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1Dragon Age Codex Compendium
2
3Volume 2
4
5Codex entries from:
6
7Dragon Age II
8
9Notes: Codex entries added by DLC (The Exiled Prince, The Black Emporium,
10Legacy, Mark of the Assassin, and item packs) are integrated with those from
11the game proper. The ordering is more alphabetical, than reflective of the 
12in-game organization. (The latter seems to be very random, or at least the 
13methodology was impenetrable to me.)
14
15Where a codex entry would, in game, dynamically reflect the given name 
16of the player character, I have substituted "Hawke". 
17
18Some entries reflect cut or bugged content. They are derived from 
19information on the DA Wiki, and have not been verified for accuracy in 
20transcription, as have certain entries which depend heavily on import 
21variables, i.e., both A Study of the Fifth Blight codices.
22
23Bracketed notations are used to provide context or delineate variables, 
24when appropriate. The bracketed text does not appear in the in-game 
25codex.
26
27Some formatting is not exactly as appears in-game, in particular, the 
28attributions for passages from books and other written documents. For 
29those I have used the same format as seen in Dragon Age: Origins codices. 
30I've also added sectional "breaks" to some long, multi-part entries, to make
31them easier to read.
32
33Version 1.6
3420150419
35
36Codex: Creatures (Dragon Age II)
37
38Abomination
39
40"We arrived in the dead of night. We had been tracking the maleficar for 
41days, and finally had him cornered... or so we thought. 
42
43As we approached, a home on the edge of the town exploded, sending 
44splinters of wood and fist-sized chunks of rocks into our ranks. We had 
45but moments to regroup before fire rained from the sky, the sounds of 
46destruction wrapped in a hideous laughter from the center of the village.
47
48There, perched atop the spire of the village chantry, stood the mage. But 
49he was human no longer.
50
51We shouted prayers to the Maker and deflected what magic we could, but 
52as we fought, the creature fought harder. I saw my comrades fall, burned 
53by the flaming sky or crushed by debris. The monstrous creature, looking 
54as if a demon were wearing a man like a twisted suit of skin, spotted me 
55and grinned. We had forced it to this, I realized; the mage had made this 
56pact, given himself over to the demon to survive our assault."
57
58--Transcribed from a tale told by a former templar in Cumberland, 8:84 Blessed.
59
60It is known that mages are able to walk the Fade while completely aware 
61of their surroundings, unlike most others who may only enter the realm as
62dreamers and leave it scarcely aware of their experience. Demons are 
63drawn to mages, though whether it is because of this awareness or simply 
64by virtue of their magical power in our world is unknown.
65
66Regardless of the reason, a demon always attempts to possess a mage 
67when it encounters one--by force or by making some kind of deal, 
68depending on the strength of the mage. Should the demon get the upper 
69hand, the result is an unholy union known as an abomination. 
70Abominations have been responsible for some of the worst cataclysms in 
71history, and the notion that some mage in a remote tower could turn into 
72such a creature unbeknownst to any was the driving force behind the 
73creation of the Circle of Magi.
74
75Thankfully, abominations are rare. The Circle has methods for weeding 
76out those who are too at risk for demonic possession, and scant few mages
77would give up their free will to submit to such a bond with a demon. But 
78once an abomination is created, it will do its best to create more. 
79Considering that entire squads of templars have been known to fall at the 
80hands of a single abomination, it is not surprising that the Chantry takes 
81the business of the Circle of Magi very serious indeed.
82
83Arcane Horror 
84
85"Upon ascending to the second floor of the tower, we were greeted by a 
86gruesome sight: a ragged collection of bones wearing the robes of one of 
87the senior enchanters. I had known her for years, watched her raise 
88countless apprentices, and now she was a mere puppet for some demon."
89
90--Transcribed from a tale told by a templar in Antiva City, 7:13 Storm
91
92Demons, of course, have no form in our world. When they enter, either 
93where the Veil is particularly thin or through blood magic summoning, 
94they must take possession of a body.
95
96When a pride demon takes control of the corpse of a mage, an arcane 
97horror is born. Although they appear to be little more than bones, these 
98are fierce creatures, possessing not only all the spellcasting abilities of a 
99living mage, but also the capacity to heal and even command other 
100animated corpses.
101
102Carta Bronto
103
104Sent for more brontos from Orzammar today. We lost two in a landslide, 
105and they were carrying full loads of silver and iron. Those responsible 
106have been flogged. 
107
108The creatures are useful underground in wide tunnels, but not so sure-
109footed on the mountain passes. And bringing them to the surface in 
110daylight is always a catastrophe waiting to happen. They're spooked by 
111every sign of movement, and once riled up, they'll charge just about 
112
113anything in sight. 
114
115Bah. Must investigate the possibility of using a more even-tempered beast.
116Donkeys, perhaps? The humans swear by them. 
117
118--From the journal of Rhatigan, leader of the Carta in Kirkwall  
119
120Corpse
121
122"To anyone who doubts the wickedness of blood magic, I say: With your 
123own hands, strike down the corpses of your own brothers who have fallen
124in battle to a maleficar, then we may discuss morality."
125
126--Knight-Commander Benedictus, in a letter to the Divine, 5:46 Exalted.
127
128The walking dead are not, as the superstitious are wont to believe, the 
129living come back for revenge. They are, rather, corpses possessed by 
130demons.
131
132The shambling corpse, controlled by a demon of sloth, causes its enemies 
133to become weak and fatigued. Corpses possessed by rage demons go 
134berserk and simply wade into 
135their opponents mindlessly. Devouring corpses are held by hunger 
136demons and feed upon the living. The more powerful demons rarely 
137deign to possess a dead host.
138
139Deepstalker
140
141One of the few natural, non-darkspawn creatures to live in the Deep 
142Roads, the deepstalker is a reptilian cave-dweller known for burrowing 
143into the stone paths of the Deep Roads and ambushing prey, usually nugs.
144They hunt in packs, attacking with round mouths full of serrated teeth or 
145spitting poison from venom glands. Although a single deepstalker poses 
146little threat to any experienced explorer, packs can be quite lethal. 
147
148Desire Demon
149
150"In all my studies, I must say that the most intriguing was my interview 
151with the desire demon. That the creature was willing to speak with me 
152was a sign that this was no mere monster, mindlessly driven by its nature, 
153but rather a rational being as interested in me as I was in it. It took a form 
154that I would call female, though I had no doubt that it could appear 
155otherwise. I wondered if it appeared as it did because I wanted it to or 
156because I expected it to. She... and, indeed, I could only think of her as 
157such now... smiled warmly at me and laughed a musical sound that 
158seemed to thrill my old heart.
159
160So frightened was I of this creature's legendary abilities to twist the hearts 
161of men, and so relieved was I when I looked across the table into her dark 
162eyes. This was a fearsome creature of the Fade, but as I spoke with her I 
163slowly came to realize that this demon was merely as misunderstood as 
164we mages are, ourselves."
165
166--From the journal of former Senior Enchanter Maleus, once of the Circle of 
167Rivain, declared apostate in 9:20 Dragon.
168
169Of all the threats from beyond the Veil, few are more insidious and 
170deceptively deadly than the desire demon. In folklore, such demons are 
171characterized as peddlers of lust, luring their prey into a sexual encounter 
172only to be slain at the culmination. While a desire demon can indeed deal 
173in pleasure, in truth they deal with any manner of desire that humans can 
174possess: wealth, power, and beauty, to name a few.
175
176Far more intelligent than the bestial hunger and rage demons, and more 
177ambitious than the demons of sloth, these dark spirits are among the most 
178skilled at tempting mages into possession. Many who serve the whims of 
179a desire demon never realize it. They are manipulated by illusions and 
180deceit if not outright mind control, although these demons are reluctant to
181resort to such crude measures. Instead, they seem to take great pleasure in
182corruption. The greater the deceit, the greater their victory.
183
184Only demons of pride prove more fearsome opponents when roused. 
185Their abilities to affect the mind allow them to assume disguises and even 
186alter the environment to their purposes, not to mention the great strength 
187
188and speed they possess if they should have to resort to more physical 
189means. Most often a desire demon will attempt to bargain its way to 
190freedom if overpowered--many stories exist that depict mages defeating 
191desire demons to the point where a wish can be wrested from them. It 
192should be noted that in such stories the demon almost always gets the 
193upper hand even when the mage thinks his wish has been granted.
194
195Dragon
196
197[this entry may be bugged/incomplete in-game, with only the first section – 
198Dragonlings - appearing]
199
200Dragonlings
201Newly-hatched dragons are roughly the size of a deer and voraciously 
202hungry. They live for a short time in their mother's lair before venturing 
203out on their own. The slender, wingless creatures are born in vast 
204numbers, as only a few ever make it to adulthood.
205
206Drakes
207Male dragons never develop into the winged monsters of myth. At most, 
208their forelegs grow the vestigial spurs where wing membrane might have 
209been.
210
211Once they have fully matured, males immediately seek out the lairs of 
212adult females. When they find one, they move into her lair and spend the 
213rest of their lives there, hunting for her and defending her young. They 
214will aggressively defend her nest, and many would-be dragon hunters 
215have been lost to their fiery breath and crushing blows from their tails.
216
217Dragons
218Female dragons take much longer to mature than their male counterparts. 
219They too undergo a metamorphosis of sorts at adulthood: But while males
220lose the use of their forepaws, females actually grow a third set of limbs 
221specifically to serve as wings.
222
223Young females travel great distances looking for a suitable nesting site. 
224Because of their nomadic habits, these are the dragons most frequently 
225encountered by man.
226
227High Dragon
228A fully mature adult female dragon is the high dragon: the great monster 
229of legend, the rarest of all dragonkind. These dragons hollow out massive 
230lairs for themselves, for they need the space to house their harem of 
231drakes as well as their eggs and the dragonlings.
232
233High dragons are seldom seen. They spend most of their time sleeping 
234and mating, living off the prey their drakes bring back. But once every 
235hundred years or so, the high dragon prepares for clutching by emerging 
236from her lair and taking wing. She will fly far and wide, eating hundreds 
237of animals, most often livestock, over the course of a few weeks and 
238leaving smoldering devastation in her wake. She then returns to her lair to
239lay her eggs and will not appear in the skies again for another century.
240
241Genlock
242
243The genlock is the most common darkspawn in the underground. They 
244are tough, stocky, and notoriously difficult to kill, since many show at 
245least some resistance to magic. They are creatures of darkness, with keen 
246senses and an intuitive understanding of the deep places that allow them 
247to take even groups of seasoned warriors by surprise. Genlocks are what 
248make traversing the Deep Roads so dangerous--a group of the creatures 
249can easily overwhelm and mercilessly slaughter a small party within 
250minutes. 
251
252Genlock alphas are stronger and more physically intimidating than most 
253genlocks. They are known for bullying other genlocks into doing their 
254bidding. 
255
256Ghast
257
258The ghast is a small, vicious creature that dwells in mountain caves. One is
259little more than a nuisance and will flee if threatened. A pack of five or 
260more, however, is much bolder and can easily overwhelm a bear. 
261
262Although ghasts are cunning and able to cooperate for survival, they 
263
264show no signs of true intelligence. They are unable to speak, 
265communicating only through grunts and squeals. 
266
267Occasionally, a pack of ghasts will include the strange creature known as 
268the velghastrial. Unlike the common ghast, the velghastrial can wield 
269magic. Some assume that they first learned by lurking around and 
270watching other mages. Others believe that ghasts, like animals, are 
271sensitive to the unseen forces that shape our world and that the 
272velghastrial is able to utilize magic purely through instinct. It is unknown 
273if velghastrials risk possession when casting spells, as other humanoid 
274mages do. 
275
276Golem
277
278Once a crucial part of Orzammar's defenses, golems have all but vanished 
279as the secret to their manufacture was lost over a thousand years ago. 
280What few golems remain are guarded closely by the Shaperate, brought 
281out when the battle with the darkspawn grows desperate enough to risk 
282their loss. No one now would sell a golem for any price, but in ancient 
283times, dwarves sold many golems to the magister lords of Tevinter.
284
285They are devastating weapons in war, living siege engines, capable of 
286hurling boulders like a catapult or plowing through enemy lines like an 
287earthquake.
288
289Hurlock
290
291Taller than their genlock cousins, the hurlocks are roughly of human-size 
292but are possessed of considerable strength and constitution. The shock 
293troop of the darkspawn, a single berserking hurlock can often be a match 
294for numerous opponents at once. They are known to adorn themselves 
295with roughly-carved tattoos to keep track of their kills and deeds, though 
296it is unknown whether or not there is a uniform standard to these 
297markings. 
298
299Hurlock Alpha
300
301The hurlock alpha is more intelligent than the alphas of other darkspawn 
302types. Usually armed with a large, vicious weapon, they have been known
303to act as commanders on the battlefield, directing and controlling the 
304lesser darkspawn in their strange, brutish way.
305
306Mabari War Hound
307
308Dogs are an essential part of Fereldan culture, and no dog is more prized 
309than the mabari. The breed is as old as myth, said to have been bred from 
310the wolves who served Dane. Prized for their intelligence and loyalty, 
311these dogs are more than mere weapons or status symbols: The hounds 
312choose their masters, and pair with them for life. To be the master of a 
313mabari anywhere in Ferelden is to be recognized instantly as a person of 
314worth.
315
316The mabari are an essential part of Fereldan military strategy. Trained 
317hounds can easily pull knights from horseback or break lines of pikemen, 
318and the sight and sound of a wave of war dogs, howling and snarling, has 
319been known to cause panic among even the most hardened infantry 
320soldiers.
321
322Ogre
323
324Towering over their darkspawn kin, the massive ogres are a rare sight on 
325the battlefield. Traditionally, they only appear during a Blight, but some 
326records claim that ogres have been spotted in the Deep Roads hunting 
327alone or in small groups. At least one report by the Grey Wardens claims 
328that an ogre was spotted alone in the Korcari Wilds in 9:19 Dragon, 
329though it was weakened and easily dispatched. Up to a hundred of these 
330creatures can accompany a darkspawn horde at any one time during a 
331Blight, often using their great strength to burst through fortifications and 
332demolish the front lines of the opposing army.
333
334They use brute force to charge their enemies like bulls, slam the ground 
335with their fists to shake enemies off their feet, and hurl giant rocks into the
336
337face of oncoming foes. Melee can be difficult against a giant that snatches 
338a warrior up in one hand, crushing the life out of him or beating him into 
339oblivion with the other hand. The nimble can try to wiggle his way free, or
340an ally can attempt an array of stunning blows on an ogre to free the 
341comrade in danger.
342
343Grey Warden lore urges caution when slaying an ogre. Unless it is 
344ensured that they have received a major wound to the head or the heart, it 
345is possible that they are lying dormant and will regenerate to full health 
346within a matter of minutes. During a Blight, most Grey Wardens 
347recommend burning all darkspawn to ashes... "dead" ogres in particular.
348
349Pride Demon
350
351"Let me explain what it is to face a pride demon, my friends.
352
353You may scoff and say that our talents exist only to face mages, but you 
354will encounter demons often. They will be summoned by a maleficar and 
355bound to do his bidding, and while at times they will be forced into the 
356possession of a host, they will also face you in their true form... a powerful
357opponent indeed. Do not underestimate it.
358
359Pride is powerful, and intelligent. When we have encountered one in its 
360true form, its most common attacks are bolts of fire and ice. Fire they will 
361use to burn an opponent, and the magical flame will combust anything 
362you wear regardless of make. Ice they will use to freeze an opponent in 
363place--be cautious, for they enjoy employing this against warriors in 
364particular. More than one group of templars has made the mistake of 
365attempting to overwhelm a pride demon and suffered the consequences, 
366believe me. And if you think that having the aid of other mages will assist 
367you, you are wrong. Pride demons can render themselves immune to 
368magic for short times, and are adept at dispelling magic that is cast upon 
369you... as much as we templars are able to disrupt spells.
370
371Think on that for a moment, my friends. Be wary of how prideful you 
372become, lest you find too much in common with such a fiend."
373
374--Transcript of a lecture given by Vheren, templar-commander of Tantervale, 6:86 
375Steel
376
377The Profane
378
379We who are forgotten, remember,
380We clawed at rock until our fingers bled,
381We cried out for justice, but were unheard.
382Our children wept in hunger,
383And so we feasted upon the gods.
384Here we wait, in aeons of silence.
385We few, we profane.
386
387--Found scrawled on a wall in the lost Revann Thaig by explorer Faruma Helmi, 
3885:10 Exalted. Unknown author.
389
390Rage Demon
391
392Encountered in the Fade, the true form of a rage demon is a frightening 
393sight: a thing of pure fire, its body seemingly made of amorphous lava 
394and its eyes two pinpricks of baleful light radiating from its core. The 
395abilities of such a demon center on the fire it generates. It burns those who
396come near, and the most powerful of its kind are able to lash out with 
397bolts of fire and even firestorms that can affect entire areas. 
398
399Fortunately, even powerful rage demons are less intelligent than most 
400other varieties. Their tactics are simple: attack an enemy on sight with as 
401much force as possible until it perishes. Some rage demons carry over 
402their heat-based abilities into possessed hosts, but otherwise the true form 
403is mostly seen outside of the Fade when it's specifically summoned by a 
404mage to do his bidding.
405
406Revenant
407
408"An entire unit of men, all slain by one creature. I didn't believe it at first, 
409your Perfection, but it appears that this is so. We have a survivor, and 
410while at first I thought his rantings pure exaggeration... it appears to be no
411simple skeleton. The descriptions of the creature's abilities were eerily 
412similar to those our brothers at Marnas Pell encountered almost a century 
413
414ago: men pulled through the air to skewer themselves on the creature's 
415blade, and attacks so quick that it was able to assault multiple opponents 
416at once. No, your Perfection, what we have here is indeed a revenant and 
417nothing less."
418
419--From a letter to Divine Amara III, 5:71 Exalted.
420
421A revenant is a corpse possessed by a demon of pride or of desire... 
422making it amongst the most powerful possessed opponents that one can 
423face. Many possess spells, but most are armed and armored and prefer the
424use of their martial talents. They are weak against physical attacks but 
425regenerate quickly, and commonly use telekinesis to pull opponents into 
426melee range should they try to flee. Revenants also have the ability to 
427strike multiple opponents surrounding them. Stay at range if possible and 
428strike quickly--that is the only way to take such a creature down.
429
430Rock Wraith
431
432Twenty years in the Legion of the Dead. I've seen spiders larger than a 
433bronto, broodmothers lounging in putrescence surrounded by their 
434corrupted children, and unnamed things with flesh turned against itself. 
435But worse, by far, was in an old mine shaft down from Heidrun Thaig. 
436
437We chased an emissary down there to a tunnel dead-ended in rubble. It 
438was a vicious fight. He picked my men off until only four of us were left. 
439When it seemed like we'd finally fulfill our oaths, our fight woke 
440something long dormant. 
441
442What I thought was rubble gathered beneath my feet, taking a terrible 
443form: a beast of stone surrounding the shattered skeleton of a man. A rock 
444wraith. The spirit of a dwarf so foul the Stone itself rejected him. One 
445swing of its boulder-hand crushed the emissary, and then it turned it's 
446eyeless skull toward us. We fled back up the tunnel, its heavy footsteps 
447thundering at our backs. 
448
449When we reached the thaig, we finally turned, knowing that out in the 
450open, we had no cover and couldn't hope to outrun the wraith. But when 
451it came to the exit, it struck the trusses holding up the ceiling of the shaft, 
452
453closing itself in forever. Perhaps, in the end, it felt remorse. Perhaps it was 
454one lost soul recognizing another. 
455
456--From the journals of Amrun, Legion of the Dead 
457
458Shade
459
460"It has often been suggested that the only way for a demon to affect the 
461world of the living is by possessing a living (or once living) body, but this 
462is not always true. Indeed, a shade is one such creature: a demon in its 
463true form that has adapted to affect the world around it.
464
465My hypothesis is this: We already know that many demons become 
466confused when they pass through the Veil into our world. They are unable
467to tell the living from the dead, the very static nature of our universe being
468confusing to a creature that is accustomed to a physicality defined entirely
469by emotion and memory. Most demons seek to immediately seize upon 
470anything they perceive as life, jealously attempting to possess it--but what 
471of those that do not? What of those that encounter no life, or fail to possess
472a body? What of those that are more cautious by their nature?
473
474These demons watch. They lurk. They envy.
475
476In time, such a demon will learn to drain energy from the psyche of those 
477it encounters, just as it did in the Fade. Once it has drained enough, it has 
478the power to manifest and will forever after be known as a shade. Such a 
479creature spurns possession. It instead floats as a shadow across its piece of
480land, preying upon the psyche of any who cross its path. Perhaps it 
481believes itself still in the Fade? There is evidence to believe this is so.
482
483A shade will weaken the living by its very proximity. If it focuses its will, it
484can drain a single target very quickly. Some have even been known to 
485assault the minds of a living victim, causing confusion or horror and 
486making the target ripe for the kill. The tragedy of a shade is perhaps that, 
487once it has drained a target whole, its appetite is only heightened rather 
488than slaked."
489
490-- From the journal of former Senior Enchanter Maleus, once of the Circle of 
491Rivain, declared apostate in 9:20 Dragon Age.
492
493Giant Spider
494
495Giant spiders tend to appear in old ruins and other places where the Veil 
496has become thin because of magical disturbances or a great number of 
497deaths. In such places, spirits and demons pass into the world of the living
498and attempt to take control over living beings, spiders among them. Not 
499all scholars accept this explanation for the presence of these beasts, 
500however. Some claim that the thinning Veil allows magic to "leak" from 
501the Fade, tainting such creatures as these spiders to transform into larger 
502and more potent creatures than they ever would become naturally. While 
503such spiders are known to possess powerful poisons and the ability to 
504fling their webs at opponents in combat, studies of them have been few 
505and the full range of their abilities are unknown.
506
507Varterral
508
509In the days before Arlathan, there was a city in the mountains beloved by 
510Dirthamen, Keeper of Secrets. Its people were wise beyond measure, 
511thanks to his counsel, and the city flourished. 
512
513Then a high dragon settled in the mountains, and her hunger threatened 
514the city. The elders cried out to Dirthamen for protection as the dragon's 
515rampages struck ever closer, and for three days and nights, the people 
516shut themselves in their homes and watched the skies in dread. 
517
518On the fourth day, Dirthamen heard them. He whispered into the 
519mountains and the fallen trees of the forest gathered, shaping an immense 
520and agile spider-like beast. It was the varterral. With lightning speed, 
521vicious strikes, and venomous spit, it drove back the serpent. From then 
522on, it was the guardian of the city and its people. 
523
524Many years passed. The gods were trapped by Fen'Harel and the people 
525left to gather in Arlathan, but the varterral kept its everlasting vigil, 
526guarding Dirthamen's city as it eventually crumbled to dust. To this day it 
527stands there, watching over the rubble. Any travelers foolish enough to 
528wander there find themselves face to face with wrath incarnate. 
529
530--From "The Tale of the Varterral", as told by Gisharel, Keeper of the Ralaferin 
531clan of Dalish elves.
532
533Wyvern
534
535The wyvern--like its relative the dragon--has nearly been hunted to 
536extinction. Wealthy Orlesians are particularly fond of the wyvern chase 
537although their servants and dogs take the risks while the nobleman 
538merely accept the praise. 
539
540It is the venom that makes the creature so valuable. It's used in potion-
541making, alchemy, and the production of a rare and potent liquor called 
542aquae lucidius. The minuscule quantity of the venom remaining in the 
543aquae after distillation leads to a unique hallucinatory effect. 
544
545Testimonies from a few of those fortunate enough to sample the costly 
546concoction:
547"I feel confused but happy!"
548"It was as though my soul took wing and floated about my head."
549"I had a vision of my great-grandmother and found it oddly arousing."
550"I can see through time!" 
551
552Codex: Items (Dragon Age II)
553
554Absolution
555
556Antiva doesn't have a monopoly on assassins. The bleak Anderfels have 
557produced some of the most ruthless killers in the world, and in the capitol 
558of Hossberg, there are never fewer than ten in the service of their king. 
559They served only the king, and the politics of the Anderfels are a brutal 
560affair. Among the pious, the most dangerous thing a man can do is 
561disgrace himself, for the king sends his killers not for those who plot to 
562overthrow him, but for those who break the Maker's laws and fall into sin 
563and decadence. In the Anders, this is called absolution, not assassination. 
564Death is the sinner's act of penance.
