Dealing with Dragons: Let's Play Dragon Age: Origins!

Upon climbing the staircase and approaching the town proper, Urist is stopped in her tracks by a suspicious guard.



Guard: No, you do not. I would have been informed if someone was expecting... a visitor.
Urist: Is there a Brother Genitivi here?
Guard: Who? Perhaps Revered Father Eirik will know of whom you speak. Unfortunately, he is ministering to the villagers at the moment, and cannot be disturbed.



Guard: It has always been thus in Haven. We do not question tradition.
Urist: Have you heard of the Urn of Sacred Ashes?
Guard: The Urn is nothing but a legend.
Urist: Brother Genitivi's research suggests that it may be more.
Guard: I do not know who Brother Genitivi is, or what he says. However, I am sure people can convince themselves of anything.
Urist: I would like to explore Haven for a while.
Guard: We do not appreciate lowlanders “looking about” our home as though it were some sort of zoo.
Urist: Very well. Excuse me.
Guard: You may trade for supplies at the shop if you wish. Then I suggest you and your companions leave.

“Don't come in! Okay, I guess you can come in. NO! Yes, but don't touch anything!” Talk about mixed signals... Nonetheless, Urist decides to search the town for any sign of Genitivi.



There are very few townspeople hanging about, and fewer still who'll give Urist the time of day. Still, this boy looks friendly enough...



Boy: I asked you first.
Urist: I'm Urist.
Boy: Lowlanders don't belong here. What? Why are you looking at me like that?
Urist: (Persuade) I bet you're a clever boy. What do you know about Haven?
Boy: Haven is Haven, but I have a secret. Do you want to see?
Urist: Yes. Show me.
(The boy pulls out something from his pocket and shows it you: A finger-bone, bleached white by the sun and polished through constant handling.)
Urist: Er... who did that belong to?
Boy: Don't know. It's lucky. I keep it with me. Don't tell anyone, all right?

The one friendly person in town and it turns out to be a creepy little psychopath. Urist decides that it might be a good idea to check out that shop after all.



Zevran: I'm sorry... are you speaking to me?
Wynne: That is why you wish to leave your Crows. A crisis of conscience.
Zevran: Yes, that is exactly it.
Wynne: Joke if you wish, but I have the feeling that deep down you regret the life you have lived.
Zevran: It's true. I regret it all.
Wynne: Must you be such a child? Are you incapable of a single, serious conversation?
Zevran: I know, I am terrible and it makes me sad. May I rest my head in your bosom? I wish to cry.
Wynne: You can cry well away from my bosom, I'm certain.
Zevran: Did I tell you I was an orphan? I never knew my mother.
Wynne: Egad. I give up.

Wynne is clearly feeling a lot better, if she's back to nagging already.

Some minutes later, in Haven Mart...



Shopkeeper: We... we don't get very many visitors.
Urist: Can you tell me about Haven?
Shopkeeper: How would you describe the place you know only as home?
Urist: Have you seen a man called Brother Genitivi?
Shopkeeper: No... I've never heard that name.
Urist: I should be going.

(The shopkeeper actually will sell Urist some stuff, but with the exception of some extremely rare and expensive Andraste's Arrows, has nothing worth buying unless you need your poultices topped up. And honestly? Screw the arrows.)



When dealing with the creepy hill-folk, Urist prefers to get her goods at a five-finger discount (not that the shopkeeper actually bothered to notice her picking this lock.)



Afterward, Urist's curiosity is piqued by the arches that lead to the town's church. Even to her limited knowledge of the Chantry faith, something about them seems... off.



“Don't worry Wynne, I'm sure you'll find something to nag them about anyway.” Urist does not say, knowing that old people have heart problems sometimes and that is probably what is wrong with Wynne.



Father Eirik: This sacred duty is given to us alone; rejoice, my bretheren, and prepare your hearts to receive Her. Lift up your voices, and despair not, for She will raise Her faithful servants to glory when Her-




Eirik: Be calm, Nuada. We have an honored guest. Surely the Sacraments can wait.



Zevran: Just once I'd like to walk into one of these places and discover a lively dance, or a drinking festival. Or an orgy. But alas, no.



Eirik: It is better this way. Many of the villagers are uncomfortable in the presence of strangers.
Urist: Is there a Brother Genitivi here?
Eirik: We find outsiders... disruptive. They bring others, and before long, Haven is changed. We will go to any lengths to prevent that. You understand a man's need to protect his family, don't you? Brothers, you know what must be done.



Looks like Father Eirik just can't get A-HEAD in the evil cult game! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!



That did not match his outfit at all, by the way.



After a few moments of searching and looting, Urist sees a suspiciously placed brick wall and Right-clicks to open it (as the kids say in Ferelden.)



At least Brother Genitivi is alive, and not letting the inconvenience of his kidnapping and torture keep him from his daily Yoga routine.

Genitivi: You don't know how glad I am to see someone who isn't from this village. I- (groans) The leg's not doing so well, and... and I can't feel my foot.
Urist: Wynne, can you help?



For some reason, Wynne did not choose to use her phenomenal cosmic powers to instantly heal Genitivi, even though she fixed that axe-wound to Alistair's face, and that time most of Zevran's leg was caught in a bear trap. And, you know, every other horrific injury Team Urist has faced thus far. Maybe she was feeling shy about using her blasphemous powers on the holy man, or some stupid thing like that. Or... maybe she's dying? Shit.



Genitivi: The arl is sick? Will he live?
Urist: The arl was poisoned under Loghain's orders.
Genitivi: Politics. Never did anyone any good. The arl is a noble soul. But the Ashes... the Ashes will surely cure him. Haven lies in the shadow of the mountain that holds the Urn. There is an old temple there, built to protect it. The door is always locked, but I know what the key is. Eirik wears a medallion that opens the temple door... I've seen what he does with it.
Urist: This medallion?
Genitivi: Yes, that is your key. Take me to the mountainside, and I will show you.
Urist: Are you sure you can make the journey?
Genitivi: It is not that far and... will you let me lean on you? For the Urn, any pain is worth enduring.
Urist: First let me make sure it's safe outside.



Long story short, it is not safe outside.

(There is no escort sequence for Genitivi, and the party teleports to the next area instantaneously upon telling him that it's time to go, but clearing out the mobs and doing a bit more exploring around Haven is a good way to rack up some low-risk experience.)

Upon returning to the shop to find things to loot, Urist makes an unpleasant discovery.



(Discovering the knight's corpse in the back room against the shopkeeper's wishes is an alternate way that Haven's horrible secret can be discovered, though it will angry up the village before you get a chance to talk to Eirik. This corpse can also be looted for a bone to give to Dogstoevsky as a gift, but I forgot to do it. Nobody in the party complains if you do so.)



Once all of the cult's Reavers have been taken out, the unarmed townspeople start swarming Team Urist en masse. It doesn't end well for them.

Urist decides to stop off at camp to let Wynne have a rest, since she's not feeling well. Before she can even say so much as an “Alistair, try not to let Wynne die,” Leliana comes rushing up to her.



It seems that an entire afternoon of guilt was just too much for her to bear.

Leliana: I didn't feel like talking about it then. What happened to me... maybe it will affect us, maybe not, but you should know. I came to Ferelden and the Chantry because I was being hunted, in Orlais.
Urist: Hunted? What for?



