal from Corypheus. Maybe not the sharpest tool in the shed, but certainly cheeky.

 

Checked out a potential alliance with the Qunari, but decided to turn it down since their intel proved to be....incomplete, at best. Heck, they didn't even know about the Red Templar operations that the Blades had told her about and that she'd taken care of before heading to the rendezvous. So, when the mission went south, she told Bull to recall his Chargers. They'd sunk the smuggling ship already, after all, so the immediate threat was neutralized.

 

 

Next up: Emerald Graves, at least enough to get the letters needed for Cullen's quest. Then it will be off to the Deep Roads.

 

I have never found Servis.

 

Is there a way to learn about what their intel is exactly?

 

I got like the most awesomeness scene ever regarding Cullen. Maybe I've gotten it before? But anyway, I had already cleared Emprius de Lion when I want to go talk to him. In the end, I received the request for the letters, but it was leading up to this that was wonderful.

 

He said something, "You'd never guess the red lyrium deposits were coming from."

 

My three options were Bland, What the?, and bland. The What the? option said, "Under Skyhold." And I was like o_O at it so I picked it.

 

Then my Quiz Mara took on the tone of a dramtic teenager. "Oh my gawd." kinda thing. She said. "Right. Under. Skyhold." 

 

Cullen laughed and said even better, it was from all the mines I'd just cleared. But I was so friggin amused by that comment that I reloaded the scene three times to hear it again.

[Melbella]

I have never found Servis.
 
Is there a way to learn about what their intel is exactly?

Servis runs away from Coracavus and is found at Echoback Fort. After you kill the cronies, his health bar turns green (non-hostile) once he's down to a small amount of health. Then you click on him and decide to either kill him or bring him back to Skyhold for judgment. He can be buggy sometimes though. In fact, in my game, he would turn invisible and back again every few seconds.

On the Qunari intel....well, a little head-canon is involved, but not much. Gatt tells you of 2 locations where Venatori are staked out. One group is hit by the Chargers, the other group by Inqui and Bull. However, there is obviously a third group: the mages on the beach that take out the dreadnought if you tell the Chargers to retreat. So, either Gatt's intel was woefully inadequate, or he intentionally didn't mention the third group. Either reason is enough for me to tell the Qunari no thanks.

[phoray]

Last episode, Mara declares success on the double goal of cheering Varric up while simultaneously mending the friendship between Varric and Cass. Mara reflected on her allies a bit, but when she goes to Solas to discuss the painting he'd added to her quarters, she finds him distressed about a "friend."

 

In this episode, which I break into 4 segments, Mara swiftly acts on the request to aid Solas's spirit friend, makes an important decision about Cole, and talks to both parties involved in those events. Then heads over to Blackwall for some catching up only to find him gone. 

 

Request of Aid from an Ally

Spoiler

 

The Exalted Plains is a grassland region with a myriad of abandoned forts; a contested battlefield in the War of the Lions. As the Veil tears throughout Thedas, the spirits stir beyond the veil to possess the dead. The armies of Empress Celene and Gaspard de Chalons have been fighting, but the fighting has stopped as an outbreak of undead has driven both armies back to their respective keeps.* It is likely this very problem that keeps the respective Generals ignorant of the fact that the Civil War is now ended, due to Mara's very own involvement at the Winter Palace.

 

But that issue must keep to itself for now. Mara, Solas, Dorian, and Cassandra make a beeline for the place Solas had indicated on the map. They did run into some Dalish on the way, but Mara did not stop long past assisting them with some undead and a brief chat about their presence in the area.

 

"We are not far from where my friend was summoned." Solas stated during the silence as Mara surveiled the land before them. So much open space with worn away boulders of massive size sometimes located far from an actual mountain. Mara wondered a bit about the history of the lands as they headed forward. 

 

But as they drew near, Mara slowed to a stop when she realized there was a Pride Demon kneeling as if bound up ahead.

 

Solas seemed shocked, "My friend!" Then growled in frustration.

 

She turned her eyes on Solas in confusion. "You said it was it was a spirit of wisdom, not a fighter."

Solas's brow was knit together into his familiar frown. "A spirit becomes a demon when denied its original purpose."

Mara followed his line of thinking. "So, they summoned it for something so opposed to its own nature that it was corrupted." She made her best guess. "Fighting?"

 

Their conversation was interrupted by a chubby mage treading carefully towards them. He seemed to be relieved at the presence of staves on Solas and Dorian.