565 
566--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
567Brother Genitivi 
568
569Air of Confidence
570
571After averting a disaster at the Circle of Markham, Evra was given this 
572ring by the first enchanter. Though the Air of Confidence is not as eye-
573catching as his other famous ring, it is said that Evra always wore it, even 
574when sleeping. The exact magical properties of the Air of Confidence are a
575subject of much speculation amongst minstrels.
576
577Aldenon's Vestments
578
579To all appearances, he was a hedge wizard hailing from the Frostbacks, 
580perhaps Alamarri--but from the wild lands if so. Venerable, certainly 
581worthy of respect, but not commanding it. When he stormed into my 
582master's feasthall and offered his service in a resounding voice, there was 
583laughter at his audacity. Several bondsmen offered to remove the 
584miscreant, but before they could grab him the mage lifted his staff and the 
585bondsmen fell to the ground. Each time they stood, they slipped again, 
586and their antics were met with laughter. Arl Tenedor the Elder, who was 
587not long for this world, demanded to know who this arrogant invader 
588was. 
589
590"I am the beginning and the end. I am luckbinder, spellweaver, and the 
591keeper of secrets. And I am here to build a kingdom. I am Aldenon the 
592Wise, and if you haven't heard of me yet--never can you say the same 
593again." His voice boomed, silencing all. His magic was potent and the hall 
594gave him a wary look. Tenedor accepted him as his advisor that day. Then,
595when Tenedor the Younger rose to his father's seat, he took Aldenon into 
596service as well. I sat with the mage in many councils and although his 
597magecraft was greater than even the Tevinter magisters, many believed his
598advice to be folly. He had little appreciation for the hard truths of our 
599lands, they said. Compassion, mercy, justice--they matter not when Teyrn 
600Simeon invades your land, subverts your nobles, and takes what's yours. 
601He grew bitter and impatient with us and ours, and these sentiments were
602often returned. But others could see he had a vision of something better 
603than the endless petty wars of teyrns and arls. 
604
605When Arl Myrddin besieged us, a youth named Calenhad was sent to 
606meet the asp, but all expected a treacherous end. Yet the boy returned, to 
607great acclaim, and announced there would be no terms. Aldenon was 
608taken with the "foolhardy honor" the boy displayed and seemed to 
609awaken as from a dark dream. The mage told Tenedor the Younger he 
610would lend his aid for this battle, but after that, he would serve another. 
611Tenedor accepted his resignation with relief more than anything. 
612
613By the end of the siege of the Western Hill, Arl Tenedor was no more. It 
614was Calenhad who defeated Myrddin in single combat, and he became 
615Teyrn Calenhad. Aldenon was named his chief advisor. 
616
617--From The Recollections of Ser Devith, banner knight of King Calenhad 
618
619Amulet of Ashes
620
621A ruined piece of charred wood hangs from its setting of half-melted gold.
622Holding it over an open flame, however, reveals its powers – in the 
623flickering flames, the gold recedes into some former shape while the wood
624turns brown and reveals its grain. 
625
626The Archon’s Blades
627
628The Archon's Guard of Hessarian are vilified throughout the lands. The 
629Chant depicts their cruel treatment of Andraste as one of the reasons the 
630Maker turned his gaze from his creation. After Hessarian converted to 
631Andraste's teachings, he disbanded his guard and stripped them of their 
632arms. Most of the guards' swords were destroyed, but a handful of the 
633archon's blades are still around. Perhaps one of the blades here drew the 
634prophet's blood as the archon interrogated Andraste before her execution. 
635
636Armor of the Fallen
637
638There is a legend in the Free Marches regarding "the Fallen:" a cadre of 
639knights from various Marcher cities that formed to fight the growing 
640power of Orlais in the Exalted Age. 
641
642To the Orlesians, these knights were little better than bandits... but to the 
643Marchers they were heroes, warriors that fought for freedom and 
644autonomy. Most of the Fallen died on the Fields of Ghislain in 5:40 
645Exalted, defending the newly-crowned King Tylus of Nevarra from 
646Orlesian attack. They held their line against a mounted chevalier charge, 
647managing to keep Tylus alive long enough to retreat--and are credited 
648with Nevarra's continued independence everywhere outside Nevarra 
649itself. 
650
651Armor of the Overseer
652
653The Overseer was a nickname given to Magister Claudian Vyrantus, the 
654last and perhaps most notorious of those assigned to the Maharian 
655jetstone quarry outside of Kirkwall (now known locally as the Bone Pit). 
656
657The magister was known for his sadistic cruelty. His malevolent social 
658experiments were designed to make examples of those who disobeyed 
659him. Vyrantus even noted that feeding slaves to his pet dragonlings was 
660"little more than they deserved." 
661
662The slave revolt in 25 Ancient put an end to the Overseer. He was 
663
664assaulted by a mob of slaves who stripped his enchanted robes and threw 
665Vyrantus into the Bone Pit to be feasted upon by his dragonlings. What 
666became of his robes during all the chaos is unknown, but it is assumed 
667they remain in Kirkwall. 
668
669--From Kirkwall: the City of Chains, by Brother Genitivi, 9:24 Dragon
670
671Arms of Mac Tir
672
673Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir was not born a nobleman. It's said his family 
674descended from freeholders in the western Bannorn, a region known as 
675Oswin. His father, Gareth, would have had no surname of his own. He 
676likely would have described himself as "of Oswin" or "ban Aehswin" (as 
677the region would have been known in the Old Tongue).
678
679The name "Mac Tir" means "son of the land." It was bestowed upon 
680Loghain by King Maric after the Battle of River Dane. The Fereldan people
681considered the name highly appropriate: to them, Teyrn Loghain was a 
682son of the entire nation, and he was famously said to have told a crowd 
683that Ferelden would forever be "part of his blood."
684
685After Loghain's betrayal of King Cailan at Ostagar in 9:30 Dragon, the 
686general became as reviled as he had once been revered. His manse in 
687Gwaren was looted and many of his personal possessions stolen--among 
688them the armor he wore at the Battle of River Dane. That armor is said to 
689have had special significance to the man. One peculiarity of the armor was
690a square of red silk pinned to one of the shoulderbelts. "For luck," Loghain
691once explained. 
692
693Arms of the River Dane
694
695The Battle of River Dane is among the most famous in Ferelden's history, 
696fought at the onset of the Dragon Age in a bid to secure the country's 
697independence from Orlesian rule. 
698
699The Fereldan army was cobbled together from commoners and banns who
700had turned against the Orlesian usurper, King Meghren. Even so, under 
701
702the leadership of Loghain Mac Tir, they scored an astounding victory 
703against a large force of chevaliers fording the River Dane. 
704
705Afterwards, Loghain was hailed as a Fereldan legend, and for a time 
706veterans of the battle enjoyed similar status. The soldiers' possessions 
707became prized mementos, in particular the suits of armor belonging to 
708those early supporters who joined Maric after the death of his mother, 
709Moira, the Rebel Queen. Folk tales suggest that the Maker's blessing lives 
710on in the armor those brave allies wore on that fateful day. 
711
712The Ashen Cuirass
713
714The charge of the Ash Warriors is a sight to behold. With hounds at their 
715side and their fierce battle cries, the Ash Warriors have buckled the ranks 
716of even stalwart veterans. And if the enemy line does hold, then the true 
717test begins. Quill and ink is a poor medium to convey the sheer power of 
718their rages.
719
720Despite the Ash Warriors' renown, several misconceptions persist. Some 
721believe the mercenaries are predominately Avvar or Chasind tribesmen. 
722Certainly their armor evokes barbarian roots. But the men and women of 
723the Ash Warriors are almost entirely civilized. In my travels as chronicler 
724and surgeon, I spent several months with the Ash Warriors, although 
725finding any willing to speak of their history was difficult. The stories I 
726gradually elicited were chilling tales of hard men.
727
728One was an arsonist who joined the Ash Warriors on the gallows. Another 
729had committed fratricide, and another's dire past I dare not recount. In 
730joining the Ash Warriors, their crimes were forgiven, for it was as if they 
731were never born. Even in legal records their old life is erased--contracts 
732voided, marriages annulled, records of birth erased. In this, they are much
733like the dwarven Legion of the Dead. Their new lives are dedicated to 
734redemption and service.
735
736My first night with the band, I was startled when they asked me to sing a 
737few verses of the Chant of Light. Grim to a man and fearsomely garbed, 
738yet they were as eager to hear the Chant as the most faithful parishioner. I 
739
740felt as the first missionaries must have--surrounded by barbarians. The 
741more I learned of the Ash Warriors, the more questions I had. They are 
742mercenaries who demand no pay, men with no pasts, considered the 
743king's men yet beholden to no one. I could have traveled with them for 
744many years and still had mysteries to uncover.
745
746--From Annals of the Scarlet March, by Brother Bedine, Chantry Scholar 
747
748Aurvar's Prize 
749
750Aurvar Raed was a gifted young smith of Orzammar. He fell in love, in 
751secret, with the youngest daughter of Walder Turin, a high-ranking 
752warrior, but Aurvar knew their union would never earn Walder's blessing.
753He worked hard at his craft, and fashioned a beautiful mace, wrought 
754from the purest steel, enchanted with lyrium. He presented it to his love's 
755father, who immediately recognized its value. 
756
757Walder Turin asked what Aurvar desired in exchange for the weapon. 
758Aurvar replied, "This is a masterwork piece. It is worth more to me than 
759my own life. As payment, I can only accept something that is as dear to 
760you as this mace is to me." Walder was silent for a moment, and then burst
761out laughing, amused at Aurvar's boldness. He agreed to a price that he 
762believed was worthy of the mace. 
763
764Not two days later, Aurvar and his love stole away from the city, with the 
765princely sum her father had provided. Incensed, Walder tore Orzammar 
766apart looking for his daughter, but she had gone with Aurvar to the 
767surface to start a new life. He never saw them again. 
768
769The mace remained in Orzammar, but Walder could not bear to look upon
770it. It was hidden away deep in his estate, and sold to a merchant upon his 
771death. 
772
773Bard's Honor
774
775A curious thing, Perren. I found the axe among Cailan's belongings, 
776wrapped in damask cloth, and initially I thought it might be another gift 
777from that Orlesian harlot. It was a pretty enough thing, and the markings 
778on the blade certainly seemed imperial.
779
780I even went so far as to confront Cailan with it, and do you know what he 
781said? The axe was of "personal importance" to his father. So why wasn't it 
782buried with his ashes, I asked? "Because my mother wouldn't have 
783approved." I wondered if he was lying, but Cailan's terrible at it.
784
785I did some digging, and are you aware there was an elven woman seen in 
786Maric's company shortly before the Battle of River Dane? There was a 
787rumor, I understand, that they were lovers, and that she was a bard. Was 
788Maric being blackmailed? I wonder if this has anything to do with that 
789mysterious bequeathment to those elven families in Orlais?
790
791Of course, I had Cailan dispose of the axe immediately.
792
793--From a letter written by Queen Anora of Ferelden, 9:27 Dragon
794
795Bardin's Folly
796
797A dwarven rune crafter named Bardin made this for his lover, Mayla, a 
798nobleman's wife who was fond of dalliances. As the story goes, Bardin fell 
799hard for Mayla, and after a few passionate nights, he presented her with a 
800beautiful handcrafted ring. Feeling sorry for the love-struck fool, she 
801graciously accepted the gift. 
802
803Unfortunately for Bardin, his fine workmanship had become well known, 
804and Mayla's husband immediately recognized the handiwork. No one 
805knows exactly what happened to the rune crafter, but he disappeared 
806from Orzammar shortly after. It's said that the nobleman tracked him 
807down, tied him up, carved runes on every square inch of his body, and 
808tossed the sinewy mess into a river of magma outside Orzammar. 
809
810Mayla fled for the surface with the ring. Some versions of the story have 
811
812her making it to Orlais, while others involve Mayla getting hopelessly lost 
813in the Deep Roads, never to be seen again. The ring, however, turned up 
814years later in a merchant's stash outside Ostwick. 
815
816Beregrand the Bold
817
818Beregrand the Bold was either a hero or a traitor, depending on how you 
819look at it. Before exile was common among the dwarves, only the most 
820heinous crimes warranted a dwarf being stripped of house and sent to the 
821surface. Beregrand qualified and was banished on accusations of regicide 
822after killing a dwarven king on the Proving Sands. Beregrand spat on the 
823Assembly that pronounced his sentence before strapping on his armor 
824and leaving Gundaar.
825
826Living on the surface, Beregrand's incredible fighting skills, tactical 
827knowledge, and intellect built a naval empire centered in what would one 
828day be Antiva. His more enduring legacy was teaching human smiths, 
829engineers, and other crafters jealously guarded dwarven secrets. Cursed 
830by dwarves and hailed by humans, Beregrand became a figure of much 
831controversy.
832
833As complicated as his life was, the story of Beregrand's armor is even 
834more checkered. His armor has passed through many heroes hands over 
835the centuries. Despite the advantages it gave them, no hero using it ever 
836survived to old age. 
837
838Bianca
839
840Varric's crossbow is a marvel of dwarven craftsmanship, clearly the work 
841of a master. However, she bears no smith's mark. 
842
843When asked how he procured the weapon, Varric has a few claims. He 
844could have won it in a game of Wicked Grace against Paragon Branka, it 
845could've been a gift from a mysterious old beggar who disappeared into 
846thin air, and it's possible he bought it off a crooked merchant in Lowtown 
847with the previous owner's hand still wrapped around the trigger. 
848
849None of those explanations is very likely and continued questioning 
850simply results in Varric grinning and walking away. 
851
852The Black Fox’s Jerkin
853
854During the merriest part of the night in any tavern in the lands, odds are 
855good you'll hear one of the many tales of the Black Fox. A scoundrel and a 
856hero, the Black Fox's misadventures took him and his band throughout 
857Thedas. He's blamed for many thefts, a few murders, a revolution, and 
858almost a kingdom-wide civil war, but every one of his deeds were 
859designed to thwart tyranny and oppression.
860
861The final tale of the Black Fox tells of him and his band searching for the 
862sunken city of the elves deep in the forest of Arlathan, where he parted 
863with this jerkin in a less than voluntary manner.
864
865Blackfeather Boots
866
867We have found him at last, sire. This "Lalo" is not his true name at all--the
868culprit is not other than Count Eduardo Sanvelli, your own cousin. 
869Strange that such a small and slender man could be one of the Crow's 
870finest assassins. It cost twelve of my finest men before we were finally able
871to corner him in the abbey, and even then he almost escaped us. He would
872have slipped into the shadows had not one of my archers pinned him to 
873the wall with her arrow. It was a fine shot, and had she not left the man’s 
874other hand free to cut his own throat I'd pin a medal on her. 
875
876Sadly, I've no body to prove what I say. This morning I discovered that 
877someone left the door unlocked to the room where Lalo's body was kept. 
878His head has been removed from his body, and all his clothing and 
879equipment are gone as well. It's difficult to say whether this was the doing
880of the Crows or merely some of my men looking to make some coin by 
881pawning off a legend's goods. Perhaps both. I'll question the men who 
882reported the body, but I think there will be no recovering what was taken. 
883You must reconcile yourself with the fact the assassin is gone. You are safe 
884until another Crow steps in to take his place. Perhaps a few days at most, 
885yes? 
886
887--Excerpt from a letter written to Prince Enzio di Treviso, 6:32 Steel. Prince 
888Enzio was discovered poisoned two days later. 
889
890Blade of Mercy
891
892An enchanted replica of the blade Archon Hessarian used to slay Andraste
893as she burned--an act of mercy that he said the Maker commanded. 
894
895Of course, the Tevinter Imperium did not become part of the Chantry until
896well after its formation centuries later, so the first of these blades was 
897created in 2:2 Glory as a gift from Archon Therion to his general, Lord 
898Galineus, for battles fought at the height of the Second Blight. Since then 
899many archons gave similar gifts and it is seen as a badge of honor within 
900the Imperium--though more than one of these blades have ended up on 
901the black market, either stolen or sold by the recipients when their family 
902fell on hard times. 
903
904Ironically, one of the four swords found impaled in the body of 
905assassinated Queen Madrigal of Antiva in 5:99 Exalted (thus inspiring the 
906Age of Steel) was a Blade of Mercy. It was a great sacrilege to the Chantry. 
907
908Blood Dragon Armor
909
910Commissioned by an infamous Nevarran dragon hunter, this armor was 
911crafted in a time when dragons had almost been hunted to extinction. 
912Infused with the beasts' blood, the armor gained notoriety after the hunter
913died at the hands of men rather than the dragons it was designed to 
914protect him from. 
915
916Bloom
917
918Our hero strode the winding road,
919Defiant of the vile.
920Uncertain pause for home and cause,
921When met the monster's smile.
922
923A man his kin through blood and sin
924A bastard of the gloom.
925A rising cut through bone and gut,
926An awful skyward bloom. 
927
928--From "Song of Old Marches: The Death of Goodman Ser Austice at the Hand 
929of the Reaver Shius," inscriptions collected by Philliam, a Bard! 
930
931Boots of the Frozen Wastes
932
933Temperatures in the Frozen Wastes can become perilously cold. The 
934barbarians that live there favor boots like these to protect against frostbite.
935The barbarians, who are generally hospitable and friendly, often present 
936these as gifts to travelers.
937
938The Celebrant
939
940The Grand Tourney is the oldest, and perhaps only, tradition of the Free 
941Marches. On those rare, one-in-a-thousand days when a Contest of Arms 
942may be called, every Marcher unites in fellowship to witness the birth of a 
943new champion. 
944
945Contestants come from all over Thedas. Minrathous alone always sends 
946no fewer than two dozen entrants hoping to claim the honor for the 
947Imperium. Once, the champion was an Avvar mountain man. Twice in a 
948row, it was Talisa of Sundarin, a lady knight from the Anderfels--which 
949scandalized the crowd, created endless drama amongst the participants, 
950and therefore got her declared the "Most-Loved Champion in the History 
951of the Tourney."
952
953Each champion is presented a crown of sage leaves and a sword. The 
954leaves wither, of course, as a reminder that all victories are fleeting, but 
955the blade, Celebrant, endures and has passed from champion to champion
956since the first, inscribed with the names of each victor, a reminder that 
957legend is eternal. 
958
959--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
960Brother Genitivi 
961
962The Centurion's Cuirass 
963
964In the 435th year of the Tevinter Imperium, Archon Almadrius built a 
965summer palace for himself near the Eyes of Nocen. The palace was 
966considered one of the greatest wonders of the world, and many of 
967Almadrius's jealous rivals hatched plots to burn it to the ground. 
968
969To protect his palace, the archon stationed one hundred soldiers on 
970permanent guard. These centurions were sworn only to the service of the 
971archon himself, their oaths sealed with blood. 
972
973The reign of Almadrius ended in violence and his successor, Tidarion, 
974converted the palace into a garrison for his troops fighting the 
975insurrections all across the Imperium. Amidst the bedlam, the centurions 
976maintained their watch. They eventually fell in battle, but their oaths held 
977and the bodies rose again to take their posts. 
978
979When Tidarion's reign came to an end, the magisters fought amongst 
980themselves for twenty vicious years before they crowned a new archon, 
981and when Parthenius finally took the throne, he found that the palace and 
982its guardians had vanished. Not a single stone remained in the Nocen 
983countryside. 
984
985Some say the centurions, faithful to their oaths, carried the palace away 
986brick by brick and rebuilt it in a distant land where it would be safe, 
987waiting for an archon to lay claim to it. 
988
989--From Impossible Tales of the Imperium, by Hendrik of Cumberland 
990
991Cold-Blooded
992
993Adain of Starkhaven escaped from the Circle of the Magi in the winter of 
9948:76 Blessed, the coldest winter that the Free Marches had seen in decades.
995He decided that it was better to die a free man than remain a servant to 
996the Chantry and broke out of the Circle's stronghold, fleeing into an 
997unforgiving blizzard. The templars gave chase, but there was little they 
998could do in the harsh winds and bitter cold. 
999
1000They came after Adain again in the spring, tracking him to his hideout. 
1001But Adain was prepared, and he tore them to pieces with blood magic and
1002destroyed the phylactery they used to find him. With his phylactery gone, 
1003Adain was finally free. He married a young woman from the village of 
1004Hambleton, near Markham, and dedicated the rest of his life to the study 
1005of blood and primal magic. 
1006
1007When Adain passed on, he left his memoirs, his magical research, and his 
1008staff to his children, one of whom was also a mage. The staff bears one 
1009notch on its shaft for every templar Adain dispatched over the course of 
1010his life. 
1011
1012Cuirass of the Winds
1013
1014This piece of armor is something of a legend for the sea-faring folk of the 
1015East. 
1016
1017According to the tales, it was created by a Rivaini seer who lived high on 
1018the cliffs overlooking the Amaranthine Ocean. The woman took 
1019inspiration from the harsh winds and stinging rain that buffeted the 
1020coastline, and fashioned a cuirass that was as beautiful and cruel as the 
1021storm. As a finishing touch, the seer plucked the howling wind right out 
1022of the sky, and bound it within the armor. It is said that the winds of the 
1023Amaranthine Ocean will always favor any who possesses the cuirass. 
1024
1025This story may be true, or it may be a complete fabrication. However, one 
1026thing is certain--plenty of superstitious sailors have fought and died over 
1027
1028this legendary object, risking everything to be able to bend the wind and 
1029the sea to their will. 
1030
1031The Dogs of War
1032
1033And then Velcorminth swung his mighty hammer, and the blow tore the 
1034Alamarri bann's head clean off. He lay crumpled beneath the war leader 
1035and Velcorminth did shout, "You canine-lovers, you who think you can 
1036defeat me, stand before me and my dogs. They are the Dogs of War!" He 
1037planted his blood-soaked hammer in the earth and his enemies did quiver.
1038
1039But victory would not go to the Chasind that day, for Hafter approached 
1040and intoned, "I am Hafter, slayer of darkspawn, leader of the Alamarri. No
1041dog nor wolf alive frightens me."
1042
1043And so they traded blows for three days and three nights. Bruised, 
1044bloodied, and tired they grew. It was after one thousand blows that 
1045Hafter's blade, Yusaris, found Velcorminth's heart. Then Hafter spoke, "I 
1046banish the Chasind from these plains. I have taken the greatest of your 
1047men from you and claimed his weapon as my own. If ever you rise against
1048me or my sons, we will take more than that." And so, to this very day, the 
1049Chasind never venture far from their wilds, and the children of Hafter still
1050hold our lands free.
1051
1052--From Tales of the Alamarri, author unknown 
1053
1054Dura's Blue Flame
1055
1056This weathered silver amulet has passed through many hands over the 
1057years. A deep blue sapphire almost glows in a certain light. Although time
1058has faded its intricate carvings, the amulet has a certain majesty about it.
1059
1060The Edge of Night
1061
1062You've never seen a lad so taken with an axe! He carried one of the old 
1063sodding things with him wherever he went. Practicing day and night, he 
1064drove his mother to distraction, he did. Even when he was fully raised 
1065
1066into the Warrior Caste, he refused proper weapons. Said he had the feel of 
1067an axe, and that's all he needed. Over the years, he spent a small fortune 
1068having smiths layer enchantments on 'em. Oh, how others would sneer at 
1069those ancient things. Well, they did until Beregrand lopped off King 
1070Jegrek's head on the sands. Sad business, that, and Gundaar was the 
1071poorer for it. And I'm not just talking about the king.
1072
1073From The Memories of Gundaar, a collection of stories preserved by the 
1074Shaperate of the lost dwarven kingdom 
1075
1076The Empress’s Point
1077
1078As one of the early rulers of contemporary Orlais, Empress Jeaneve the 
1079First created many of the traditions and practices of the imperial court. 
1080She employed the bravest and most skilled swordsmen to her guard, the 
1081Empress's Arm, one of the main predecessor's of the chevaliers. Her 
1082guards were given a princely gift, an enchanted Tevinter blade. These 
1083blades were named for the Empress's dark side. When rivals overstepped 
1084their bounds, Jeaneve was always quick to make them see her point.
1085
1086Enasalin
1087
1088Little knowledge remains of the great war the Tevinter Imperium waged 
1089upon the elves of Arlathan. Many human scholars believe that Arlathan 
1090was the only elven settlement of note, and that if elves existed elsewhere 
1091on the continent their forces were at best negligible. My conversations 
1092with the Dalish, however, indicate that there was a time when the elves 
1093had many cities, and it's possible that the elven civilization declined long 
1094before the Imperium entered the height of its power. 