Leliana: She taught me the bardic arts- how to enchant with words and song, to carry myself like a high-born lady, to blend in as a servant... The skills I learned I used to serve her, my bard-master, because I loved her, and because I enjoyed what I did.
Urist: How did she betray you?
Leliana: You can say it was my fault. There was a man I was sent to kill. I was to bring Marjolaine everything he carried. I don't know who this man was. She gave me a name and a description, and I hunted him down. I found documents on his body- sealed documents.
Urist: You opened them, didn't you?
Leliana: My curiosity got the better of me. Something told me that I needed to know what was in those letters. Marjolaine... had been selling all kinds of information about Orlais to other countries- Nevarra and Antiva, among others. It was treason.
Urist: Isn't that what bards do?
Leliana: Some. But I had always assumed Marjolaine only operated within Orlais. This was an unhappy surprise for me. My life as bard taught me that my loyalties should be kept fluid. My concern was not that she was a traitor, but that her life would be in danger if she was caught. Orlais has been at war with so many countries. It takes a harsh view of such things... as I later discovered.
Urist: Most countries don't appreciate treason.
Leliana: I should have left well alone, but I didn't. I had to tell Marjolaine that I feared for her life. She brushed aside my concern. She admitted her guilt, but said it was in the past. That is why the documents had to be destroyed, she said. I believed her. I kept believing, up 'till the moment they showed me the documents, altered by her hand to make me look the traitor.
Urist: Who's “they?”
Leliana: The Orlesian guards. They captured me... did terrible things to make me confess and reveal my conspirators. It was a traitor's punishment I endured, and at the end of it, all that awaited me was eternity in an unmarked grave.
Urist: And you never sought revenge on Marjolaine for this?
Leliana: No. Survival was my only concern at the time. The skills Marjolaine taught me were good for something, at least. I broke free when I saw the opportunity. I did not seek Marjolaine out. If she thought I was coming for her, she would have me caught again.
Urist: And so you came to Ferelden, to Lothering.
Leliana: I was tempted to confront her; I was furious, betrayed, but what could I do against her? And so I fled, to Ferelden, to the Chantry and the Maker. Ferelden protected my person, and the Maker saved my soul.



Something about Leliana's story does strike a familiar chord...

Leliana: It feels good to have this off my chest. Thank you for listening, and understanding.

Soon...



“HEY GENITIVI! YOU'RE NOT DEAD YET, RIGHT?”



As instructed, Urist hands over the medallion...



Uh.

Well, maybe human necks just do that when they're thinking hard.



Urist does not specify whether she was talking about the medallion or Genitivi's neck.



Genitivi: Still, sweep away the ice and the snow, and traces of beauty remain.
Urist: You need to stay alert now, Brother.
Genitivi: I'm sorry... what? I was a little distracted. I apologize. These carvings were created just after Andraste's death, and they may reveal things about Her life that we do not yet know... I think I need more time to study these statues and carvings.
Urist: You want to stay here? Is it safe?
Genitivi: I could not keep up with you with my injuries. I should be safe; I don't think there are any villagers here. Go, I will be all right. Perhaps my destiny was only to lead you to the Urn.
Urist: Is there anything else I need to know about the temple?
Genitivi: It was designed to protect the Urn from those who would steal it, or do harm to it- namely, the Tevinter Imperium.
Urist: What sort of dangers are we talking about here?
Genitivi: I'm not sure. The legends were never very specific on that point. “Only the faithful shall lay eyes on the Sacred Ashes; death and misfortune await the unbeliever. The Maker's gaze has fallen on Andraste's final resting place. He weeps for His Beloved, and His wrath at Her betrayers endures.”
Urist: Your legends are nothing but a jumble of superstitions.
Genitivi: Read between the lines, however, and you'll understand that it is merely a simple truth draped in hyperbole and metaphor.



Urist: Oh, that sounds pleasant.
Genitivi: I think my decision to stay here was the best one, don't you?
Urist: Definitely. I will be back soon.

Contrary to what Genitivi seems to believe, there are cultists aplenty in the Temple.



“ACKHPTH! MORRIGAN! IT'S IN MY MOUTH AND MY NOSE AND MY EYES!”

(Walking Bomb sure does get results, but it's not pretty.)



Not even the concept of literacy can escape Morrigan's aura of contempt.



Well, maybe Gentivi or someone else might want to see these...



For a brief moment, Urist wonders if she's just gone a little bit crazy.

(Brontos are normally only seen in the Deep Roads (though not in the dwarven origins), so this could very well be the first time a player encounters one. They're faster than one would think, and they hit like trucks, but one alone shouldn't be too much trouble for a party at this point in the game.)



By the way, Genitivi officially doesn't know what the hell he's talking about. The place is crawling with villagers too.



And with asshole mages who use Crushing Prison!

The good news is that the mage was guarding a key (among other treasures), which Urist brings back to the main hall...



Something tells Urist that the cult may realize that they are being infiltrated, and have gone on the offensive.

(None of the cultists will ever attack Genitivi, so there's no need to worry about going back to check on him.)



The main hall of the temple is much the same as the entrance hall: A wide open area in which cultists love to try flanking unsuspecting “blasphemers.”



(Remember the Ash Wraiths from the Warden's Keep? Here's where they were supposed to make their debut!)



(It's difficult to tell from this particular screenshot, but this room at the top of the stairs is chock full of traps and tripwires. The AI-controlled members of the party will set them all off if given half a chance to, so it's best to try to Stealth in and lure them out a few at a time. On the bright side, disarming the entire room afterward is a great way for rogues to pick up some extra experience.)



At last! This quest is finally starting to pay off!



“THIS IS YOUR FAULT ALISTAIR!”

(Every chest in the room except for one disappears and spawns Ash Wraiths when it is opened. The one chest that is not a trap doesn't even have anything particularly exciting in it. Pass 'em by!)



Of course, there are more cultists than ever on the inside of the temple ruins.



And eventually, Urist comes across a series of caves. If the Urn isn't here, then this temple was built to guard one hell of a secret...

Awww... Andraste's eggs are just about ready to hatch!



Awww... Andraste's been stockpiling tons of cattle to feed to her ravenous brood!



Awww... Andraste has been caging her babies up to use as slavering attack beasts!



Not only did the baby dragons drop a Perfect Drake Scale, this pile of its “filth” had a present in it for Alistair. (No, really.)



Now that this one guy has a name, it will suddenly be a little awkward to just rush in and kill them... Perhaps introductions are in order?



Kolgrim: You have defiled our temple. You have spilled the blood of the faithful, and slaughtered our young. No more. You will tell me now, intruder, why you have done all this. Why have you come here?
Urist: I have come for the Urn of Sacred Ashes.
Kolgrim: You did all this for an ancient relic? Know this, stranger... The prophet Andraste has overcome death itself and has returned to Her faithful in a form more radiant than you can imagine! Not even the Tevinter Imperium could hope to slay Her now. What hope do you have?
Urist: And what has happened to the Ashes?
Kolgrim: They are still within this temple, but why do we need ashes when we serve the risen Andraste in all Her glory?
Urist: So you can give me the Urn then?



Kolgrim: It may be because I believe in second chances. All of us stumble through the darkness before being found and shown the light.



Urist: Just say what you have to say. Please stop making that face.



Kolgrim: The Ashes you seek reside atop this mountain, watched by an immortal guardian who refuses to accept the truth of the risen Lady. Now the Ashes prevent holy Andraste from fully realizing Her new form. They are a remnant of Her past incarnation, and She cannot move on as long as they exist.
Urist: Just get to the part about me helping you.
Kolgrim: The holy Andraste wishes us to reclaim her Ashes for her, but the Guardian has always stopped us. The task is simple: I give you a vial of the holy Andraste's blood, and you empty the vial into the ashes. Whatever magic was held in the Ashes will be undone... and our great Lady will be freed from the shackles of her past life.

From what she's seen so far, Urist has a bad feeling about just what this “risen Lady” actually is. But Kolgrim obviously has to be dealt with one way or another before she can move on, so a decision must be made.

: Kolgrim is obviously crazier than a shithouse nug, and nothing good can come from encouraging human sacrifice and dragon breeding and who knows what else this cult is up to. Also, if those Ashes are really up in that temple and they actually have magical powers, defiling them is probably the most blasphemous thing we could possibly do... Actually, I'm sure that this will really, really, really anger my allies, and probably screw me over with anyone who's loyal to the Chantry for the foreseeable future.



