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[Medhia_Nox]

Okay, so I "think" I'm rather notorious for hating the Dalish.  But, I wanted to try to discuss a Dalish with more than just my usual sentiment.  So, I made one.  I'd like to share my thoughts as I go.

 

1)  Character creation.  I hate the models, but I made a character who I find attractive at least as far as the face goes.  They look emaciated to me.  I think plenty of people have already touched on this.  I'll provide a picture when I'm at my home computer.  I picked a mage and I think I would have rather been a warrior to play against type - but that ship has sailed (I "might" remake - we'll see.) 

 

2)  My desired storyline fits in perfectly with what little is provided of Clan Lavellan.  He has wanderlust, does not particularly care for Dalish culture and has a "country mouse in the big city" mentality toward human structures.  He doesn't hate humans, and fortunately neither does his clan.  

 

NOTE:  He WILL discover that he's oddly protective of the society he wanted to get away from.  I felt this added a little nuance.  Someone who always claims they want bigger and better learning to appreciate and protect his roots.  

 

3)  Impressions so far.  This will deal with the introduction up to the point where you use the Mark.

 

Cassandra:  My new character sees her as really tightly wound and dangerous because she seems like she's ready to stab anything if it will undo the explosion.

 

Varric:  My kind of dwarf.  My Dalish (his name is Audelerophon) muses on whether or not he also might be "dwarvish" given how much he likes Varric.  (not realizing Varric is an a-typical dwarf).

 

Solas:  AND... here we go.  Note:  I am using pre-existing knowledge.  I am not using it to make character decisions - but, I want to discuss the dialogue with Solas and how this character "will likely" react to it.  

 

- He mentions having "Encounters" with Dalish.  When asked what he means.  He says he tried to teach them and was attacked.  My first response was:  "Typical Dalish."  but then I started thinking... "Tried to teach them? Who is this guy?" 

 

- He says:  "I am an apostate who travels hill and dale in search of real lore - not like those Circle mages or you stoopid little Dalish."  Yes, the paraphrase is of course mine.  Well - my current character felt like:  "Where does this elf get off talking like this? Just because he's a homeless bald elf doesn't make him "wise"."  

 

NOTE:  I'll probably be switching to a warrior - so the mage talk won't bother me as much.

 

Gameplay Note:  I hate sarcastic, witty characters - especially as main characters - and yet, I find me playing a Dalish exactly as that and enjoying it.  I'm taking it as "brash and confident" and less "snarky and witty".  And as I continue to write... I am more convinced I'm going to play a Sword and Board Champion Warrior (so re-posting might take a little longer than I first thought)

 

Anyway - I'll update this as I go with thoughts.  Feel free to comment if/when anything of interest pisses you off, makes you laugh or that moment when you finally get to say: "Medhia, now you FINALLY understand Dalish love!"   Note:  I still find bile building in my throat whenever I hear them called "The People" - so pretentious. 

[Medhia_Nox]

Extended character bio (NOTE: I am not taking into account information I will learn through game.  I will adjust accordingly... or not, depending on the story I want): 

 

Audelerophon (pronounced:  Awe-duh-lair-oh-fon) was born into the Lavellan clan in 9:19 Dragon.  

 

His father, had come from clan Ghilain and married one of the Lavellan clans best warriors.  They had three children.  A daughter that died in her early years to sickness and two sons.  Audelerophon's brother showed signs of magical aptitude and was to become the clan's First.  

 

Audelerophon excelled at athletics and though he hated hunting, do to a distinct lack of free time and shelter, he loved swordplay and got into trouble more than once inadvertently wounding other young Dalish in friendly sparring (yeah, I decided to remake as warrior) 

 

He'd seen humans before, but it wasn't until he and a small group of his friends had followed them to one of their cities that he became truly enamored.  High walls to keep out anything from darkspawn to REALLY dangerous bears.  And the buildings!   Buildings for sleeping, building for eating, buildings for drinking.  An entire building... for drinking?!  

 

To most of his friends it seemed like a waste of space.  Some haughtily spouted some dreamy eyed story about their ancient pride.  Others seemed scared.  Audelerophon was determined to see for himself.  Over and over through the next few years he would be chided by the clans Keeper about the dangers of getting too close to the humans.  Clan Lavellan was friendly and traded frequently with their neighbors, but the Keeper cautioned that humans were like everyone - capricious and prone to cruelty - except they had the numbers and clan Lavellan did not.  

