(RECAP) I cannot go home.
Why not?
It doesn't matter now.
(RECAP)I told you before
how Arl Eamon raised me, right? That my mother was a serving girl at the castle
and he took me in.
(RECAP) Eamon is gravely ill.
So these are our visitors. The ones you
told me about, mother.
Yes, Connor.
The demon in Connor needs to be destroyed.
But killing the demon would mean killing the-
Unless, you intend to enter The Fade.
(RECAP) Where is Arl Eamon?
Upstairs in his room.
I think the demon has been keeping him alive.
Who will go into The Fade?
Morrigan is going.
(RECAP) One soul I already possess, I do not need another.
I wish only... to talk.
Do you take me for a fool? I know
better than to bargain with your kind!
If you wish a battle, you will have it.
TEAGAN: So it is over. Connor is his old self. He does not seem to remember anything, which
is a blessing. I suppose we will need to send him to The Circle of Magi's tower for...
training. Once the war is over. It's so hard to think of the boy as a mage, of
all things. Eamon has much to mourn and rebuild, should he recover. But at least
he could be thankful that both his son and wife are safe.
ISOLDE: I owe you my deepest thanks. I had nearly... I can scarcely believe Connor is the boy
he once was.
TEAGAN: There is still the matter of Jowan. His poisoning Eamon began this
whole mess, yet he lives. I must decide what becomes of him. We will hold him for
Eamon to decide his fate. If he doesn't recover, Jowan's fate is
sealed. What do you think?
ELISSA: Why do you want my opinion?
TEAGAN: You spoke with him, have you
not? You know what he has done better than I do, even.
ELISSA: Would you find him useful?
TEAGAN: I would not trust him, but I would not presume to tell my brother what to do.
ELISSA: Do whatever you want with him.
TEAGAN: Very well. I shall have the mage
imprisoned again, for now. But our task is not done yet. Whatever the demon did
to my brother, it seems to have spared his life, but he remains comatose. We
cannot wake him.
ISOLDE: The Urn! The Urn of Sacred Ashes will save Eamon!
ELISSA: Isn't there some other way to heal him? What about magic?
TEAGAN: It has been tried, and we will
continue trying. Perhaps the demon's absence will make a
difference. However, the relic is another option.
ISOLDE: My husband funded the research of a scholar in Denerim. A Brother Genitivi.
He has been studying the inscriptions on Andraste's birth rock. When Eamon
fell ill, I sent the knights to speak to Genetivi. I hoped that he had finally
discovered the location of The Urn of Sacred Ashes itself. They were unable to
locate Genetivi. In desperation, I sent more knights in search of the brother, or
some glue of The Urn's location.
ELISSA: I will see if I can find this relic.
TEAGAN: No one else can. Even if I wish to do it myself, I cannot abandon Redcliffe to its own
devices. Perhaps you could seek out the brother's home in Denerim and see if
any clues remain on his whereabouts. It is the only place to begin the search, I
think. I must go to the hall and begin rebuilding.
I wish you luck and may The Maker go with you.
CONNOR: You... You're the one who saved me.
ELISSA: Actually, it was Morrigan.
CONNOR: Then... I guess I owe her thanks. Father always said to
remember to thank people who do nice things for you. I hope father gets better soon.
He will... won't he?
OWEN: My Valena returned! She told me of your daring rescue, I can't begin to tell
you how grateful I am!
Take this. A reward for your deed. It's
dwarven made and should serve you well.
ELISSA: I don't need a reward, keep it.
OWEN: That's even kinder of you. Thank you again. I'm forever in your debt.
VALENA: Thank you, My Lady. I'd never have been able to return to my father if it wasn't for you.
ALISTAIR: Now that we're back at the camp, I want to talk about what happened. At Redcliffe.
ELISSA: I think it turned out quite well, don't you?
ALISTAIR: I just wanted to thank you. You
went out of your way to save the Arl's family and you did it. Even though it
would have been easier not to. There's been so much death and destruction, it...
well it... it makes me feel good but at least we were able to save something, no
matter how small. I owed the Arl that much.
ELISSA: You're welcome.
ALISTAIR: This... this is my mother's
amulet. It has to be. But why isn't it broken? Where did you find it?
ELISSA: I found it in Redcliffe Castle, in the study.
ALISTAIR: Oh? The Arl's study? Then he must have
found the amulet after I threw it at the wall... and he repaired it and kept it.
I don't understand, why would he do that?
ELISSA: Perhaps you mean more to him than you think.
ALISTAIR: I... guess you could be right. We
never really talked that much, and then the way I left... Thank you, I mean it. I
thought I'd lost this to my own stupidity. I'll need to talk to him about
this, if he recovers from his - when he recovers, that is. I wish I'd had this a
long time ago. Did you remember me mentioning it? Wow! I'm more used to
people not really listening when I go on about things.
ELISSA: Of course I remembered...
You're special to me.