1095
1096An example of such a place is Sundermount in the Vimmark Mountains 
1097near Kirkwall. According to Dalish legend, this was a burial site for elders 
1098and the location of a great battle between Imperial and elven forces--
1099nowhere near Arlathan (if one believes the city was near the forest of the 
1100same name in northeastern Thedas). 
1101
1102The arcane warriors that remained at the mountain to defend their 
1103
1104slumbering elders were known as the Enasalin'abelas, or "sorrowful 
1105victory". These elves knew they were going to die, but were bound by 
1106duty to protect their charges. The enchanted armor that belonged to these 
1107warriors was looted by the Imperial victors, so pieces that resurface today 
1108are considered relics of great importance. 
1109
1110--From An Investigation into Arlathan, by Alstead the Sage, 9:18 Dragon 
1111
1112Enchanter Illana
1113
1114One hundred and fifty years ago, the girl who would rise to become First 
1115Enchanter Illana of Montsimmard was born to a noble family of Val 
1116Royeaux. When Illana's gift was discovered and she was sent to Circle of 
1117Magi, her family did not abandon her; rather, they took an enthusiastic 
1118interest in her career as a mage. 
1119
1120Her mother made several feeble attempts to start fashions at court with 
1121her "Circle-inspired" gowns. Illana's father was more successful, directing 
1122his daughter's fortunes through support of coin and political influence. 
1123Throughout Illana's apprenticeship at the Circle of Montsimmard, he 
1124secured private quarters for her as well as a personal guard of templars 
1125hand-picked by the knight-commander. So long as she was accompanied 
1126by her guards, Illana was allowed to leave the Circle as often as she 
1127wished. 
1128
1129With her father's backing, Illana rose swiftly through the Circle's ranks, 
1130named senior enchanter just after her twenty-second birthday. Eight years 
1131later, she was appointed first enchanter. Her family commissioned a fine 
1132set of a first enchanter's ceremonial raiments, designed in accordance with
1133the prevailing styles of the time and presented them to her on the day she 
1134was raised. 
1135
1136Illana was first enchanter for just shy of two years, during which time the 
1137Circle was mostly run by her assistant, Hugh, and a small group of senior 
1138enchanters. She cited mental exhaustion when she stepped down and 
1139lived the rest of her days in a quiet manor outside Val Royeaux. 
1140
1141--From Mages in Orlais, by Senior Enchanter Percivale 
1142
1143Evra's Might
1144
1145When Evra gained notoriety by defeating the Blood Sisters of Vehnstel, he 
1146was wearing his signature ring. Although the massive size of the solid 
1147gold ring attracts attention, it served a more practical purpose for Evra: he 
1148used it to punch demons in the face, sometimes felling them in a single 
1149blow.
1150
1151Evra's Trophy Belt
1152
1153This grisly belt is filled with monstrous teeth, chipped blades, scraps of 
1154fur, and armor fragments. Each piece is said to be a trophy collected by 
1155Evra during his many adventures.
1156
1157Fadeshear
1158
1159The core of this blade is old. As odl as the first smiths who sought a way to
1160battle the nightmares from the land beyond. It has fought against the 
1161demonic hosts in countless battles. Sometimes it has been held high in 
1162triumphant victory. Other times, it has lain broken beside its dying owner. 
1163But after every defeat it has always been reclaimed, reforged, and made 
1164stronger. Fadeshear has passed through many hands before yours. Now it 
1165is your turn to make the demons of the Fade pay for crossing the Veil into 
1166the waking world.
1167
1168The Far Cliffs of Kirkwall
1169
1170Written by a Fereldan refugee as she fled the Blight, this book of poems 
1171describes her dreams of a new start in Kirkwall, the city across the sea. 
1172Readers will surely be enriched by her insights.
1173
1174Finesse
1175
1176Some might find it strange that the greatest assassin in the history of the 
1177Antivan Crows was both a woman and a commoner--a whore, if the 
1178legend is to be believed. I conferred with several Crows myself (all of 
1179whom spoke only with monetary incentive as well as assurances of 
1180anonymity) and they say it is true. 
1181
1182The assassin known to legend as "Finesse" was Callisto di Bastion, a 
1183wealthy courtesan who was welcome in many noble homes as well as 
1184their bedrooms. She was gifted with a silver tongue, and according to my 
1185contacts, may have received training among the Orlesian bards in addition
1186to her time with the Crows. Perhaps this is where her success can be 
1187credited? Finesse achieved fame and adoration among the common folk 
1188with the fatal stabbing of King Guiomar the Younger in 4:22 Black. 
1189
1190This adoration is not necessarily shared by the Crows, however. That she 
1191was captured, hanged and had her fabled dagger auctioned off to the 
1192highest bidder speaks poorly of her skills. Still, in centuries since, the 
1193Crows have embraced her legend as their own. Convenient, as it only 
1194adds to their dangerous reputation. 
1195
1196--From A Shadow Unfolds, by Brother Ansel of Hossberg, 7:10 Storm 
1197
1198Fiona
1199
1200Duncan became Ferelden's Commander of the Grey in 9:10 Dragon, 
1201assuming the mantle from Commander Polara, under whom he had 
1202served since the order's restoration in Ferelden.
1203
1204Polara, who hailed from Antiva, had built an amiable relationship with 
1205King Cailan. She overcame many of the objections of Teyrn Loghain, who 
1206had argued strenuously against the order returning--after all, the 
1207Wardens had attempted to overthrow the Ferelden throne centuries 
1208before.
1209
1210When Polara disappeared--perhaps recalled to Weisshaupt, although 
1211
1212none in Ferelden saw her leave, nor have seen her since--Duncan 
1213bequeathed to her son a silverite axe of great value. Duncan said he had 
1214wielded it and a twin in younger days, back when he had been a far 
1215different man. He'd named the axe "Fiona" after a Warden who inspired 
1216him, and suggested that the son ought to take similar inspiration from his 
1217mother. 
1218It's unknown what became of Polara's son, other than that he fled Ferelden
1219during the same Blight in which Duncan perished. 
1220
1221Freedom's Promise
1222
1223As Calenhad grew into a man, one great contentious issue separated him 
1224from Aldenon: Calenhad's faith. As biddable as Calenhad was on some 
1225topics, never would he back down from matters of honor or Andraste. 
1226What Aldenon believed, only Aldenon knew, but he most certainly did not
1227believe in the Maker. The friends' arguments grew only hotter as they 
1228years passed. 
1229
1230But that aside, the union of Calenhad's peerless honor and Aldenon's 
1231ingenuity overcame every obstacle set before them. Rivals turned into 
1232friends, treacheries were uncovered, and impossible battles won. But as 
1233we turned to Teyrn Simeon, no one rested easy. Teyrn Simeon's host 
1234outnumbered us many times over. He controlled the holy city of Denerim. 
1235Many great and terrible warriors had sworn him fealty.
1236
1237Aldenon conceived a plan to enlist strong allies and Calenhad went into 
1238the Brecilian Forest to make it so. But unbeknownst to the mage, Calenhad
1239had made contact with the Chantry. When Calenhad returned at the head 
1240of the Ash Warriors as Aldenon expected, so as well did templars and 
1241Circle mages join our host. Aldenon was in a fury such as I've never seen. 
1242He wanted a kingdom of free men, of moral people beholden to law. 
1243Where a common man could tend his land safely and in peace. He lifted 
1244his staff and his voice echoed through the hills: "A civilization cannot be 
1245civil if it condones the slavery of another. And that is what this Circle is! 
1246But by accident of birth, those mages would be free to live, love, and die as
1247they choose. The Circles will break--if it be one year, a decade, a century, 
1248or beyond. Tyrants always fall, and the downtrodden always strive for 
1249freedom!"
1250
1251Then Aldenon left. And although Lady Shayna slew Simeon that day and 
1252Calenhad ruled a united kingdom, my liege was not the same without his 
1253mentor and friend. We live in the kingdom built on the dreams of two 
1254great friends, and we are all lessened by Aldenon's departure. 
1255
1256--From The Recollections of Ser Devith, banner knight of King Calenhad  
1257
1258The Fugitive's Mantle 
1259
1260Malcolm Hawke ranged the breadth of the Free Marches as he ran from 
1261the templars who pursued him. He often posed as a mercenary, and his 
1262substantial martial skills easily secured him positions in different bands. 
1263On one assignment for the Crimson Oars he was sent to Kirkwall, the seat 
1264of templar power in the region. He had every intention of staying there 
1265briefly, but fate had other plans. 
1266
1267Garahel's Helm
1268
1269I watched from across the battlefield as Garahel struck the final blow 
1270against the Archdemon and a great wave of energy surged out from the 
1271beast. 
1272
1273It was enough to level what buildings were not already destroyed by the 
1274endless battle we had fought, enough to knock horses and ogres aside as if
1275they were little more than parchment. Even at my distance, the force 
1276struck me like the blast of some great storm. The darkspawn around us 
1277felt it too, as savage desperation turned to sheer terror. 
1278
1279A great pillar of energy rushed up into the dark clouds, the blackness that 
1280had gathered with the horde and blocked out all glimmer of hope. When 
1281we stood again, we saw the first rays of sunshine peeking through those 
1282clouds and we let out such a cheer of joy and relief that it shook the very 
1283earth. I joined the others as we searched for Garahel, but as the eve 
1284approached all I found was his enchanted helm. It was not until much 
1285later that I heard his body had been retrieved, flung to the far side of the 
1286battlefield by the Archdemon's death throes. My friend, this elf who 
1287
1288helped us unite the lands and cleanse Thedas of the darkspawn scourge 
1289will always be remembered. I swear it. 
1290
1291--Excerpt from a letter written by the Grey Warden Prosper, 5:24 Exalted 
1292
1293The Gem of Keroshek
1294
1295Go to any hive of drinkers and gamblers in the Marches and you will 
1296undoubtedly hear the legend of the Gem of Keroshek. Ask three different 
1297men about it and you will get three different stories. One will say that an 
1298alchemist found it in the ashes of Andraste's pyre and then steeped it in 
1299wine for forty days and nights. Another will swear that it was a bezoar cut
1300from the belly of a boar that was found inside a griffon that was 
1301swallowed by a high dragon. The last will tell you that it's the petrified 
1302heart of Trajan the Quick, a merchant prince of Orzammar who almost 
1303became a Paragon. 
1304
1305One thing all will agree on, however, is that it brings luck. Keep the Gem 
1306of Keroshek in your pocket and you will never lose a bet. Sleep with it 
1307under your pillow and it will bring wealth and prosperity into your life. 
1308
1309And where is the gem now? That is the sovereign-plated question. I'm told
1310it's in the mausoleum of a prince of Starkhaven, and that this is the reason 
1311for the city's wealth. 
1312
1313--Excerpt from Tales and Legends of the Free Marches, by Lord Rodney 
1314Pierce 
1315
1316Girdle of the Elders
1317
1318The elf seemed pretty upset when we started pawing at his stuff, 
1319especially the belt. Turns out it's some kind of heirloom. The knife-ear 
1320claimed that it came from Arlathan, that it had been in his family for 
1321generations. 
1322
1323Well, things change. 
1324
1325We dumped the body by the mine for the clan to find. I took a closer look 
1326at the belt and it was clear that the leather was new, but there was 
1327something odd about the buckle. So I brought it to this fellow in Val 
1328Royeaux who deals in antiques, and he tells me it's old--could even be 
1329from the time of the ancient elves. Suppose the runt was telling the truth. 
1330
1331Anyway, hope this is adequate payment for the job. You could sell it or 
1332melt the buckle down. I believe it's real silverite. 
1333
1334--Excerpt from a letter found in a gambling den in Jader 
1335
1336Glandivalis
1337
1338It is heresy today to speak of Shartan, an elven slave that rose up against 
1339his Tevinter masters to help Andraste's barbarian invasion. 
1340
1341It seems most people would prefer to believe that Andraste crossed the 
1342Waking Sea with little more than a basket of flowers and songs of peace 
1343and harmony. The truth is that she came with a horde of warriors at her 
1344back, and that without a rebellion occurring behind the enemy lines it's 
1345very possible that the holy invasion could have been foiled. 
1346
1347Shartan was a slave who became a fabled warrior and later a devotee of 
1348Andraste herself, and we know this because the Canticle of Shartan spoke 
1349of their meeting on the Valarian Fields. Andraste gave him a mystic blade 
1350that he called Glandivalis (translation unknown) and he even fought at 
1351Maferath's side. But now the Canticle is one of the Dissonant Verses, and 
1352has been ever since the Exalted March of the Dales.
1353 
1354It seems we don't wish to speak of elven heroes or the role they played in 
1355Andraste's war any more than we wish to speak of barbarians or the 
1356bloody death toll that accompanied the war. With each passing age, heroes
1357like Shartan become more of a fable, but some of us will always know the 
1358truth. 
1359
1360--From The Dissonant Verses by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar, 9:25 Dragon 
1361
1362The Golden Prince's Raiment
1363
1364Tales of Emile Deveraux flourish amongst the Orlesian peasants. The 
1365dashing "Golden Prince" was a populist who raised a huge army from his 
1366common subjects by promising reform for the aging empire. Although he 
1367never won his imperial coronet, Lord Emile captured the hearts and 
1368minds of generations of Orlesian dreamers while wearing this golden 
1369armor.  It is said that, as a young girl, even Empress Celene was captivated
1370by his stories.
1371
1372Hands of the Carta
1373
1374The dusters have a saying: "Blood or coin, the Carta always gets its cut." 
1375When Beraht was running Dust Town, he took the saying literally. He 
1376commissioned a pair of wicked blades made by Smith House Dural. 
1377Beraht gave one to his right hand, Jarvia, and the other to his second, 
1378Karshol, so that whatever hand of the Carta you got, it'd be holding a big 
1379sodding knife. Beraht wasn't exactly a poet. 
1380
1381Jarvia was killed in Dust Town during the messy succession, and Karshol 
1382turned all of Orzammar upside-down looking for her blade. Some duster 
1383struck gold finding that blade and must have been clever enough to sell it 
1384right away. Stone only knows what Karshol will do to the luckless clod 
1385who has it when he finds it. 
1386
1387--From the account of Kalah, a casteless of Orzammar 
1388
1389Hauberk of Gelgenig the Faithful
1390
1391Not all of the Alamarri tribes flocked to Andraste. Especially on the 
1392borders of the Korcari Wilds, her words found scant purchase. Decades 
1393after her death, many Alamarri held true to gods of their ancestors. 
1394Missionaries braved these hard lands only to become martyrs of the faith.
1395
1396And so it was until the Alamarri were embroiled in a bitter war for 
1397survival against the Chasinds and Avvars when the leader of the Ash 
1398
1399Warriors, Gelgenig, received a vision of Andraste. The charismatic 
1400barbarian traveled throughout Ferelden, telling his tale and unifying the 
1401fractious banns around the word of the Maker. The Ash Warriors ever 
1402since have been fervent in their faith to the Maker.
1403
1404To the Ash Warriors, Gelgenig's armor is a religious relic, but it was lost in 
1405the Nevarran Campaign of 8:69 Blessed. 
1406
1407Hayder's Razor
1408
1409In Kirkwall's seedier quarters, fortunes have been built on the slave trade. 
1410This ancient dwarven blade undoubtedly commanded a high price, but 
1411Hayder could clearly afford it. Who says crime doesn't pay?
1412
1413Helm of Weisshaupt 
1414
1415The labyrinth has claimed Warden-Commander Astor. Ulrich tampered 
1416with one of the magical seals in this place and unwittingly released a 
1417demon upon us. Commander Astor ordered us to run--he would hold the
1418creature back while we activated the prison's defenses, trapping them 
1419both. The barriers came up, and they will stay up. This was Commander 
1420Astor's last instruction and we will follow it to the letter. 
1421
1422We are unable to retrieve the Warden-Commander's prized helm and the 
1423other trappings of his office. They will not be returned to Weisshaupt and 
1424will remain with the Commander, wherever he may be. 
1425
1426--From a torn Grey Warden report, the writing barely legible 
1427
1428Hindsight
1429
1430There are more famous swords than you could count, there are helms 
1431beyond numbering, and there are breastplates, daggers, and even mystical
1432footwear that roll immediately off the tongue. There are storied rings, 
1433gloves, and even bags invoked around a camp's common fire. But belts? 
1434There are very few noteworthy belts. It was here that the dwarf Thaulid 
1435
1436Hammerspur decided he would make his mark. Here, he thought, 
1437between the tunic and the trousers, I will stake my claim.
1438
1439He was familiar with the state of the art, of course; as an artificer making a
1440name for himself in Orzammar, he had access to the typically robust 
1441record-keeping of the forges. He knew of the Drunkard's Cinch and the 
1442Pouchpaw, but there was no poetry to them, no lineage. They were parlor 
1443tricks, the domain of hawkers and pawns. He wanted a belt whose buckle 
1444gleamed with purpose, but what purpose? He worked on it from time to 
1445time, waiting for inspiration to strike. In the meantime, he needed 
1446something to keep his pants above the knee and though he might as well 
1447wear the damned thing.
1448
1449And he did so until, after an especially memorable night at Tapster's 
1450Tavern, he managed to fall into his own forge. Shoveling out his remains, 
1451they found among the grey ashes his belt, somehow mercifully preserved.
1452
1453Hindsight is a belt possessed of a strange, slow intellect. Whatever would 
1454have killed the wearer, does, and at that very moment, the belt develops a 
1455resistance that would have saved it owner. No one knows how Thaulid 
1456managed this, and at this point, it would be difficult to ask him. When the 
1457belt is held in the light, just so, the leather, reveals a grisly catalogue 
1458etched in glinting lyrium: 
1459
1460Thaulid Hammerspur, fire.
1461Gorgut the Wizened, poison.
1462Vil Arak, stabbed forty-three times.
1463Haliath Baronet, witches. 
1464
1465It went on like this for many years, until it fell into your possession. Your 
1466temporary, temporary possession
1467
1468Hood’s Message to the King
1469
1470He wields a rebel's bow, strung tight against heartwood strained too far. 
1471It's a tension that can't last, but it doesn't have to, for the cause must be 
1472won or lost while passions still burn. It's a powerful template for 
1473revolution repeated many times across the Free Marches, but was it born 
1474
1475on a battlefield or in rhetoric?
1476
1477The "Message to the King" is where the stories usually diverge. Sometimes
1478it's a plea for liberty taken to a tyrant's heart by the point of an arrow. 
1479More often, it's carried in the clatter of sacrifice as weapons fall to a 
1480courtyard's cobbles. It depends on the audience--the young like their 
1481victories sudden and violent, while the old prefer something more 
1482cautionary. 
1483
1484It may be that Hood is not so much a person as a tactic, ushered to far 
1485horizons or the grave's embrace in order to protect conspirators. After all, 
1486how many deaths can he claim when one is the typical limit for a common
1487man? But the tales return, time and again, across leagues and centuries. At
1488a certain point, one hopes the name is symbolic, because allying with such
1489a power would bring its own problems and debts.
1490
1491--From Rebels of the Marches: Allegory in Rebellion, forward by Philliam, a 
1492Bard! 
1493
1494The Irons
1495
1496Fashioned from the black steel of Kirkwall's infamous iron foundries, 
1497miner's safety harnesses such as ths one have protected their hearty 
1498wearers since the days when the Tevinter Imperium last claimed the City 
1499of Chains.
1500
1501Ivo Family Crest
1502
1503Evolving over the years, the crest of House Ivo has become much more 
1504ornate than Paragon Ivo's original design. This ancient golden amulet 
1505bears the original crest. Though the engravings are simple, the stark lines 
1506are somehow deeply stirring.
1507
1508Jarvia’s Shank
1509
1510When the Carta crime boss Beraht fell, his lover Jarvia fought off rivals, 
1511planting this shank in each of their hearts before she emerged as the 
1512group's undisputed leader. For years, Jarvia used a mix of brutality, 
1513cunning, and blackmail to grow the Carta's power until it threatened the 
1514Diamond Quarter itself.
1515
1516When King Endrin Aeducan died, some whispered that Jarvia planned to 
1517force the Assembly to recognize the rights of dusters in Orzammar. Others
1518said she planned to overthrow the nobles entirely. The truth will never be 
1519known, though. She was killed in cold blood by the Hero of Ferelden. 
1520
1521Karasten's Belt
1522
1523The antaam infantry field commanders wear these belts. They may 
1524indicate rank, division within the army, or they may simply hold an 
1525officer's pants up. As with most everything else, the Qunari refuse to 
1526explain the significance of the items.
1527
1528The Key
1529
1530The key is, and always will be, part of the cage that holds Corypheus. The 
1531prison's power is tied to that of the key; as the power of one waxes, the 
1532other wanes. 
1533
1534The key's origins are lost to time. All we know is that it is an ancient, 
1535powerful weapon. The Wardens of old uncovered a few of its secrets--just
1536enough to draw upon its magic to create the seals that hold Corypheus. 
1537
1538Accounts indicate that the key attunes itself to whichever man or woman 
1539wields it in the rituals that reinforce Corypheus's chains. It is the nature of 
1540the magic, something in the blood. The key is currently attuned to one 
1541Malcolm Hawke, the last mage to hold it. 
1542
1543The key is an essential part of strengthening the seals, and also the only 
1544thing that can break Corypheus free. 
1545
1546--From Janeka's research notes 
1547
1548King Maric’s Helm
1549
1550King Maric Theirin, widely regarded as a hero by the Fereldan people for 
1551liberating the country from Orlesian rule, disappeared at sea while en 
1552route to Wycome in 9:25 Dragon. He was to attend a gathering of the 
1553Marcher lords in an attempt to forge a union in the north, and when he 
1554failed to appear, the Free Marches fell back into the petty squabbling that 
1555they are infamous for.
1556
1557Teyrn Loghain spent almost two years searching for his lost friend, 
1558consuming much of the royal treasury and the majority of the Fereldan 
1559navy. The search was futile, and when Loghain claimed that Orlais had 
1560purposefully sunk King Maric's vessel in order to prevent Marcher unity, 
1561he was called off by his daughter, Queen Anora, and a united Bannorn. It 
1562was time to mourn the king, they said, and so, in 9:27, a massive state 
1563funeral was held in Denerim's chantry.
1564
1565To this day, rumors insist that Maric is still alive, perhaps held in an 
1566Orlesian prison somewhere. The lasting mystique has increased the value 
1567of his personal possessions, leading to the theft of several artifacts from 
1568the royal palace. Among these was the helmet said to have been worn by a
1569young Maric at the disastrous Battle of West Hill. 
1570
1571The Last Descent
1572
1573The Legion of the Dead are comprised of dwarves who are looking to 
1574regain their honor. These discredited dwarves must venture into the Deep 
1575Roads to battle an endless tide of darkspawn. The Legion guarantees 
1576redemption for its members, but so too their deaths. 
1577
1578There are records indicating that one human joined the Legion. Sir 
1579Aurelian Pentaghast, the defeated contender for the Nevarran throne, 
1580retreated into dwarven lands in 8:60 Blessed. Sir Aurelian was a pious 
1581man who was ousted after clashing with his people. He believed the 
1582
1583Maker demanded that he return his homeland to Chantry rule. 
1584
1585With little recourse but to live out his days as a dishonored exile, he joined
1586the Legion of the Dead and went into the Deep Roads a dwarven hero. He 
1587was never seen again, but pieces of his enchanted armor have turned up 
1588on the surface in the ensuing decades. Some say the armor was scavenged 
1589off his body, others that he sold the pieces after secretly returning to the 
1590surface. The truth, as always, is known only to the Legion, whose motto 
1591has always been, "our secrets die with us." 
1592
1593--From Legacy of Orzammar, by Alstead the Sage, 9:05 Dragon 
1594
1595The Lion of Orlais
1596
1597At the height of the Summer War all of Orlais was embroiled in fierce 
1598battles. Over the course of the war dozens of contenders for the Imperial 
1599Throne emerged – most long forgotten except as footnotes in scholarly 
1600tomes. But everyone remembers the gallant young lord Emile Deveraux, 
1601"the Golden Prince." Thought outnumbered at every turn, he racked 
1602victory upon victory culminating in the Seventh Battle of Roses. While 
1603wearing this shield he broke through his uncle's vanguard to win the day. 
1604He never knew the taste of defeat, instead meeting his end at the hands of 
1605a jealous lover in the dead of night. 