"Mages? So you're not with the bandits? Do you have any lyrium potions? Most of us are exhausted from battling with that demon--"

"You summoned that demon! Except it was the spirit of wisdom at the time!" To say Solas was angry would be an understatement. Mara had never seen him lose his temper before. She was not sure she liked seeing more "humanity" from the elf in this fashion. He continued raging at the mage. "You made it kill. Twisted it against it's purpose."

 

Solas's anger didn't make the mage before them any happier, and he began to stutter. "I-I-I understand how it might be confusing to someone who hasn't studied demons, but after you help us--"

Solas cut in, "We're not here to help you."

Mara tried to defuse the situation a little, although she certainly wasn't on the side of the Mages in this scenario. "Word of Advice? I'd hold off on explaining demons to my friend here."

"You summoned it, to protect you from the bandits." It was a statement Solas was making, not merely an accusation. 

 

"I-Yes." The mage saw no need to deny it.

 

"You bound it to obedience. Then commanded it to kill. That is when it turned." Solas turned to Mara. "The summoning circle. We break it, we break the binding. No orders to kill. No conflict with it's nature. No demon."

 

"What?" The chubby mage was not a fan of this idea." You remove that binding, you remove the only thing keeping that demon from killing us! Whatever it was before, it is a monster now."

 

 

Solas turned away from the ignorant mage completely. "Inquisitor, please." His tone was one of desperation and concern. Mara had no intent to do anything but help. She scraped her mind, and something she'd read once while trying to learn about her anchor...

"I studied rituals like this. I should be able to disrupt the binding quickly."

 

Solas looked relieved. "Thank you."

Mara told her friends the plan. "Try not to engage with the, er, spirit in anything other than distraction tactics. Focus on each stone surrounding it and we should quickly free this spirit from it's bindings." She cleared her throat. "In theory. But it's all we have."

 

Mara was relieved when theory turned reality, and the demon form dissipated and the spirit appeared kneeling at the river bank. Solas rushed to it's side, crouching as he spoke to it. Mara observed closely, but unfortunately none of her studies, forced upon her as a child of nobility, or the stuff she'd been reading recently had led her to learn a single word of elven. Their conversation was lost on her, although she did appreciate the beauty of the language.

Solas raised his hands, palm up, as the spirit smiled.

 

 

And then faded away. Mara was upset. She could only guess that they had come far too late, and that that conversation she'd just seen was actually the last words of the dying.

 

Regret was strong in her voice. "I'm sorry, Solas." 

Solas stared into the water a heartbeat longer. "Don't be." He stood, turning towards her. "We gave it a moment's peace before the end. It's more than it might have had." his sadness melted into fury.

"All that remains now is them." He said, stalking towards the mages. They did not sense the danger they were in, the nit wits, and actually came forward to meet the elf.

"Thank you. We would not have risked a summoning, but the roads are too dangerous to travel un protected."

"You tortured and killed my friend." Again, another statement, but this one laced with anger and hatred. The mages seemed to finally understand the details of the situation and began to back up, hands up in a placating gesture.

"We didn't know it was just a spirit, the book said it could help us!"

 

Mara stepped forward, grabbing his sleeve. He paused, his body language screaming that he would go forward and kill these mages on the spot if she let go.

Mara thought quickly. These mages were idiots; apparently educated just enough about magic to trifle with things they had no understanding of. To the end, self forgiving of that lack of education, with no true realization of the fact that, in the eyes of the people before them, they had just performed the acts of slavery and torture on a being with a life of it's own, although different. But did that deserve death? Mara considered the more emotional side of things. How would she feel if someone had done this to her friend? Done this to Cole? She knew what she'd think. What she'd try to do. And... And she wouldn't want anyone to stop her. 

 

Her fingers relaxed on Solas's sleeve then let go. She almost closed her eyes, but..no. She was part of this. She would witness it. A flash of powerful fire magic lit up her face, she blinked against it's brightness.. and it was done.

 

Mara stayed where she was, offering silent support to the pain he must be feeling, even as her eyes skittered over the bodies of the mages. She'd learned a lot about herself since becoming Inquisitor. Some of those things were morally ambiguous and she wasn't... pleased to learn that she was flawed.