ALISTAIR: Is this the part when the music starts and we begin
dancing, because I'm game! (laughs)
Where's the minstrels?!
STEN: You called?
ELISSA: Do you find Ferelden very strange?
STEN: To put it lightly... No one has a
place here. Your farmers wish to be merchants, the
merchants dream of being nobles, and the nobles become warriors. No one is content
to be who they are.
ELISSA: Don't the Qunari ever want to change their lot in life?
STEN: What does that accomplish? The farmer who buys a shop is
never a merchant, he is always a farmer turned merchant. He carries his old life
with him as a turtle carries its shell.
ELISSA: He might be happier.
STEN: Happiness is fragile. Nothing can be built upon it that will last. Only duty endures.
ELISSA: You don't think happiness is important?
STEN: You can learn to find it in doing your duty, in serving your people. There is no
need to search for it. Shall we move on?
ELISSA: Is there anything you like about Ferelden?
STEN: There is... interesting food here. You have a thing... it doesn't have a word
in the Qunari tongue. Little baked things, like bread... but sweet and crumbly.
ELISSA: The only thing you like about Ferelden is sweets?
STEN: It is a human land like any other.
Not as hostile as some, perhaps. Those little baked things, however. We have none
of those in my homeland. This should be remedied.
ELISSA: You sound a bit homesick.
STEN: Perhaps.
It's strange to be in a crowd and hear a language that is not your own.
To see faces that are and aren't like yours. I miss the smells of Seheron. Tea
and incense and the sea. Ferelden smells of wet dogs.
ELISSA: Dogs don't smell that bad.
STEN: Skunks don't mind the smell of others skunks, either.
OGHREN: Whatcha need?
ELISSA: Are you sure you're fine with what happened with Branca?
OGHREN: (sarcastically) Oh sure, I'm fine with it.
I mean, she was a real firebrand between the sheets but a bit soft in the skull,
you know what I mean? Explains why she left, anyway.
ELISSA: Well I imagine she wasn't that crazy when she left.
OGHREN: Oh, you don't know her! She was cracked like a glass
floor. Before she was a Paragon, I mean. After that, she really fell apart. I mean,
she leaves me and flits about with that water tart Hespith. What she got that I
don't? Just a thought of the two of them together, kissing and licking, and...
intertwined on the floor of the Deep Roads... I'm, uh... I'm just gonna just go
back to the tent for a moment. Excuse me.
LELIANA: Something I can help with?
ELISSA: I heard that, in Orlais, minstrels are often spies.
LELIANA: Where did you hear this?
ELISSA: I... read it in a history book.
LELIANA: And did you not think that
this could be historical fact, and no longer true? (laughs)
Not all minstrels are spies.
Most are just singers and storytellers, but some of them are... are what we call
bards.
ELISSA: I thought minstrels were bards.
LELIANA: Many use the two words "minstrel" and "bard"
interchangeably, but do so in Orlais would cause misunderstanding. Bards are
minstrels and more; spies as you say. Some say there is a bard order, but I don't
think this is true. Many bards work alone or in small groups, doing the bidding of
a patron who pays for their services. If there is an organization behind it all,
no one knows who they are.
ELISSA: Patron? What sort of patron?
LELIANA: Nobles mostly.
In Orlais, there is much rivalry amongst the highborn. They fight over land,
influence, and the favor of the Empress. But they could not do this openly
because it is impolite, and in public there were smiling faces and pretend to
be civil. In secret, they plot and scheme to destroy each other.
It is a game completely meaningless to anyone but its players.
ELISSA: You seem to know quite a bit about these bards...
LELIANA: Hah, and I should, shouldn't I? After having spent
most of my adult life as one. You've guessed as much, I'm sure. But does it
really matter what I was? What's past is past.
ELISSA: But why were you living as a cloistered sister in rural Ferelden?
LELIANA: I... found myself in Ferelden, and sheltered from bad weather in the Chantry.
And when the storm passed, I just... did not want to leave. I like to say The Maker brought me here.
ALISTAIR: I'm wondering something, I'd like to know your thoughts about some of our...
travelling companions. Do you mind if I ask?
ELISSA: Go ahead, I don't mind.
ALISTAIR: How about Oghren? You must have an opinion on the smell, at the very least.
ELISSA: He is a bit much, isn't he?
ALISTAIR: Well, let's just say that I'm not so surprised he's not
married any longer. How he lifts his sword is a bit of a mystery, though I
suppose the point is that he does lift it. And so long as we can point him in
the right direction, he charges too. He has gusto, I'll give him that.
Zevran, the elf. You can't... trust him, can you? Do you believe his so-called vow?
ELISSA: Maybe... we'll see.
ALISTAIR: That's a lot to put on a "maybe," isn't it? He's an assassin.
The Crows aren't known for giving up. Maybe he's just biding his time.
ELISSA: If he tries anything, then he'll die.