 

A particularly bad run in with a group of ruffians saw clan Lavellan in a dire predicament, Audelerophon accused of killing two humans and one of his friends being killed.  In the end, the fact that the humans were all criminals by human standards - and the quick thinking of the clan's Keeper - saved the day. 

 

So, when word came of the war between the mages and the templars... their religious leader's plea for sanity - and the scheduled Conclave.  The Keeper decided it was best to put Audelerophon's curiosity about humans to a greater purpose. 

 

And so... our, not quite yet hero, sets out to see the world... 

[Reznore57]

"People have the Poweeeerrr , people have the poweeerrr".Sorry it just reminds me of that Patti Smith song everytime.

 

Anyway playing a Dalish , yeah Solas feels even more special snowflakes and hipster.

He does live in the woods like the Dalish but he "sees " the fade like no one else so he knows much more than Dalish have tried to gather through generations , a Lavellan especially a mage/first might go "Suuuuure , dude".

 

Anyway the elves body is alright in certain armor (shoulder pauldron saves the day and your eyes), mage armor aren't very good to hide the noodles arm though because it's often just the beige pajama sleeves .

 

Did you pick a specific face tattoo or you just went the prettiest one?

[Medhia_Nox]

@Reznore57:  I picked the vallaslin that goes over the right eye and has an almost dagger appearance.  (Note:  Wiki suggests which vallaslin belong to which god... and this guy is going to start off thinking Elgar'nan was pretty alright given his general badassery and bossness - do we know how valid those suggestions are?  I'll probably choose the one suggests as "What the Dalish believe.") 

 

Changing to a warrior though... I will reconsider and will amend accordingly.  

 

And awesome about the armor - cause some of them made me freak and and say:  I'm not sure I can play the entire game that way.  

[Krypplingz]

@Reznore57:  I picked the vallaslin that goes over the right eye and has an almost dagger appearance.  -snip-

Sounds like Sylaise (alternative) Vallaslin, at least that's what Matt Rhodes said and he's the lead concept artist on Inquisition. So his word should be valid. 

Link to the chart:

http://mattrhodesart...ed-his-override

 

I liked the friction between elven mages and Solas. Because you can get riled up at him, punch him and then realize who you just punched later. And either rejoice or well...ship. 

 

Hope you have fun with the playthrough.

[Sah291]

Well I romanced Solas with my canon Dalish. But I actually like a lot of the lines you get as a rivaled Dalish who disagrees with him...you can call him out on a lot of things. But it makes more sense if your character doesn't actually dislike being Dalish.. Or maybe Solas is the character that makes your PC start to appreciate being Dalish more and wanting to defend them?

I like Falon'din's vallaslin for that playthrough, just because Solas seems to hate him the most. And necro or knight enchanter for mage spec.

In the end I don't matter because Solas end up betraying you, and putting you and the Dalish in danger anyway, whether you liked or agreed with him or not. Your forced to come to grips with the reality the Dalish really are a seperate people now, regardless of their goal to restore the old ways...or even if you agree with his end goal to help the elves, he still opposes the Evanuris, so if you are loyal to them, then he still needs to be stopped.

[Qun00]

Pshh... you ain't on Master Warder Z's level.

[GoldenGail3]

Pshh... you ain't on Master Warder Z's level.

"All Elves and mages are bad! Orlais must overpower Ferelden!" - Nah, but I like Warden though, lol.

[Qun00]

As do I.

[Ghost Gal]

Why stop there? Why not have your enlightened elf deliberately have his Clan slaughtered for holding him back from bigger and better things all those years and make a fresh start? And hand Orlais to Gaspard (who'll make Orlais great again) after having Briala executed to crush the knife-ear resistance? And slaughter all the elven sentinels on sight at the Temple of Mythal? And officially convert to Andrasteism and appoint either Cassandra or Vivienne as Divine to secure his position as the good elf in the renewed era of conservative Andrastian human political and religious supremacy?

 

You can't do these things half-heartedly, Medhia-Nox.

[Medhia_Nox]

Why stop there? Why not have your enlightened elf deliberately have his Clan slaughtered for holding him back from bigger and better things all those years and make a fresh start? And hand Orlais to Gaspard (who'll make Orlais great again) after having Briala executed to crush the knife-ear resistance? And slaughter all the elven sentinels on sight at the Temple of Mythal? And officially convert to Andrasteism and appoint either Cassandra or Vivienne as Divine to secure his position as the good elf in the renewed era of conservative Andrastian human political and religious supremacy?

 

You can't do these things half-heartedly, Medhia-Nox.