: Well, there is that. Besides, appeasing the cult will probably make it much easier to ascend the mountain... Come to think of it, I don't actually have to destroy the Ashes once I accept his offer, do I? I could probably just double-cross this guy and he'd never know. Or would he?

: I think I'll just wait here for like, a month, while I wait for inspiration to strike.

Next Time: The Urn of Sacred Ashes, Discovered

Codices:

Defiling those ashes strikes me as a really bad idea, and it'd make tracking them down all this time to help out Arl Eamon pointless. I vote to not take them up on their offer.

Well, I bet I know the real reason why dealing with Flemeth went on the "maybe later" pile and that's probably because she's the most difficult boss fight in the game (or was to me).

Go for broke, Double Cross!

Also, such Ludonarrative Dissonance Wynne, jeez!

This dungeon sure takes its sweet time, I thought. Not to mention the drakes destroyed me. I had to fight them multiple times to get it done right.

I'm also really glad you brought Zevran along for the town, he has some great lines, although I suspect the delivery is what sells them. Oh, and the ballad of Wynne's bosom begins.

Well, it looks like the ayes have it.

Keep in mind that unless you roll a mage yourself, you're doing that battle without a reliable attack mage, so it's best to be well and ready. And I've been neglecting Urist's crafting in favour of her "flattery and lies" skillset.

Dwarven Charm School pays dividends once again!



Kolgrim: To arms, my bretheren! Andraste will grant us victory!

(Saying or doing anything even remotely critical of Kolgrim and his Kult here will cause him to flip out and attack. Always the hallmark of a sane and rational leader of men.)



After a fairly uneventful battle, Urist reaps the spoils of contrariness. Not too shabby! Except for the fact that nobody is particularly enthusiastic about the two-handed axe.



Soon enough, she finds a light at the end of the tunnel.

But upon reaching the mountaintop...



Team Urist in "How Not To Be Seen"

Fortunately, the dragon seems to be far more interested in having a nap than eating a snack, so Urist (quietly) sneaks right on by without incident.



There's also a convenient shortcut back to the beginning of the temple where Genitivi is, which seems to have come out of nowhere, but at least it'll save some time later on.

(It's also a handy indicator of the fact that you don't have to fight the dragon right away if you don't want to.)



This seems to be the place that Kolgrim was ranting on about. Strange name for a temple, though.



And it looks like there is actually a Guardian in here.



Urist: Who are you?



Guardian: I have waited years for this.
Urist: For someone to take the Ashes?
Guardian: No one can take the Ashes. They belong here. It has been my duty, my life, to protect the Urn and prepare the way for the faithful who come to revere Andraste. For years beyond counting have I been here, and shall I remain until my task is done and the Imperium has crumbled into the sea.
Urist: Will your task ever be done?
Guardian: I do not know, and I do not question.
Urist: What do you know about these Disciples of Andraste?



Guardian: I have watched generations of my bretheren take up the mantle of their fathers. For centuries they did this, unwavering, joyful, in their appointed task. But now they have lost their way. They have forgotten Andraste, and their promise.
Urist: So the dragon is not Andraste, then?
Guardian: No. Our Andraste has gone to the Maker's side. She will not return. The dragon is a fearsome creature, and they must have seen her as an alternative to the absent Maker and His silent Andraste. A true believer would not require audacious displays of power. They have forgotten that Andraste was just a messenger. They speak no more of the Maker, only of their false Andraste, an even greater sin.
Urist: Why have they fallen for this ridiculous lie?
Guardian: It began with an ancestor of the one known as Kolgrim. He saw himself as a new prophet, preaching the rebirth. Some disagreed with him. I heard their cries of pain and loss which were quickly silenced.
Urist: I would like to see the Urn.
Guardian: You have come to honor Andraste, and you shall, if you prove yourself worthy.
Urist: So I have to fight you?
Guardian: It is not my place to decide your worthiness. The Gauntlet does that.



Guardian: No.
[b]Urist:{/b] Can you tell me anything else about this Gauntlet?
Guardian: You will understand what it is when you face it.
Urist: Very well, I will enter the Gauntlet.



Guardian: There is suffering in your past – your suffering, and the suffering of others. Bhelen's machinations led to Trian's death and your exile. You allowed this to happen.



So, the Gauntlet is a gross invasion of Urist's privacy then? Great.

Guardian: Your path is laid out before me and plain to see – in the lines of your face and the scars on your heart. Do you believe you failed Trian?

Urist didn't lay a finger on Trian, no matter what anyone says. Though it is true that it was plain for anyone to see that she and Trian didn't get along, that tensions were mounting over that whole "favoured child of King Aeducan" thing, and that anyone with half a mind to could easily exploit that in some way, as always happens in Orzammar... But on the other hand, Bhelen had always been the "good" brother who had Urist's back whenever Trian was pissy about something... Or at least she thought he was.

Urist: No. I could not have known that was what Bhelen had planned.
Guardian: Then you do not dwell on past mistakes – neither yours, nor someone else's.



Leliana: What's past is past. Why bring it up and open old wounds?
Sten: Parshaara. Leave the past where it falls.
Morrigan: Is there any religion that does not thrive upon guilt like a glutton at his lunch? No? I thought not.
Leliana: You could not have known what would happen. You did what you thought was best.

A surprisingly supportive consensus! Maybe this team is going to make it after all.

First, he turns his gaze to Leliana.



Leliana: I never said that! I-
Guardian: In Orlais, you were someone. In Lothering, you feared you would lose yourself, become a drab sister, and disappear. When your brothers and sisters of the cloister criticized you for what you professed, you were hurt, but you also reveled in it. It made you special. You enjoyed the attention, even if it was negative.



Next, is Sten's turn.



Of course, the Guardian goes for the obvious question.



Sten: I have never denied that I failed.




Fortunately, Morrigan's total cop-out does not enrage the Guardian and cause him to pull some "Thou Shall Not Pass" tomfoolery.

Guardian: I will respect your wishes.

Why didn't anyone else think of that? Why didn't Urist think of that?

Guardian: The way is open. Good luck, and may you find what you seek.



"Seriously, if he wasn't actually going to force any of us to reveal our deepest secrets, why even ask in the first place?" Urist thinks. Maybe she should have brought Wynne up here after all. Aside from the whole "immortal sentinel bound to a temple full of crazy people" factor, this guy would be her soulmate.

At least Sten took it surprisingly well.

The Gauntlet's first trial is not quite what Urist had imagined, to say the least.



After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Urist approaches the first of the spirits...



Brona: Of what do I speak?

Several answers come to mind, some of them more than a little bit sarcastic, but Urist decides to humour the spirit with a sincere answer.

Urist: Dreams.
Brona: A dream came upon me, as my daughter slumbered beneath my heart. It told of her life, and of her betrayal and death. I am sorrow and regret. I am a mother weeping bitter tears for a daughter she could not save.

Then the spirit vanishes, leaving Urist to contemplate her words of wisdom. Or whatever believers are meant to do around here.

(Answering the riddles of the spirits correctly will break a portion of the seal that binds the doors to the room, and will gift the entire party a small chunk of experience. Answering them incorrectly will cause the spirit to summon an Ash Wraith and attack. You also get experience from fighting the Ash Wraiths, but you get more experience by answering each riddle correctly, so it pays to be nice, even if playing as a bit of a cynic.)



"Okay team, any ideas?"



"Yeah right, Morrigan. I'm not saying 'the plague,' even if it is funny. And probably also true."

Ealisay: Yes. I was Andraste's dearest friend in childhood, and always we would sing. She celebrated the beauty of life, and all who heard Her would be filled with joy. They say the Maker Himself was moved by Andraste's song, and then She sang no more of simple things.