1606
1607The Lion’s Claws
1608
1609Foiled at every turn by the infamous outlaw Lady Rosamund, the ever-
1610persistent Teyrn Loghain fielded an army to chase the bandit through the 
1611Korcari Wilds. Eventually, she was captured near Barshamp. Bound, 
1612gagged, and in chains, she still managed to escaped on the first night 
1613using thieves tools concealed in these gloves. To this day there is an 
1614unclaimed bounty on her head of one thousand sovereigns. 
1615
1616The Long Trek
1617
1618Malcolm would never tell his wife or young children where he was from; 
1619it was a bloody tale that forever gave him nightmares. When their love 
1620was still fresh, Leandra once pressed him on the subject. All he would say 
1621is, "Freedom's price is never cheap, but that was hundred leagues and a 
1622lifetime ago." His haunted gaze lingered on his favorite boots, and he 
1623would say no more. 
1624
1625Longbow of the Avvars
1626
1627We investigated the area as per your instruction. It seems the Warden 
1628Fiona is correct: It was once a dwarven fortress that one of our scouts 
1629called Kul-Baras. Regardless, it has  fallen to ruin and the taint now.
1630
1631Despite Fiona's description, there were no darkspawn to be found. If they 
1632were ever present, they have since moved on... which, if you ask me, 
1633seems highly unlikely. Her tales of this “darkspawn who speaks” must be 
1634a product of a fevered imagination.
1635
1636There are no signs of a library in the fortress, nor any indication that the 
1637Grey Wardens or King Maric were there at all. One of my men did, 
1638however, find something in a section of the Deep Roads not far away: a 
1639longbow of Avvar origin, amid darkspawn corpses (the age being hard to 
1640judge, considering how the creatures deteriorate).
1641
1642I suspect the bow belonged to Kell ap Morgan, the Wardne who sacrificed 
1643himself to facilitate Fiona's escape. If so, he put up an impressive fight. We
1644found no evidence of his body, sadly. I shall send the bow to you in 
1645Weisshaupt.
1646
1647--From a letter found on the body of a courier killed by bandits in the Anderfels 
1648in 9:20 Dragon
1649
1650Longbow of the Jackal
1651
1652There once was a bard from Montsimmard, whose tongue was made of 
1653purest silver. His name was Corsa the Jackal, and he was famous for 
1654enchanting emperors and empresses by knowing exactly what to say to 
1655please them. This often got Corsa into trouble! 
1656
1657One day, Corsa was traveling to Val Royeaux where he was to press his 
1658silver-tongued words into Empress Necessiteuse's ear. As he walked and 
1659rehearsed, a mighty storm blew in. Rain washed away the path, and Corsa
1660became hopelessly lost. Chill set into his bones, so he took shelter in a 
1661cave. 
1662
1663But the cave was home to a big brown bear! Corsa drew his longbow, but 
1664the bear seized it. "I was just about to go out for dinner," said the bear. 
1665"Nice of you to drop by!" He looked at Corsa and began to drool. "You 
1666shouldn't do that," replied Corsa. "I am old and stringy and not at all good
1667to eat. Let me share your cave, and in the morning, I will gather honey and
1668berries. You shall have a feast fit for kings!" 
1669
1670"Agreed," said the Bear, "but go no further into the cave. You won't like 
1671what you'll find there." 
1672
1673Corsa warmed himself by nestling into to the bear's thick fur. The bear fell 
1674asleep, but Corsa was kept awake by what lay further in the darkness. 
1675Finally, he could no longer endure the mystery. 
1676
1677At the back of the cave, Corsa found a huge room. And in the middle of 
1678that room? An enormous dragon! "Mmm," said the dragon. "Food!" 
1679
1680Wait, wait!" cried Corsa. "I am old and stringy and not at all good to eat. 
1681Let me leave, and I will bring you the bear." 
1682
1683"I think not," said the dragon. "That bear promised me breakfast!" And 
1684that was the end of the Jackal. 
1685
1686--"The Tale of Corsa" from Bedtime Stories for Good Children, by Sister 
1687Marigold 
1688
1689Lothering's Lament
1690
1691Written by a Fereldan refugee as she fled the Blight, this book of poems 
1692contains touching reminiscences of all she had to leave behind. Readers 
1693will surely benefit from her experience.
1694
1695Malcolm's Bequest
1696
1697In Kirkwall, Malcolm met Leandra and, despite all common sense, courted
1698her. The few times Leandra managed to slip away from her family, 
1699Malcolm showed her a whole new world, something completely different 
1700from her cloistered existence. It was dangerous, forbidden, and she 
1701quickly fell madly in love with the dashing Malcolm Hawke. These stolen 
1702moments would end all too soon. 
1703
1704One day, while fighting the Carta on the docks, Malcolm used magic to 
1705save the life of the Crimson Oars' leader. The Kirkwall templars were 
1706alerted, but Malcolm wouldn't flee the city without seeing his love one last
1707time. He devised to meet her at the masked ball for the visiting Orlesian 
1708Empress. 
1709
1710Disguised in Orlesian robes, Malcolm slipped past the templars to dance 
1711with his love. At the end of the night, Leandra would not hear his 
1712goodbyes and chanced at happiness rather than face her gray prearranged
1713future. Malcolm and Leandra ran into the night and never looked back. 
1714
1715Malcolm's Honor
1716
1717Malcolm and Leandra fled across the Waking Sea, to a new life away from 
1718the cold shadow of the Gallows. It took some doing, but the vastness of 
1719Ferelden allowed them to fall beneath the notice of their templar pursuers.
1720They settled in the small village of Lothering, where Malcolm made every 
1721effort to ensure that his children didn't fear magic, and were well 
1722insulated against those who did. 
1723
1724Malcolm had picked up a trick or two, here and there, and this deceptively
1725simple staff shows the breadth of his knowledge. More an ongoing project
1726
1727than a specialist's tool, it is the handiwork of someone comfortable with 
1728the life he must live, for as long as he was granted the opportunity to live 
1729it. 
1730
1731Mantle of the Champion
1732
1733Champion: an honor unique to the Free Marches. Other terms of reverence
1734suffer the stains of their holders, the lingering baggage of office and 
1735entitlement. But champion is not an appointment that can be sought. It 
1736cannot be owned or willed, and the process by which it is bestowed is not 
1737argued through policy or guile. It is earned with blood and sweat and 
1738leadership in times of great turmoil. Always worthy, as their deeds are of 
1739true importance, a champion is greeted not by debate, but by nods of 
1740reverence. 
1741
1742The title was most recently granted in Tantervale, 8:82 Blessed, on the 
1743resolution of the bloody expansion of Nevarra. Their king, emboldened by
1744the taking of Perendale and the quick yielding of Hasmal, thought the 
1745remainder of the Free Marches as easy claim. He who became the 
1746Champion. Cade Arvale of Rivain, did what Orlais had not: He stopped a 
1747nation in its tracks. There was blood and barter, but Tantervale is still free 
1748against all odds. 
1749
1750There is the contradiction of the honor. Champion is not itself a sign of 
1751approval. He or she can be respected or feared, their coming dreaded as 
1752much as desired. All that is common is that they have an effect and lives 
1753are changed. 
1754
1755Kirkwall now adds to the history of the title, a first for the city, on this 9:34
1756Dragon. The Qunari are repelled by the means respected or reviled, and it 
1757remains to be seen what follows for this Hawke, the Champion of 
1758Kirkwall. 
1759
1760--From The Champion: History, Ancient and Current, excerpted by Philliam,
1761a Bard! 
1762
1763The Messenger
1764
1765A good messenger of swift foot and sound mind is rare. Maker knows, I 
1766couldn't rely on mine to convey a simple "dinner is served" to my 
1767daughter, and her quarters are but two doors down. 
1768
1769But here you have Gilbert de Marais, whose capable hands delivered not 
1770only notes to family, but also secret documents to the emperor. He 
1771rendered unto you fifteen years of faithful service, no? And not once did 
1772he fail. They say you treasured him far above rubies. An exaggeration, 
1773surely, for if that were so, you would have entrusted him with baubles 
1774meant for mistresses, not crucial messages in the lands of a sworn enemy. 
1775
1776Gilbert insisted he knew nothing of your plans to divest me of my fortune 
1777and have me removed from court. I believed him, and so he is on his way 
1778back to you with one last message. 
1779
1780Oh, another thing: thank you kindly for the handsome suit Gilbert was 
1781wearing when I found him. Alas, he has no further use for it. 
1782
1783--Letter, written on vellum and sewn onto the skin of messenger Gilbert de 
1784Marais, who was found naked and nailed to a tree on the border of his master's 
1785lands 
1786
1787The Mountain-Father's Haft
1788
1789The Frostbacks run red with barbarian blood. We've found their sacred 
1790caves and claimed their most holy relics. When the soldiers came out of 
1791the mountain cave and brandished this weapon, the Avvars rose up in a 
1792mighty furor. We had to put down every man, woman, and child--it was 
1793as if they'd gone rabid. Before they perished, their witch woman 
1794pronounced a curse so vile and treasonous, three soldiers had to be 
1795whipped to re-establish discipline. Our guide says this axe is a sacred 
1796weapon, a weapon of the gods.
1797
1798We plan to march further into the mountains to defeat the last of the 
1799tribes. Surely there cannot be more than a thousand left. I have every 
1800confidence that by next spring these barbarians will plague us no more. 
1801
1802Then, we can turn our attention fully to the Chasind and Alamarri.
1803
1804Although this axe may look crude, I assure you that it is of enormous 
1805importance to these backward people. Consider it the first spoils of many.
1806
1807--Last letter to Magister Talerio from the first Tevinter expedition against the 
1808Avvars, 483 TE 
1809
1810Of Things Not Lost
1811
1812Written by a Fereldan refugee as she fled the Blight, this book of poems 
1813describes her struggle to preserve her past and cling to the few physical 
1814mementos she'd brought with her into foreign lands. Readers will surely 
1815find this book enchanting.
1816
1817Orlesian Lancer
1818
1819With her in all circumstances,
1820Celene's guard and their stony-eyed glances,
1821Hand-picked by the dame,
1822For strength, boldness, and name,
1823And also the size of their lances. 
1824
1825--A ditty circulated at court in Val Royeaux, referring to Empress Celene's 
1826stringent criteria in choosing her "personal" guard 
1827
1828Puzzle Ring of the Fox 
1829
1830In Orlais, they say there are ten of these rings, one for each finger, and that
1831the Black Fox was never without a single one. Some claim each 
1832represented a conquest; others: that they were reminders of secrets the he 
1833kept; still others: that they carried an inscription that, if all the rings were 
1834assembled as one, told the location of the Black Fox's stronghold. 
1835
1836Many nobles in Val Royeaux have claimed to own one or more of the 
1837rings, but nobody has ever found them all. Their secret, if there is one, is 
1838
1839safe to this day. 
1840
1841--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
1842Brother Genitivi
1843
1844The Rascal's Scale, by Coinheart 
1845
1846Strangest suit I ever made? The scale for that fool Rascal, no second 
1847thought needed. A project I wanted to try for years, obvious given my 
1848name, right? But I could never find a fool to wear his wealth as protection. 
1849This one, though, was daft as any surfacer and was paying two coins for 
1850each that I hammered, and that buys a smile and nod for any idiot. I guess
1851he's something of a name in his own lands, this Rascal, so I can't really 
1852question, and I did him my best, like always. Damned lyrium weave left 
1853my fingers numb, though. No sword will get through that, I guarantee, 
1854but I'll bet his children are born pale.
1855 
1856From Tales of the Craft: Masters in their Own Words, a record of dwarven 
1857smithwork, guild archived 
1858
1859Regalia of Weisshaupt
1860
1861[codex obtained seems to be dependent some variable, perhaps Hawke's class]
1862
1863[if Hawke is a mage?]
1864I find myself drawn inexplicably to the principal seal. My waking 
1865moments are consumed by thoughts of it. I make excuses so that I might 
1866visit it. Then there are the journals of the Warden mage who created the 
1867seal using the artifact known as the key: What is the key? Can the seal be 
1868broken without it? 
1869
1870I have begun to suspect that these thoughts are not my own. Close 
1871scrutiny of my emotions and thoughts have led me to the frightening 
1872conclusion that this obsession was planted in me by the creature they call 
1873Corypheus. Corypheus wants me to learn about the seal and key so that 
1874he may pluck the knowledge from my mind. Corypheus wants to be free, 
1875and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. 
1876
1877--From the journal of Erasmus, a Grey Warden mage who, shortly after penning 
1878this entry in 1012 TE, threw himself off the highest level of the prison tower 
1879
1880[if Hawke is a rogue?]
1881The Vimmark Mountains are impassable save for a few little-known 
1882caravan routes. Most travelers who need to cross the range sail along the 
1883coast instead. This makes the central Vimmarks remarkably isolated, 
1884perfect to conceal so significant a secret.
1885
1886Once construction of the new prison commences, I recommend we spread 
1887word that are new outpost is both to guard the pass and to establish a 
1888greater Grey Warden presence in the Free Marches.
1889
1890If I may be so bold, I would also like to volunteer to be on of the Wardens 
1891sent to the Vimmarks. I hope you will consider my request.
1892
1893--From a report by Margarethe, senior Grey Warden, to the First Warden at 
1894Weisshaupt
1895
1896[if Hawke is a warrior?]
1897I have dedicated my life to this place. Eight years have I spent here, 
1898overseeing its construction. The First Warden says it is to be a prison, but 
1899will not tell me who or what this prison is meant to contain; I must simply
1900continue on in faith.
1901
1902Is this what my life has been reduced to? To carve a fortress out of the very
1903rock of the Vimmarks for a purpose I cannot begin to imagine? When I 
1904die, will these dim halls be all that are left of me? My one legacy?
1905
1906I will never see the towers of Weisshaupt again. This much I know.
1907
1908--The final entry in the journal of an unnamed Grey Warden, presumed the 
1909designer of Corypheus's prison
1910
1911Ring of the Ferryman
1912
1913Legend has it that prior to seizing powers as the first archon of the 
1914Tevinter Imperium, Darinius had a dream that he crossed a mighty river 
1915in a small ferry piloted by a man whose face was always in shadow. When 
1916he reached the other side, Darinus looked back and saw that the ferryman 
1917was himself. 
1918
1919When he took the throne, Darinius chose, as the seal of the archon, an 
1920image of a hooded ferryman. Every archon since has worn such a ring on 
1921the third finger of his right hand. A new ring is cast in gold for each 
1922archon with his name around the image relief. By tradition, upon his 
1923death, the ring is ceremonially crushed in front of the assembled 
1924magisters, so that no one may use the power of the archon until a new one
1925is crowned. 
1926
1927But the tradition has been circumvented at least twice: a forgery can be 
1928substituted and ritually destroyed in place of the Ring of the Ferryman. 
1929This one bears the name of Archon Hadarius, but whether it's the true ring
1930or the forgery is impossible to discern.
1931
1932Robes of the Pretender
1933
1934As the Chantry's hold on the kingdom grew, and Aldenon's rebel mages 
1935were claimed one by one, the great Calenhad came to regret letting the 
1936Circle form in his kingdom. Certainly he missed his old friend's counsel.
1937
1938And then Calenhad disappeared, leaving crown and kingdom to his 
1939unborn son.
1940
1941One story says he tracked down Marterel the Elusive, the only one of 
1942Aldenon's apprentices who was never captured. Calenhad managed what 
1943the templars could not and found the mage. He asked Marterel where 
1944Aldenon had fled to, but Marterel refused him. The next night, the king 
1945asked again, and was again refused, so he began to tell Marterel his whole 
1946life's story. After a full week, the king reached the end of his tale and 
1947Marterel heard the regret in the king's words. So the mage broke his 
1948solemn vow and told Calenhad where his old master had gone. Calenhad 
1949
1950thanked him and left to find his truest friend. 
1951
1952Whether Calenhad ever found Aldenon, what they said, and whether they
1953made amends--only the Maker knows. But that's the last anyone ever saw
1954our king.
1955
1956--From a story told and retold many times by apprentices in the Circle Tower of 
1957Ferelden 
1958
1959Sataareth
1960
1961Qunari are a people of metaphors, and for them, words have many 
1962meanings. Sataareth, the name given by the Arishok to this axe, means 
1963"that which upholds." It is the word for foundation, defender, and 
1964enforcer, all at once. 
1965
1966Ser Isaac's Armor
1967
1968The chilling tales of Ser Isaac of Clarke are a favorite of bards performing 
1969in the wee hours of the night. In dank taverns throughout Thedas, these 
1970horror-filled stories captivate listeners and bring nightmares to the faint of
1971heart.
1972
1973Shield of the Knight Herself
1974
1975A shield of impressive weight, to the point of being unwieldy if held by a 
1976weak hand. The crest is Dalish and old Orlesian, and the direct and 
1977deliberate styling can be a reference to only one person: the legendary Ser 
1978Aveline, the first woman to gain Orlesian knighthood. 
1979
1980Abandoned as a baby, Aveline was raised by the Dalish and grew into a 
1981skilled warrior. Her elven parents encouraged Aveline to demonstrate her 
1982skill among her human kin, but women were not allowed to enter 
1983Orlesian knighthood or compete in tournaments. She entered anyway, her 
1984features obscured by armor. Aveline defeated everyone she faced. 
1985
1986Her final victory came to a brutal end when Kaleva, a knight in service to 
1987the Emperor, tripped Aveline out of frustration, knocking the helm from 
1988her head. Realizing that his honor had been bested by a woman, Kaleva 
1989demanded that the competition be nullified. Jeered by the crowd, he 
1990lashed out and killed the fallen Aveline. 
1991
1992Prince Freyan had also faced Aveline in the tournament and saw her death
1993as a great injustice. When Freyan became emperor in 7:44 Storm, he 
1994formally recognized her skill by abolishing the practices that had excluded
1995her. She was posthumously knighted, and while women are still a rarity in
1996the Orlesian knighthood, those who enter revere Ser Aveline as their 
1997patron. 
1998
1999Ser Aveline's career was short--it's simply impossible for her to have held 
2000all the equipment that has been attributed to her over the years. But this 
2001shield is still of exceptional quality, and Aveline may find it's attribution to
2002her namesake of interest. 
2003
2004Shield of the Resolute
2005
2006The Shield of the Resolute was once worn by Knight-Commander Reiner 
2007of Starkhaven. Reiner's father crafted this shield for him when Reiner was 
2008recruited to the templar order. It was plain and unadorned when it first 
2009left the anvil, a simple shield for a smith's son.
2010
2011Reiner proved himself on a mission to rescue several mages from a 
2012demon. Upon seeing the creature, the other Templars fell back in fear. 
2013Only Reiner held position, his father's shield in front of him. He killed the 
2014demon and saved both the mages and his fellow templars. 
2015
2016Reiner's heroism earned him respect. His superiors, his colleagues, and 
2017the mages of Starkhaven's Circle saw him a fair and honorable templar. 
2018He was knight-commander by thirty-five. 
2019
2020Reiner's shield was modified over the years and enchanted at least twice. 
2021By the time Reiner passed the shield on to his successor, it no longer 
2022looked as it did when Reiner first strapped it to his arm; it had become a 
2023shield worthy of a knight-commander. 
2024
2025The Spiral Eye
2026
2027Kirkwall has been a tinderbox since becoming the center of templar power
2028in eastern Thedas. Of the hundreds of mages that live in the Gallows, it is 
2029perhaps telling that the most well known are its apostates. 
2030
2031Ceridweth was one such infamous apostate. She lived during the latter 
2032half of the Storm Age and was known for hunting priests and templars 
2033that abused their charges excessively. Ceridweth was also known as the 
2034Watcher and the Spiral Eye, so named for the spiral glyph she marked 
2035near her victims. 
2036
2037Templar records show that Ceridweth was captured and made Tranquil in
20387:90 Storm. Many refuse to believe this, so her legend lives on. 
2039
2040--From Kirkwall: The City of Chains, by Brother Genitivi, 9:24 Dragon 
2041
2042Staff of Parthalan
2043
2044During the Exalted March, the Tevinter Emperium was in chaos. Magister 
2045Parthalan and two high-ranking magisters were sent to Kirkwall to put 
2046down the slave uprising before it spread to the entire empire. However, 
2047their legion never arrived at Kirkwall; no one knows what happened to 
2048the party, Magister Parthalan--or his fabled staff.
2049
2050Staff of Violation
2051
2052Old friend, 
2053
2054First Enchanter Casimira was no blood mage! Hogwash! Your story of her 
2055investing dark arts into the staff is just that: a fable. 
2056
2057Casimira was, in fact, the first leader of Kirkwall's Circle of Magi. She was 
2058saddled with the great task of transforming a decrepit, crumbling prison 
2059into a proper home for mages transferred to her from all over Thedas. 
2060
2061Some of those mages were apostates, men and women one step away from
2062being rendered Tranquil, and it was her unfortunate task to keep order. 
2063
2064How many battles did she fight in those early days? How much blood was
2065spilled on these grounds? Casimira had to be a hard woman, but she did it
2066to keep the templars from declaring the Right of Annulment and killing us
2067all. 
2068
2069And your other rumor that she was arrested by the first knight-
2070commander? I am telling you it isn't so. I have studied the records, and the
2071truth of the matter is that Casimira was taken by a demon and slain before
2072she could endanger the tower. The templars admired her strength in 
2073holding the demon back long enough for them to act. It was a noble 
2074sacrifice, and Casmira's staff was kept by the first enchanters to 
2075commemorate this. It saddens me that people choose to dwell on its form 
2076rather than the lesson it signifies. 
2077
2078--A letter by First Enchanter Orsino, 9:26 Dragon
2079
2080Stonehammer's Gift
2081
2082Many scholars claim the Tevinter Imperium owes their rise to power as 
2083much to the dwarves as they do to magic. The dwarves brought currency 
2084and commerce to humanity--as well as entertainment. 
2085
2086The Proving, the dwarven name for gladiatorial arena matches, became 
2087popular in Imperial society in 1200 Ancient. This led to the construction of
2088the Grand Proving arena, a structure that still stands two thousand years 
2089later. 
2090
2091King Endrin Stonehammer attended the first match held at the Grand 
2092Proving. He was taken with the sport and awarded enchanted armor to 
2093the victor. 
2094
2095The armor was lost during the Imperium's great civil war in 575 Ancient. 
2096There are rumors that Stonehammer's Gift (or portions thereof) has since 
2097surfaced outside of Tevinter, most prominently during the Fourth Blight's 
2098Battle of Ayesleigh where the armor was reportedly worn by the fabled 
2099
2100Champion of Starkhaven. 
2101
2102--From Tales of the Imperium, by Sister Dulcinea, 9:20 Dragon
2103
2104Sundering
2105
2106In the legends of the Ash Warriors, nothing is more hallowed than 
2107Sundering, the battle mace of Luthias Dwarfson.
2108
2109Legend says the mace was not crafted by hand, but instead hatched from 
2110an egg high in the mountains and then carried by birds to Luthias as a 
2111wedding gift from the Lady of the Skies.
2112
2113When Luthias dies, dwarves arrived to carry him to Orzammar to be 
2114buried as one of their own with the Stone. Sundering was to lie at his side, 
2115but the mace could not be found. Stories say the birds reclaimed it and 
2116will deliver it to another hero in time.
2117
2118--From Alamarri Myths and Legends, by Sister Petrine, Chantry Scholar
2119
2120Talisman of Saarebas
2121
2122A simple shape on a leather cord. The uneven polish is not a failure of 
2123workmanship; rather the result of exacting and repeated study by 
2124powerful hands.
2125
2126Black glimmers curl just beneath a surface that should be solid, and there 
2127are glimpses of a core that seems to be carved from a piece of horn. Gaze 
2128for more than a moment and it seems to stir something in an uncommonly
2129dark corner of the mind, coaxing out a familiar, primal emotion: want. It is
2130impossible to say whether Saarebas intended this as reinforcement or 
2131restriction. At the moment, it simply is.
2132
2133This secret thing was never meant for the eyes of another. 
2134
2135Templar's Ceremonial Cummerbund
2136
2137When a templar takes his vows and enters the service of Andraste, he is 
2138presented with a suit of ceremonial armor to be worn when in the 
2139presence of the grand cleric. Every piece of the armor is covered in the 
2140iconography of blessed Andraste. 
2141
2142The cummerbund is wide, made of interlocking steel plates inlaid with 
2143gold, and adorned with two hundred and eight embossed stars along the 
2144edging: one for each day Andraste sung to the Maker to deliver her 
2145people. The center plate depicts, in bas relief, the burning Sword of Mercy.
2146Beside it is a shield, representing the disciple Havard. On the other side is 
2147ring split in half, which symbolizes Maferath. The buckle is formed like a 
2148sun, representing the Maker. On the steel inner face of each plate, a line of 
2149the Chant of Light is written. 