 

See, everything I despise about the Dalish all bundled up in a neat paragraph.  Thank you for reminding me that even after I play my Dalish who I'll enjoy... I still hate all the other Dalish.  

 

Fortunately, my character isn't fettered with this kind of nonsense and neither is his clan.  

[Medhia_Nox]

This goes up to just after heading to Val Royeaux and recruiting Vivienne and Sera. 

 

Conversations from my character's perspective: 

 

Varric:  Good guy, cares a lot.  We talked about red lyrium... the stuff sounds nasty and I feel bad for his poor brother Bartrand.  We've decided we're going to destroy it wherever we see it.  I hope that helps.  If what Varric said about it is true and it makes people crazy, makes stuff float and animates stone.  Well, nobody needs that. 

 

Cassandra:  Okay, a little bit more time talking with her and she's calmed down since the Conclave.  Good arm.  She's been doing this for a while.  I'll have to take pointers from her.  It'll help fight other humans I will inevitably encounter.  She asked me something interesting when I said I worshiped the Dalish gods:  "Don't you have room for one more?"  Maybe I do.  It's not like my gods are running around doing anything to help their people.  So, what's one more absent god?  When we hunt, we claim that Andruil was good to us.  What's the difference if I say:  "Sure, I'm chosen by your god."

 

Solas:  He's got some fascinating things to say about the Fade.  But he really rubbed me the wrong way when he started on about the Dalish and how ignorant they are.  He's a vagrant running around Thedas dodging human Templars all day - how much time has he really had to study anything?  I don't know anything about magic - but he says he's been deep into the Fade.  Not sure what that means, but my brother talked about it once or twice.  It sounds like Solas can do a lot more than he can.

 

Solas is a historian, so I asked about the ancient elves.  He laughed at the notion of tree houses and said, instead, we had buildings made of crystal and great cities.  Now THAT sounds interesting.  It sounds even more amazing than these human cities which, now that I've been in one, do stink something awful. 

 

Leliana:  Intense girl.  I think she's always trying to figure out who to stab next.  She talks about her god, but she so often mixes it with blood I started looking for where these texts are about the Maker being so bloodthirsty.  I think it's just a Leliana thing.  I know she's mad that her religious leader died, but she seems a bit unstable.  I did get a laugh when Cassandra blurted out that she was our spy master.  Leliana was fit to be tied about being so plainly labeled. 

 

Josephine: Going to have to hang on this girls every word.  She made a big deal about making sure I was well treated.  These humans seem far more conscious of their guilt than most.  I've got a sword that deals with my treatment well enough, so I assured her I was fine.  

 

This duke with a mask was blurting out nonsense about how he owned Haven.  Josephine manhandled him with words.  I find that impressive.  It's not a talent I have.  She claimed Cassandra would have to duel him for her honor.  He almost crapped himself and stumbled from the room. 

 

Cullen: Don't know much about him yet, but he has to deal with Chancellor Roderick so he has my sympathies.

 

Chancellor Roderick: This guy is a nug's ass.  He is totally terrified of a little elf who stepped out of a rift, has a glowing green hand that can shut the giant tears in the sky and battles ten demons before breakfast.  Alright, I do strike an imposing figure - but this guy is just pissed because he's lost his security blanket.  I suppose I can give him some credit for caring.  He sticks around and clearly nobody wants here.  I don't think it's "just" to stir up trouble.  If it is, tomorrow will be ten demons and a Chancellor.  

 

Quartermaster Thren: Nice lady.  She made it a point that she'd crack some skulls if anyone called me knife ear.  I never understood how that's an insult.  My ears look like knives.  Knives are dangerous.  Doesn't that make me a bit dangerous?  Honestly, if it bothered me I'd just say: "Knife ear eh?  Well, here's my sword arm." Heh.  It's corny, but the guy that thinks its funny to pick on an elf won't be laughing much when it's sticking in his ribs. It probably hurts the city elf servants more.  Reminds them why they're oppressed.  I don't see any here though. So that's a problem I don't have to correct.

 

Minaeve: Nice girl.  She takes care of those mental folks.  Who purposefully cripples their own people?  And now she says that the mages have abandoned them. Guess there's not time for freedom for everyone?  Well, they have Minaeve so that's good.  She's also quite the scholar when it comes to creatures.  Gonna be helpful when it comes to knowing how best to send these demons back to the Fade. 

 

Adar: Considerably nicer once I found his Master Taegen's notes.  I imagine he's under a lot of stress - and he keeps me supplied with healing draughts - so I'll cut him some slack.  He yells at his assist more than anyone else anyway. 