Privately, Urist wonders if Andraste was made the prophet in the Chantry's story because her name is much easier to remember how to spell.



Shartan: Of what do I speak?
Urist: Home.
Shartan: It was my dream for the people to have a home of their own, where we would have no masters but ourselves. The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and thus we followed Andraste, against the Imperium. But She was betrayed, and so were we.

"The enemy of my enemy thing never works out. Trust me, I know."



Lady Vasila: The debt of blood must be paid in full. Of what do I speak?
Urist: Vengeance.

(Lady Vasila's riddle is one of the riddles which can be answered with "I don't know" without penalty. I'm not entirely sure why some riddles accept that answer and some do not, but seeing as most of the riddles that allow you to do this are the ones with no one relatively-clear answer, it may have been a late addition to this quest.)

Vasila: Yes. My husband, Hessarian, would have chosen a quick death for Andraste. I made him swear that She would die publicly, with Her warleaders, that all would know the Imperium's strength. I am justice. I am vengeance. Blood can only be repaid in blood.

"And if you hadn't done that, we wouldn't have Andraste's Ashes today. How inspirational!"



Maferath: From love she grows, till love lies slain. Of what do I speak?
Urist: Jealousy.

Even Urist knows this one, mostly because it is literally all many members of the Chantry can talk about.

Maferath: Yes, jealousy drove me to betrayal. I was the greatest general of the Alamarri, but beside Her I was nothing. Hundreds fell before Her on bended knee. They loved Her, as did the Maker. I loved Her too, but what man can compare with a God?

Havard: Veiled in white, like a bride greeting her groom. Of what do I speak?
Urist: The mountains.
Havard: Yes, I carried Andraste's Ashes out of Tevinter into the mountains to the east where She could gaze ever into Her Maker's sky... No more fitting a tomb than this we could find.

"I almost said 'I don't know' to that one because that riddle is bullshit."



Archon Hessarian: Of what do I speak?
Urist: Mercy.
Hessarian: Yes, I could not bear the sight of Andraste's suffering, and mercy bade me end Her life. I am the penitent sinner, who shows compassion as he hopes compassion will be shown to him.

"Mercy" probably would have been to not burn her at the stake in the first place, but something tells Urist that it wouldn't do much good to argue with any of these spirits about semantics.



Cathaire: Lighter than air, sharper than any sword. Comes from nothing, but will fell the strongest armies. Of what do I speak?
Urist: Hunger.
Cathaire: Yes, hunger was the weapon used against the wicked men of the Tevinter Imperium. The Maker kindled the sun's flame, scorching the land. Their crops failed, and their armies could not march. Then He opened the heavens and bade the waters flow, and washed away their filth. I am Cathaire, disciple of Andraste and commander of Her armies. I saw these things done, and knew the Maker smiled on us.

Once Cathaire vanishes, the great doors at the end of the hall open to reveal...



Urist knew that Guardian wasn't quite finished with his meddling. Warily, she approaches the apparition.



Trian: I would lament your fate, but why should I? You have been cast out to walk the surface, whereas I... hmph... But I am too hard on you. Bhelen made fools of us both. Were I a spectator, I would applaud him for his clever manipulations. However, I find it hard for me to remain... unbiased in this regard.

Upon reflection, Urist realizes that this is probably the closest that she and Trian have ever come to a civilized conversation. And certainly the closest Trian has ever come to admitting he was wrong about something. She knows that it's not the real Trian, but she also knows what feels right, all things considered.

Urist: I should never have trusted Bhelen.
Trian: But the betrayals of Orzammar do not weigh down your steps. You have not faltered, and I am proud of you. Take this, and use it well. I give you this... and my blessing. Remember me.

It's too bad they couldn't have had this breakthrough when Trian was still alive, but there's no changing the past.



Also, even though this pendant is pretty good, Urist is already wearing something much better. So in the bottom of the sack it stays, alongside her solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the Grey Wardens.

(If Urist had demanded that the Guardian mind his own business at the beginning of the gauntlet, like Morrigan did, there would have been no "reflection" upon her past here. More importantly, there also would not have been any reward. Also, unlike the similar bit you might remember from the Fade, this obviously plays out differently depending on the Warden's chosen origin.)

In the next room, the second trial of the Gauntlet pits Urist against her most cunning, intelligent, vicious, and beautiful opponent yet...



Herself.

(The second trial is always a mirror-match between the current party and a spectral representation of the current party. The spectres are always at the same level as the party members they represent, with all of the same skills, and with similarly-tiered armour. They also share the current party's weaknesses, so it's usually not too hard to figure out how to crack this particular egg.)

Last, having conquered both her past and herself, the last trial that remains for Urist is perhaps the worst.



Does Urist have to have faith in her friends if she does not, in fact, actually worship the Maker?



(Just like every other puzzle room in the game, the companion characters will constantly be chattering away to give out hints as to how to solve the puzzle.)



(Not pictured: the part of the bridge that appeared, yet remained transparent.)



(When two party members activate a bridge piece, it becomes solid and able to be walked upon.)



(So, in order to solve the puzzle, three party members must stand on tiles while the fourth one travels across the bridge to the other side of the room.)



(But if a party member moves away at the wrong time and makes the portion of the bridge that's being stood upon transparent again, the puzzle has to be started all over again. The party member caught on the bridge will be teleported back to the beginning without penalty, so don't worry!)

Some time later...



Naturally, the entire bridge becomes solid once the puzzle is complete, because it would be a little bit hypocritical of Andraste to separate Urist from her companions after that saw about friendship.

Friendship might be a strong word for what Morrigan is feeling right now, but anyway, what's important is that another trial is down.

So close, yet still so far. Urist approaches the altar.

(The altar is little more than a dusty stone slab. You can make out an inscription carved into its face.)
("Cast off the trappings of worldly life and cloak yourself in the goodness of spirit. King and slave, lord and beggar; be born anew in the Maker's sight.)

Hoping that this isn't a literal baptism thing and that she won't be frogmarched directly to the nearest chantry after this, Urist obeys the inscription on the altar...



Armour update: Still leaking like a sieve.

Urist closes her eyes and sprints through the flame, knowing that there is no passive Bardic aura strong enough to save her hide if her hunch isn't correct.



AUGH!



Needless to say, Urist does nothing else before throwing all of her clothes back on as quickly as possible.

But at last, the Urn of Sacred Ashes is hers to do with what she will.



"It's so beautiful and magical, even though the Guardian clearly hasn't dusted in thousands of years."



Urist contemplates the Ashes silently for a moment...



Leliana has a religious experience.



Morrigan doesn't give a shit.



Sten does what was expected of him.

(These are the earthly remains of Andraste. Prophet and Bride of the Maker.)
(You take a pinch of the Ashes, and place it in a leather pouch.)



(Don't forget the chests underneath the stairs before leaving!)

Now, there's only one thing left to do...



IT'S TIME TO SLAY A GOD!



"Andraste" flings everyone to the ground upon landing, so you know she means business.

Highlights:



"OW OW OW"



"Leliana? What are you doing?"



"You go, girl!"



"AIEEEEEE!"



"Oh, good, that's mostly dragon blood."



And so did a noble and misunderstood beast meet a cruel and bitter end...




Fortunately, her sacrifice was not in vain, and will be long remembered.

After a rousing game of Inventory Management (Why Do We Have All These Salves Anyway?), Urist makes her way back down to the temple where Brother Genitivi is waiting.



Genitivi: Is that... oh, there is some dust on- no, that's not dust... oh, Maker... I'm not worthy to look upon... Perhaps my research will not seem so much like blasphemy to the Chantry now.