 

Solas finally spoke as the flames in the dry grass died down. "I need some time alone. I will meet you back at Skyhold." Mara nodded, and watched him leave. Cassandra and Dorian, her two most opinionated friends, were conspicuously silent on the matter as they traveled over the rest of Exalted Plains in search of rifts. The rifts sealed and considerations regarding the Dalish's requests of her to make negotiations a possibility between them and the Inquisition on her mind, Mara pointed them all home to Skyhold.

 

However Solas was not at Skyhold. This concerned Mara for a variety of reasons. She felt closer to the elf after this ordeal. Also, there was the matter of the amulet for Cole. Perhaps Vivienne..no...that woman wouldn't help Cole... Dorian?

 

But just as she was finally resolved in seeking help from her good friend, Dorian, Solas wandered in from the bridge, catching her attention in the courtyard. "Inquisitor." His tone was quiet but the tone of sadness remained.

 

 

"It hurts. It always does, but I will survive." He sighed, then collected himself. "You are a true friend. You did everything you could to help."

 

Mara had questions, but was unsure if she should ask them. But Solas usually appreciated questions; he so hated the ignorant. She posed her question as respectfully as possible. "What happens when a spirit dies?"

 

Thankfully, he did not get upset at her. "If the idea giving the spirit a form is strong, it may someday rise again."

 

MAra was surprised. "You're saying your friend might come back?"

 

Solas shook his head. "No, not really. A spirit'ss natural state is peaceful semi existence. It is rare to form to reflect reality. Something similar may form someday with a different personality. It would likely not remember me." His tone got even sadder. "It would not be the friend I knew."

 

Mara didn't know what else to say. They shared a quiet sad moment, and then she excused herself. "I'll let you get back to work."

 

"Alright. And thank you again." Solas said, as she departed.

 

*This description comes from the Wikia Page.

 

Really picking over the scene with Solas, I see so much foreshadowing of his true character. When he says, "Damn them all." I feel like he isn't talking about just the mages, but all the people of Thedas for twisting the Fade into a tool instead of a world of beings to coexist with and learn from. I re watched the scene of not letting Solas kill them, which Mara opted towards not doing, and he says, "Never again." Like, he will never let the people of Thedas hurt the spirits of the Fade and not seek retribution for it. This is perhaps even stronger foreshadowing for the plans of his we learn of in Trespasser.

[Bardox9]

The journey of Warden Drako Amell thus far,

 

Spoiler

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20269078

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20272308

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20274342

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20281695

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20283458

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20287283

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http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20291276

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20292998

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20297766

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20299702

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http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20307527

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http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20321289

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20324764

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20334779

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20340841

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20345142

http://forum.bioware...ops/?p=20350923

 

The tale continues,

 

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. 

[phoray]

Segment 2

 

An Amulet for Cole

Spoiler

Mara headed to the bar and climbed the many stairs up to where Cole...dwelt. He certainly didn't truly live there, considering she'd never seen him eat or sleep. She found him in his usual contemplative pose. She guessed his entertainment, if that is what one would call it for a spirit, was derived from listening in on the many conversations echoing up from the boisterous bar crowd below.

 

"Cole. I've got the amulet that Solas told us about. Would you like to try it on?" Mara asked.

 

His calm face twisted into eagerness as he took it from her. "Yes! But not here. I like it here. We need someplace that can go away if it becomes sharp."

 

Mara guessed that meant he didn't want bad memories to muss up his perch in the bar's attic. So she followed him, thinking he would go to some obscure corner of Skyhold. But, instead, they headed to Solas's living space. This amuses Mara; Cole can avoid this area permanently if it all goes bad? She'd thought the two of them closer than that. 

 

"What do I do with it?" Cole immediately demanded of the elf.

They'd obviously interrupted Solas in deep thought within his comfy thinking chair. Considering the conversation Mara had just had about his spirit friend's passing, Mara flinched a bit inwardly at Cole's lack of tact. However, it seemed Solas approved of the distraction.

 

"You found one of the amulets. Excellent!" He said, getting up and meeting them in the middle. "May I?" He gestured at the amulet in Cole's hand, which he promptly gave over. "It is simple enough. You put it on, I charge it with magic, and you should be protected." 

 

Mara felt nervous. She'd gotten the amulet to appease Cole's concerns, but her worries about it possibly changing him hadn't gone away either. She wanted to make sure he was sure.  "Are you ready, Cole?"

 

She saw no sign of doubt in his determined face. "They can't make me a monster." Cole donned the amulet, and Solas focused, closing his eyes, raising one hand towards the amulet. Mara waited, holding her breath a bit, not sure what was going to happen.