 

Mother Giselle: Why is everyone so nice?  I hear all this stuff about horrible people outside of the clan.  This woman is trying to help a wounded soldier when I meet her.  Hardly the terrible boogeyman of my childhood.  

 

She's sharp though.  Very interested in why "I" can do for Thedas.  Wasn't really sure "I" was going to do much at all.  We talked about her Maker a bit.  I have been reading parts of the Chant.  Not so entirely different than texts about my own gods.  Lessons, lessons, dangers, morals, lessons and a smattering of warfare. 

 

She told me about this elf named Shartan who helped her Andraste.  I found it a bit unintentionally obtuse.  Like because some elf helped Andraste, then I should be good with Andrastians?  I dunno, I'll have to think about it. 

 

Then she starts comparing me to Andraste herself?  Now, I have to go and really educate myself cause I don't know nearly anything about this woman.  I do know she sent the Tevinter's packing - so, that's quite a compliment.  Still, I also know almost all of Thedas bends a knee to her and I don't need that kind of pressure.  

 

Audelerophonianism... it sounds like way too much work to worship that. 

[Medhia_Nox]

Val Royeaux:  What an amazing place!  So much color and fanfare.  The people are a bit silly with their masks, but this is coming from someone wearing vallaslin so I'm trying not to die laughing.  Some of these masks really don't do anything except make them look patently ridiculous. I'm told there's something called "A Game, or The Game" whatever - Orlesians evidently love game - and I'm not sure why that makes them unique, games are fun, but evidently this game is more Josephine's style.  SO - I think I'll just bow a lot.  

 

Still, I can't help but think about what Solas said.  Our cities were grand things too once.  Our legends say even grander than something like Val Royeaux.  Magic was everywhere, not something I think is so great, but it can be helpful and he said the cities had crystal spires.  Though, I don't know.  A bright sunny day could be really troublesome in our ancient cities. Still, it would have been grand.

 

Evidently, lions are a big thing here.  Giant gold lions and apples.  Hundreds of humans gathered around vendors and sitting in open air drinking establishments. They don't seem to have a care in the world.  This Orlesian woman - who turns out wants to help the Inquistion - has food sitting in crates just rotting!  Must be nice.  We'll put that food to good use.

 

Orlesians:  Okay, they're soft.  I'll admit I think going to a place and having someone serve my food and drink to me sounds appealing - but I don't think these Orlesians could spend a night out in the wilderness without dying of fright, or illness or... probably tripping over something because of those stupid masks.

 

And they love to talk.  Is it morning?  Time to talk about what happened last night.  Is it afternoon?  Well surely something happened this morning. Evening is all about the afternoon. Nighttime is what took place in the evening.  I suspect they even gossip in their dreams.  

 

I should ask Solas if there are gossip spirits.  They must flock to Orlesians like moths to a flame. 

 

Mother Hevara:  Well, it's nice to know racism is alive and well. This woman claims I can't serve her god because I'm a "filthy elf".  I specifically bathed before coming to Orlais - so that's not really fair.  I should have Mother Giselle teach her about this "Shartan" fellow.  

 

Then, this Lord Seeker Lucius twit has his manservant punch her in the back of the head.  So, I didn't have much time to be indignant.  

 

We talk after and she finds it comforting I don't rub it in her face that he god picked me to NOT get punched by Lord Seeker Lucius.

 

Lord Seeker Lucius:  Had a rival in the clan once.  Thought he was destined for great things.  Said how he was going to lead a warparty to defeat some humans.  Had a lot of people my age riled up.  The Keeper tried to calm him, but he wouldn't have it.  "He" was going to be a hero.  Then, I put him in his place.  Broke his sword arm and gave him a nasty limp.  Did I mention he said some unpleasant things about my mother when she told him to stand down?  Yeah, well he did.

 

This Lucius jackass reminds me of that rival.  All mouth.  Someone's gonna have to break his arm and give him a nasty limp.  I'll draw straws with Cassandra to see who gets a go at him first.  

 

He doesn't even see the dissension in his ranks.  We can work with that. 

 

Grand Enchanter Fiona:  Nice enough lady.  Invited us to a place called Redcliff to talk about the rebel mages helping us with the Breach.  Not sure how she could be in Val Royeaux without being apprehended - but I try not to think too much about mages.  

 

Next move:  A man invited me to an Orlesian party.  Alright, I like parties and I'm a bit up in the air about Orlesians - but I think a little free food and drink would do wonders for the morale of the "Herald of Andraste".  