ALISTAIR: Well at least you're considering the possibility.
He just seems... shifty to me. What about Sten. The way he looks at me
with those eyes, creepy. And he's so quiet for someone so big.
ELISSA: I agree. The Qunari are unsettling.
ALISTAIR: Yet he doesn't seem quite so bad as the Chantry tells us. According
to them, his philosophy is vile and evil. Yet he seems so reasonable... and yet he
killed all those people. He doesn't even deny it.
Doesn't that bother you?
ELISSA: He seems to regret what he did.
ALISTAIR: I'm not so sure that his regret
means the same as it would for us. The Qunari sense of honour is... is a bit hard
to grasp. For me anyway.
What about Leliana? Is she crazy? Or do
you really believe in her vision?
ELISSA: I believe... that she believes in her vision.
ALISTAIR: That's one way to put it. I don't know what to make of her. If you look at
her when she doesn't see you, she just looks so... so sad. I almost feel guilty
taking her away from her life.
ELISSA: It was her choice.
ALISTAIR: Yes, I know. Still, I feel badly for her.
Morrigan. Do you trust her? Think about it,
maybe Flemeth sent her with us for some other reason than she said.
ELISSA: You really don't like each other, do you?
ALISTAIR: Well aside from the fact that she's a complete and utter bitch!
No, I don't like her at all. Why? Do you?
ELISSA: I like her just fine.
ALISTAIR: (sarcastically) Great. I am thrilled beyond words. No, really.
Enough. I think my curiosity is sated. Let's get back to it, shall we?
WYNNE: Have you heard much about the Grey Wardens of old?
ELISSA: Only what I've heard in the old tales.
WYNNE: It was said that watching the Wardens ride in on their white Griffins
was enough to rouse a weary heart, and put the dance back in the step of an old
man. The Grey Wardens were powerful, feared and respected, but they also
inspired the common people. I remember a tale that was told to me, many years ago.
The Blight had ravaged the land for months, and the armies of the great kings
had amassed for one last stand. As the sun burst through the clouds that boiled
and churned in the dark sky above, it illuminated a vast seething horde of
Darkspawn, with the Archdemon at its head. And it was then, when courage seemed to
fail, and all lost to death and despair, that the Grey Wardens came. They arrived
with the beating of wings like mighty war drums, and stood before the armies of men.
ELISSA: And what happened then?
WYNNE: The Grey Wardens, grim and fearless, marched forth.
Ever between the men and the encroaching Darkspawn. They formed a shield of their
own bodies, and held that line until the Archdemon was dead, and the last
Darkspawn lay trampled in the dirt. And then, demanding neither reward nor
recognition for their sacrifice, the Grey Wardens departed. When the clouds finally
rolled back, and the sun shone full upon the blighted ground, the great kings knew
that they had lost no men. And none of their blood had been spilled.
ELISSA: Nonsense. Both sides always take losses.
WYNNE: This is a tale about no battle the Grey Wardens have fought, and yet about them all.
They have always defended us from
the Darkspawn, taking losses so we do not have to. People may have forgotten over
the centuries, but nothing has changed. This knowledge has been blessing and
burden to Grey Wardens past, and now it shall be your blessing. And your burden.
STEN: You are not quite as callow as I thought. That is... unexpected.
ELISSA: What is that supposed to mean?
STEN: Callow? It is a word in your tongue. It means "without feathers," as a
new hatched bird.
ELISSA: (annoyed) I know what the word means!
STEN: Then why ask?
ELISSA: I meant... Why did you think I was "callow?"
STEN: You probably give most people that impression. You'll get
over it, eventually.
ELISSA: So will you tell me now why you were caged?
STEN: I caged myself.
A weak mind is a deadly foe, as you are no doubt aware.
ELISSA: Are you saying you put yourself in that cage?
STEN: I know that my failures were my own. I told you before
that I was sent here. I was not sent alone. I came to your lands with seven of
the Beresaad, my brothers, to seek answers about The Blight. We made our way
across the Ferelden countryside without incident, seeing nothing of the threat
we were sent to observe. Until the night we camped by Lake Calenhad. They came
from everywhere - the earth beneath our feet, the air above us, our own shadows
harbored the Darkspawn. I saw the last of the creatures cut down. Too late. I fell.
ELISSA: That sounds like what happened to me at Ostagar.
STEN: I heard the stories of Ostagar.
Your kith stood their ground when others fled. No one can do more than that, I
don't know how long I lay on the battlefied among the dead, nor do I know how
the farmers found me. I only know that when I woke I was no longer among my
brothers. And my sword was gone from my hand.
ELISSA: What did you do?
STEN: I searched for it.
And when that failed I asked my rescuers what had become of it.
ELISSA: Did the farmers know where it was?
STEN: They said they found me with nothing.
ELISSA: Did you believe them?
STEN: I did.
I knew they didn't have the blade, they had no reason to lie to me.
I panicked. Unthinking, I struck them down.