2150
2151The last is an interesting touch. Concealed artistic flair or an overt cheat 
2152sheet at mass? 
2153
2154--An excerpt from The Chantry: An Introspective, by Sister Petrine, Chantry 
2155scholar 
2156
2157Tranquility
2158
2159Orana was brought to the Circle of Magi in Kirkwall at the age of five. Her
2160mentors had high hopes for the child, seeing her talent for magic. 
2161Unfortunately, the poor child was plagued by nightmares that only 
2162worsened after her move to the Gallows. 
2163
2164Orana became afraid of falling asleep. She would lie stiffly in bed, her eyes
2165wide open. Without sleep, she grew thin and wan, and her studies began 
2166to suffer. 
2167
2168Orana began to experience waking dreams. Shadows flitted in corners, 
2169and she swore she heard voices calling her name. She knew demons could
2170take advantage of her vulnerable state, and at the tender age of eleven, she
2171requested to be made Tranquil. The first enchanter complied. 
2172
2173With her connection to the Fade severed, Orana was again able to sleep. 
2174Her health returned, and she was at peace with her decision. She 
2175continued her education at the Circle and excelled in enchanting and 
2176runecrafting. 
2177
2178Orana saw the Rite of Tranquility as a gift, although many mocked her for 
2179this view. Later in life, she created an amulet to remind her of the Rite. She
2180named it Tranquility. The Tranquility Amulet soothes the mind and 
2181imparts a general sense of well-being to its wearer. 
2182
2183Urzara's Tooth
2184
2185In 7:28 Storm, a high dragon rampaged through the northern Free 
2186Marches, destroying villages and killing over a hundred people. 
2187Following in the dragon's wake was a group of wild-eyed fanatics who 
2188worshipped the dragon they called Urzara.
2189
2190The cultists believed Urzara would soon claim the Maker's throne, being 
2191the child of the Old God Urthemiel. To prepare for the dragon's ascension 
2192to true godhood, the cultists burned down village chantries and forced 
2193those they came upon to bow down to their crude stone idol of the 
2194dragon.
2195
2196Followed by her cult, the dragon returned to her mountainside home near 
2197the mouth of the Minanter River. The Marchers, afraid the dragon and her 
2198cult might one day return, assembled a small army of militiamen. The 
2199men suffered heavy losses but succeeded in killing the dragon. When 
2200Urzara fell, many cultists threw themselves into the Minanter and died.
2201
2202The cult leader was captured and taken to Tantervale where he was 
2203publicly emasculated, disemboweled, and burned. His symbol of power, a
2204talisman carved from Urzara's mighty tooth, was awarded to the man who
2205struck the killing blow on the dragon.
2206
2207The Vague Blade
2208
2209What does it do? Well, who can say?
2210It changes form from day to day.
2211Of unknown metal and magic keen,
2212A finer blade there's never been.
2213My foe once exclaimed as he was flayed,
2214"I've never seen so vague a blade!"
2215
2216--From Legendary Blades of Thedas, by Lord Roderick Gutenschwantz
2217
2218Valdasine
2219
2220In the ancient days before the darkspawn, when dwarven cities wound 
2221through the roots of all the earth, House Valdasine single-handedly kept 
2222the empire supplied with lyrium.
2223
2224One day the mining family shut the doors of their thaig. They spoke not to
2225their noble patrons, nor their king, and not even a visiting Paragon. Days 
2226passed in silence before the doors to Valdasine Thaig opened. Anxious 
2227partners discovered it empty. Not one soul remained--no bodies and no 
2228sign of what had happened.
2229
2230House Valdasine only left a staff of strange metal behind. It looked like 
2231lyrium and chilled one's heart like a remembered sorrow. The king sealed 
2232the staff inside the thaig, and no dwarf ever ventured there again.
2233
2234--As recounted by Shaper Merta 
2235
2236Vestments of Sacrifice
2237
2238The Vestments of Sacrifice is a replica of the robe worn by Grey Warden 
2239Neriah, a mage who fought in the Second Blight's final battle in 
2240Starkhaven. According to legend, she threw herself in front of a 
2241darkspawn emissary to protect her lover, Corin. Neriah's sacrifice saved 
2242Corin's life, which was instrumental in ending the Blight for it was Corin's 
2243blade that struck the Archdemon Zazikel down.
2244
2245The original robe was displayed at the Circle of Magi in Antiva for many 
2246years, and I count myself among the lucky to have seen Neriah's robe 
2247before it was destroyed in a fire. I constructed this replica from my notes 
2248and sketches, and it is as accurate a copy as one could achieve. I have even
2249gone to great lengths to recreate the enchantments placed on the original 
2250robes.
2251
2252The recreation of this garment brings me great joy and fulfillment. I hope 
2253it brings the same to one of your order. Please accept this gift, humbly 
2254presented, as a token of appreciation for all the Grey Wardens have done 
2255for Thedas.
2256
2257--Excerpt of a letter from First Enchanter Haramund of Starkhaven to Warden-
2258Commander Dernheim of Weisshaupt
2259
2260Vigilance
2261
2262Vigilance was commissioned by Ferelden's Warden-Commander and 
2263crafted by master smith Wade of Denerim. This powerful blade was 
2264fashioned from the bones of an ancient dragon. Forging was arduous and 
2265required the use of many rare and priceless components. 
2266
2267The sword was stolen from Vigil's Keep by Antivan Crows, but even they 
2268could not hold on to the blade. It has since changed hands several times. 
2269Some say that Vigilance has a life of its own and that it chooses its owners,
2270coming to them in a time of need. 
2271
2272Vir Atish'an
2273
2274There is never a shortage of hunters. The Vir Tanadhal, The Way of Three 
2275Trees, has lured many to Andruil's side. The Vir Atish'an, The Way of 
2276Peace, is a harder path to tread, and few are called to hear Sylaise's 
2277wisdom. Those who hear that call learn the arts of the healer and the 
2278mender.
2279
2280--As told by Gisharel, Keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves 
2281
2282Willem's Bulwark
2283
2284From the fair and deadly Lady Shayna to his faithful squire Ser Tillers, 
2285much is known of the companions of Calenhad, the first king of united 
2286Ferelden. But seldom do bards recount tales of Willem Halfear and the 
2287Ash Warriors.
2288
2289While noble Calenhad was trying to assemble a nation, he found himself 
2290greatly outnumbered by Teyrn Simeon's forces. It seemed a foregone 
2291conclusion that Calenhad would fall, but on the advice of Aldenon the 
2292Wise, Calenhad ventured deep into the Brecilian Forest in search of allies. 
2293Those woods have a fearsome reputation, and after a fortnight of waiting 
2294for their liege to re-emerge, his men lost hope.
2295
2296And then Calenhad returned with Willem Halfear by his side and the Ash 
2297Warriors behind him. Although the Ash Warriors' numbers were relatively
2298few, they turned the tide in the Battle of the White Valley. Halfear and his 
2299men breached the enemy's van, allowing Calenhad and Lady Shayna to 
2300kill Teyrn Simeon and unite the land.
2301
2302Sitting at the Ash Warriors' campfire, listening to them tell of the prowess 
2303of Willem Halfear, it has become clear to me that his role in the formation 
2304of our kingdom is greatly underestimated.
2305
2306--From Annals of the Scarlet March, by Brother Bedine, Chantry Scholar
2307
2308Wisdom's Eye
2309
2310Although his vestments are legendary, Aldenon also weaved many subtle 
2311and potent enchantments into his cap during the years he fought against 
2312the Circle Tower of Ferelden. He claimed he could use Wisdom's Eye to 
2313even see the future. Certainly the innumerable times he and the other 
2314rebel mages escaped templars lend some credence to the claim.
2315
2316When Aldenon's band numbered fewer than the fingers of one hand, he 
2317donned his hat and meditated a full day. When he awoke, he said the 
2318Maker and the Circle had won, and he bade his apprentices run. He was 
2319never heard from again.
2320
2321Codex: Places (Dragon Age II)
2322
2323The Anderfels
2324
2325The Anderfels are a land of shocking extremes. It is the most desolate 
2326place in all the world, for two Blights have left great expanses of the 
2327steppes so completely devoid of life that corpses cannot even decay there--
2328no insect or grub will ever reach them.
2329
2330It is a land filled with wonders like the Merdaine, with its gigantic white 
2331statue of Our Lady carved into its face, her hands outstretched and 
2332bearing an eternal flame, or Weisshaupt Fortress, with its walls of living 
2333rock towering over the desolate plains below.
2334
2335The Anders, too, are a people of extremes: The most devout priests and 
2336the most deadly soldiers, the poorest nation in the world and the most 
2337feared.
2338
2339--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother 
2340Genitivi.
2341
2342The Bone Pit
2343
2344Sire, 
2345I interviewed the surviving slave this morning. She was horror-struck, but
2346managed to tell me her chilling story. 
2347
2348The Overseer lined seventeen slaves up, one behind the other, at the lip of 
2349the quarry. The second slave in line was ordered to push the man in front 
2350over the edge. The third slave pushed the second, the fourth the third, and
2351on it went. 
2352
2353Workers in the quarry heard the screams, the crack of bone against rock, 
2354and then the survivor's anguished cries as the Overseer's dragonlings 
2355feasted on the sixteen helpless bodies splayed upon the quarry's basin. 
2356The woman who told me this story was the seventeenth in line, spared 
2357only because no one stood behind her. 
2358
2359Sire, I recommend we stop this ugly practice. Effective as it may be in 
2360motivating workers, it's also bringing our mine notoriety as a death trap. 
2361Stories of the "bone pit" swirl throughout Kirkwall. The Veil is thin 
2362enough here, and above that pit it is practically ready to sunder. We risk 
2363more than simple rebellion should the overseer be allowed to continue. 
2364
2365--A letter from Prefex Santarius, 35 Ancient 
2366
2367Prefex Santarius,
2368
2369The output of the Maharian Quarry is up almost a third this season, and 
2370the Overseer has received a commendation from the archon himself. You 
2371will speak of your findings to no one. 
2372
2373--A response from Magister Quillan, 35 Ancient
2374
2375Chateau Haine
2376
2377Chateau Haine, situated on the western verge of the Vimmark Mountains, 
2378is one of the many estates of the illustrious de Montfort family of Orlais. 
2379Duke Prosper de Montfort vacations at the estate frequently, particularly 
2380during wyvern-hunting season.
2381 
2382The structure was built late in the Black Age for Lord Norbert de la Haine,
2383whose treasonous schemes to seize power in the Free Marches led to a call
2384for his execution. Lord Norbert escaped to what was then Fortress Haine 
2385and barricaded himself within. The siege lasted a hundred days. 
2386Eventually, Antivan Crows slit the lord's throat while he slept. The estate's
2387scandalous past left it unoccupied for long thereafter. 
2388
2389When the Fourth Blight ravaged the Free Marches, Fortress Haine served 
2390as a garrison for the Grey Wardens. The Wardens dug a hollow into the 
2391mountain's interior; when darkspawn attacked Kirkwall and Cumberland,
2392citizens of both cities took refuge in the caves, which came to be known as 
2393"the Retreat." 
2394
2395After the Wardens left victorious, Fortress Haine was presented to Ser 
2396Gaston de Montfort, a chevalier of Orlais. The building was converted 
2397
2398from military keep to pleasure palace and rechristened "Chateau Haine." 
2399
2400--From Portrait of the Free Marches, by Guillaume van der Haute 
2401
2402The City of Kirkwall
2403
2404Kirkwall once lived on the edge of the Tevinter Imperium and was home 
2405to nearly a million slaves. Stolen from elven lands or shipped from across 
2406the sea, all slaves fed the Imperium's unquenchable thirst for expansion. 
2407They worked in massive quarries and sweltering foundries that produced 
2408stone and steel for the Empire.
2409
2410The city's complicated past is not easy to forget, history having earmarked
2411many corners of the stone city. A ship approaching the harbor spots the 
2412city's namesake: an imposing black wall. It is visible for miles, and carved 
2413into the cliff side are a pantheon of vile guardians representing the Old 
2414Gods. Over the years, the Chantry has effaced many of these profane 
2415sentinels, but it will take many more years to erase them all.
2416
2417Also carved into the cliff is a channel that permits ships into the city's 
2418interior. Flanking the channel are two massive bronze statues--the Twins 
2419of Kirkwall. The statues have a practical use. Kirkwall sits next to the 
2420narrowest point of the Waking Sea, and a massive chain net can be erected
2421between the statues and the lighthouse, closing off the only narrow 
2422navigable lane. This stranglehold on sea traffic is jealously guarded by the 
2423ever-changing rulers of the city as the net trolls taxes, tolls, and extortions 
2424in from the sea. 
2425
2426--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2427Brother Genitivi 
2428
2429The City of Starkhaven
2430
2431Starkhaven, the largest city in the Free Marches, sits on the bank of the 
2432great Minanter River. I remember my visit to the city quite clearly. I was 
2433taken up the river by barge--a cumbersome vessel that moved at a stately 
2434pace--and disembarked by the city's central square, an impressive space 
2435with marble fountains and surrounded by kingly estates.
2436
2437Starkhaven's wealth was truly a sight to behold. A path paved in granite 
2438led up to the grandest building I've ever seen. My guide indicated that 
2439this was the residence of Starkhaven's ruler, Prince Vael.
2440
2441We supped at the table of my guide's closest friend. I was presented with 
2442a variety of dishes from the region. One in particular stood out: fish and 
2443egg pie, Starkhaven's most famous dish. Three deboned fish, caught just 
2444that day, were cooked in a porcelain vessel with boiled eggs, dried fruit, 
2445spices, and thickened cream, all topped with a light crust. Superb! 
2446
2447--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2448Brother Genitivi
2449
2450Geography of Thedas
2451
2452Thedas is bounded to the east by the Amaranthine Ocean, to the west by 
2453Tirashan Forest and the Hunterhorn Mountains, to the south by the snowy
2454wastes that lie beyond the Orkney Mountains, and to the north by Donark 
2455Forest. 
2456
2457The word "Thedas" is Tevinter in origin, originally used to refer to lands 
2458that bordered the Imperium. As the Imperium lost its stranglehold on 
2459conquered nations, more and more lands became Thedas, until finally 
2460people applied the name to the entire continent.
2461
2462The northern part of Thedas is divided amongst the Anderfels, the 
2463Tevinter Imperium, Antiva, and Rivain, with the islands held by the 
2464qunari just off the coast. Central Thedas consists of the Free Marches, 
2465Nevarra, and Orlais, with Ferelden to the south.
2466
2467What lies beyond the snowy wastes is a mystery. The freezing 
2468temperatures and barren land have kept even the most intrepid 
2469cartographers at bay. Similarly, the western reaches of the Anderfels have 
2470never been fully explored, even by the Anders themselves. We do not 
2471know if the dry steppes are shadowed by mountains, or if they extend all 
2472the way to a nameless sea.
2473
2474There must be other lands, continents or islands, perhaps across the 
2475Amaranthine or north of Par Vollen, for the qunari arrived in Thedas from
2476somewhere, but beyond that deduction, we know nothing. 
2477
2478--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2479Brother Genitivi.
2480
2481Kirkwall – Darktown
2482
2483Darktown was once a mine controlled by the Tevinter Imperium. Once 
2484exhausted, the mineshafts were extended under the city to dispose of 
2485sewage from Kirkwall's overcrowded population of slaves.
2486
2487Unsurprisingly, the tunnels became a refuge for those fleeing captivity. A 
2488similar trend continues today. The "Undercity," as some call it, is home to 
2489the diseased, the insane, to criminals, and even the dead--unwanted 
2490corpses are often discarded here by murderers and lazy undertakers.
2491
2492Darktown's slums makes Lowtown look pleasant in comparison. The foul 
2493miasma known as chokedamp clogs and swells in every corner of the 
2494Darktown, creating a poisonous mist. Its sewers are a dangerous place. 
2495The walls are damp, slick, and coated with phosphorescent lichen. The 
2496sewer is a maze, and one foolish enough to enter is not likely to be heard 
2497from again. 
2498
2499--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2500Brother Genitivi
2501
2502Kirkwall – The Elven Alienage
2503
2504Lowtown is home to a squalid elven alienage. Here, like in most Thedas 
2505alienages, elves are packed into tiny rundown apartments and effectively 
2506segregated from the human population.
2507
2508Kirkwall's alienage is even more dilapidated than the rest of Lowtown, 
2509but the elves go to great lengths keeping the place looking bright and 
2510festive. The vhenadahl ("Tree of the People") standing in the middle of the 
2511alienage is a symbol for elven pride and shared cultural identity, and it is 
2512lovingly cared for.
2513
2514It's difficult to say if the elves would continue confining themselves to the 
2515alienage if they were given the chance to mingle. They may not admit it, 
2516but some feel that living among their kind is far better than living with 
2517humans, no matter how terrible alienage life may be. 
2518
2519--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2520Brother Genitivi 
2521
2522Kirkwall – The Gallows
2523
2524Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of
2525Kirkwall's history. Fifteen-hundred years ago, Kirkwall was the Tevinter 
2526Imperium's largest quarry, feeding the construction of the Imperial 
2527Highway.
2528
2529The Imperium's hunger for expansion led to legions of slaves forced into 
2530working the quarry. When the empire's construction phase ended, 
2531Kirkwall slid naturally into its new role as the capital of the slave trade--
2532the Gallows at its heart.
2533
2534The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and 
2535angle of the courtyard was designed by magisters bent on breaking the 
2536spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, 
2537and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves 
2538trudging in from the docks saw what awaited them.
2539
2540When Our Lady turned her armies against the Imperium, the slaves of 
2541Kirkwall revolted and claimed the city for themselves. The Gallows stood 
2542empty for two hundred years, not to be reopened until the crowning of 
2543Divine Justinia I. The Gallows transformed the city again when the 
2544abandoned prison tower became the home of Kirkwall's Circle. 
2545
2546--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2547Brother Genitivi 
2548
2549Kirkwall – Hightown
2550
2551At the height of the Tevinter Imperium's slave trade, Kirkwall's elite 
2552prospered beyond dreams of avarice. Hightown was built for the 
2553wealthiest slavers, its glitzy mansions rising atop a great wall of rock that 
2554borders, on one side, the Waking Sea. Lowtown cowered on its other side 
2555until Kirkwall's slaves rose to plunder and destroy Hightown's riches.
2556
2557Today, Hightown's prominent buildings are the Keep, home to the ruling 
2558viscount, and the chantry, home to the grand cleric and the city's religious 
2559center. Both are converted estates that once housed wealthy magisters, 
2560rebuilt and converted after the uprising.
2561
2562--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2563Brother Genitivi
2564 
2565
2566Kirkwall – Lowtown
2567
2568Lowtown sits in a massive cauldron-shaped pit that was once Kirkwall's 
2569first quarry. The district was constructed by slaves who carved the city 
2570and its harbor out of the rock. 
2571
2572Today, Lowtown is a labyrinth of shantytowns, corridors, and hexagonal 
2573courtyards--"hexes" in the local parlance. Lowtown's poorest live in caves
2574hewn out of the cliff face. The district is shoddily built and bears scars 
2575caused by collapsing walls. Foundry smoke smothers the area. Only a cold
2576winter storm clears the air, but the icy wind howling over the mouths of 
2577old mineshafts hardly counts as relief.
2578
2579Occasionally, these Darktown shafts erupt with gouts of foul air known as
2580chokedamp. It's not uncommon to find whole slums silently suffocated, 
2581frozen in the midst of everyday activity.
2582
2583The walls surrounding Lowtown are highest by the harbor. Its busiest 
2584street leads up to Hightown, where the wealthiest Kirkwallers perch. 
2585When one stands in Lowtown, all one sees other than the rocky walls is 
2586Hightown. It glitters overhead, always in sight, yet always beyond reach. 
2587
2588--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2589Brother Genitivi
2590
2591The Korcari Wilds
2592
2593It is said that in the midst of the Black Age, when werewolves stalked the 
2594lands of Ferelden in numbers that kept every farmholder indoors and a 
2595hound on every doorstep, a powerful arl of the Alamarri peoples stood 
2596and declared that he would put an end to the threat. His arling stood on 
2597the border of the dark forest on the southern border of the Ferelden 
2598Valley, and he claimed that the werewolves used the forest to launch their 
2599midnight assaults on humanity.
2600
2601For 20 years, this arl led an army of warriors and hounds deep into the 
2602forest. In his hunt for the werewolves, he slew not only every wolf he 
2603came upon, but also every member of the Chasind wilder folk. Any one of
2604them, he said, could harbor a demon inside and thus be a werewolf in 
2605disguise. For 20 years, the forest rang with screams and the rivers ran red.
2606
2607The tales say that an old Chasind woman found her sons all dead at the 
2608arl’s blades. She pulled one of those very blades from one son’s heart and 
2609plunged it into her own chest, cursing the arl’s name as she did so. Where 
2610her blood touched the ground, a mist began to rise. It spread and spread 
2611until it was everywhere in the forest. The arl’s army became lost, and it is 
2612said that they died there. Others say they wander still. The ruins of his 
2613arling stand to this day, filled with the ghosts of women waiting eternally 
2614for their husbands to return. 
2615
2616The forest of the legend is, of course, the Korcari Wilds. There are as many
2617legends about the great southern forest as there are shadows, or so the 
2618saying goes. The Chasind wilder folk have made their home there since 
2619mankind first came to these lands, and the wildlands spread as far into the
2620south as anyone has ventured. Beyond the mists are vast tracts of snow, 
2621white-capped mountains, and entire fields of ice. It is a land too cold for 
2622mankind to survive, yet the Chasind eke out an existence even there, and 
2623they tell of horrors beyond the Wilds that the lowland folk could not begin
2624to comprehend.
2625
2626To most, Ferelden simply ends with the Korcari Wilds: There is nothing 
2627beyond. The Wilds is a land of great trees, wet marshes and dangerous 
2628monsters. What more need be said?
2629
2630Nevarra
2631
2632The fourth time I attempted to cross the border into Nevarra from Orlais 
2633and was turned back by Chevaliers, I decided to take the more 
2634roundabout path: A ship back to Ferelden, and then another to Nevarra. 
2635The outcome was more than worth the trouble.
2636
2637The whole country is filled with artistry, from the statues of heroes that 
2638litter the streets in even the meanest villages to the glittering golden 
2639College of Magi in Cumberland. Perhaps nowhere is more astonishing 
2640than the vast necropolis outside Nevarra City. Unlike most other followers
2641of Andraste, the Nevarrans do not burn their dead. Instead, they carefully 
2642preserve the bodies and seal them in elaborate tombs. Some of the 
2643wealthiest Nevarrans begin construction of their own tombs while quite 
2644young, and these become incredible palaces, complete with gardens, 
2645bathhouses, and ballrooms, utterly silent, kept only for the dead.
2646
2647--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2648Brother Genitivi.
2649
2650The Orlesian Empire 
2651
2652There are many lords and ladies in Val Royeaux.
2653
2654And I mean this literally. Once, the system of noble titles in Orlais was 
2655labyrinthine: There were barons and baronnes and baronets and sur-
2656barons and a horde of others, each with its own origins and its own 
2657nuances of comparison. The Orlesian aristocracy is ancient and much 
2658given to competition. All the nobility play the Grand Game, as it is 
2659known, whether they wish to or not. It is a game of reputation and 
2660patronage, where moves are made with rumors and scandal is the chief 
2661weapon. No gentle game, this. More blood has been drawn as a result of 
2662the Grand Game than any war the Orlesians have fought. Of this, I am 
2663assured by almost every gentleman here.
2664
2665As far as titles went, everything changed with the coming of Emperor 
2666Drakon, who established the Orlesian Empire as it exists now, and who 
2667created the Chantry. There is no more venerated figure in Orlais; in Val 
2668Royeaux, the statue of Drakon stands as tall as the statue of Andraste. 
2669Drakon determined that the Grand Game was tearing Orlais apart, so he 
2670abolished all titles besides his own, and lord, and lady.
2671
2672I am told, with some twittering amusement, that this action did not end 
2673the Grand Game as Drakon had intended. Now the lords and ladies 
2674collected unofficial titles rather than official ones, such as "the exalted 
2675patron of Tassus Klay" or "uncle to the champion of Tremmes." It is a 
2676headache to remember such titles, and one winces to think of the poor 
2677doormen at the balls who must rattle them off as each guest enters the 
2678room.