 

Also... someone fired an arrow in the middle of the street.  There was a note and a puzzle leading me to some back alley.  We'll check it out.  Evidently arrows in the street are a "thing" in Orlais - cause nobody else so much as flinched.  

[Mistic]

It's always fascinating how roleplaying can make settings and characters feel more alive and unique... even if you've played it several times.

 

She asked me something interesting when I said I worshiped the Dalish gods:  "Don't you have room for one more?"  Maybe I do.  It's not like my gods are running around doing anything to help their people.  So, what's one more absent god?

 

I realize now that with the Jaws of Hakkon DLC a scene like that feels extra meaningful.

[Medhia_Nox]

Lady Madame Vivienne "de Fer":   She's already told me three times that all of it's not one name.  I can't get which titles go with which names so I just throw it all together.  

 

Her home was magnificent.  Spacious, not like the cramped little human hovels I think I'd rather pass on.  Tons of cushions and fountains and music and carpets and warmth.  I keep telling Sola there's a better life than wearing goat furs all year.  He gives me a weird look and then becomes "matronly" quiet.  I say that because it's the type of quiet a really irritated impatient mother gives to her children.

 

I meet these two nobles.  They ask me if I'm amazing and if all the stories about me are true.  I say: "The stories you've heard?  All true."  She giggles and says I'm delightful.  I always thought so, but delight's not a big thing when your cleaning Halla crap or gutting a fresh kill.  

 

Then, this other noble comes marching down these stairs (so many stairs everywhere!) and starts spouting off about this or that.  I mostly just focused on his sword and wondered how Jospehine was going to feel about talking me out of putting down an Orlesian noble.  

 

And then, he froze.  Quite literally.  His body was enveloped in a kind of translucent frost.  I could feel the temperature in the room drop.  

 

And, cue grand entrance.  Vivienne comes traipsing down the stairs casually leveling all sorts of not at all veiled threats at the noble who threatened me.  Then, she asks what I want to do with him.  Alright, the situation is diffused. Clearly this woman has things under control.  I tell her to let him go.  He scampers out like a Fennec Fox with his tail between his legs. 

 

We talk for a while.  She tells me about the loyalist mages and talks about how she wants to restore order.  Well, she's clearly got wealth and we'll probably need a lot of that.  Then there's influence and magic.  If Josephine were here I'd ask her, but she's not.  Where "did" everyone go?  Solas is probably hiding in the shrubbery.  Cassandra is probably finding offense - she doesn't seem big on Orlesian anything.  I "think" I saw Varric talking up some of the Orlesian woman over by one of the food tables.

 

Well, I welcome her aboard.  I hope Solas won't be cross that he's not the only mage now.  

[Medhia_Nox]

Sera:  We get to these alleys and have a few rounds with some thugs.  Then, there's this mage spouting off about how we foiled some grand plan and must have spent a fortune doing so.  I don't want to break his heart saying we found an arrow in the street that led us here.

 

Then, she appears.  

 

So, a city elf.  She seemed entirely ordinary, but I guess that's the point.  Okay, she does have a murderous streak that I'll have to be careful about but I can't say I haven't killed before.  She was wildly put off by me being an elf and hoping I wasn't "too elfy"?  Well, Dread Wolf take her - I say.  "Too elfy"?  That's the second most offensive thing I've heard since coming to the Conclave.  Most humans have, so far, been far too skittish about hurting my tender elven feelings to say anything. 

 

She talks too fast for me to get offended though.  Starts spouting off about some woman named Red Jenny... then says it's also some men and a few other woman... and I just chalk it up to her being dropped on her head in the Alienage.  

 

She wants to help, has people and did seem to lead me to some grand schemer who was plotting the downfall of the Inquisition. I can't break her heart and tell her that he couldn't have plotted the downfall of an avalanche.  

 

Anyway... I have no idea what I'm doing, so I let her join.  If Cullen, Jospephine, Leliana and Cassandra don't like her they can deal with her arrows.

[Gwydden]

You might actually convince me that DAI makes sense with a PC that isn't human. Maybe. I wouldn't bet on it

 

And I'm glad to know someone shares my contempt for the dalish. City elves are cool, but the dalish... Ugh.

 

Hope you keep it up!

[Medhia_Nox]

You might actually convince me that DAI makes sense with a PC that isn't human. Maybe. I wouldn't bet on it

 

And I'm glad to know someone shares my contempt for the dalish. City elves are cool, but the dalish... Ugh.

 

Hope you keep it up!