 

Blue wisps trailed out, around Solas's hand, gathering-- and then shot towards Cole. A loud pop and Cole cried out in pain, all of which startled Mara and she jumped. Varric must have heard the noise from the other side of the door, because he barged in.

 

"What was that?" Then he saw Cole's expression of pain and Solas's presence and put two and two together. "Oh, for.... What are you doing to the kid?"

 

Cole must have felt compelled to defend the elf. "Stopping blood mages from binding me like the demons at Adamant. But it didn't work."

 

Solas nodded, then added, "Something is interfering with the enchantment."



Varric's response was sarcastic as he folded his arms over his chest in disapproval, "Something like Cole not actually being a demon?"



Mara frowned, sensing an argument. Cole was not a demon; she had fought demons. Also, when they'd broken that summoning circle, the Pride Demon had transformed back into the spirit of Wisdom. That creature had not been a demon. She supposed, adding to the confusion, that Imshael had technically not..quite been a demon either. He'd protested that he was a Spirit of Choice. And if Mara had learned anything, it was that choices could be rather dark ones.... "I'm not certain exactly what Cole is." She said to Varric, finally adding her two cents, as useful as it was.

"Regardless of Cole's special circumstances, he remains a spirit."

"Yes, a spirit who is strangely like a person!" Varric charged back.

Cole got impatient with the debate, pacing away; Solas followed not far behind, concerned. "I don't matter. Just lock away the bits of me that someone else can knot together to make me follow."

"Focus on the amulet. Tell me what you feel." Solas encouraged.

 

A few moments passed. All Mara could see was his hat turning to and fro. Then she heard Cole speak, quietly.

 

"Warm. Soft blanket, covering But it catches, tears.... I'm the wrong shape, there's something----" He turned around, his eyes seeing something Mara couldn't. He pointed to the South east. "There. That way."

So, Mara thought. We're off hunting. Aloud, she said, "It appears we have something to find. Again."

Cole looked at the three of them and asked, intently, "Will you come with me? All of you?"

 

"Sure." Varric said, very seriously. And then Cole left to work with Cullen on a map to pinpoint a  location and little more exact than Southeast.

 

Varric turned to Mara and Solas for further discussion now that Cole was gone and could not be upset by further debate. He obviously considered Cole a son of sorts. 

"Alright. You like spirits we get that." He said pointedly to Solas, "But he came into this world to be a person. Let him be one."

Mara felt compelled to side with Solas on this one, as much as it pained her to disagree with Varric. "Cole is a spirit. He has magical abilities and magical vulnerabilities. We cannot ignore that."

"Fair enough." Varric conceded, seeing he wouldn't win against a united front. "But that ritual of theirs only works on demons, right?"

Solas lost his patience. "This is not some fanciful story, Child of the Stone. We cannot change our nature by wishing."

"You don't think?" Varric parried.

 

Solas turned his eyes to the side. They lost focus a bit, but then he seemed to catch himself and return to the discussion at hand.

"However we deal with the problem, our next step is to track down what is interfering with the enchantment."

 

And that was something all three of them could agree on.

 

Cole came back at the moment, having quickly found the place he sensed on the map. He showed them. Mara set out, Varric and Solas only in tow.

-----

 

AS they were cresting the hill in Recliffe, a man in leathers was ahead near the Griffon stature with some sort of hooded dwarf came into view. "Give me a moment." The man said to the dwarf, and the two separated as the man came their way. "Greetings, " He said, tugging one glove. "Can I help you?"

"You." Cole said, harshly.

 

All Mara saw was Cole stiffen before a cloud of darkness blurred her vision. Some sort of minor tear in the veil that only Cole could use to move from place to place quickly. As the cloud dissipated, Mara became alarmed. Cole was threatening the man with a dagger, as that same man knelt in confusion and fear.

The man trembled so badly he nearly stuttered, "What! I don't... But I don't even know you!' 

 

But Cole would not be dissuaded. "You forgot. You locked me in the dungeon in the Spire, and you forgot and I died in the dark!"

 

A twinkling of recognition crept into the man's tone. "The Spire?"

 

"Cole, Stop!" Solas commanded. The man saw his chance and got up to run. No one followed, although it was obvious Cole wanted to; tired to. Varric stepped into his path, getting Cole to focus on him.

 

"Take it easy, kid."

 

Cole pointed angrily. "He killed me! He killed me, that's why it doesn't work. He killed me and I have to kill him back!"