2679
2680The aristocracy is different from Ferelden in other ways, as well. The 
2681Orlesians' right to rule stems directly from the Maker. There exists neither 
2682the concept of rule by merit nor the slightest notion of rebellion. If one is 
2683not noble, one aspires to be--or at the least aspires to be in the good graces 
2684of a noble, and is ever watching for a way to enter the patronage of those 
2685better placed in the Grand Game.
2686
2687And then there are the masks. And the cosmetics: I have not seen so much 
2688paint since the kennels at Highever. But that is another story.
2689
2690--From Beyond the Frostbacks, by Bann Teoric of West Hill, 9:20 Dragon.
2691
2692Par Vollen: The Occupied North
2693
2694In the 30th year of the Steel Age, the first qunari ships were sighted off the
2695coast of Par Vollen in the far north, marking the beginning of a new age of
2696warfare.
2697
2698History calls this the First Qunari War, but it was mostly a one-sided 
2699bloodbath, with the qunari advancing far into the mainland. Qunari 
2700warriors in glittering steel armor carved through armies with ease. Their 
2701cannons, the likes of which our ancestors had never seen, reduced city 
2702walls to rubble in a matter of seconds.
2703
2704Stories of qunari occupation vary greatly. It is said they dismantled 
2705families and sent captives to "learning camps" for indoctrination into their 
2706religion. Those who refused to cooperate disappeared to mines or 
2707construction camps.
2708
2709For every tale of suffering, however, there is another of enlightenment 
2710deriving from something called the "Qun." This is either a philosophical 
2711code or a written text that governs all aspects of qunari life, perhaps both. 
2712One converted Seheran reported pity for those who refused to embrace 
2713the Qun, as if the conquerors had led him to a sort of self-discovery. "For 
2714all my life, I followed the Maker wherever his path led me," he wrote, "but
2715in the Qun I have found the means to travel my own path."
2716
2717It has been said that the most complete way to wipe out a people is not 
2718with blades but with books. Thankfully, a world that had repelled four 
2719Blights would not easily bow to a foreign aggressor. And so the Exalted 
2720Marches began.
2721
2722The greatest advantage of the Chantry-led forces was the Circle of Magi. 
2723For all their technology, the qunari appeared to harbor great hatred for 
2724magic. Faced with cannons, the Chantry responded with lightning and 
2725balls of fire.
2726
2727The qunari armies lacked the sheer numbers of humanity. So many were 
2728slain at Marnas Pell, on both sides, that the Veil is said to be permanently 
2729
2730sundered, the ruins still plagued by restless corpses. But each year, the 
2731Chantry pushed further and further into the qunari lines, although local 
2732converts to the Qun proved difficult to return to Andraste's teachings.
2733
2734By the end of the Storm Age, the qunari were truly pushed back. Rivain 
2735was the only human land that retained the qunari religion after being 
2736freed, and its rulers attempted to barter a peace. Most human lands signed
2737the Llomerryn Accord, excepting the Tevinter Imperium. It is a shaky 
2738peace that has lasted to this day.
2739
2740--From The Exalted Marches: An Examination of Chantry Warfare, by 
2741Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
2742
2743The Primeval Thaig
2744
2745Your Majesty, 
2746
2747It's difficult getting a straight answer out of the scavenger. These sods get 
2748themselves so blighted they can't think straight, much less keep spit in 
2749their mouths. He says, however, that he's gone down into parts of the 
2750Deep Roads that are so old that our people forgot them long before the 
2751Blight even happened.
2752
2753He spoke of great statues and temples--temples! He spoke of things that 
2754could have only been made of magic and of impossible ruins untouched 
2755by darkspawn. He described creatures the likes of which we've never 
2756seen.
2757
2758None of it's possible, of course. I've conferred with the Shaper and he says 
2759the Memories date back to the founding of the first thaig--what could have
2760come before that? Yes, we're unable to explore these depths the scavenger 
2761spoke of because of the darkspawn, but surely the Memories would speak 
2762of such places if they existed.
2763
2764Yet in this scavenger's belongings, amidst all the filth, there was a single 
2765idol. It was clearly of dwarven make, but not resembling any Paragon on 
2766record. The idol was dressed in a manner I've never seen. The Shaper of 
2767Memories also could not identify it or the substance from which it was 
2768
2769made. The thought that the Memories might be wrong is... unsettling.
2770
2771--Excerpt from a report sealed in the Orzammar royal archives by order of King 
2772Annalar Geldinblade in 8:48 Blessed. 
2773
2774Rivain
2775
2776Nowhere in my travels, not in the heart of the Imperium nor the streets of 
2777Orzammar, have I felt so much an outsider as in Rivain.
2778
2779The Chant of Light never truly reached the ears of these people. The years 
2780they spent under the thumb of the qunari left most of the country zealous 
2781followers of the Qun. But resistance to the Chant goes deeper than the 
2782Qunari War. The Rivaini refuse to be parted from their seers, wise women 
2783who are in fact hedge mages, communicating with spirits and actually 
2784allowing themselves to become possessed. The Chantry prohibition 
2785against such magical practices violates millennia of local tradition.
2786
2787--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2788Brother Genitivi.
2789
2790Sundermount
2791
2792Kirkwall is guarded by mountains to it north, the tallest of which is 
2793Sundermount. The mountain has a fearsome reputation. Legend says it 
2794was the site of the final battle between the Tevinter Imperium of old and 
2795the ancient empire of elves that perished with Arlathan. Both sides 
2796unleashed horrors into the waking world, and Fade creatures prowl the 
2797heights to this very day, unaware that the war for which they were 
2798summoned is long since over.
2799
2800There is a tale in the Free Marches that Blessed Andraste, upon reaching 
2801Kirkwall with her armies, sojourned up the slopes of Sundermount alone. 
2802She stayed there three days. When she returned, she wept as if her heart 
2803were broken.
2804
2805I stayed two months in Kirkwall, and despite my best efforts, I never 
2806
2807found a guide willing to take me up the mountain.
2808
2809--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2810Brother Genitivi.
2811
2812The Tevinter Imperium
2813
2814For good or ill, the Imperium has put its stamp on Thedas forever.
2815
2816The old Imperial Highway is still in use across most of Thedas. The ruins 
2817of Tevinter fortresses and centers of magical study still litter our 
2818landscape, long after the glory of the Imperium dimmed. But the influence
2819of that ancient empire goes deeper than this. Without Tevinter, there 
2820would have been no Blights, no Andraste, no Chantry. Every aspect of our
2821world would be altered.
2822
2823The might and majesty of the Imperium may have faded, but it still makes
2824its presence known, even in the most distant corners of Thedas. Every 
2825child has been brought up on stories of Tevinter as it is now: a decadent 
2826nation, ruled by the archon and his court of magisters -- great, and no 
2827doubt corrupt, mage-lords. Their Chantry a mockery of our own, their 
2828Black Divine a man chosen from the ranks of the Minrathous Circle of 
2829Magi. The Maker's most hallowed law, "Magic exists to serve man, and 
2830never to rule over him," perverted. Mages in the Imperium say their most 
2831sacred duty is to serve man, and they serve best by wielding political 
2832power.
2833
2834And the worst, that which Blessed Andraste must weep to see: All of it is 
2835built on a foundation of slavery. While most nations forbid the buying and
2836selling of slaves within their own borders, nearly everyone ships her 
2837people to the Imperium for sale, skirting the prohibitions against such 
2838atrocities, and feeding the Imperium's endless hunger for bodies: To fight 
2839the Qunari, to work the mines and quarries, to build the palaces of the 
2840magisters, to sweep the crumbling streets and turn the middens and serve 
2841at the whim of their mage overseers.
2842
2843--From Black City, Black Divine: A Study of the Tevinter Imperium, by 
2844Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
2845
2846The Wardens' Prison
2847
2848The Grey Wardens' prison in the Vimmark Mountains is believed to have 
2849been constructed more than a thousand years ago. The original method of 
2850construction has been lost to history, but the Warden-Commanders of the 
2851Free Marches have maintained the prison's secret through the centuries.
2852
2853The prison is concealed in a great rift in the Vimmark Mountains, far from
2854any easily-traveled mountain passes. The Wardens themselves have 
2855spread rumors of banditry and beasts to prevent explorers from 
2856approaching.
2857
2858The prison consists of a central tower built into the rift with magically-
2859maintained bridges allowing access at different levels. Each level is sealed 
2860by a blood magic ritual in which a mage of untainted blood uses his own 
2861life essence to create a magical barrier that is permeable from the outside 
2862yet impenetrable from within. This one-way access has caused other 
2863darkspawn--and perhaps unwary travelers--to be caught within the 
2864prison's confines. Those who disappear inside never re-emerge. 
2865
2866--From Land of the Wilders, by Mother Ailis, Chantry scholar, 9:18 Dragon.
2867
2868The Wounded Coast
2869
2870One of the few roads leading into Kirkwall passes through a dangerous 
2871area known as the Wounded Coast. The road winds close to the cliff edge 
2872that looms over waters with many a precipitous drop to the churning 
2873waves below. There's many a local legend involving travelers falling, or 
2874jumping, or having been flung from those heights.
2875
2876From the cliffs, the road leads through jagged hills that line the pass like 
2877sharp teeth. Bandits use these hills as cover from which to ambush 
2878caravans. There's more to fear here than bandits, of course. Once one 
2879leaves the hills, you come upon a maze of sharp canyons, the hunting 
2880grounds for many fierce creatures. It is a place of secrets dating back to the
2881golden age of the Tevinter Imperium, where Ancient relics and statues 
2882
2883crumble in time with the rocks. 
2884
2885--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2886Brother Genitivi
2887
2888Codex: Lore (Dragon Age II)
2889
2890Adder of Antiva
2891
2892These brightly painted bows are prized possessions among the Antivan 
2893pirates. A rain of arrows can clear the deck of an approaching ship and 
2894light fire to its sails. 
2895
2896Adventures of the Black Fox
2897
2898Born Lord Remi Vascal in 8:63 Blessed, the Black Fox was a dashing thief 
2899and rogue who went on to inspire so many tales of his exploits that it is 
2900nearly impossible to determine today which are true and which are 
2901merely fabricated legend. Despite coming from nobility, he has become 
2902something of a hero of the common people.
2903
2904His initial exploits involved ridiculing the tyrannical and powerful lord of 
2905Val Chevin. Wearing a mask, he would appear in public and disrupt the 
2906lord's plans to the point that the lord angrily put a huge bounty on the life 
2907of "this cunning fox" (the origin of the nickname, which stuck). That the 
2908primary bounty hunter who took the job, Karolis, ended up becoming 
2909Remi's lifelong partner in crime (only after nearly killing him several 
2910times) is one of the most popular tales told in taverns today. The story is 
2911often exaggerated to make Remi appear initially buffoonish, until Karolis 
2912becomes so furious at the Black Fox's inexplicable ability to survive that 
2913the cunning Remi gains the upper hand, which impresses Karolis so much
2914that the bounty hunter joins him.
2915
2916After years of terrorizing the lord's men and foiling his tax collectors (a 
2917favorite pastime of Remi's, according to the Orlesian commoners), Remi 
2918was supposedly betrayed by his lover Servana de Montfort (in some 
2919versions of the tale a mage of the Circle, no less) and captured. After more 
2920than a year of torture, Remi was rescued from prison by his compatriots 
2921(including a repentant Servana), and together they escaped Orlais. In this 
2922period of Remi's adventures, he appears almost everywhere in Thedas: As
2923his legend grew, more innkeepers and merchants were happy to claim 
2924that the Black Fox had visited their village or establishment and 
2925performed some legendary feat. If the tales are to be believed, Remi led 
2926
2927the lord's men on a merry chase. He became embroiled in political intrigue
2928in Nevarra, was hunted by the Crows of Antiva, and then kidnapped by a 
2929powerful mage in Tevinter. In each situation, Remi escaped death at the 
2930last moment, foiled the evil-doer, and improved life for the poor and 
2931downtrodden. Then, inevitably, he rejoined his band of adventurers and 
2932moved on to the next land. His companions Karolis and Servana, the wise 
2933dwarf Bolek, and the tempestuous knight Ser Clementis have each 
2934spawned their own individual legends over the years. 
2935
2936The stories all agree that, at some point, the Black Fox disappeared: He 
2937and his fellow adventurers voyaged into the heart of the Arlathan Forest 
2938seeking the sunken city of the elves and never returned. Many more are 
2939the tales that expand on what ultimately happened to them in that forest, 
2940and postulate on how they could someday be rescued.
2941
2942--From The Adventures of the Black Fox, by Gaston Gerrault, 9:11 Dragon.
2943
2944Alienage Culture
2945
2946There have always been alienages. They have been around for as long as 
2947elves and shems have lived in the same lands. Ours isn't even the worst: 
2948They say that Val Royeaux has ten thousand elves living in a space no 
2949bigger than Denerim's market. Their walls are supposedly so high that 
2950daylight doesn't reach the Vhenadahl until midday.
2951
2952But don't be so anxious to start tearing down the walls and picking fights 
2953with the guards. They keep out more than they keep in. We don't have to 
2954live here, you know.  Sometimes a family gets a good break, and they buy 
2955a house in the docks, or the outskirts of town. If they're lucky, they come 
2956back to the alienage after the looters have burned their house down. The 
2957unlucky ones just go to the paupers' field.
2958
2959Here, we're among family. We look out for each other. Here, we do what 
2960we can to remember the old ways. The flat-ears who have gone out there, 
2961they're stuck. They'll never be human, and they've gone and thrown away 
2962being elven, too. So where does that leave them? Nowhere.  
2963
2964--Sarethia, hahren of the Highever alienage.
2965
2966Ambrosia
2967
2968Felicidus Aria--commonly known as the Silent Plains Rose--is, to this 
2969day, the only plant found growing on the Silent Plains, which were 
2970tainted by the Blight a thousand years ago. As mentioned in the section on
2971rare flowering plants, Felicidus Aria is not technically a rose, though its 
2972flowers do exude a sweet, rose-like scent.
2973
2974The flower is rare, and is in danger of becoming extinct because of its 
2975value in the creation of ambrosia, which is distilled from the roots of the 
2976plant. Dozens of these plants go into the making of just one vial. Some say 
2977that the wives of the most powerful Tevinter magisters once used 
2978ambrosia to perfume their baths in a vulgar display of wealth.
2979
2980--An excerpt from The Botanical Compendium, by Ines Arancia, Botanist 
2981
2982The Amell Family
2983
2984It's truly sad what happened to the Amells, isn't it? I still remember 
2985Grandmother talking about the balls that Lord Aristide used to hold at 
2986their estate and the Antivan violin players and dancers from Afsaana. No 
2987expense was spared and no one would dare miss it, lest someone think 
2988they weren't worthy of an invitation.
2989
2990And then poor Revka had the child. Magical talent, running in one of 
2991Kirkwall's most prominent families? The templars had considered Lord 
2992Aristide to be viscount after Threnhold's arrest. Can you imagine the 
2993scandal had he been chosen? They whisked the
2994child away to the Circle, and the Amells simply had no luck after that. 
2995Leandra ran off with a Fereldan mage and then Damion was accused of 
2996smuggling. Poor Lord Fausten almost bankrupted his family trying to get 
2997the charges dropped, but I hear Viscount Marlowe simply wanted to get 
2998the Amells out of the picture. And it worked, too, didn't it? By the time 
2999Lord Fausten got sick, there was only young Gamlen left and a mountain 
3000of debt.
3001
3002I spoke to Dulci just the other day, and apparently Gamlen is now living 
3003
3004in some Lowtown shack--sounds like the sort of character you'd cross a 
3005street to avoid! And let's not even talk about the estate.
3006
3007Mother says we should remember the Amells because that sort of thing 
3008can happen to any of us. You know the old saying: "A Marcher's fortune 
3009rises and falls with the tide." If you ask me, this is just another misfortune 
3010that magic brings to honest folk. Andraste help that poor family, whatever
3011lies in store for them.
3012
3013--Excerpt from a letter written by Lady Amelie de Montford 
3014
3015Amgeforn the Foul
3016
3017We called it Malvernis. The Pestilent One. It devoured thaigs, turning our 
3018fairest work into a noxious waste. It consumed living warriors, turning 
3019their bodies to slime, and when its hunger was not abated, it consumed 
3020the bones of our ancestors. 
3021Foulness came from its touch, poison and filth and desecration. It 
3022threatened the Stone itself. The Shapers bound it. Chained in lyrium 
3023stained with the blood of a hundred warriors. But within the orb, it 
3024hungered, it waited.
3025
3026We carried it here to the wasteland of the surface, where it can threaten 
3027nothing of value. The Stone will live. The Stone must live. We have sworn 
3028to defend it from the Foul One at any price. 
3029
3030Amgeforn the Lonely Vigil
3031
3032One watcher each generation will be chosen from the Warrior Caste. He 
3033will stand guard until his death.
3034
3035Only the constant vigilance of the Stone's Children can keep the foulness 
3036of Malvernis at bay. The burden of living in exile beneath the sun is 
3037terrible, but this sacrifice, this amgeforn, will ensure the sanctity of the 
3038Stone forever.
3039
3040Valos atredum.
3041
3042--By decree of Paragon Ilona 
3043
3044Amgeforn the Wasteyard
3045
3046You who must serve beneath the empty sky, you stand between this 
3047Poison and the Stone. The Ancestors will remember when all others have 
3048forgotten your name. Remember your oath: it must endure even beyond 
3049death itself. Be vigilant.
3050
3051If the Pestilent One awakens, you will know it by these signs: The air will 
3052fill with the scent of putrefaction. You will hear a sound like the cadence 
3053of drums. Malvernis the Defiler will try to weaken your will and compel 
3054you to bear the orb out of Amgeforn, but you must hold fast.
3055
3056This is the sacred duty that cannot be forsworn lest the Stone fall to poison
3057and death. 
3058
3059Andraste: Bride of the Maker
3060
3061There was once a tiny fishing village on the Waking Sea that was set upon 
3062by the Tevinter Imperium, which enslaved the villagers to be sold in the 
3063markets of Minrathous, leaving behind only the old and the infirm. One of
3064the captives was the child Andraste.
3065
3066She was raised in slavery in a foreign land. She escaped, then made the 
3067long and treacherous journey back to her homeland alone. She rose from 
3068nothing to be the wife of an Alamarri warlord.
3069
3070Each day she sang to the gods, asking them to help her people who 
3071remained slaves in Tevinter. The false gods of the mountains and the 
3072winds did not answer her, but the true god did.
3073
3074The Maker spoke. He showed her all the works of His hands: the Fade, the
3075world, and all the creatures therein. He showed her how men had 
3076forgotten Him, lavishing devotion upon mute idols and demons, and how
3077He had left them to their fate. But her voice had reached Him, and so 
3078
3079captivated Him that He offered her a place at His side, that she might rule 
3080all of creation.
3081
3082But Andraste would not forsake her people.  
3083
3084She begged the Maker to return, to save His children from the cruelty of 
3085the Imperium. Reluctantly, the Maker agreed to give man another chance. 
3086
3087Andraste went back to her husband, Maferath, and told him all that the 
3088Maker had revealed to her. Together, they rallied the Alamarri and 
3089marched forth against the mage-lords of the Imperium, and the Maker 
3090was with them.
3091
3092The Maker's sword was creation itself: fire and flood, famine and 
3093earthquake. Everywhere they went, Andraste sang to the people of the 
3094Maker, and they heard her. The ranks of Andraste's followers grew until 
3095they were a vast tide washing over the Imperium. And when Maferath 
3096saw that the people loved Andraste and not him, a worm grew within his 
3097heart, gnawing upon it.
3098
3099At last, the armies of Andraste and Maferath stood before the very gates 
3100of Minrathous, but Andraste was not with them, for Maferath had 
3101schemed in secret to hand Andraste over to the Tevinter. For this, the 
3102archon would give Maferath all the lands to the south of the Waking Sea.
3103
3104And so, before all the armies of the Alamarri and of Tevinter, Andraste 
3105was tied to a stake and burned while her earthly husband turned his 
3106armies aside and did nothing, for his heart had been devoured. But as he 
3107watched the pyre, the archon softened. He took pity on Andraste, and 
3108drew his sword, and granted her the mercy of a quick death.
3109
3110The Maker wept for His Beloved, cursed Maferath, cursed mankind for 
3111their betrayal, and turned once again from creation, taking only Andraste 
3112with him. And Our Lady sits still at his side, where she still urges Him to 
3113take pity on His children.
3114
3115--From The Sermons of Justinia II
3116
3117Andraste in Nude Repose - Invisible
3118
3119Can stone lie with purpose? Can it beckon with raw feminine command, 
3120yet shine with an inspiring virtue? That challenge was posed to sculptor 
3121Arwand de Glace, artisan and son of Empress Vougiene of Orlais. It was 
3122busywork and rhetoric in a time of excess, but answer he did--with the 
3123reserves of a nation and a passion unhealthy. His subject? Our Lady, 
3124though not as depicted in traditional statuary.
3125
3126Arwand's mad ambition summoned the form of Andraste uninterrupted 
3127by the trappings of war and devoid of the vestments she assumed after 
3128death. It was living, commanding, obscene, yet inspired. To gaze upon it 
3129was to be enthralled, spiritually and physically. It was the latter that 
3130alarmed Chantry officials. They blanched at the thought of Our Lady 
3131being possessed of such a base appeal, even as they, too, were drawn.
3132
3133The work could not be destroyed without threatening the balance between
3134empire and hallowed, so a grave censorship was enacted under the guise 
3135of honoring. Enchanters were tasked with extending the ethereal that 
3136hides the Fade, drawing it around the form like a cloak. Our Lady remains
3137in the stone and in this world, but mortal eyes are forever denied her 
3138treasure and glory. She is veiled in every sense.
3139
3140As in all things, unintended consequences must vex those with pure 
3141intentions. Modesty would have been better served by a thickened sheet, 
3142drawn back when techniques were to be studied. As it is, the sculptor's 
3143skills are accessible only to an exploring touch, defining the shape by 
3144intimate caress. All manner of strange congress has stemmed from 
3145tempted hands and the innocent wish for clarity.
3146
3147--From Art and Shame: Forbidden Wonders of Faith by Foisine de 
3148Petitforet, translated by Philliam, a Bard! 
3149
3150Apostate's Courage
3151
3152Among the magi, some still whisper of Caleth the Renegade. Seeking 
3153freedom from beneath the templars' heel, he fled the Chantry with a cabal 
3154of his most loyal acolytes. They reached the mountains before the winter 
3155
3156squalls and lived there as free men for one glorious season. The spring 
3157thaws brought a vast mercenary army, however, paid for and led by the 
3158Templar Order. Wanting to avoid bloodshed, Caleth and his acolytes 
3159surrendered peaceably and allowed themselves to be made Tranquil.
3160
3161Arlathan: Part One
3162
3163Before the ages were named or numbered, our people were glorious and 
3164eternal and never-changing. Like the great oak tree, they were constant in 
3165their traditions, strong in their roots, and ever reaching for the sky. 
3166
3167They felt no need to rush when life was endless. They worshipped their 
3168gods for months at a time. Decisions came after decades of debate, and an 
3169introduction could last for years. From time to time, our ancestors would 
3170drift into centuries-long slumber, but this was not death, for we know 
3171they wandered the Fade in dreams. 
3172
3173In those ages, our people called all the land Elvhenan, which in the old 
3174language means "place of our people." And at the center of the world 
3175stood the great city of Arlathan, a place of knowledge and debate, where 
3176the best of the ancient elves would go to trade knowledge, greet old 
3177friends, and settle disputes that had gone on for millennia.
3178
3179But while our ancestors were caught up in the forever cycle of ages, 
3180drifting through life at what we today would consider an intolerable pace,
3181the world outside the lush forests and ancient trees was changing.
3182
3183The humans first arrived from Par Vollen to the north. Called shemlen, or 
3184"quicklings," by the ancients, the humans were pitiful creatures whose 
3185lives blinked by in an instant. When they first met the elves, the humans 
3186were brash and warlike, quick to anger and quicker to fight, with no 
3187patience for the unhurried pace of elven diplomacy.
3188
3189But the humans brought worse things than war with them. Our ancestors 
3190proved susceptible to human diseases, and for the first time in history, 
3191elves died of natural causes. What's more, those elves who spent time 
3192bartering and negotiating with humans found themselves aging, tainted 
3193by the humans' brash and impatient lives. Many believed that the ancient 
3194
3195gods had judged them unworthy of their long lives and cast them down 
3196among the quicklings. Our ancestors came to look upon the humans as 
3197parasites, which I understand is similar to the way the humans see our 
3198people in the cities. The ancient elves immediately moved to close 
3199Elvhenan off from the humans, for fear that this quickening effect would 
3200crumble the civilization.