 

Thanks, I hope to show him grow and change throughout the course of this little exercise.  

[Hellion Rex]

Keep it coming, dude!

[Qun00]

DAI is perfect for you, since clan Lavellan is a special snowflake and atypical in almost every way.

I also think you will appreciate the dialogue option where you can tell Josephine you were bored with the Dalish life and always wanted more.

[Medhia_Nox]

The Hinterlands:   I feel bad for these people.  War has ravaged their landscape and people who only wanted to farm and take care of their families are now refugees in their own land.  I'm reminded of my own people.  We Dalish always move because even in the friendliest human lands we inevitably overstay our welcome.  Because of this we are drawn into wars, border disputes, petty squabbles and are forced to move again.  

 

The landscape is beautiful enough.  I've only seen some of it.  Incredibly rocky and hilly.  Good arable land I'm told.  Not when it's scarred with magic I wager.  

 

I found myself getting inordinately angry at both the mages and the templars that had made this place their pissing ground.  Two packs of wolves vying for the same space.  Fen'Harel take them both. 

 

We dispatched several groups and created a forward camp just outside the road leading to Redcliff castle.  That's where I met Mother Giselle.  I've also heard talk of how the people starve and grow cold.  I wonder idly if some of them wouldn't rather be Dalish right now.  They're so used to even their meager creature comforts.  Shelters and straw beds and warm fires.  I can't let these people starve.  There are children here and these are farmers.  What bows they had were taken by the Templars and the mercenaries helping the mages.  Same with blankets.  I was told the mage have been robbing people and storing caches of goods throughout the Hinterlands.  Maybe it's their own things they took from their homes when they decided to rebel.  Whatever the case, I don't care.  They're burning down people's homes.  Their goods are forfeit if I find them.

 

One of the Inquisition soldiers informed us that the northern road had bandits on it.  She informed us they were acting squirrely and not really stealing anything.  These people have had enough hardship.  They don't need more groups taking advantage.  I committed Cassandra, Varric Solas and I to dealing with them.

 

In doing so we came upon a strange cave.  A  Dalish mage woman was fighting some demons and we assisted.  She asked our further assistance.  Said this place was from the ancient elves.  Solas commented that an ancient item that measures the Veil was located here.  Could be useful.  I wonder why the ancient elves needed to measure the Veil?  I know it grows weak in places.  I really need to study some of this stuff - seeing as I have a glowing green hand now.  

 

We cleaned out the - what is this place - a temple?  Solas got very excited about an empty wall sconce.  He did... I dunno, magic, and it burst to life in blue flame.  He called it Veilfire. I carried around a torch of it.  It seemed strange.  Had a weird vibration to it or something.  Maybe it was just my imagination.  What it DID do, was illuminate a rune on the wall.  Evidently it translated to "fire" and can be inscribed in weapons.  Very useful.

 

Solas had words with the Dalish woman and she relented some of her find.  She lingered, but after activating the strange instrument Solas said measured the Veil - we left. 

 

We engaged some of the bandits.  They retreated and we pursued.  The vendor that found his way to the forward camp had some strange grenade concoction from Antiva.  It was great in dispatching these groups.  Though, I won't soon get the smell of cooking human out of my nose.  Even those I knew these men had been harming people along the road, I was disquieted for a bit at this engagement. 

 

We found a letter talking about a group called the Venatori.  We'll have to keep our ears open.  

I won't even BEGIN to discuss the giant dragon that lurks just north of here.  Mostly, because I was too busy rushing everyone back through the tunnel to escape its fire.  

[Medhia_Nox]

The Templars:  I killed a young man today.  He had blue stains on his lips.  I'm told they are from lyrium.  He seemed almost disappointed to be facing someone he could not use his powers on, and kept trying to get past me to get to Solas and Vivienne.  He shouted obscenities at them while we fought, which ultimately wasn't long because he seemed more like a rabid dog snarling at my companions than any competent sort.  I had wondered if it were the lyrium, but many of the templars out in the Hinterlands had been much the same.  So excited by ages of pent of blood thirst that finally had a release that they were little more than Avvar beserkers.  

 

Their commanders were more challenging, but still arrogant which was their undoing.  They thought the Maker had mandated them to victory.  I did not linger long on the shocked eyes of a young templar woman I had disemboweled.  She clutched at her innards as she fell to her knees.  Her eyes asked: "How?"  She died whimpering to her Maker.  