ELISSA: You panicked over a lost blade?
STEN: That sword was made for my hand alone. I have carried it from the day I was set into
the Beresaad. I was to die wielding it for my people, Even if I could cross
Ferelden and Tevinter, unarmed and alone, to bring my report to the Arishok, I
would be slain on sight by the Antaam. They would know me as soulless, a
deserter. No soldier would cast aside his blade while he drew breath.
ELISSA: How can your people possibly think that way?
STEN: We know who we are, and what we are meant to be.
ELISSA: So that's it? You aren't going to do anything about it?
STEN: What would you have me
do? It could be anywhere by now.
ELISSA: Where did you fight the Darkspawn?
STEN: Near Lake Calenhad.
ELISSA: Don't worry. We'll find it.
STEN: Perhaps those words are empty but, thank you all the same.
OGHREN: There you are. Wanted to talk to you.
ELISSA: What about?
OGHREN: You and I, we've... you know how sometimes you spend time with... people, and things. hmm...
ELISSA: Yeah, take your time.
OGHREN: I was thinking, I do know some people out here on the surface. A
person, actually. A girl I knew and Orzammar. Bbefore I left, obviously.
ELISSA: Who is she?
OGHREN: Her name's Felsi. She and I were, heh, "friends"
after Branka left for the Deep Roads. I'm sure she's forgiven me by now,
thought maybe I'd track her down. See how she's been living.
ELISSA: hmm... What do you mean you were "friends."
OGHREN: Oh, we "coiled the old rope," if you know what I mean.
"Oiled the mineshaft."
"Rubbed the foreman's elbow." (laughs).
ELISSA: You're just making those up, aren't you?
OGHREN: Should I show you? (laughs)
All right, don't kill me!
Anyway, she left for the surface a year back, and I haven't seen her since.
ELISSA: Why did she leave?
OGHREN: (defensively) What?! Why are you asking me? I didn't do anything!
Last I heard, she was gonna live
with her mother on the surface, near some lake. Cleanbad Lake, was it?
Aw sod it, I don't remember.
ELISSA: Clean bad?
You mean Lake Calenhad? We can go there.
OGHREN: No, no. I think it was Cleanbad. I remember because I thought,
"Yeah, that's right. Dirty good, clean bad.
OGHREN: (laughs) ELISSA: (laughs)
OGHREN: But thanks for offering to take us there. You're a
good friend, Warden.
SCAVENGER: Back off! I was here first!
ELISSA: You haven't seen a sword lying around here, have you?
SCAVENGER: Why? You looking to buy one?
ELISSA: No. But my very large, angry friend he is.
SCAVENGER: Oh, is he?
Heh, well... that's... see, I'd like to sell you one, but I don't... have any myself.
I got part of a glove the wolves didn't chew too badly, though. I think it was a glove, anyway.
I know, don't say it, I got cheated. I knew the guy who was here before me, he
sold me this spot. Said he found giants and all kind of crazy valuables. He
didn't mentioned that he'd taken everything but the bones and the dirt
already. His name's Faryn. Squirrelly little bastard, if you ask me. Which you
didn't, but I said it anyway.
ELISSA: He sold you this spot? Does he own this land?
SCAVENGER: No, no. That's some freeholder or other. He just sold me the looting rights. I'm not
building a house here or nothing. He was going to Orzammar, he said. I imagine he's
gotten there by now. If you find him, tell him I sent you.
It'll scare the piss out of him! Hah!
OGHREN: There she is!
I'm gonna go talk to her. Look, you gotta back me up here, got it?
ELISSA: Of course.
OGHREN: Heh, heh. Thanks Warden.
ELISSA: Maybe I should go talk to her first.
OGHREN: Find out how much she misses old Oghren, or who I have to kill, and then I'll go
sweep her off her feet. That's me, mister charm.
FELSI: What can I get for you? And don't say mead, we ran out of that a week ago.
And don't say rum either, ran out the day before yesterday.
And don't say brandy.
ELISSA: When did you run out of brandy?
FELSI, Oh, we haven't yet. it's
just terrible. We got it from a shady Orlesian trader and I think it might
really be turpentine.
INNKEEPER: Felsi! I need tables clean, girl!
FELSI: I've got a customer!
ELISSA: Your name's Felsi?
FELSI: Aye, who wants to know?
ELISSA: You don't happen to know a fellow
named Oghren, do you?
FELSI: Ugh, did you have to bring his name up? I just ate!
ELISSA: hmm... What happened between you two?
FELSI: What happened?! Is that a serious question?
Have you met Oghren? He got drunk, drunker than usual even, took off his
pants and challenged a roast nug to a wrestling match at my father's funeral.
He lost, by the way. The roast got him in an arm lock, he sat there crying for
half an hour before someone pulled it off him.
ELISSA: How did he lose to a piece of meat?
FELSI: It was a sodding good roast.