3201
3202--"The Fall of Arlathan," as told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the 
3203Dalish elves.
3204
3205Arlathan: Part Two
3206
3207You ask what happened to Arlathan? Sadly, we do not know. Even those 
3208of us who keep the ancient lore have no record of what truly happened. 
3209What we have are accounts of the days before the fall, and a fable of the 
3210whims of the gods.
3211
3212The human world was changing even as the elves slept. Clans and tribes 
3213gave way to a powerful empire called Tevinter, which--and for what 
3214reason we do not know--moved to conquer Elvhenan. When they 
3215breached the great city of Arlathan, our people, fearful of disease and loss 
3216of immortality, chose to flee rather than fight. With magic, demons, and 
3217even dragons at their behest, the Tevinter Imperium marched easily 
3218through Arlathan, destroying homes and galleries and amphitheaters that 
3219had stood for ages. Our people were corralled as slaves, and human 
3220contact quickened their veins until every captured elf turned mortal. The 
3221elves called to their ancient gods, but there was no answer.
3222
3223As to why the gods didn't answer, our people left only a legend. They say 
3224that Fen'Harel, tahe Dread Wolf and Lord of Tricksters, approached the 
3225ancient gods of good and evil and proposed a truce. The gods of good 
3226would remove themselves to heaven, and the lords of evil would exile 
3227themselves to the abyss, neither group ever again to enter the other's 
3228lands. But the gods did not know that Fen'Harel had planned to betray 
3229them, and by the time they realized the Dread Wolf’s treachery, they were 
3230sealed in their respective realms, never again to interact with the mortal 
3231world. It is a fable, to be sure, but those elves who travel the Beyond claim
3232
3233that Fen'Harel still roams the world of dreams, keeping watch over the 
3234gods lest they escape from their prisons.
3235
3236Whatever the case, Arlathan had fallen to the very humans our people had
3237once considered mere pests. It is said that the Tevinter magisters used 
3238their great destructive power to force the very ground to swallow 
3239Arlathan whole, destroying eons of collected knowledge, culture, and art. 
3240The whole of elven lore left only to memory.
3241
3242--"The Fall of Arlathan," as told by Gisharel, Keeper of the Ralaferin Clan of the 
3243Dalish Elves.
3244
3245The Basket of Lost Socks
3246
3247In my career as first enchanter of the Circle of Ansburg, I have lost 208 
3248socks of various and sundry description. Utterly. Without a trace. Ser 
3249Mallorick, the templar who supervises the Circle's laundry rooms, assures 
3250me that this is a common natural phenomenon.
3251
3252Hogwash, I say! It is physically impossible for an article of the material 
3253world to vanish completely and leave no signs of its passage. The only 
3254rational explanation, therefore, must be that the disappearances are 
3255magical in origin. This, I hope, will be the definitive treatise on the subject.
3256
3257I set upon my research with the following premise: Since it is a well-
3258known fact that objects of worldly origin cannot travel between places on 
3259Thedas without crossing the intervening distance, then socks must 
3260originate in the Fade itself. They are emanations of some spirit projected 
3261into the waking world and whimsically recalled when the spirit desires.
3262
3263I therefore devised a plan to observe my socks over a period of eight 
3264months; I hid within a sock-blind so that I might catch them unawares--
3265both in the physical realm and in the Fade--and hopefully witness their 
3266natural behavior firsthand.
3267
3268--From The Interplay of Spirits in the Common Laundry Room, by First 
3269Enchanter Luidweg of Ansburg 
3270
3271The Ben-Hassrath
3272
3273The ox-men do not kill their prisoners. The Qun abhors waste, and a 
3274person is a valuable commodity. Instead of death, we found ourselves 
3275housed in a labor camp run by the Ben-Hassrath. They called us 
3276"kabethari"--simple ones--and this was where we were to be inducted 
3277into the Qun.
3278
3279The accommodations were no match for the State Inn in Minrathous, but 
3280we never expected them to be. Our dormitory was kept spotless, and we 
3281were fed three daily meals of a bland but nourishing porridge. Water and 
3282a strong unsweetened tea were always available as well.
3283
3284Both males and females are chosen to join the Ben-Hassrath, which struck 
3285me as peculiar. I'd always heard that the Qunari drew distinctions 
3286between what counted as men's work and women's work. Thinking on it, 
3287however, perhaps it makes sense. The Ben-Hassrath are responsible for 
3288"re-education" and the assimilation of conqured peoples. Both women and
3289men, in my experience, relate better to those of their own sex. It is thus 
3290prudent to choose women for the re-education of women and children, 
3291and men for that of men.
3292
3293To their credit, the Ben-Hassrath were never cruel. They were always 
3294reasonable, if firm. I played along, repeating what they taught, but 
3295holding in my heart the truths by which I was raised.
3296
3297Others were not so clever. Some of my platoon resisted the indoctrination,
3298refusing even to pretend. The Ben-Hassrath see rebellion and discontent 
3299as an illness that can be cured, and they took these men to the 
3300"viddathlok," temples dedicated to healing and recovery. I do not know 
3301what happened there. The men who returned were changed in profound 
3302ways.
3303
3304Others, we never saw again. I can only assume the "cure" did not take. 
3305
3306--From the memoirs of an Imperial soldier captured at sea 
3307
3308Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons
3309
3310It is challenging enough for the casual observer to tell the difference 
3311between the Fade and the creatures that live within it, let alone between 
3312one type of spirit and another. In truth, there is little that distinguishes 
3313them, even for the most astute mages. Since spirits are not physical 
3314entities and are therefore not restricted to recognizable forms (or even 
3315having a form at all), one can never tell for certain what is alive and what 
3316is merely part of the scenery. (It is therefore advisable for the 
3317inexperienced researcher to greet all objects he encounters.)
3318
3319Typically, we misuse the term "spirit" to refer only to the benign, or at 
3320least less malevolent, creatures of the Fade, but in truth, all the denizens of
3321the realm beyond the Veil are spirits. As the Chant of Light notes, 
3322everything within the Fade is a mimicry of our world. (A poor imitation, 
3323for the spirits do not remotely understand what they are copying. It is no 
3324surprise that much of the Fade appears like a manuscript translated from 
3325Tevinter into Orlesian and back again by drunken initiates.)
3326
3327In general, spirits are not complex. Or, rather, they are not complex as we 
3328understand such things. Each one seizes upon a single facet of human 
3329experience: Rage, hunger, compassion, hope, etc. This one idea becomes 
3330their identity. We classify as demons those spirits who identify themselves
3331with darker human emotions and ideas.
3332
3333The most common and weakest form of demon one encounters in the 
3334Fade is the rage demon. They are much like perpetually boiling kettles, for
3335they exist only to vent hatred, but rarely have an object to hate. Somewhat 
3336above these are the hunger demons, who do little but eat or attempt to eat 
3337everything they encounter, including other demons (this is rarely 
3338successful). Then there are the sloth demons. These are the first intelligent 
3339creatures one typically finds in the Fade. They are dangerous only on 
3340those rare occasions that they can be induced to get up and do harm. 
3341Desire demons are more clever, and far more powerful, using all forms of 
3342bribery to induce mortals into their realms: Wealth, love, vengeance, 
3343whatever lies closest to your heart. The most powerful demons yet 
3344encountered are the pride demons, perhaps because they, among all their 
3345kind, most resemble men.
3346
3347--From Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons, by Enchanter Mirdromel.
3348
3349Blood Magic: The Forbidden School
3350
3351Foul and corrupt are you
3352Who have taken My gift
3353And turned it against My children.
3354--Transfigurations 18:10.
3355
3356The ancient Tevinters did not originally consider blood magic a school of 
3357its own. Rather, they saw it as a means to achieve greater power in any 
3358school of magic. The name, of course, refers to the fact that magic of this 
3359type uses life, specifically in the form of blood, instead of mana. It was 
3360common practice, at one time, for a magister to keep a number of slaves 
3361on hand so that, should he undertake the working of a spell that was 
3362physically beyond his abilities, he could use the blood of his slaves to 
3363bolster the casting.
3364
3365Over time, however, the Imperium discovered types of spells that could 
3366only be worked by blood. Although lyrium will allow a mage to send his 
3367conscious mind into the Fade, blood would allow him to find the sleeping 
3368minds of others, view their dreams, and even influence or dominate their 
3369thoughts. Just as treacherous, blood magic allows the Veil to be opened 
3370completely so that demons may physically pass through it into our world. 
3371
3372Thought for some time to have been stamped out in the Imperium, the 
3373practice of blood magic seems to be on the rise in recent years. The current
3374Black Divine has lifted most of the prohibitions against dreamwalking, 
3375and so many mages in the Imperium now use it openly in the name of 
3376research.
3377
3378--From The Four Schools: A Treatise, Third Edition, by First Enchanter 
3379Josephus.
3380
3381The Box of Screaming
3382
3383I received the box from a man I met in the Silent Plains. He spoke little 
3384and would not reveal his name. For reasons I shall not detail here, I had 
3385been kidnapped and left for dead in that gray, wind-blasted wasteland.
3386
3387After days of walking, I was parched and close to death. I was about to 
3388dash my head on a rock to speed my passing when the man arrived. He 
3389possessed a waterskin containing ample water for a person traveling from 
3390our location to the to the Imperial Highway. From there, he said, I could 
3391find my way to Solas or Perivantium. He offered to give me the waterskin 
3392if I agreed to take three things from him: a glowing crystalline shard, a 
3393bronze sphere, and an iron-bound box with no hinges.
3394
3395I asked the man if he wished to have these items delivered. He said that he
3396merely wanted me to have them. It was an odd request, but I was too 
3397weak and too desperate to think much of it. And so I agreed. The man put 
3398the items into a leather sack, which he handed to me along with the water.
3399
3400"What about you?" I asked. He said nothing, only pointed in the direction 
3401from which I had come. "There is nothing that way," I said. He merely 
3402smiled at me.
3403
3404I found the Imperial Highway about a day later, and a caravan driver 
3405agreed to take me to Perivantium in exchange for the large glowing shard.
3406In Perivantium, I bartered the bronze sphere for new clothes and room at 
3407the inn. That night I examined the iron-bound box and found no way to 
3408open it. I held it to my ear, and thought I heard slow, measured breathing 
3409coming from within. My mind was afire with curiosity, and I obtained 
3410from the innkeeper a large hammer, thinking to smash the thing open. The
3411moment the hammer touched the box, it shrieked--the shrill sound 
3412pierced the depths of my soul.
3413
3414I gave the box to the innkeeper in the morning and felt better for having 
3415rid myself of it.
3416
3417--A page ripped from a mysterious journal, on display in the Black Emporium
3418
3419Broken Dowsing Rods - No Refunds
3420
3421There have been several Chantry investigations to determine whether the 
3422dowsers' art is magical in nature, but nothing conclusive has ever been 
3423determined. In 3:86 Towers, Divine Joyous II declared that the practice of 
3424dowsing was freely permitted by the Chantry on the grounds that 
3425dowsers never attempted to use their skills for nefarious purposes.
3426
3427A brief theological debate ensued over what sort of nefarious purposes a 
3428dowser might have; the worst possible dowsing-related crime suggested 
3429by Grand Cleric Willhemina of Hossberg was that they might go looking 
3430for poisonous worms which could be left in the chantry offertory. The 
3431Chantry agreed that this, while unacceptable, was a relatively mild threat.
3432
3433--From Of Fires, Circles, and Templars: A History of Magic in the Chantry
3434by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
3435
3436Bust of the Outlaw Bearded Beast
3437
3438What in this fearsome visage appeals to us? What virtue can this 
3439otherwise uncouth and generally suspect creature inform?
3440
3441Raw, fiercely bearded aggression, not so much carved as inflicted by the 
3442chisel. Common humor claims that whole figures are carved, then 
3443sundered to the bust, the limbs used to beat the form from the next 
3444sculptor's block. Examples are common and deliberately crude--none 
3445claim to be an accurate representation of a specific person and the name is 
3446irrelevant, often stolen from the fears of the day.
3447
3448So if it is not the honoring of a villain turned folk hero, what is left to 
3449discern? What does this say about the manners of court, that beneath is an 
3450affectation for such unfettered and brutal images of strength. What is 
3451hidden by this beard?
3452
3453--Musings on a Form: The Beast, as collected by Jun Emond, Esr. 
3454
3455The Cardinal Rules of Magic
3456
3457You must not be under the misimpression that magic is all-powerful. 
3458There are limits, and not even the greatest mages may overcome them.
3459
3460No one, for instance, has found any means of traveling--either over great 
3461distances or small ones--beyond putting one foot in front of the other. The 
3462immutable nature of the physical world prevents this. So no, you may not 
3463simply pop over to Minrathous to borrow a cup of sugar, nor may you 
3464magic the essay you "forgot" in the apprentice dormitory to your desk. 
3465You will simply have to be prepared.
3466
3467Similarly, even when you send your mind into the Fade, your body 
3468remains behind. Only once has this barrier been overcome, and reputedly 
3469the spell required two-thirds of the lyrium in the Tevinter Imperium as 
3470well as the lifeblood of several hundred slaves. The results were utterly 
3471disastrous.
3472
3473Finally, life is finite. A truly great healer may bring someone back from 
3474the very precipice of death, when breath and heartbeat have ceased but 
3475the spirit still clings to life. But once the spirit has fled the body, it cannot 
3476be recalled. That is no failing of your skills or power, it is simple reality.
3477
3478--From The Lectures of First Enchanter Wenselus.
3479
3480The Carta
3481
3482The casteless dwarves of Orzammar have few prospects. Consigned to 
3483live in a crumbling ruin on the social and economic fringes of the mighty 
3484dwarven capital, most resort to begging, prostitution, or crime.
3485
3486Just as all rivers eventually join the sea, all casteless who turn to crime 
3487eventually become part of the Carta. The Hero of Ferelden decimated the 
3488ranks of this ancient gang while rallying the dwarves to join in the battle 
3489against the Archdemon Urthemiel. Unable to recover the power they once 
3490had in Orzammar, they turned their attention "topside," using groups of 
3491surface-dwelling dwarves to smuggle weapons, lyrium, surface luxuries, 
3492people, and other goods between Orzammar and human lands.
3493
3494Despite the flow of business, its members are still desperate and violent. 
3495With no strong leader to rein in their excesses, they have little sense of 
3496dwarven honor, and freely break their word, double-cross allies, and 
3497renege on deals.
3498
3499--From The Stone and Her Children: Dwarves of the Dragon Age, by 
3500Brother Genitivi 
3501
3502Chantry Hierarchy
3503
3504The Divine is the titular head of the Chantry, although since the Schism 
3505split the Imperial Chantry into its own faction there are now in fact two 
3506Divines at any one time. One Divine, informally called the White Divine, 
3507is a woman housed in the Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux. The other, 
3508known as the Black Divine, is a man housed in the Argent Spire in 
3509Minrathous.
3510
3511Neither Divine recognizes the existence of the other, and the informal 
3512names are considered sacrilegious. No matter the gender, a Divine is 
3513addressed as "Most Holy" or "Your Perfection."
3514
3515Beneath the rank of Divine is the grand cleric. Each grand cleric presides 
3516over numerous chantries and represents the highest religious authority for
3517their region. They travel to Val Royeaux when the College of Clerics 
3518convenes, but otherwise remain where they are assigned. All grand clerics
3519are addressed as "Your Grace."
3520
3521Beneath the grand cleric is the mother (or, in the Imperial Chantry, the 
3522father). If a mother is in charge of a particular chantry, "revered" is 
3523appended to her title. These are the priests responsible for administering 
3524to the spiritual well-being of their flock. A mother or revered mother is 
3525addressed as "Your Reverence."
3526
3527Brothers and sisters form the rank and file of the Chantry and consist of 
3528three main groups: affirmed, initiates, and clerics. Affirmed are the lay-
3529brethren of the Chantry, those regular folk who have turned to the 
3530Chantry for succor. Often they are people who have led a difficult or 
3531
3532irreligious life and have chosen to go into seclusion, or even orphans and 
3533similar unfortunates who were raised into the Chantry life. The affirmed 
3534take care of the Chantry and are in turn afforded a life of quiet 
3535contemplation, no questions asked. 
3536
3537Only those folk who take vows become initiates. These are men and 
3538women in training, whether in academic knowledge or the martial skills 
3539of a warrior. All initiates receive an academic education, although only 
3540those who seek to become templars learn how to fight in addition. 
3541
3542Clerics are the true academics of the Chantry, those men and women who 
3543have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of knowledge. They are often 
3544found in Chantry archives, sages presiding over libraries of books and 
3545arcane knowledge. The most senior of these clerics, placed in charge of 
3546such archives, are given the title "elder," although such a rank is still 
3547beneath that of mother. All other brothers and sisters are addressed 
3548simply by noting their title before their name, such as "Brother Genitivi."
3549
3550--From a guide for ambassadors from Rivain.
3551
3552Chest of Unanswered Invitations
3553
3554In a peculiar shop in Kirkwall, a large chest sits filled with letters and 
3555cards. Upon closer inspection, each is an invitation. Events of every 
3556possible description are represented: grand balls held in the palace at Val 
3557Royeaux, the wedding of the reigning king and queen of Nevarra, 
3558countless naming day parties, the Chantry's solstice celebrations for six 
3559consecutive years in Cumberland, five different versions of the invitation 
3560to the funeral of Ser Roland Ferrar dated five years apart.
3561
3562Ship-naming ceremonies. Quickly-penned notes suggesting business 
3563lunches, one signed in blood. Several invitations to duels sent between the
3564same two families in Antiva City over a period of forty years. Nineteen 
3565letters from members of the Dwarven Merchants Guild addressed to 
3566Varric Tethras of Kirkwall, asking him to attend critical guild meetings. 
3567One very fine embossed card, yellowing with age, from the Grand 
3568Cathedral inviting the King of Antiva to tea with Divine Theodosia II.
3569
3570Given their current location, it seems unlikely any of these invitations 
3571were answered by their intended recipients, and less likely that they were 
3572ever received at all. Would anyone buy such things? I can hardly imagine.
3573
3574--From the letters of Brother Ferdinand Genitivi to Sister Petrine, Chantry 
3575scholar 
3576
3577The Chevaliers
3578
3579I remember, as a child, watching a column of chevaliers parade down a 
3580wide avenue in Val Royeaux. Dashing knights on armored steeds, 
3581pennants snapping in the breeze. I have never forgotten. 
3582
3583Most of the Orlesian aristocracy has ties to the chevaliers. Joining the 
3584knighthood and dedicating one's life to the empire is a tried and true 
3585method to improve one's social standing. It is the obvious choice for 
3586landless nobles and noble children not in line to inherit.
3587
3588The knighthood welcomes both men and women, although it is rare for a 
3589woman to choose the harsh life of a chevalier over the gentle bliss of 
3590marriage and children or the peace of the Chantry. Those who do are 
3591following in the footsteps of the first woman knight, Aveline, but we hope
3592that not all meet as ghastly an end as she did.
3593
3594Sadly, some members of the order abuse their power to commit atrocities 
3595that will not be recounted here. All decent Orlesians know them to be no 
3596true knights. One day, they shall answer to the Maker Himself.
3597
3598--From Orlais: A Modern History, by Revered Mother Laeticia 
3599
3600The City Elves
3601
3602When the holy Exalted March of the Dales resulted in the dissolution of 
3603the elven kingdom, leaving a great many elves homeless once again, the 
3604Divine Renata I declared that all lands loyal to the Chantry must give the 
3605elves refuge within their own walls. Considering the atrocities committed 
3606by the elves at Red Crossing, this was a great testament to the Chantry's 
3607
3608charity. There was one condition, however--the elves were to lay aside 
3609their pagan gods and live under the rule of the Chantry.
3610
3611Some of the elves refused our goodwill. They banded together to form the 
3612wandering Dalish elves, keeping their old elven ways--and their hatred of 
3613humans--alive. To this day, Dalish elves still terrorize those of us who 
3614stray too close to their camps. Most of the elves, however, saw that it was 
3615wisest to live under the protection of humans.
3616And so we took the elves into our cities and tried to integrate them. We 
3617invited them into our own homes and gave them jobs as servants and 
3618farmhands. Here, in Denerim, the elves even have their own quarter, 
3619governed by an elven keeper. Most have proven to be productive 
3620members of society. Still, a small segment of the elven community remains
3621dissatisfied. These troublemakers and malcontents roam the streets 
3622causing mayhem, rebelling against authority and making a general 
3623nuisance of themselves.
3624
3625--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3626
3627The Coterie
3628
3629Kirkwall is built on a solid foundation of greed and human suffering, and 
3630its underworld is a place where everything is for sale and everyone is fair 
3631game.
3632
3633There are many criminal empires within the city, some of which have been
3634around since the Imperium used Kirkwall as a hub in the slave trade. 
3635Alliances, spying, manipulation, betrayal, and open warfare is all 
3636commonplace in the never-ending struggle for power.
3637
3638The Coterie is a thieves' guild that has been around for almost a century, 
3639but until recently was never a major player in the underworld. Some 
3640twenty years ago, the strongest of the local criminal empires was an 
3641ancient guild known as the Sabrathan, but its leader was betrayed from 
3642within, and during the turmoil the Coterie made a successful grab for 
3643power.
3644
3645Since then, they've sunk their claws into almost every level of Kirkwall, 
3646
3647including the city guard, the Dwarven Merchants Guild, and some of the 
3648most influential citizens in the city. It's safe to say that the Coterie gets a 
3649slice of every pie, and very little goes on in Kirkwall that escapes their 
3650notice.
3651
3652--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
3653Brother Genitivi 
3654
3655Crate of Live Death Watch Beetles
3656
3657The loud tapping sound of the Death Watch Beetle is widely believed to 
3658foretell a death in the household. In Nevarra, the beetle is prized; 
3659households sometimes keep one in a small cage for good luck. However, 
3660the Rivaini, consider them to be an extremely ill omen, and kill the beetles 
3661on sight.
3662
3663The strangest reaction to the Death Watch Beetle, however, happened in 
3664Val Royeaux in 8:62 Blessed. Upon the death of her husband after a long 
3665illness, Lady Ivaline Fernande took to the beetles, so much that she 
3666commissioned a dark silken gown patterned after its distinctive 
3667appearance, right down to the legs and wings. Her arrival at the royal 
3668court in this ensemble sent a stir throughout the empire. Within a week, 
3669every dowager in Orlais was wearing beetle brooches, beetle masks, and 
3670capes evoking beetle wings.
3671
3672The sensation finally came to an end when the Widow of Lord Verchin 
3673appeared at a ball with live Death Watch Beetles in her hair. One fell onto 
3674the emperor while he was greeting Lady Verchin, and His Imperial 
3675Majesty's scream could clearly be heard on the outskirts of the city. The 
3676horrified emperor declared that never again were the creatures to appear 
3677in his sight.
3678
3679--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
3680Brother Genitivi 
3681
3682The Cult of the Sky
3683
3684The thane of Wyvern Hold, so the story goes, had a vision and in it he 
3685beheld his clan, sleeping, deep in their cups after a feast. And as he 
3686watched, they transformed one by one into serpents. The only ones who 
3687escaped this fate were those snatched up by eagles and carried away.
3688
3689The thane took this to mean that a terrible calamity would befall his 
3690people and that only the Lady of the Skies could save them. So the 
3691Wyvern clan forswore all other gods and devoted themselves to the Lady.
3692
3693But the other Avvar clans feared that the disrespect of Clan Wyvern 
3694would bring the wrath of Korth the Mountain-Father upon their people. 
3695The other thanes tried words and then blades to change Wyvern's ways 
3696without success.
3697
3698When the Tevinter Imperium came with their legions to claim the 
3699mountains, many clans were wiped out, enslaved, or forced to flee across 
3700the Waking Sea to the south.
3701Clan Wyvern, however, was not among them. They simply disappeared. 
3702And to this day some Avvar thanes will tell you--if they have had enough
3703mead--that the last any soul ever saw of the Wyvern clan was a great 
3704flight of eagles descending to their hold.
3705
3706--From "Tales of the Mountain-People," by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
3707
3708The Dalish Elves
3709
3710In time, the human empires will crumble. We have seen it happen 
3711countless times. Until then, we wait, we keep to the wild border lands, we 
3712raise halla and build aravels and present a moving target to the humans 
3713around us. We try to keep hold of the old ways, to relearn what was 
3714forgotten.