 

We tracked them to their camp.  I did not tell Solas and Vivienne that I had chosen them to come along specifically as distractions.  They were both eager as it was.  For Vivienne, these templars had broken their contracts and needed to be dealt with as a sense of authority.  For Solas, I think it was more disgust, but I could not help by wonder if he were simply curious to see if he could best people who specialized in kill him. 

 

We dispatched their leaders and broke the ranks of these Templar. They should trouble the Hinterlands no longer.  I suspect survivors will catch up with the Lord Seeker. 

 

The Mages: Redcliff village was a nice enough place.  It's along Lake Calenhad and I would have imagined quite a nice life fishing and farming had Vivienne not recounted several of the events which had occurred.  Greagor Cousland, the Hero of Ferelden, and the grey warden who slew the archdaemon and stopped the fifth blight had come here seeking aid.  He killed a young man named Connor who was a mage that had become possessed by a desire demon.  The town had been ravaged then, but looked no worse for wear now save for the ruined windmill that crested a hill overlooking the village. 

 

We passed Tevinter training soldiers as we entered, and were told that a Magister had been invited to take up residence within Redcliff.  How did a Magister manage to take Redcliff from its Ferelden lord?  Were the Fereldens as powerless against Tevinter as anyone else?  Magisters were alway boogeymen in the tales of my people.  I'm told by Mother Giselle they fair just as bad in the Chantry tales.  

 

These are the humans that destroyed ancient Elvhenan.  These are the people that sunk Arlathan.  I'd never given it much thought until now.  When was I ever going to meet a Tevinter?  I guess I had my answer.  I'd never lived in a city.  I've never met an immortal.  How was I supposed to be outraged by these things.  Did this Tevinter Magister sink Arlathan?  Did he enslave elves?  I didn't want to think about the last part.  Tevinter remained notorious in slave trade. 

 

Before we met with Fiona, we spent some time exploring the town to get the general impression of the mages and their position.  I met an elven man that mourned the conflict beyond the gates.  Even with the templars and apostates dealt with, the Hinterlands were still crawling with bandits.  He often visited the grave of his wife, but no longer could.  I offered to help.  He made quite a deal about trying to keep to the "old ways" and I felt a bit ashamed that I had been trying to get away from them.  

 

Then we found the house near the docks. 

 

Skulls lined its walls.  Each one had a crystal in an eye socket.  We discovered they were Tranquil.  This Magister had ordered the Tranquil to be rounded up and used for some macabre experiment to find some ancient artifact.  Even if these rebel mages didn't know, how little could they care about the Tranquil to not notice them going missing.  Minaeve had said the mages ignored them and templars were cruel to them.  Templars were painted as religious zealots... I knew what their excuse was.  

 

This could not go unanswered for.  I'd never really had a conversation with a Tranquil, but I knew they were rendered simple by some human ritual.  Did it hurt when these Tranquil were killed?  Did they know fear again for even just a brief moment before they were murdered.  The cruelty that goes into leading simple minded people to this place to kill them, carve out their skulls and use them for some profane purpose.  

 

I did not know, at that moment, what I hated more.  Mages or Tevinter.  But I knew that shortly I'd be meeting someone that was both.  

 

I tried not to snap at Vivienne and Solas.  They had not done this.  But, mages played with things they shouldn't.  What knowledge could be worth doing this to people?  Then there's the blood magic.  Blood magic that is at the center of the Chantries story about their Magisters.  Blood magic at the heart of the fall of Arlathan.  This is different than a mage using magic as a weapon in a direct contest of power.  This is different than two men attacking each other with swords.  This was murder... willful, premeditated slaughter for the amusement of people with power. 

 

I did not see the war for liberation on the skulls that lined the wall.  I saw only a new oppression at the hands of new tyrants. 

 

I take lives.  I've spilt blood.  But it has never been to satiate my own curiosity or to feed my own blood lust.  Mages are as cruel as any templar.  

 

Without a word to my compatriots - we made our way to the tavern.  

[Reznore57]

I have to say I've been enjoying reading those entries.

Couple of times I chuckled at the well placed sarcasm , it's also sweet to read the pc reflecting on events happening along the way .

[Medhia_Nox]

Fiona:  I'd met her before, but after visiting the house of the Tranquil I saw her in an entirely different light.  ignorance wasn't an excuse.  They were her charges. I had planned to give her a piece of my mind, but she seemed to not even recognize me.  What game was she playing?  She had invited me here in Val Royeaux and now she was pretending like she didn't know anything about that invitation or the templars or much of anything else. 