INNKEEPER: Felsi! What in Andraste's name are you doing?!
The tables, girl!
FELSI: All right!
I've got to get back to work.
OGHREN: Well, what did she say?
ELISSA: She hasn't exactly forgiven you for the... "nug incident."
OGHREN: Ahh, that fight was rigged!
Anyway, the guard said it wasn't worth
pressing charges. So, she's no call to hold a grudge. Did she say anything else?
ELISSA: (patronizingly) Go get her.
OGHREN: Just be ready to pry off when she throws herself at me, we don't want
to make a scene here. Well, don't pry her off me too soon. I mean, a little scene's all right.
Are you sure you're not a bake?r
'cause you got a sodding nice set of buns!
FELSI: Well, look what the nug dragged in.
I should have known you were in the neighborhood, by the stench. What are you doing here?
OGHREN: Just trying to kick back with a pint. Fighting Darkspawn's a lot of
sodding work, you know?
FELSI: *You're* fighting Darkspawn?
OGHREN: Well, someone's got to do it,
you know? Can't leave a Blight to the humans, they'll
just muck it all up.
FELSI: Psh. The whole surface to choose from and you just
happened to come to my tavern?
OGHREN: Ehh... well...
ELISSA: (whispering to Oghren) Tell her it's fate.
OGHREN: What?! Oh right!
It's fate, Felsi, what can I say?
FELSI: Fate? The Ancestors must have a sense of humor, then.
OGHREN: Sure they do! heh. You've had a good look at Lady Helmi, haven't you? If her
face isn't a joke the Ancestors are playing, I'm up bronto's behind.
FELSI: So, Lady Helmi must be a Paragon of Beauty, then.
ELISSA: (whispering to Oghren) Tell her you've been thinking of her.
OGHREN: I've been thinking about you, Felsi.
FELSI: (annoyed) What do you want, Oghren? (sighs)
OGHREN: Nothing. Just thought I'd see how you were doing, is all. Well maybe that
and "grease up the bronto," if you know what I mean.
FELSI: Well, you've seen me. You'll have to go back to Orzammar for the bronto.
ELISSA: Admit it, Oghren is much more fun than the men around here.
FELSI: If by fun you mean,
more likely to light farts on fire, yes.
OGHREN: Oh well, it's been fun Felsi, but I better go.
FELSI: W-wait! You're leaving? You just got here. I haven't called you a shaft rat yet.
OGHREN: Oh, you can't keep the Archdemon waiting. You hurt its feelings it might
just turn the whole Blight around and go home. Nobody wants that.
FELSI: Well, you don't need to fight it right now, do you? I mean you could have a pint first. You could
call me a surly bronto. I could tell you that you smell like nug droppings.
OGHREN: I'll tell you what, I got some things I got to do, but I'll come back for that pint when
things are settled, you frigid deep stalker.
FELSI: Fine. But you better not keep me
waiting, you worthless copper-plated sword caste.
OGHREN: Wouldn't dream of it.
OGHREN: (chuckles) I still got it.
ELISSA: Wait, that was a success? Are you sure?
OGHREN: Weren't you watching? She could
barely restrain herself! Might as well rest up while I can. You ready to go?
ELISSA: Let's go.
IRVING: Welcome back, friend. You'll be glad to learn that The Circle is well on
its way to recover.y
ELISSA: Dagna, of Orzammar, wishes to study magic.
IRVING: Orzammar?
Indeed, you have piqued my curiosity. It is common knowledge that dwarves lack the... "aptitude"
for spellcraft. She will never be able to weave the
simplest magic, no matter how hard she tries.
ELISSA: All she wants us to study the theory of magic.
IRVING: Fascinating. I suppose The Circle should be flattered.
ELISSA: She is willing to give up caste and clan for this.
IRVING: I see... If she is willing to
sacrifice so much for this, then we should feel honored.
Tell Dagna, of Orzammar, that this path will not be easy, but if she chooses it, then she is
welcome here at The Circle. She will live and study with the Tranquil, and perhaps
the apprentices, when it is appropriate.
ELISSA: Thank you, First Enchanter.
IRVING: Ah, if only The Circle was in better shape. I fear she may be disappointed when she arrives.
ELISSA: I think she'll be very interested in what happened.
IRVING: This will be interesting.
She could tell us much about our dwarven neighbors. Yes... the more I think about it,
the more I like the idea. I shall take this as an indication that perhaps
things are starting to look up for The Circle. Thank you.
ELISSA: Forgive me, but I must take my leave.
IRVING: I wish you well. Know you will always be welcome here.
FARYN: Step right- Maker's Breath!
Oh, beg your pardon friend. You uh... startled me a bit.
ELISSA: We'd like to have a word with you.
FARYN: Oh, a... word? With me?
STEN: Where is my sword!
FARYN: I, uh... I don't know what you mean, ser.
ELISSA: I'd give it to him if I were you, Faryn.