 

Whoa whoa whoa whoa. Mara spoke up, "Before anyone gets killed, I need to know what's going on."

 

Solas tried to reason with Cole. "Cole, this man could not have killed you. You are a spirit. You have not even possessed a body."

 

"A broken body, bloody, banged on the stone cell. Guts gripping in the dark dank.... a captured apostate."

 

 

Oh... They were finally hearing how Cole came into being in their world. Mara's expression mirrored Varric's, even Solas's expression darkened, as we all bore witness to the raw emotional details.

 

"I came through to help. And... I ...couldn't." He sounded so sad, so very disappointed in himself for not doing more in an impossible situation. "So... I became him... Cole."

 

Varric wanted to keep Cole distracted, so he spoke. "If Cole was an apostate. That would make the man we just saw a Templar. Must've been buying lyrium." Explaining the dwarf that had been present earlier. His words didn't accomplish the goal of distraction.

Cole slowly walked past Varric. "Let me kill him. I need to. I need  to."

 

MAra drew in closer to Solas and Varric to discuss things. They all kept a close eye on Cole, but he didn't seem to be straying far.

 

Mara swallowed, a pit in her stomach from the dark tale. "Solas?" She queried, seeking his thoughts.

 

"We can't let Cole kill the man." Solas began.

Varric interjected, scoffing. "I don't think anyone was going to suggest that, chuckles."

"Cole is a spirit. The death of the real Cole wounded him. Perverted him from his purpose. To regain that part of himself, he must forgive."

 

"Come on!" Varric said. "You don't just forgive someone killing you."

 

"You don't. A spirt Can." Solas declared, finishing his opinion.

 

Mara kind of thought this argument was weak, but she was no expert on spirits. She turned to Varric. "And your thoughts?"

 

"The kid's angry. he needs to work through it." Varric argued.

 

 

"But he isn't a spirit, is he? He made himself human, and human's change.They get hurt, and they heal. He needs to work it out like a person."

 

Solas found Varric's opinion lacking. "You would alter the essense of what he is."

 

"He did that to himself when he left the Fade. I'm just trying to help him survive it."

 

Oddly enough, Solas's argument sounded stronger when defended to Varric. Mara considered. She was getting used to being the deciding vote. 

 

That Cole was constantly oblivious to the finer details of his very human companions amused Mara to no end. Varric offered gentle guidance. Iron Bull tried to set him up with a Lady of the Night with an unexpected outcome. Cassandra, Sera, Blackwall; all of them objected to him seeing within their mind. But that skill had helped Mara twice, and she'd witnessed his acts around Skyhold, offering acts of compassion every where he went.  That these things were so, only underscored that he was a spirit. A spirit that had been confused. A spirit that had been twisted; as anyone might if they'd witnessed such a horrible thing like starving to death slowly in the dark because humanity had judged you unworthy of notice. The spirit that Cole had once been had not intended to become what it had. He was lost. And if Mara could help him find himself?

 

Don't worry, after this, I got rid of those ridiculous shoulder pads. bah.

 

"I believe I can help." Solas said to her. "Cole! Follow me." Solas called to Cole from where he was pacing. The man in leathers had not gone far.

 

Mara trailed, wanting to observe.

 

Cole did his disappear reappear trick, which startled the man enough to drop him to his knees.

 

"Not possible! not possible!" As Cole appeared right in front of him.

 

"Can you feel this man's pain, Cole?" Solas said, guiding Cole in the right direction towards forgiveness.

 

Cole gritted his teeth, still angry. "He remembers now. He knows he killed me."

 

"No." Solas chided, gently. "Feel his pain. His guilt. The shame that drove him from the Templars."

 

Cole paused, became focused and quiet. Fiddled with the wrappings on his hands. Began his -listening- type of speech that indicated he was sharing a memory of the ban before him. ""Don't worry, we will erase his records." They clapped me on the shoulder, smell of oiled metal and blood. They smell like Lewis did when he made me drown the kittens. Laughter bounces off the walls like a thin child's fists."

 

The man lowered his head. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." There was no doubt the man absolutely remembered who he was dealing with now.

 

"He's hurting, Cole. And you are a spirit of compassion." Solas spoke calmly, again, guiding. Cole paused, in seeming thought. The stepped forward, reaching his hand out towards the man's face. The man gasped and leaned back, expecting injury.

 

 

A shimmer went over both of them. The man looked around, seemingly confused as to why he was there, before he left, almost in a huff at the awkward situation he'd just been in.