Urist got the vibe that the Guardian didn't really like the idea of thousands of drooling idiots traipsing around and touching things and taking bits of Andraste-dust. Even if it would mean gaining a neverending stream of people to interrogate about their life choices. There's only so many "pinches" in that Urn, you know.

Genitivi: But the Urn belongs to all the faithful. How can you deny this to them? No... we must share it.



Sten: Deny them a corpse? Unthinkable indeed.
Morrigan: Yes. Share it. Spread the word and more will come under the Chantry's power. Is this not what you want?



You'd better believe that if anything does happen. Genitivi is going to get nagged like nothing else.

Genitivi: I must return home. I have much to do. If you ever find yourself in Denerim, please visit me. I am not a rich man, but I have a small collection of... interesting artifacts, and I do owe you a reward for coming to my rescue. I hope to see you soon, my friend.



Okay, let's get this over with.

Well, after we go find Alistair. Ancestors forbid he not be here for this very special event.

Teagan: You have? Wonderful! Let us go at once to Eamon's side and see if the Urn's healing powers live up to their reputation!


At first, nothing much happens, but as the mage continues to chant...



Moments later...



Teagan: Be calm, Brother. You have been deathly ill for a very long time. Do you remember nothing?
Arl Eamon: Teagan? What are you doing here? Where is Isolde?
Isolde: I am here, my husband.
Eamon: And Connor? Where is my boy? Where is our son?



Eamon: Dead? Then... it was not a dream?
Teagan: Much has happened since you fell ill, Brother. Some of it will not be... easy for you to hear.
Eamon: Then tell me. I wish to hear all of it.

One scene transition later...



Eamon: There is much to be done, that is true. But I should first be thankful to those who have done so much. Grey Warden, you have not only saved my life but kept my family safe as well.



After some consideration, Urist decides that saying "How about letting Alistair sleep indoors from now on?" might be a little bit ungracious.

Eamon: I understand, but regardless of your motivations I feel you are worthy of a reward. I would like to honor your efforts, nothing more.
Urist: As you wish, then.
Eamon: Then allow me to declare you and those traveling with you champions of Redcliffe. You will always be a welcome guest within these halls. And for you, Warden, a shield of the same make as those that have been given to our finest knights.
Urist: Thank you, your grace.

Well, you can take the dwarf out of Dwarven Charm School, but you can't etc. etc.

(This officially opens up the "Champion" specialization for Team Urist, a specialization for Warriors that allows them to buff allies and debuff enemies during battle.)



Eamon: Loghain instigates a civil war even though the darkspawn are on our very doorstep. Long I have known him. He is a sensible man who never desired power.
Teagan: I was there when he announced he was taking control of the throne, Eamon. He is mad with ambition, I tell you.
Eamon: Mad indeed. Mad enough to kill Cailan, to attempt to kill myself and destroy my lands. Whatever happened to him, Loghain must be stopped. What's more, we can scarce afford to fight this war to its bitter end.
Urist: What are you proposing, then?
Eamon: We have no time to wage a campaign against him. Someone must surrender if Ferelden is to have any chance at fighting the darkspawn.
Urist: Loghain must capitulate, then.
Eamon: I agree. Loghain will pay for his heinous crimes. But our armies must be reserved for the darkspawn, not for each other. I will spread word of Loghain's treachery, both here and against the king. But it will be a claim made without proof.



Teagan: Are you referring to Alistair, Brother? Are you serious?
Eamon: I would not propose such a thing if we had an alternative. But the unthinkable has occured.
Urist: I think it's a great idea.
Eamon: Teagan and I have a claim through marriage, but we would seem opportunists, no better than Loghain. Alistair's claim is by blood.



Eamon: You have a responsibility, Alistair. Without you, Loghain wins. I would have to support him, for the sake of Ferelden. Is that what you want?
Alistair: I... but I... no, my lord.

Wow, that dynamic is exactly what Urist thought it was.



Eamon: Then the business of fighting our true foe can begin. What say you to that, my friend? I do not wish to proceed without your blessing.
Urist: I say we proceed with your plan.
Eamon: Very well, I will send out the word. But before we proceed, I believe there is the matter of the mage... my son's tutor. He still lives, I understand.
Teagan: He does. He is in the dungeon, Brother.
Eamon: Have him brought here, Teagan. I wish to see him.




Law is obviously not a subject covered in the Circle Tower's curriculum. (Also, check out Sassy Guard there on the right.)

Eamon: I see. Grey Warden, have you anything to say on Jowan's behalf?
Urist: He seems earnest in his desire to repent.
Eamon: Oh? That is... unexpected. And what would you have me do? As the injured party, my ability to see the merciful path is... strained.
Urist: Give him to the Circle of Magi.
Eamon: True enough, and wisely said. Jowan, I hereby turn you over the tower of the Circle of Magi. May the Maker have mercy on your soul.
Jowan: Thank you, my lord.

(If Urist doesn't stick up for Jowan, Arl Eamon executes him on the spot. Which might actually be a better fate than what the Circle Tower would do to him. Well, c'est la vie.)



Eamon: It will take some time to recall my forces and organize our allies. I would prefer to wait until that is done before calling the Landsmeet. In the meantime, I suggest you pursue the remainder of the Grey Warden treaties. We will need all the allies we can get if we are to defeat the darkspawn horde.

Well, someone's sure making up for lost bossiness-time.



Urist decides that now would be a most opportune time to send the Brothers Guerrin a little message. A message that... they pretty much just ignore, actually. Which probably means that it was just too subtle for them to understand. Of course. Naturally.

Next Time: Do you want to know a secret?

Codices:

Extras:

Sacred Ashes – The film adaptation of Dragon Age took some odd liberties with Urist's character, but at least the action sequences were fun to watch.

What happens if you kill him for daring to spread the word? That seems like a pretty out-of-the-blue dialogue option.

Surprisingly little, actually! Leliana would have disapproved a bit, as would Alistair and Wynne if they were present, but all that happens here is that the Urn remains a secret.

It's also possible to convince him to go back to Denerim after rescuing him from the cult, in which case he won't reveal the secret because he'll never discover it in the first place.

I remember that video. I wish Morrigan's clothes would've made it into the game as a mage-armor model, but alas.

Also, yeah, I did the overpowered mage spec combo, and even with that and high end gear Flemeth still nearly handed me my ass on a platter.

Released in 2010, Leliana's Song is the first of Dragon Age: Origins' "side story" DLCs, which were meant to be stand-alone quests, rather than additional content for the base game. Originally sold for 1200 Bioware Points (the currency of the proud nation of Biowaria), Leliana's Song takes place several years before the events of DA:O and chronicles the life and times of the bard Leliana, before she ended up in Lothering and in the company of the Grey Wardens.



Leliana's Song - Intro



Fortunately for Leliana and company, Marjolaine left them some very specific instructions as to how to complete their objectives.



Since they have not actually done anything to disturb the peace yet, the Denerim Guard don't pay much attention to them. (Apparently no one was too fond of the guards from the intro.)

So Leliana starts off her mission by scrounging the Marketplace for any useless junk she can dig out of wooden crates and barrels. As you do.

She is rewarded with an optional sidequest!



Leliana's first task of the night is to steal items from every stall in the Marketplace.



Leliana: Eww, dead people jewelry.

Of course, the instant that's done, the guards start to consider that maybe the group of heavily-armoured foreigners who are stalking the marketplace in the dead of night might be up to no good.



The guards will constantly attack Leliana from this point onward, but none of them are very tough.



Leliana: There's our northern trinkets.



Tug: Swap the goods around. They'll jump to blame each other.
Sketch: Ugh, so childish.

Tug's idea is a good one, and it would be a perfectly fine way to stir up trouble, but something tells Leliana that she should hold onto all of the items, for now.



Leliana: Let's put these to better use somewhere.



The Mage's Collective markers are not exactly what one thinks of when they think of magical hobo call signs.