FARYN: I... I don't have it. I swear by Andraste's knickers. I sold it on the way here.
ELISSA: Who did you sell it to?
FARYN: A dwarf near Redcliffe. Dwyn, I think his name was.
ELISSA: Wait, Dwyn? I know him.
FARYN: He's the one who has the sword, I promise you. Said he was a collector.
STEN: We'll see.
DAGNA: Hello, how can I- Oh! It's you! And it's been... well, quite a while. Enough time to
get to The Circle and back, I hope. Oh, please tell me what they said.
ELISSA: First Enchanter Irving accepted you for study.
DAGNA: Ancestors, bless you! I can't believe it!
There hasn'teven been a dwarven observer in The Circle since Ureldin in the thirteenth
century! Uh... I-I-I need to pack! No, my parents would get suspicious...
I need to go! Is there anything I should bring? Books? Tuition?
ELISSA: Nohing. The mages need every ally they can get.
DAGNA: Then I should go before my parents come looking
for me. If you ever go to the circle again, maybe I'll see you there.
OGHREN: Ehhh, come on!
Who ate the cabbage?!
STEN: Why ask me?
OGHREN: I guess you thought we could all share in the bounty.
STEN: Ahh....
OGHREN: Oh, stand up to it, you giant ass! You birthed a cloud to be proud!
STEN: (chuckles)
OGHREN: Oh, ho. I hope you thought of a name. Whew!
DWYN: Ugh. Some fight. Reminds me why I left Orzammar in the first place.
ELISSA: Thank you for helping with the battle.
DWYN: Hey, anything for Redcliffe, right? Whatever. First thing I'm
gonna do is get some sleep... for about a week. Go celebrate or
whatever it is you're gonna do. You won, right ?You're a hero, or... something.
ELISSA: I'm looking for the Qunari sword you bought.
DWYN: Now, why would you be interested in that?
STEN: It's mine.
DWYN: Ughhh. You know, Faryn didn't mention that giant he took
it from was alive.
ELISSA: Name your price.
DWYN: Six sovereigns.
ELISSA: Two sovereigns, take it or leave it.
DWYN: Good enough. It's in my strongbox, here's
the key. Now, why don't you leave me alone.
STEN: Strange. I had almost forgotten it - completion. Are you sure you are a Grey
Warden? I think you must be an ashkaari to find a single lost blade in a country
at war.
ELISSA: What will you do now?
STEN: My sword is in my hand again, I should put it to use.
And I could deliver a much more satisfying answer to the Arishock's
question if The Blight were ended. Don't you agree?
ELISSA: So you're staying then?
STEN: I am one of the Beresaad.
I have never abandoned the field with a battle unmet.
ELISSA: I'm glad to have you, Sten.
STEN: Yes, it isn't every Grey Warden who has her own Beresaad. I will see you reach
the Archdemon. Lead the way.
STEN: Yes, it is good to have my sword at my side again. I call her Asala, the soul. My
soul. She is forged from rare blue steel and has served me faithfully for many years.
Yes. You understand what it is like to have a
weapon that is part of you. Few others do.
ALISTAIR: Something on your mind?
ELISSA: If you were raised in the Chantry, have you never...
ALISTAIR: Never...? Never what? Had a good pair of shoes?
ELISSA: You know what I mean!
ALISTAIR: I'm not sure I do... Have I never... seen a basilisk? Ate jellied ham? Have I never
licked a lamppost in winter?
ELISSA: Now you're making fun of me.
ALISTAIR: Make fun of you, dear lady? Perish the thought!
ALISTAIR: Well, tell me. Have you ever licked a lamppost in winter?
ELISSA: (chuckles) No, I've never "licked a lamppost in winter."
ALISTAIR: Good.
I hear it's quite painful. I remember one of the younger initiates did it on a
dare once, and there was pointing and laughing. Oh, the humanity!
I myself have also never done "it"... that. Not that I haven't thought about it, of course.
But, you know...
ELISSA: You've never... had the opportunity.
ALISTAIR: Well, living in the Chantry is not exactly a life for rambunctious
boys. They taught me to be a gentleman, especially in the presence of beautiful
women, such as yourself. That's not so bad, is it?
ELISSA: You think I'm beautiful?
ALISTAIR: I... did I say beautiful? Do you have any particular
opinion on my saying that?
ELISSA: I might like hearing it... from you.
ALISTAIR: Then I'll have to think of something more provocative next time, won't I?
Until then, we should get underway, no? I have many tearful nights in my tent to contemplate, after all.
ELISSA: So, life in The Wilds must have been very lonely.
MORRIGAN: At times, perhaps. A world full of
people and buildings and things was all very foreign to me. If I wished
companionship I ran with the wolves and flew with the birds. If I spoke, 'twas to
the trees.
ELISSA: But you eventually left?