 

Solas walked out to Cole, reaching out one hand to his arm. "I believe we are finished here." 

 

Varric joined Mara as Solas and Cole walked towards them. "You all right kid?" Varric asked, concerned.

 

"Yes, " Cole replied. "He's free. We're both free." Mara wasn't sure that made Varric feel better. Mara only hoped this had been the right choice.

 

They headed back to Skyhold, Varric trying to engage Cole multiple times in conversation. He was not as successful as he wanted to be and even Mara thought that Cole was speaking more...spirity than usual. 

 

They headed back to where it had begun, Solas's study. Solas spoke as they entered. "The amulet appears to be working. Cole should be adequately protected."

 

"Have you talked him, sinse? Have you heard what he sounds like?" Varric responded, annoyed.

 

"He sounds like a spirit." Solas said.

 

Cole appeared sitting on Solas's table. Nobody felt the urge to shoo him off.

 

"Nonsense words, like Bertrand at the end. 'Just need to hear the song again just for a minute.'" Cole stopped, turned his head calmly to Varric. "I'm alright, Varric." He assured the dwarf. What he didn't get was this didn't assure Varrric at all.

 

"What matters is his happiness. Cole, how are you feeling?" Mara asked him, making the best of things.

 

"I am well. There is work, wounded to help, hurts to heal, but the weight is off. The chains have fallen."

 

Varric seemed not to understand. "You're not still angry with the man who hurt you?" Varric asked, shaking his head.

 

"No. I helped him forget. His pain no longer pulls at me." Cole stated matter of factly.

 

Cole says something about the left hand, Leliana, and honey. Then disappears.

 

Varric looks very sad; like someone just died. "He could've been a person." He said to them.

 

"Possibly. Would that have made him happier, Child of the Stone?" Solas asked. Varric treated it as a rhetorical question and left. Mara, a bit unsure, followed. Cole hadn't seemed...sad, per se...

 

 

I didn't think I'd ever play a character that would make Cole more spirit; I've gone 'more human" on both previous playthroughs and they were mages! Maybe that actually does make sense, in retrospect. Mages may see spirits as just another type of person anyway. Again, I pay more close attention to things, having to write them up and think about them. So many times, Cole declares that he is only here to help people and that's all he wants to do. And in this write through, he helps Mara with some of her hurts as well. I realized when he spoke to her after Erimund, and described her struggles with leadership so well, that Mara would reject the feeling of trying to make him more like her and the others; more human. That it is a bit like fear to want to make him be more familiar by choosing the human option. Perhaps I've made Mara too wise to be realistic as a 20 yer old. Oh well. We'll see how she feels about it later after she's interacted with him more as his spirit self.

[phoray]

Segment 3

 

An Ally becomes a friend

Spoiler

The next day, Mara sought out Solas again. Maybe he could settle her thoughts about helping Cole more spirit like. She'd felt confident that is had been the right thing to do the day before...Does a leader always second guess themselves?

 

Solas seemed started to see her, as if he hadn't noticed her come in.

 

"Inquisitor. I was... Do you have a moment?" He was smiling slightly, perhaps even feeling awkward. Huh. Wonders never ceased. He indicated she should follow, and she did. When he made as if to go into her quarters, Mara quickly stepped forward and opened the door herself. Sheesh. 

 

But then he indicated the balcony was where he wanted to have this conversation. She supposed he enjoyed the view; she certainly did.

 

He began, "What were you like? Before the anchor."

 

 

Mara cast her mind back. She had changed... she had changed a lot. But because of the anchor? No. "I don't believe so." she finally replied.

 

"Ah." Simply said. But he looked like he had more to say on this so Mara inquired further.

 

"Why do you ask?"

 

"You show a wisdom I have not seen since… Since my deepest journeys into the ancient memories of the fade. You are not what I expected.

 

This amused Mara; her? Wise like the ancients? "What have I done that is so surprising?"

 

"Humans are shortsighted. Blind to the beauty of the fade, their minds casting a duality of black-and-white. But you have shown subtlety in your actions. Wisdom that goes against everything I know of your people."

 

Mara felt a little... embarrassed for him to be so shocked with admiration all of a sudden. "I'm just one part of this team, Solas. What about Cassandra or Leliana?" Both strong women that had guided Mara, for better or worse...