There is also a golem in the fight, but there was a cloud of dirt in the way.

Leliana: Your mage was a little more possessive than you let on, Sketch.
Sketch: It's just a group that I kind of understand.
Leliana: Hmm. Well, his trinket looks to be worth a nice amount, unless we find another use for it.



This is a very nice ring, and it would suit Sketch well, but again, perhaps there might be a better way to use it.

Along the way to the next objective...



Does Leliana dare?

Fortune favours the bold, you know.

Tug: From the collection plate? Really?
Leliana: If their Maker misses this, the Chantry has bigger problems.



At the end of the marketplace alley is the snitch, Jovi Merice... (The building is the same building as the one in Urist's "Friends of Red Jenny" sidequest, but that may have more to do with reusing assets than anything else.)



Leliana: You should have thought of that before talking out of turn.
Jovi Merice: I ain't going back! I'm not!
Tug: Good with me.



Tug: Dying's not enough? Bit o' Marjolaine in you.
Leliana: Thank you.



Despite not being a mage, Leliana has no difficultly with stuffing a grown man's corpse into her backpack and carrying it around town.

(The Masterwork Leather Pieces are the keys to a certain prize that Leliana recieves near the end of the DLC. Collect them all!)

Leliana: Oof. How do they get so heavy on such terrible food?
Tug: Aw, nobody boils an innard like a Ferelden.

Next, it's time to teach Bann Perrin a lesson about gossip.



He should have known better than to cross... Whoever it was that hired Marjolaine.



Tug: Nobles only really hurt when you hit their reputation.

Hmm...



With that in mind, these will also come in handy.

Sketch: We're supposed to strip him of his dignity, not his... things.
Leliana: It'll be both if we find and amusing place to leave them.

Last, but not least...



Naturally, Leliana is curious, and goes to find Marjolaine's unfortunate mark.



Tug: You get into her private business, you'd better make it count.

Indeed. It's a good thing that Leliana has all that she needs already, and then some.

Leliana: Looks to the world that he's drunk on duty. A good start... I wonder how much shame he can bear?

First, Bann Perrin's Suspect Underthings...



Obviously, Leliana runs through the full list. It's all slightly implausible that one man could do so much in a single night, but Fereldens apparently aren't known for their observational skills.

Sketch: That is a career destroyed.
Leliana: I hope Marjolaine will be pleased.
Tug: We'll find out soon enough. We signal down from the tavern, right?



Marjolaine comes from behind and tackles Leliana.

Tug: That's how we do it!
Sketch: Ugh.



Leliana and Marjolaine aren't doing anything particularly lewd (really,) but the leers on Tug and Sketch's faces make me incredibly glad that there are at least two levels of fictionality separating me from them.



Leliana: If I'm not mistaken, you want me this way.

(Unlike Urist in DA:O, Leliana's dialogue trees are presented as paraphrases of what she will actually say once the option is selected, rather than as what she literally says.)



Marjolaine: We are very much alike, you and I. I hae a surprise. We did not come this far to slum in darkened streets. Lem?



Marjolaine: Make sure she has everything she needs. There will be no rest for us tonight.
Leliana: You won't have to wait long.



I get the feeling that Marjolaine was definitely pleased.

(Only by putting the Suspect Underthings, the Mage's Signet Ring, Jovi Merice's body, and all of the stuff stolen from the Market into the guard captain's pockets, will Marjolaine be impressed with Leliana's handiwork and grant the "Vendetta" achievement. If you don't care about the achievement, there are plenty of fun ways to carry out the mission, such as dropping Jovi Merice down the Chantry's well, and pinning Bann Perrin's sexy undies to the Chantry's mission board.)

Lem: And your hand in the Chantry box was an accident, I suppose.
Leliana: What are they to me?
Lem: Marjolaine has you on the right path. Want something?



(There will be no explanation forthcoming as to how Havard's Aegis will end up in the hands of an Ogre several years from now halfway across the country in a besieged Tevinter ruin.)

Soon, Leliana returns to Marjolaine, because the Chantry faithful weren't exactly big spenders.



Leliana: Don't keep me in the dark. Who is the mark of distinction you have in mind?
Marjolaine: In good time. Just know that we will have earned a special rest when all is done. Ready yourself and come back to me.
Leliana: I need only my skill, Marjolaine. I am always ready.
Marjolaine: That, my pretty thing, is what I like to hear.



Tug: Sodding stone.



Sketch: You're mad.
Marjolaine: The arl is away and most of the King's Patrol has been drawn to some sort of trouble in the market. Our employer just wants us to plant some embarassing papers under the cover of a burglary. It will be assumed they were here all along. Unless, you think you're not up to my challenge?




Marjolaine: I think that they are payments suggesting mistresses, and you know as well as I do that we do not need to know the players. We let nobles decide who to blame. We are just the enablers of the game.



Marjolaine: In the bedroom. Nice and personal. Don't keep me waiting.



Sketch: Could we do that without leaving a trail right to us?
Tug: Always want a clear path to run, hey boy?
Sketch: (grumbles)



What Sketch's whining amounts to is that there's no need to even pretend to sneak around these guards.



The backpack is still nice and stretched out from the last time, so don't worry.



Tug: A good place to stash something... if you like digging.
(Stash the soldiers here.)
Leliana: That will keep them out of sight. Happy, Sketch?
Sketch: Appeased.



Sketch: Tight fit for Tug.
Tug: Your mother said as much.

BURNSAUCE.




Tug: Love it when you talk like that. You too, Sketch.
Sketch: Ugh.

One of the first rooms Leliana finds is a torture chamber, of all things.



Tug: Doesn't say much for whoever was left in charge.



One soldier put up a surprisingly good fight, considering that he had none of his armour on.



There's no difference in the events to come whether Leliana steals on her way through the estate or not. Of course, doing it does get her a lot of money...



Servant: Please, master Vaughan, I heard something outside.
Vaughan: You know the penalty for speaking out of turn!
Servant: (whimpers)
Tug: That boy will grow into something special.

Players of the City Elf Origin will definitely remember Vaughan. Minding her own business and all, Leliana does not choose to confront him.



They sure do!

Soon, Leliana enters the main hall, only to see that Marjolaine has beaten her there, somehow...



Leliana: What the?

I thought it was a very simple metaphor, but maybe that's just me.



Leliana: A war journal, with no war?
Tug: Lot of bitterness still around. This is pushing it, though.

Finally, Leliana reaches the master bedroom of the estate.



But first...



Leliana: This Commander Raleigh sounds like a beast.
Sketch: Maybe he's the target we're embarassing?

Before placing the letters into the desk, it suddenly occurs to Leliana to take a teensy little peek at them first.



Tug and Sketch exchange looks of shock. But before anyone can say another word, Marjolaine returns.



Leliana: Marjolaine, where were you? Who was that man?
Marjolaine: What? Oh, some officer. No matter. I gave him a thrill to avoid a bigger fight.
Leliana: Officer? Who... and what about this? Orlesian military seals on the papers?



Leliana: I don't like this.
Marjolaine: Leliana. Later. Move.

Lem: Looking a little peaked, missy.
Leliana: Nothing about us being here hits you as wrong?
Lem: Haven't thought about it. My purse follows Marjolaine. Good eye for money, that one.
Leliana: But if we're caught...
Lem: If you're caught. I never know what you're doing out there. That's how I like it.



Tug: We rob the arl and he boils the same old gruel.
Sketch: I'll sink a stone in it. Make you feel at home.
Tug: Split-wood.
Sketch: Ditch-rock.