MORRIGAN: Such simple pleasures will only enthrall for
so long. I recall the first time I crept beyond the edge of The Wilds. I did so in
animal form, remaining in the shadows and watching these strange townsfolk from
afar. I happened upon a noblewoman by her carriage, adorned in sparkling garments
the likes of which I had never before seen. I was dazzled! This to me seemed
what true wealth and beauty must be. I snuck up behind her and stole a hand
mirror from the carriage. It was encrusted in gold and crystalline
gemstones, and I hugged it to my chest with delight, as I sped back to The Wilds.
ELISSA: I can't imagine Flemeth was pleased.
MORRIGAN: She... was not. Flemeth was furious with me!
I was a child and had not yet come into my full power and I had risked discovery
for the sake of a pretty bauble. To teach me a lesson, Flemeth took the mirror and
smashed it upon the ground. I was heartbroken.
ELISSA: But you were just a child.
MORRIGAN: And a foolish one! Flemeth was right to break me of my fascination.
Beauty and love are fleeting and have no meaning. Survival has meaning. Power has
meaning. Without those lessons I would not be here today, as difficult as they
might have been.
ELISSA: But you don't need to live that way any longer.
MORRIGAN: Do I not?
I am still an apostate mage, even if I have left The Wilds. The Darkspawn are yet
undefeated, no there is much that remains. To return to your original question,
perhaps my time in The Wilds was indeed lonely, but such was how it had to be. I
find myself at times wondering what might have become of the girl with the
beautiful golden mirror, but such fantasies have no place amidst reality.
SHALE: It doesn't have better things to do?
ELISSA: Are those crystals in your skin?
SHALE: I like to think of them as "accessories."
ELLISA: Hah, but what did they do?
SHALE: I suspect that it is an
art that was practiced when golems were more commonplace. My former master
collected whatever lore he could find on the subject. He searched far and wide to
collect what crystals he could and then, added them. It is not an unpleasant
sensation.
ELISSA: So they're decoration? \
SHALE: As I understand it, the crystals allow me to...
alter the flow of magic around me. Wilhelm had hoped to turn me into a
battery of mana, something he could tap at will.
ELISSA: Did he succeed?
SHALE: Not really.
Although now that I think of it, these attempts may be what caused my...
"disruption." Some of the crystals increase the presence of mana, some absorb or
reflect spells. There are various kinds. All I can promise is that, should it ever
find one of these crystals, I can likely tell it the function and what it would
do if... added to me. I don't get to wear clothing and other adornments like the
rest of you creatures, after all. That answers its question,
I assume? Unless it has more?
ELISSA: No, no more questions.
SHALE: Better to save them for the
next random stranger it decides to interrogate.
ALISTAIR: You know, maybe this isn't the best time to be thinking about this, but I've
something to ask you. Chances are we'll be heading to Denerim soon,
and when we're there I wonder if we might be able to... look someone up.
ELISSA: You have a friend outside the Grey Wardens?
ALISTAIR: I'm not talking about a friend,
exactly. Snd no, it's not that sort of friend either. The thing is, I have a
sister. A half-sister. I told you about my mother, right? She was a servant at
Redcliffe castle and she had a daughter. Only, I never knew about her. I don't
think she knew about me, either. They kept my birth a secret, after all. But, after I
became a Grey Warden, I did some checking. And well... I found out she's
still alive, in Denerim.
ELISSA: Have you contacted her?
ALISTAIR: No. I thought about writing her, but I
never did. And then we were called down to Ostagar and I never got the chance.
She's the only real family I have left, the only family not all so mixed up in
the whole royal thing. I've just been thinking that... maybe it's time I went to
see her. With The Blight coming and everything, I don't know if I'll ever get
another chance to see her. Maybe I can help her, warn her about the danger, I don't know.
ELISSA: What are you expecting she'll do?
ALISTAIR: I'm not sure... I don't know anything about
her, except her name and where she lives. Her name is Goldanna, and I think she
remarried but still lives just outside the Alienage. If we're in the area
then... well, it's worth a look.
KYLON: Good to see you back.
ELISSA: Need any more help?
KYLON: I've got complaints in the Gnawed Noble Tavern that some mercenaries have "invaded."
Nothing violent has happened, the
cell swords are probably just disturbing the nobles of rarefied conversation. Just
drum the louts out of there, the barkeep doesn't mind some blood, or sport as she
called it. Captain said Denerim won't miss a few dead mercenaries, do what your will.
And good luck.
EDWINA: You here from Kylon? Those are the Crimson Oar louts right there.
CRIMSON OAR LEADER: What are you looking at? We're the Crimson Oars!
ELISSA: The Crimson Oars?
CRIMSON OAR LEADER: You haven't heard of us?
We're mercenaries from all over the world. We have won many battles, and
tonight we drink before the next!
ELISSA: And you drink here? The docks has much better bars.
CRIMSON OAR LEAADER: We happen to like the Ale better here. The wine too. Less vomit on the
floor! So long as we're paying, they're serving! Ha Ha!