 

Solas would have none of it, however. "Cassandra separates matters of faith from those of the world, and she above all should understand how limited that is. And Leliana has a brilliant mind, but her faith was damaged. To her, it is all a game of tactics now."

 

Mara could agree with that well enough. This seemed a lot, coming from Solas though. Did he have more? "So, what does this mean, Solas?"

 

"It means that I respect you deeply, Inquisitor." He tilted his head toward her, almost a mild bow."And I have disturbed you enough for one evening." And he headed out. Huh. Funny elf. Oddly enough, however... she might just have to call him a friend after having seen all these sides to him. He seemed so cold before. Guess compliments went a long way with Mara, if they were sincere. She smiled in amusement at her own vanity and enjoyed the view since she was there already.

 

 

Damn. And I had so wanted to dislike the egghead this playthrough. Darn these well written characters.

I decided Mara's scene with Cole in Val Royeux should wait until after Revelations because she invites him out for fun, I think is the line. And she'll need it after all the drama to come.

[phoray]

Segment 4 A

 

Romancing the Wall: Company's gone missing

Spoiler

 

Still, as lovely as the view was, it was lonesome to view it alone. Besides, it was getting dark, and the view would soon be obscured. So, off to Blackwall's barn she went. She found him gazing into his fire with such a serious look, she chose not to speak first, and merely stand at his side. But he turned to her shortly.

 

 

She smiled right back at him. They were on the same page.

 

They walked, hand in hand, over to the bar. Blackwall tried to remove his hand, something about being so public with the Inquisitor, but Mara would have none of it and kept a firm grip. They arrived, ordered their drinks, and waited. It got awkwardly silent, and Mara chose to not let it remain that way.

 

"You are brooding."

 

"I am not." He said, denying it with a pout.

 

"I like broody." Mara said with a smile, flirting heavily. This got Blackwall to smile but it did break his silent contemplation.

 

"I was thinking about when we went to the ruin...when we found the badge. Everything seemed clear then, like I could do anything with you at my side." He paused. "Anything. That's a hard word, you know? Means a lot."

 

Aww. Blackwall, always so serious. However, he was trying to express how much she meant to him, and she decided she'd be just as sincere.

 

 

She'd meant it to be romantic, but it seemed to fall flat for him. "Not for me. I want you to know. If there's any good in my life, it came from you. You've been an inspiration. And.... And so much more."

 

 

His expression was so determined and his words a little confusing. But before she could question him, he stood and placed something on the bar. 

 

 

Mara traced one of the imprinted Warden Emblem wings, the confusion no less than before. "What is..?" She looked up to ask--

 

But he was gone. Mara was alarmed, stood up, and turned a full circle looking for him. Where had he gone? She went to the barn, drink forgotten, but found nothing there either. Put out, she shrugged her shoulders. He'd be back soon, she was sure. May as well get some rest and she could be angry with him in the morning.

 

However, Blackwall was still not in his barn come morning. This time, however, there was a note he'd pinned to the Griffon Toy carving he'd been working on. Must have come back after Mara had left. Mara plucked it off, and read.

 

"There is little I can say that will ease this pain. Just know that while it hurt to leave, it would've hurt more if I stayed. I am deeply sorry.~ Blackwall."

 

Mara felt cold. She couldn't believe it. Had this been what he meant when he said that they'd regret it? Some grand fear of commitment that would incite him to leave her? That bastard.

 

Her face a storm of upset, she noticed one of Leliana's agents in the corner of her eye. 

 

She raised one brow at him, expecting him to give report. "The spymaster has confirmed it. Blackwall is gone."

 

Ha! Oh Maker, did that woman have all  of them watched? Mara hadn't even mentioned it to a single other soul, had only just read his goodbye letter moments before.  Creepy and impressive. Still, this agent expected something from her.

 

"When we were together, he seemed troubled. I should've seen this coming." Hindsight was 20/20 eh? He had certainly warned her plenty of times before and after a few....kisses.

 

The agent had more to report. "I don't know what Blackwall's interest in this particular matter is but it could be a good place to start. This was missing from last weeks report and was found in the barn. Information about an execution in Val Royuex."

 

Mara frowned at this new update. Had her initial assumption been wrong? Had something other than a fear of commitment to the Fabled Herald of Andraste taken him away? She ungracefully snatched the report page out of the Agent's hand, waving hers to dismiss him. But the information shed no light on the issue; merely brought up more questions. Specifically, how was this related at all to Blackwall?