Sketch: Templars should give up mages and hunt whatever Marjolaine is.
Leliana: I was worried I was the only one left out of the plan.
Sketch: You're the only one she tells anything.
Leliana: Then why did you come?
Sketch: An apostate elf needs to keep his friends close. I can be hanged on a rumor. Accidental treason's a bit over the top, really.
Leliana: I am worried too, but we can fix it. Somehow.
Sketch: We should just disappear. Don't wait around for it to go bad.
Leliana: Not go back to Orlais?
Sketch: I don't have much to go back to. Less if they start thinking I'm a threat to the nation.
Leliana: I have to say something to Marjolaine. Soon.
Sketch: Better you than me.





Leliana: I have to say something to her about the papers, right?
Tug: Seems like you've decided.
Leliana: Marjolaine left you in the dark, too?
Tug: Always does.
Leliana: Not always.
Tug: Maybe not you. I get "where and when." It's usually enough. Val Royeaux was quiet anyway. Really quiet, actually.
Leliana: Marjolaine planned for months. Some jobs, we turned down.
Tug: Made us hungry. Maybe a little stupid.
Leliana: But not on purpose.
Tug: Right.
Leliana: We have to do something before it's a problem, Tug. But what?
Tug: Well, I'd just take my money and run back to Orlais. I have a girl I'm ruining for her chevalier husband.
Leliana: We pulled many strings to arrange the market. Someone will know we were here.
Tug: Marjolaine has people in her pocket. She can deal with treason. Maybe.



Leliana, of course, ignores the advice of the rest of the group (and the general vibe surrounding the whole affair) and confronts Marjolaine with her suspicions.



At least they're not leering this time. I still haven't managed to blot that out of my mind.

Marjolaine: It doesn't matter. You need to remember your place. You do not question me in front of the others., Leliana. Not in the field, not anywhere.
Leliana: The game is one thing- we go back and forth between nobles, and the authorities turn a blind eye. It is... amusement. But these papers... if the seals were Orlesian military, then bringing them to Ferelden is treason. Marjolaine, there is no blind eye for treason. They hang you in the street.



Marjolaine: This is about seeing me with that officer, isn't it?
Leliana: I know the game is more than combat, and I know how pleasant it can be. But, it was perhaps not the best time. And a Ferelden... an officer?
Marjolaine: Leliana. You are my favourite, yes? If you are determined that we must undo this, I will alter my plans. You know there is always a cost when that happens.
Leliana: Thank you, Marjolaine. Our lives are exciting enough, no?
Marjolaine: Just be ready. Give me a moment.





Leliana: I know.
Marjolaine: We'll go back when it is dark again. They won't expect a second break-in so soon.
Leliana: We can... we can say we were there to steal the papers in the first place. For Orlais.
Marjolaine: I don't plan on having to tell anyone. Shall we go? It will all work out, I promise.



Two wrongs don't make a right, you know.



Marjolaine: Mmm.
Marjolaine: There. Let's get your precious papers and go.

Just as they retrieve the papers, the sound of barking dogs fills the halls. That can't be good.



Just like that, Marjolaine vanishes into thin air. Go figure that she never quite got around to teaching Leliana that little trick.



Fortunately, she was correct when she assumed that most of the guards would not expect a second break-in.



The servants cannot be interacted with at all, but that's alright, because killing them for no reason would be really mean.

Leliana: There! Oh, she made it out. Why isn't she running?



Marjolaine: It's all right.
Leliana: We can tell them about the papers. There must be an embassy. Orlais can petition.
Marjolaine: Shhh, my pretty thing. Shhh.
Leliana: Our plan will work, won't it?
Marjolaine: I have a way out, yes.



...


...



Harwen: Once we've had our fun, of course.



To be fair, Leliana probably freefell through the rankings when she dared to question Marjolaine's traitourous agenda.



(Dragon Age: Origins is rated M for Mature. And yes, there was a much more explicit shot than this.)

???: It is worse than losing them to death, isn't it? When the one closest to you is untrue.
Leliana: Who...?
???: A friend. I can help, but you must find your resolve.
Leliana: I don't need more friends.
???: You are not the only one Marjolaine has exploited. She has an eye for weakness- in youth, confidence... faith.
Leliana: She left me nothing.

Then, the mysterious voice drops a tightly-wrapped parcel into the cell.

???: No. You feel alone, perhaps for the first time, but you are far from helpless. Others need you, even at your lowest. And that is a source of strength I cannot describe. I must go. You can do this.
Leliana: How do you know about this? About me? Hello? Ugh.



Inside the parcel was a small knife and the key to the cell. More than enough for Leliana to make her escape with, especially since they let her keep her armour.



This would have been slightly more suspenseful if the door wasn't literally right there in the same screenshot.



It's Sketch! Hey Sketch!

Sketch, why didn't you sandpaper this guy's face off with your magic? Why didn't they let you keep your armour?



(Not pictured: Another brief ambush from behind.)

Silas: Name's Silas. I owe you twice, especially if you're against Raleigh.
Leliana: I'm not against anyone. I just want out.
Sketch: Leliana?
Leliana: I'm done, Sketch.



Leliana's Song unlocks all of the specializations, including ones that have never been unlocked in DA:O, and Silas does come with some specialization points...

So it turns out he was a Reaver. Because why not?



Having tons and tons of trinkets, but not a spare pair of shoes to one's name, makes for a tragic and inspirational origin story.

(The guards did remember to consfiscate the armour that Leliana wasn't wearing, but it was in a chest next to Sketch, who was too lazy to loot it. And she happened to not have any spare boots.)

Leliana is initially heartened to find Sketch alive, but the torture chamber next door leads to a not so happy reuinion...



Leliana: She did this. With her beast. They will both answer!

Tug's axe is left upon the nearby weapon rack, slightly the worse for the wear, but still deadly. The question remains, what to do with it?



Leliana: It belonged to a dear friend. He would want it used.
Sketch: Hope you know what you're doing, trusting him with that.
Leliana: So do I.

(Tug's Edge can be given to either Silas or Sketch in order to complete the "Honoring Tug" sidequest. Sketch will not be able to use it in battle, but he will gain a passive stat boost from having it given to him. Silas, on the other hand, will be able to use it in battle with enhanced stats and he gains a considerable experience boost if it is given to him. If it so happens that Silas needs a good weapon at this point, that just sweetens the pot.)



Does Raleigh's cruelty never end?!



No one from this group of prisoners offers to finish out Leliana's party, but since Silas has been reduced to shoelessness, it might be for the best.



Adaia: Girl, you are wonderful. Thank you. I will teach my child of humans like you. You're a light in this dark place.
Leliana: I don't know if I'm that.

(Players of the City Elf Origin may also recognize Adaia as the City Elf's deceased mother. Her dialogue here implies that the City Elf Warden is actually quite a bit younger than Leliana. Or that she just wandered off on another adventure after being freed from prison by Leliana. Either way, it's a neat reference.)



Leliana: I can do this. I have to.

Considering that Leliana has been trucking (and killing) along for the length of the prison, it's impressive that she's only just now starting to feel the effects of her wounds.



???: Shh. You're safe now.

Some time later...



What is with these professional killers and their fixation with shitty kitchen knives?



Dorothea: No doubt you have questions.
Leliana: You saved me? Gave me a key?
Dorothea: You didn't need a key. You could have tricked a guard or bound a splinter into a braid for a lockpick... And you would look good with braids, you know? Anyway, all I did was suggest that you are never powerless when others are in need.
Leliana: But why?
Dorothea: Because I needed to hear the same thing when I was in your place.
Leliana: Dorothea? Should I know you?
Dorothea: No. No, if you wish a full introduction, I am formally Revered Mother Dorothea.
Leliana: "Your reverence," then?
Dorothea: My temple is in Orlais. I came here without sanction, hoping the fix the mistakes I have made. So please, just Dorothea.
Leliana: This is a chantry? Am I to be arrested?
Dorothea: The Chantry is not an arm of the king's law, although I am certain these good Fereldans disapprove of both of our actions.
Leliana: But you are one of them.
Dorothea: I am also Orlesian. They have no reason to listen to me. But they know that if I fail here, it may harm the Chantry as a whole.
Leliana: This is all interesting, but I need to be a long way from both Ferelden and Orlais very soon.