ELISSA: Wouldn't you prefer a bar with... more women? *Friendly ones*
CRIMSON OAR LEADER: Ha Ha! You may have a point!
Bar woman! You and your women are too old and shriveled! Too many damn clothes!
Tight, boys?! Ha! Ha! Ha! Oars, we go to the docks!
Let's find us some wenches!
EDWINA: Good job clearing those louts out.
KYLON: Edwina sends her thanks for getting rid of the Crimson Oars. Mind you, she's
disappointed there was no fighting. Here's payment, you've helped out a great deal.
ALISTAIR: That's... my sister's house. I'm almost sure of it. This is, yes, this is the right
address. She could be inside. Could we go and see?
ELISSA: Yes. Let's do that.
ALISTAIR: Will she even know who I am? Does she even know I exist?
My sister. That sounds very strange. Sister. Siiis -terrrrr.
hmm, know I'm babbling. Maybe we should go. Let's go.
L-let's just go.
ALISTAIR: Uhh, hello?
GOLDANNA: Aye, you have linens to wash? I charge three bits on a bundle, you
won't find better. And don't trust what that Natalia woman tells you, either.
She's foreign and she'll rob you blind.
ALISTAIR: I'm... not here to have any wash done. My
name's Alistair. I'm, well this may sound sort of strange, but are you Goldanna?
If so, I suppose... I'm your brother.
GOLDANNA: My what?!
I am Goldanna, yes. How do you
know my name? What kind of tomfoolery are you folk up to?
ELISSA: He's telling the truth, listen to him.
ALISTAIR: Look. Our mother, she worked as a servant
in Redcliffe castle a long time ago before she died. Do you know about that?
She-
GOLDANNA: You! I knew it!
They told me you was dead! They told me the babe was dead
along with mother, but I knew they was lying!
ALISTAIR: They told you I was dead?! Who?
Who told you that?
GOLDANNA: Them's was at the castle! I told him the babe was the king's and
they said he was dead. Gave me a coin to shut my mouth, and sent me on my way! I
knew it!
ALISTAIR: I'm sorry, I... didn't know that. The babe didn't die... I'm him. I'm your brother.
GOLDANNA: Huh! For all the good it does me. You killed mother, you did! And I've had to scrape by
all this time! That coin didn't last long, and when I went back they ran me off!
ELISSA: Well, that's hardly Alistair''s fault, is it?
GOLDANNA: And who in The Maker's name are you?
Some tart? Following after his riches, I expect.
ALISTAIR: Hey!
Don't speak to her that way, she's my friend and a Grey Warden, just like me.
GOLDANNA: Oh, I see! A prince, and a Grey Warden too. Well Who am I to think poorly of someone
so high and mighty compared to me. I don't know you, boy!
Your royal father forced himself on my mother and took her away from me. And
what do I got to show for it? Nothing!
They tricked me good! I should have told everyone! I got five mouths to feed, and unless you can help with that I
got less than no use for you!
ALISTAIR: I... I'm sorry. I don't know what to say.
ELISSA: Goldanna, Alistair came here hoping to find his family.
GOLDANNA: Well, he found it. And what good is
that to me? None, that's what. Unless he can see to it that
his family lives as it should!
ALISTAIR: I suppose maybe I could give her some money, for my
nieces and nephews. Fifteen sovereigns, maybe? Would you let me give her that?
ELISSA: (hesitantly) Y-yes, go ahead if you like.
ALISTAIR: Then, here. Goldanna, take this money. I know it's not much, but-
GOLDANNA: You, a prince, marching in here with your fancy armor and such, and this is all you
got to offer?! You must think I'm very stupid!
ALISTAIR: No,wait! I don't think that at all!
I want to help, if I can!
GOLDANNA: You want to help? You go to whatever high and mighty folks
you run with, and you tell them you've got nephews and nieces that aren't
living as they've a right to! You do that!
ELISSA: It looks like all she wants is your money.
ALISTAIR: Yes, it really seems that way, doesn't it? I wasn't expecting my sister
to be so... I'm starting to wonder why I came.
GOLDANNA: I don't know why you came, either. Or
what you expected to find, but it isn't here. Now get out of my house, the both of you.
ELISSA: Let's leave. Now.
ALISTAIR: I agree. let's get out of here.
ALISTAIR: Well... that was, not what I expected to put it lightly. I'm sorry I gave her any
money at all. This is the family I've been wondering about all my life? That
gold-digging harridan? I can't believe it! I guess I was expecting her to accept me
without question. Isn't that what family is supposed to do? I I feel like a
complete idiot.
ELISSA: You don't need her, you have others who care for you.
ALISTAIR: Such as?
The only person who ever cared about me was Duncan, and he's gone.
ELISSA: I care about you.
ALISTAIR: I ... thank you, I'm glad you came with me.
Let's just go, I don't want to talk about this anymore.
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