 

 

I'm as good at spelling French words as Sera is at saying Corypheus. Val Royal? Val Royeux? Val Royeux? Val Royooo? 

[Qun00]

It's funny how mistakes can occasionally lead to a better path.

At first, I was worried that not asking Duncan about the other recruits was a bad move. What reason would my Warden have to seek them out? How would he think to look for Alistair?

But it actually is a lot more fitting that my Dalish elf wouldn't be eager to socialize as he'd never spent much time with the shemlen.

So I asked Duncan to start the Joining. The latter told me to find Alistair, who instantly brought the other recruits with him. Perfect.

[phoray]

Segment 4B

 

Romancing the Wall: The Execution at Val-Whatsit

 

Spoiler

She brought Dorian along, as always. She couldn't imagine facing Corypheus himself without him, and he was a willing companion for the investigation into her lover's disappearance.

 

It was a dreary day, as if the sky itself had decided it was the perfect time to rain in honor of the execution. It was disturbing to see the platform set up in the very same area as most of the shops; as if a hanging was just one more thing to peruse.

 

 

The crier read out his crimes. "For the murders of a General, his wife, and their four children, along with their retainers--"

 

Sheesh. This man had been thorough, she'd give him that.

 

 

The crowd gasped dramatically, as if there would have been any other sentence considering the man had a friggin noose around his neck.

 

"Do you have anything to say in your defense?" The crier asked, but it had the tone of a rhetorical question. This man's fate was sealed.

 

The man simply blinked, gazing into the sky. All there was left on his face was despair and acceptance. Scars marked his face everywhere. Perhaps he was praying to the Maker.

 

"Very well," the cried accepted his silence as response.

 

Dorian leaned in behind her. "Who is this man to Blackwall? A friend? A brother?" Mara just shook her head. She didn't know. This whole ordeal sort of underscored just how much she didn't know about her lover, which she berated herself for. He was so wrapped up in his ideals, and she was too. They were saving the world together... Still, nothing but excuses that left her now with nothing but questions.

 

The Orlesian crowd was noisy in it's morbid excitement. A similar nausea to what she'd felt at Skyhold's execution of Erimond burned in her stomach. Blood dripping down a sword she'd held only once before... She took a deep breath as spots sparkled in her eyes; she'd been holding her breath.

 

"Proceed." The crier declared. How could he sound so bored?

 

"Stop!" A familiar voice shouted off to the side of the platform.

 

"A Warden!" The crier proclaimed, sounding excited for the first time and adding unneeded drama for the crowd to an already dark situation. This appearance was sure to put the idea of conscription on the tips of the Orlesian tongues. Mara could imagine how much they'd enjoy that gossip.

 

Blackwell walked onto the platform and began. "This man is innocent of the crimes laid before him. Orders were given and he followed them like any good soldier. He should not die for that mistake." It had the same noble tone as the speech he'd given at Adamant to make the Wardens remember their true purpose. It was a tone that people couldn't help but listen to. Why it was being applied to this stranger...

 

The crier responded. "Then find me the man who gave the order." His tone implied that this man would not be present; disappointed and already bored at the lack of conscription. He was ready to get on with the execution.

 

Blackwell turned his head and saw Mara in the crowd. His expression frightened her and all she knew was that she wanted him to stop.

 

 

She shouted above the noise of the crowd.

 

Resolve marked his features as he stepped forward. "No." His voice broke just a bit and he broke his gaze away from hers. "I am not Blackwall. I never was Blackwall. Warden Blackwall has been dead for years. I assumed his name to hide like a coward from who I really am."

 

Mornay seemed to have risen from his despair even as Mara was sinking into her own shocked heartbreak. He spoke up, noose still loose around his neck, recognition in his tone. "You. After all this time." Mornay rasped.

 

Blacklock turned to look at Mornay. "It's over. I'm done hiding." Then he turned back to the crowd. Squared his shoulders, and looked directly into Mara's eyes across the heads of the crowd. "I gave the order. The crime is mine."

 

 

Mara's expression of hurt relaxed into one of complete shock.

 

 

The masked crier and executioner cased Blackw-- Thom on either side, as if he would now try to run after his voluntary confession. Thom wasn't looking at her anymore, as he turned to walk off the platform and be led to the Val Royeux prison.

 

So. That was how he was connected to all this. Mara sat on one of the stone benches. She needed to sit down a while. And think.

 

I think Mara hates Orlesians. I wonder if this fact will be important in Trespasser.