Leliana: You did this? Those were Orlesian military! It is treason!
Dorothea: My temple recieves troop movements so we can minister in the field. They were stolen... in a moment of weakness. I didn't know why Marjolaine wanted to be so close to me. But it felt like... youth.
Leliana: It sounds like you have a real mess that no longer involves me.
Dorothea: But it does, doesn't it? As much as you want it to be over, it gnaws at you. This is about need. What you need.
Leliana: And what is that?
Dorothea: The same thing I yearned for. To hear from her lips the reason why. I can tell you where Marjolaine is. Where Commander Raleigh is. Help Orlais, and yourself. I will be here when you decide you are ready.



Upon collecting all of the pieces of Masterwork Leather, Leliana completes the Battledress of the Provocateur, her ultimate armour. (The Battledress of the Provocateur also unlocks in Dragon Age: Origins, and it's not half bad there either, nor is it exclusive to Leliana.)

Upon leaving Dorothea's chambers, Leliana sees Sketch, whom Dorothea has very kindly agreed not to arrest and imprison for apostacy... for now.



Leliana: No market?
Sketch: That Raleigh wasn't going to keep me long. A spy ringleader like Marjolaine painted you, you were going to the highest bidder. Maybe even the empress.
Leliana: I just wish I had been there for Tug.
Sketch: They did him first because he wouldn't shut up. Drove Raleigh's men crazy for days, laughing at them. He was stalling for me. They said they'd take my hands. Only way to trust a mage.
Leliana: Oh, Sketch.
Sketch: All I can see is red, but it doesn't matter. We can't fix this.
Leliana: So we don't fix it, but we can set it right.
Sketch: I'm not sure I know what that means.
Leliana: As long as we try.



Leliana: She's beautiful...

Leliana also sees Silas standing at the altar.


Silas: Yes, I had to follow. And the good mother has decided to trust me, just as you did.



Leliana: Apparently this now involves nations? Or threatens to?
Silas: I don't pretend to understand all that. I was in Raleigh's "care" a lot longer than a week. Whatever I can do to settle my debts, I will.
Leliana: So, did I free a criminal?
Silas: I poached some game. I'd have taken my lashes, but Raleigh doesn't like "inconveniencing" the king's law. He had me for months. For no reason other than his own amusement.
Leliana: How does a petty criminal get so quick with a blade?
Silas: Former soldier. I was probably not too far from Raleigh during the war. Glad to say I'm nothing like him now.
Leliana: So you'll follow me. Where do you think that will lead?
Silas: If I can end this, I hope to serve the Chantry. They will already know my good intentions. What about you?
Leliana: Me? Nobody cares what I want.
Silas: You should.

Leilianna was my favorite character in Dragon Age, specifically because of the scene where she talks about her past and how she was betrayed so cruelly. PS this LP is amazeballs*.

*a word I learned from the words and phrases I hate thread.

Leliana: Lem? How...?
Lem: Eh, I went to ground when Marjolaine showed her colors. Almost gave you up after the week. Hard to miss your escape, though. Lots of people thanking their Orlesian she-devil. So, need anything?
Leliana: You're right back to selling, even after all this?
Lem: Marjolaine left me dry, too. Pissed about that, but the payout must be good to drop resources like us.
Leliana: You're saying you'd have done it too?
Lem: Well, not to me, but I understand. That's the game.
Leliana: It's not the way I remember it.
Lem: I'd get used to it if you want to be like her. That's what you want, isn't it?

Lem has a few nice pieces of armour for Sketch and Silas, but more importantly, he tops up the group's supply of poultices.



Dorothea: It would be a shame to disappoint her.
Leliana: You know a lot for an outsider in Ferelden.
Dorothea: The members of this temple have been most helpful, though they techincally owe no allegiance to Orlais.
Leliana: They suffer too if secrets given to the Chantry are not safe?
Dorothea: Mmm. My actions could harm all nations ministered by the Chantry. If Raleigh finds the support to act on those papers, the number of lives at stake would be considerable.
Leliana: But Ferelden and Orlais are at peace.
Dorothea: It might be more accurate to say we are merely no longer at war.



Dorothea: For your own reasons, I trust?
Leliana: Do you want your precious papers or not?
Dorothea: Not if I inflict more harm in the process. Call it a concern of my trade.
Leliana: I need to see Marjolaine. Then I will decide what she deserves.
Dorothea: I can't deny you that. But allow yourself to be surprised by what you decide. That is something I wish I had done for myself.

Says the woman who basically did nothing, and then spent all afternoon browbeating Leliana about hunting down Marjolaine, and is now changing her mind, apparently? This is getting stupid.

Dorothea: Marjolaine is with Raleigh, seeking passage across the Waking Sea. I have suggested a path. Be careful.



"It was a good thing she and Raleigh were together, and that Raleigh was inexplicably also fleeing the country. That saved us a lot of time."



Fortunately, Marjolaine specced Bard and doesn't have a bow equipped. It would have ended pretty quickly otherwise.

Raleigh: Pathetic girl. You're in the heart of my Ferelden. What do you hope to gain?
Marjolaine: Listen to the commander, pretty one. There's nothing for you here.



Marjolaine and Raleigh are content to just stand around on the bridge and taunt Leliana as she and her Merry Men kick their way through what have to be some seriously dedicated flunkies.



There are also some Deep Stalkers, because why the hell not, I guess.



Ser Raleigh is racist, xenophobic, vaguely greasy looking, a proponent of torture for no real reason, in denial over the eventual end of a war in which slavery was a major issue of contention, and a keeper of lots of exotic "pets."

I wonder if Bioware was trying to make some sort of political statement with this character?



"Little Drakey-drake is like my own child and he would never harm a member of the family! Unless they blink too much, or don't blink enough times, or have just eaten meat, or if they're wearing red, or if they're wearing mauve, or if they're stressing out about being attacked by a wild dragon."



Apparently, he doesn't like it when Little Drakey bites the dust. And neither does his mage (who is presumably not a pet, but given the state of magi rights in most of Thedas, we cannot be sure.)



Which is the only possible explanation for why he runs directly at Leliana instead of letting the mage soften her and the others up.

Dragon Battle and Raleigh Battle – This would have been much more glamourous if I had meant to record a battle video, but you may see it anyway.

Leliana's Song - The End



Yes folks, Leliana is finally getting around to telling us all The Secret.

Leliana: That moment, I keep, because even now, I don't know what ending serves best. But being able to choose, that is the truth of this story. The rest, it changes with the audience.



And yes, she ends it all by giving us some "The Lady or The Tiger" bullshit.

Next Time: Sidequest Sidestravaganza

I enjoyed this DLC since it gave me the opportunity to try out a melee rogue spec, since in the main game I had Leliana as an archer. It is a quick jaunt of a mission where you are a decent level to be able to run around and try new things, but not destroy everything immediately either. Also, I love some of the dissonance in this as well. First, the promotional art doesn't line up with the in game portrayal of her. I can understand the armour, but having loose hair and a ponytail are rather different. Also when it introduces characters where it goes to monochrome with a blood splatter, making it like some 80s action movie. When that happened for Dorothea I thought either the writers were being serious, or taking the piss out of themselves. I'm not sure which. I kind of like the ending to it even though it basically covers the tracks, since I remember thinking that the plot doesn't line up with what Leliana tells you in Origins.

Given that "Leliana makes up stories" is a running joke in the series (and in DA:O itself), I think that the bit about the stories not matching is intentional.

Who knows about the rest of it, though.

Ridiculous. You can't train a Bronto.