 

It didn't seem to matter.  Before I could call her out further and get to the bottom of her game she informed us she had already made an alliance with the Tevinter magister that had come to Redcliff.  I barely could contain myself.  First, the business with the Tranquil and now I find she's sold her people.  How could she do that?  Why did the mages go along with it?  She was an elf.  She was an elf that had been a Grey Warden and a Grand Enchanter and probably had more power than any elf had ever had in a long time.  And she goes and sells herself to Tevinter?  The Tevinter that slaughtered her people in ancient history?  The Tevinter that made sport of selling her people into slavery even in modern times?  

 

Vivienne cut me off before I ruined any chance of an alliance.  I was glad others would be making the decision of who to ally with. I imagined myself, for a moment, as Elgar'nan himelf.  Meeting vengeance for the lives of all those who had suffered for this conflict only to have the very meaning of it abandoned at the first sign of loss.  Elgar'nan guided my blade when I left the camps of the apostates and the templars in ruins.  Would he have me stay my hand here?  

 

Vivienne's hand on my shoulder brought me back to the moment.  I released my hand on sword.  

 

"Then tell me where I can find someone in charge."  I spat out at her.  Fiona simply looked across the room.

 

Magister Alexiuss had arrived.

[Medhia_Nox]

Magister Alexius:  Tevinter Magister Gereon Alexius.  I am getting really tired of titles, and the moment he spoke I already knew I had no patience for his smug, pleasant tone.  He spoke like a man who had already won everything he had set out to do.  He informed me that the mages were indentured to him for ten years.  Hundreds of people, indentured to this man to do with as he pleased, for ten years before they had the dubious pleasure of being part of Tevinter.  I wondered if he had not already shipped hundreds of mages off to Tevinter to be put through whatever paces he had set for them.  

 

Either he did not notice that I shot daggers at him from across the table, or he did not care.  He seemed intrigued by me.  A point that only managed to ****** me off further.  Yes, Magister... I walked my weak elf ass out of a rift, then I got a glowing green hand that opens and shuts those rifts, and if you would like a demonstration I'd happily find one and tip you inside and shut it.  

 

I wonder if those spider "things" are everywhere in the Fade.  Mental note to ask Vivienne or Solas later.  I hope Alexius is afraid of spiders.

 

He introduced his son Felix who I could not have been less impressed with.  He walked slowly and seemed to have to hold himself to keep from falling apart.  His eyes were sunken, even if only slightly, and his voice was quiet and weak. He stumbled, and despite myself I caught him.  I couldn't help but not catch a faint scent or perfume.  Alright, maybe this easy living was a bit ridiculous.  Why did this man, who likely never had to sweat in his life, wear scented oils or what have you.  I amused myself by thinking it was to mask the stench of his evil.

 

He gave me something.  What's this?  Notes now?  

 

Alexius panicked and fussed over his son. So, the man who carves out Tranquil skulls has a heart.  I was in a foul mood and thought about providing him with a nice Felix skull ornament for his collection.  Or, maybe I could find someone to make Felix tranquil and see how Alexius' likes it then.  I wouldn't do it if I could, but something had to be done about this Magister. 

 

I looked at the note.  It was a warning.  Why was the Magister's son giving me rendezvous points and warnings?  I watched them both leave.  Felix caught my eye.  He seemed less sick than he had a moment ago.  Now what was "his" game?  I regretted not having Cassandra here.  I was the newcomer.  The person with the glowing hand who was sent out to rally these people to close the rift.  Cassandra would have been able to put to words her irritation at all these games and deceptions.  I just shut my mouth.

 

We spent some time talking to the people in the tavern.  One woman, a mage raged about the Chantry and it evils.  She admired Tevinter because there she could be free.  I didn't know much about human governments, but I'm pretty sure being indentured was the opposite of freedom.  There was another mage terrified of being part of Fiona's trade.  Vivienne gave voice to my thoughts.  If Madame de Fur was standing by me... why couldn't this man?  I didn't admire him any more when he admitted it had everything to do with fear.

 

Then, I met a Tranquil.  I imagined he was among the last in Redcliff.  He was simple, straightforward and I could swear there was a hint of muted fear in his voice.  He was an alchemist and petitioned to be allowed into the Inquisition.  I couldn't have said yes faster.  We arranged for his transport to Haven immediately - whatever "danger" I was in be damned.  I wasn't going to let one more Tranquil die if I could help it.  If these mages couldn't care less about them, then they would find purpose in the Inquisition.  I told him to seek out a woman named Minaeve when he arrived.  

 

Then, we headed for the certain trap that awaited us in the Redcliff Chantry.