3715
3716We call to the ancient gods, although they do not answer and have not 
3717heard us since before the fall of Arlathan, so that one day they might 
3718remember us: Elgar'nan the Eldest of the Sun and He Who Overthrew His 
3719Father, Mythal the Protector, Fen'Harel the Dread Wolf, Andruil the 
3720
3721Huntress, Falon'Din the Friend of the Dead, Dirthamen the Keeper of 
3722Secrets, Ghilan'nain the Mother of Halla, June the Master of Crafts, and 
3723Sylaise the Hearthkeeper.
3724
3725We gather every ten years for the Arlathvhen, to retell the ancient stories 
3726and keep them alive. For when the human kingdoms are gone, we must 
3727be ready to teach the others what it means to be elves. 
3728
3729--As told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
3730
3731Darkspawn
3732
3733Those who had sought to claim 
3734Heaven by violence destroyed it. What was 
3735Golden and pure turned black. 
3736Those who had once been mage-lords, 
3737The brightest of their age,
3738Were no longer men, but monsters.
3739--Threnodies 12:1.
3740
3741Sin was the midwife that ushered the darkspawn into this world.  The 
3742magisters fell from the Golden City, and their fate encompassed all our 
3743world's. For they were not alone.
3744
3745No one knows where the darkspawn come from. A dark mockery of men, 
3746in the darkest places they thrive, growing in numbers as a plague of 
3747locusts will. In raids, they will often take captives, dragging their victims 
3748alive into the Deep Roads, but most evidence suggests that these are eaten.
3749Like spiders, it seems darkspawn prefer their food still breathing. Perhaps 
3750they are simply spawned by the darkness. Certainly, we know that evil 
3751has no trouble perpetuating itself.
3752
3753The last Blight was in the Age of Towers, striking once again at the heart 
3754of Tevinter, spreading south into Orlais and east into the Free Marches. 
3755The plagues spread as far as Ferelden, but the withering and twisting of 
3756the land stopped well beyond our borders. Here, darkspawn have never 
3757been more than the stuff of legends. In the northern lands, however, 
3758particularly Tevinter and the Anderfels, they say darkspawn haunt the 
3759
3760hinterlands, preying on outlying farmers and isolated villages, a constant 
3761threat.
3762
3763--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3764
3765Death of a Templar
3766
3767The dry, dusty earth swallows up salty drops that splatter its surface. A 
3768tiny insect pauses, sensing the vibrations, and scurries off, leaving behind 
3769its invisible enemy. As the drops fall, the dark circles merge together, 
3770expressing a mirror to their creator.
3771 
3772The primal emotions of bloodlust and sorrow blend into a lethal cocktail 
3773that breaks the strongest of men. The jurisdiction of strength must be left 
3774to the spirit, not arm nor chest. Only the wisest turn to His inner sanctuary
3775to partition the mind from an all-consuming madness. Seductive voices 
3776whispering promise of glory waiting down the weaker path of the flesh, 
3777bringing a death far worse than that of hot lead or steel. These blank, 
3778hollow promises will echo the unfathomable eternally.
3779
3780Living comfortably amongst material possessions, it is easy to 
3781misunderstand the true meaning of uncontrollable hate. Failing to 
3782understand the power of fighting against pure, unfaltering beliefs, against 
3783foes that listen only to their soul. Uncontrollable hate. Influenced and thus
3784removed from innocence. The scar is permanent and internal.
3785
3786The rain, now red, feeds the debt owed for actions passed. Seeking further
3787into the earth, as the mind draws slower. What was it that drew him, 
3788himself, to this situation? The mind ebbs and parts to a lingering memory 
3789of true innocence. He entered war as a newborn enters the world, 
3790unknowing of both the horrors and light of the Maker that will save him.
3791 
3792The sound of metal sliding along leather comes from above him. From the 
3793second he was born, to his soon-to-be dying breath, his mind was 
3794processing and analyzing knowledge and experiences. It is true that he 
3795thought he could be wise in his own eyes, but only the most humble 
3796recognizes that he knows very little. Bias, speculation and all of false 
3797pretenses make way to the sound of the sweeping steel, and then finally, 
3798
3799his soul, as ready as his eyes dry from this final understanding, enters His 
3800promise of its purist form.
3801
3802--From Death of a Templar, by Ser Andrew, Knight of Andraste and Templar 
3803archivist, 9:4 Dragon.
3804
3805Deathroot
3806
3807Deathroot has been used in magic and potion making for centuries. It's a 
3808fragile-looking plant with a thin stalk and purple flowers, which fruits 
3809once a year developing bright red fleshy pods that cause disorientation 
3810and dizziness if ingested.
3811
3812There are two varieties. The more common Arcanist Deathroot was first 
3813found by Archon Hadrianus when he discovered it growing on several 
3814dead slaves. The other, Lunatic's Deathroot, is most closely associated 
3815with the story of the courtesan Melusine, who sought revenge on a 
3816powerful magister and his family. She harvested the plant, baked it into 
3817small pies for the magister's banquet, and presented them to the magister 
3818at a banquet. All the guests were seized by terrifying hallucinations after 
3819eating the pies and tore each other to pieces.
3820
3821--An excerpt from The Botanical Compendium, by Ines Arancia, botanist 
3822
3823Deep Mushroom
3824
3825"Deep mushroom" refers to the entire group of fungi that grows 
3826underground in caves and many parts of the dwarven Deep Roads. 
3827Collection can be a dangerous task, as the Deep Roads are often infested 
3828with darkspawn. Because of this, dwarven merchants often recruit 
3829"casteless" hirelings for the job, and pay them a meager percentage of 
3830what they earn selling the mushrooms to surfacers.
3831
3832The most common varieties used in the herbalist's trade are the Blightcap, 
3833Ghoul's Mushroom, and Brimstone Mushroom, almost all of which tend 
3834to carry the darkspawn's corruption. While they cannot transmit the 
3835disease, this trait often makes them quite poisonous. Deep mushrooms 
3836
3837should only be handled by experienced
3838herbalists and should never be consumed without first being adequately 
3839cleaned and prepared. Careless consumption has been known to cause 
3840insanity, severe abdominal cramping, and even death.
3841
3842--An excerpt from The Botanical Compendium, by Ines Arancia, botanist 
3843
3844Deep Roads
3845
3846There isn't a dwarf alive who remembers the Deep Roads as they once 
3847were. They were the network of tunnels that joined the thaigs together. To
3848be honest, it isn't even right to give them such a simple term as "tunnels": 
3849They are works of art, with centuries of planning demonstrated in the 
3850geometry of their walls, with the statues of the Paragons that watch over 
3851travelers, with the flow of lava that keeps the Deep Roads lit and warm. 
3852The cloudgazers up on the surface talk of the Imperial Highway built by 
3853the magisters of old, a raised walkway that crossed thousands of miles, 
3854something that could only have been built by magic. Perhaps it is 
3855comparable to the Deep Roads, although we dwarves didn't need magic.
3856
3857I suppose it doesn't matter any more. The darkspawn rule the Deep Roads
3858now. When Orzammar sealed off the entrances to the Deep Roads, 
3859abandoning everything that lay out there, we handed over the kingdom-
3860that-was to those black bastards forever. To think that there are genlocks 
3861crawling over Bownammar now, tearing down our statues and defiling 
3862our greatest works! Corruption covers everything we built out there. 
3863Every dwarf who goes out and comes back says that it gets worse with 
3864each passing year, the foulness spread a little further.
3865
3866And the cloudgazers think the darkspawn are gone just because they 
3867aren't spilling out onto the surface? Huh. One day, when Orzammar is 
3868gone for good, they'll find out differently. Those darkspawn won't have 
3869anywhere else to go but up, and they'll do it. The surface folk will have 
3870themselves a Blight that will never end.
3871
3872--Transcript of a conversation with a member of the dwarven Mining Caste, 8:90
3873Blessed.
3874
3875Demonic Possession
3876
3877Why do demons seek to possess the living?
3878
3879History claims they are malevolent spirits, the first children of the Maker, 
3880angry at their creator for turning from them and jealous of those creations 
3881he considered superior. They stare across the Veil at the living and do not 
3882understand what they see, yet they know they crave it. They desire life, 
3883they pull the living across the Veil when they sleep and prey on their 
3884psyche with nightmares. Whenever they can, they cross the Veil into our 
3885world to possess it outright.
3886
3887We know that any demon will seek to possess a mage, and upon doing so 
3888will create an abomination. Most of the world does not know, however, 
3889that the strength of an abomination depends entirely on the power of the 
3890demon that possesses the mage. This is true, in fact, of all possessed 
3891creatures. One demon is not the same as any other.
3892
3893Demons can, for instance, be classified. Enchanter Brahm's categorization 
3894of demons into that portion of the psyche they primarily prey upon has 
3895held since the Tower Age.
3896
3897According to Brahm, the weakest and most common of demons are those 
3898of rage. They are the least intelligent and most prone to violent outbursts 
3899against anything living. They expend their energies quickly, the most 
3900powerful of them exhibiting great strength and occasionally the ability to 
3901generate fire.
3902
3903Next are the demons of hunger. In a living host they become cannibals 
3904and vampires, and within the dead they feed upon the living. Theirs are 
3905the powers of draining, both of life force and of mana.
3906
3907Next are the demons of sloth, the first on Brahm's scale that are capable of 
3908true intelligence. In its true form, this demon is known as a Shade, a thing 
3909which is nearly indistinct and invisible, for such is sloth's nature. It hides 
3910and stalks, unaware, and when confronted, it sows fatigue and apathy.
3911
3912Demons of desire are amongst the most powerful, and are the ones most 
3913likely to seek out the living and actively trick them into a deal. These 
3914
3915demons will exploit anything that can be coveted--wealth, power, lust--
3916and they will always end up getting far more than they give. A desire 
3917demon's province is that of illusions and mind control.
3918
3919Strongest of all demons are those of pride. These are the most feared 
3920creatures to loose upon the world: Masters of magic and in possession of 
3921vast intellect, they are the true schemers. It is they who seek most strongly
3922to possess mages, and will bring other demons across the Veil in numbers 
3923to achieve their own ends--although what that might be has never been 
3924discovered. A greater pride demon, brought across the Veil, would 
3925threaten the entire world.
3926
3927--From The Maker's First Children, by Bader, Senior Enchanter of Ostwick, 
39288:12 Blessed.
3929
3930The Demon's Gift
3931
3932Before the First Blight, there lived an old man and woman. One day, a 
3933beautiful stranger came to their house, seeking shelter. The old man and 
3934woman gave her food to eat and a downy mattress to sleep upon. In 
3935return, she offered them a golden mirror that would grant three wishes.
3936
3937Looking into the mirror, the woman frowned at her wrinkles and grey 
3938hair. "I wish I were young again," she said. Suddenly, the face of a lovely 
3939maiden stared back at her. The man angrily grabbed the mirror, saying, 
3940"You're so selfish! You could have given youth to us both! I wish you 
3941weren't so stupid." 
3942
3943At once, the woman was brilliant beyond measure and saw that her 
3944husband had never loved her; he tolerated her only because her age and 
3945ignorance made his own seem less by comparison.
3946
3947Angry now, the old woman grabbed for the mirror--at the same time, 
3948they both said, "I hate you. I wish that you get exactly what you deserve!" 
3949With that, they were back together, both ugly and old, but now knowing 
3950exactly how much contempt they had for each other. 
3951
3952Dragon's Blood
3953
3954Collecting dragon's blood is extremely difficult, even for the most 
3955accomplished dragon hunter. First, one must locate the increasingly rare 
3956creatures. Second, one must bleed it. However, I believe that at the 
3957moment of death, the blood loses something special--a certain fiery 
3958essence, perhaps. Of course, bleeding a live dragon is quite tricky.
3959
3960Dragon's blood has wide variety of uses, both magical and culinary. It's an
3961important component of rune-crafting and those like my great-
3962grandfather enjoy a sprinkling of the powdered stuff to their food at the 
3963dinner table.
3964
3965--From Discovering Dragon's Blood: Potions, Tinctures, and Spicy Sauces,
3966by Ferdinand Pentaghast 
3967
3968Dumat, the Dragon of Silence
3969
3970Dumat was the most powerful of the Old Gods, known as the Dragon of 
3971Silence for the vows of silence undertaken by his acolytes. Chantry lore 
3972claims it was he who taught the first magister, Archon Thalsian, the 
3973powers of blood magic. It was Dumat's followers who are believed to have
3974entered the Golden City, thereby corrupting it with their presence.
3975
3976Modern scholars question whether the Old Gods were truly gods, or 
3977whether they were merely a more advanced species of high dragon, 
3978possibly capable of magic or speech, that were worshipped by the ancient 
3979Tevinters. Whatever the truth of his history, Dumat was also the first of 
3980the imprisoned Old Gods to have been discovered by the darkspawn and 
3981thus transformed into the first Archdemon, the monstrous force behind 
3982the First Blight.
3983
3984--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
3985scholar
3986
3987Elfroot
3988
3989Elfroot was first used by the elves of Arlathan, hence the name. The root 
3990gave their medicines particular efficacy, so when the Imperium conquered
3991the elves, the magisters adopted its use and its popularity spread to all 
3992corners of the empire.
3993
3994Elfroot is a hardy plant with large green leaves that grows wild in many 
3995places. It's so common that it tends to show up in most gardens and fields,
3996almost like a weed. Unlike a weed, however, most people appreciate 
3997having access to the wonderful little plant. The roots can be used with 
3998very little preparation. Rubbing some of the juice on a wound, for 
3999example, will speed up healing and numb pain. And chewing on a slice of 
4000root treats minor ailments like indigestion, flatulence, and hoarse throats.
4001
4002There are several varieties, but the most useful for herbalists are the Bitter,
4003Gossamer, and Royal Elfroots.
4004
4005--An excerpt from The Botanical Compendium by Ines Arancia, botanist 
4006
4007Embrium
4008
4009Embriums are flowers from the orchid family. Its therapeutic qualities 
4010were actually discovered because of the embrium's exceptional beauty.
4011
4012The beloved daughter of Lord Ignace Poulenc of Orlais fell victim to a 
4013terrible sickness of the lungs, which her healers were unable to cure. 
4014Thinking the girl would soon perish, her parents surrounded her bed with
4015brightly colored flowers, hoping that they would bring some warmth and 
4016cheer in her last days. Oddly enough, the girl began to recover from the 
4017illness, and grew stronger each day. Her parents were baffled, but 
4018overjoyed. The healers eventually learned that the fragrance of one of the 
4019flowers eased the child's breathing. The flower was an embrium, and later 
4020became known as the Salubrious Embrium. 
4021
4022The other variant that has certain magical properties is known as Dark 
4023Embrium.
4024
4025--An excerpt from The Botanical Compendium by Ines Arancia, botanist 
4026
4027The Emergent Compendium
4028
4029Messere Darvies, you said that a scholar's life is not for everyone. Now I 
4030understand--I couldn't be more frustrated by the marvel I have sent you. 
4031Chief among its pre-Tevinter strangeness, the volumes are automatos: 
4032new entries appear of their own accord, with no scrivener's quill in sight. 
4033When a mage consultant says it's impossible, but your own eyes see it 
4034happen--and often--it's clearly a wonder.
4035
4036But the content! Each new addition is single image created unseen, 
4037accompanied by a line of gibberish. And what bogglers these imitari! 
4038Records of the mundane and the fantastic with no rhythm or weight. I 
4039have observed a dragon in flight, a man in regal robes but of a complexion
4040I have never seen, countless peoples at the moment of death, and no end 
4041of devices I cannot fathom in the least. The only image remotely familiar 
4042was extremely so: mine own wife! But the babble of the legend gave no 
4043hint to the significance, and that volume has since vanished.
4044
4045I cannot imagine the purpose, or the library that could hold what has 
4046surely been accumulated. It would be as though transcribing the 
4047individual birds of a flock twittering about you. A dozen images appeared
4048as I wrote this, and by the time you hold this, they will be lost in a 
4049thousand more. To be granted the world at once both intimate and distant 
4050is almost unbearable. I know so much is there, but can never know it, 
4051myself. It makes one feel very small, indeed.
4052
4053The newest pages:
4054-A newborn of Rivaini complexion subtitled "bE qlK"
4055-A hornless Qunari with tightly braided hair, subtitled "viqpbkle abfi 
4056vlskb beQ"
4057-My wife again! Subtitled "illc x akxypre obe ,prqflz qplM"
4058-Two shadowed spheres among stars subtitled "aboofqp iboxE'kbC px 
4059bpmfizb kX"
4060
4061--The notes of Scholar Bodaliere on The Emergent Compendium in the 
4062Original Tongue, author unknown 
4063
4064The Enigma of Kirkwall
4065
4066Ancient Tevinter lore is hard to come by, but there's history to be had here
4067in Kirkwall, the city once home to the Imperium's slave trade. 
4068
4069What answers does Kirkwall hold? Why look here instead of Perivantium 
4070or Vol Dorma? The Imperium does not give up its secrets easily. Even 
4071with the magisters centuries dead, our journey is perilous. Here on the 
4072dock of the Gallows, we renew our vows. And should we fail, search for 
4073the markings of the Band of Three. 
4074
4075--A tattered letter found under a cobblestone. It has curious markings and is 
4076signed, "The Band of Three" 
4077
4078***
4079
4080The viscount is suspicious, but the bribe was sufficient to gain access to 
4081the restricted section of the archives. The money would have been better 
4082spent elsewhere, the archives being almost devoid of Imperium-era 
4083records. 
4084
4085When the slaves revolted, they hunted magisters and burned the city--at 
4086least the parts that could be burned. One account says that the streets were
4087littered with piles of scrolls and books set aflame.
4088
4089Is our quest futile? Did the slaves destroy the answer? As Maferath's 
4090armies toppled the Imperium, they sent three magisters and their legions 
4091here. They never arrived. But why march here of all places? What were 
4092they coming for?
4093
4094--Behind a panel with curious markings, signed, "The Band of Three" 
4095
4096***
4097
4098It is as we thought. The quarries of Kirkwall were found after the city was 
4099sacked by the Imperium and after they started constructing the city. The 
4100Imperium found the mineral wealth, not the indigenous people. The 
4101histories give conflicting accounts on who lived here before the Imperium.
4102Some say the Alamarri. Some say the Daefads. We do know it was a 
4103
4104barbarian people who had little need of the metals in the hills.
4105
4106So why did the Imperium come here in such force? It is hard to disprove 
4107Brother Mikhel's theory that the natural harbor would be important for 
4108their armies, but magisters ruled, not common men. What barrier would a
4109simple sea pose to them? The wars with the Alamarri wouldn't start until 
4110centuries later.
4111
4112Each clue we find only leads to more questions, but we will not give up.
4113
4114--Underneath a pile of small boulders carved with curious markings and signed, 
4115"The Band of Three" 
4116
4117***
4118
4119In the back alleys of Lowtown you can find extraordinary things. Priceless
4120tomes of knowledge can be bought with a handful of gold: The Chant of 
4121Archon Lovais, a whole chapter of the Midnight Compendium. Some of 
4122these books were thought lost forever!
4123
4124And these are no forgeries. I've verified their authenticity myself. The 
4125fences have no inkling that what they're selling has value. Where did these
4126books come from?
4127
4128After several failed attempts, I got my answer underneath the city. There 
4129is a hive of hidden passages in Kirkwall's sewers. Now and then a lucky 
4130"sewer rat" comes across an unlooted chamber, and then a cache of ancient
4131Tevinter relics spreads through the black market. We must search below 
4132the city.
4133
4134--Underneath a cobblestone with curious markings, faintly glowing. It is signed, 
4135"The Band of Three" 
4136
4137***
4138
4139A maze of caves, sewers, and hidden passages! We found three Tevinter 
4140chambers already looted, but today (tonight?) we found one closed. It was
4141a small cell containing a few trinkets and a common tome, but it 
4142symbolizes hope. The magisters had hundreds of mages deep below 
4143Kirkwall. They lived and researched here, far from the scrutiny of 
4144
4145common men.
4146
4147Many ancient cities specialized in arcane research, but why did Kirkwall 
4148hide its efforts here? Why go to such great pains to keep it out of sight? 
4149Were they a cabal of renegade magisters? Or was this a special project of 
4150the archon?
4151
4152--Hidden in a small fissure near curious markings and signed, "The Band of 
4153Three" 
4154
4155***
4156
4157A master mason made a comment that set my mind afire. She said that of 
4158all the cities she's worked in, Kirkwall was the most difficult, and that the 
4159city is almost literally a maze. Recollecting my first years in Kirkwall, I 
4160have to agree. Getting lost was commonplace. The city was a sprawling 
4161mess.
4162
4163The mason showed me a plan of the city, and my heart skipped a beat. 
4164There were patterns in the intersections, back alleys, and boulevards. 
4165Some magisters believed in the power of symbols or shapes. In the oldest 
4166parts of the city, one can make out the outlines of glyphs in the very 
4167streets! What manner of magic is this?
4168
4169--Underneath a cobblestone with curious markings and signed, "The Band of 
4170Three" 
4171
4172***
4173
4174Ironically, the Chantry has the best records on the Imperium occupation 
4175that we've found--none of the forbidden texts, which have undoubtedly 
4176been destroyed, but many administrative records. In their cold, numbered
4177rows, misery is told. Thousands of slaves passed through the Gallows to 
4178work the mines or to be shipped elsewhere.
4179
4180The list of elven children is numbing: "three maimed, two mute, and four 
4181serviceable." These numbers don't add up. For every thousand slaves that 
4182came to Kirkwall, a hundred disappeared. I checked the tax rolls, as well, 
4183and the discrepancy exists there, too, if one has the wit to see it: 203 slaves 
4184went missing in the Imperium's 312th year! That's just one year. Other 
4185
4186records showed similar discrepancies. Over centuries, practically a whole 
4187civilization of slaves simply disappeared.
4188
4189--Hidden inside the cover of a book with curious markings and signed, "The 
4190Band of Three" 
4191
4192***
4193
4194After pursuing another dead end, we were attacked by maleficarum. I fear
4195V. will not make it. The fences must have tipped them off. Are they 
4196cultists trying to protect the answer? Are they after it themselves? Or was 
4197it a random attack?
4198
4199The mages of Kirkwall have a more troubled history than those in other 
4200Circles. A greater percentage of them do not survive the Harrowing, and a
4201greater percentage turn to blood magic--almost double that of Starkhaven
4202or Ostwick. Is there a secret fraternity delving into the Tevinter secrets of 
4203this city?
4204
4205Either way, we must be more careful, lest we become the Band of One. Or 
4206None.
4207
4208--Hidden under a cobblestone with curious markings and signed, "The Band of 
4209Three" 
4210
4211***
4212
4213Access has not been easy, and I fear my disguise will not bear great 
4214scrutiny. But I saw the records the templars say do not exist. The blood of 
4215countless slaves was spilled beneath the city in sacrifice. Whole buildings 
4216were built upon lakes of blood. The sewers have grooves where blood 
4217would flow, all leading down. The scale is hard to fathom.
4218
4219A blood mage can channel great power from a simple cut. At least a 
4220thousand unfortunates died here every year for centuries. For what 
4221ungodly purpose would one need so much power?
4222
4223I must retreat now before I am uncovered. But the answer is close.
4224
4225--Behind a panel with curious markings and signed, "The Band of Three"
4226
4227***
4228
4229It is well known that the Veil is thin in Kirkwall, small wonder given the 
4230suffering in the city. But we've discovered the magisters were deliberately 
4231thinning it even further. Beneath the city, demons can contact even normal
4232men. Did they seek the Black City to compound the madness of their 
4233previous efforts? Or was it something else? We've found a chamber where
4234the Veil is at its thinnest, long-since looted, but the power is still there. 
4235Tonight we will go there. Pray for us. Pray for us all.
4236
4237--Hidden behind a rock with curious markings and signed, "The Band of Three" 
4238
4239***
4240
4241A recent trove was uncovered. This one was big, perhaps the archon's 
4242visitation chambers. 
4243
4244And a flood of tomes is on the market. Even the simple fences know 
4245something is amiss--they've raised their prices at the frenzy of collectors. 
4246One said he sold a copy of the Fell Grimoire! I doubt he would lie; how 
4247could he know that tome is a mere legend?
4248
4249If that is real, then what of the Forgotten Ones? This journey has taken us 
4250to many strange places, and made us re-evaluate many former truths. 
4251Where will it end?
4252
4253--Hidden under a cobblestone with curious markings and signed, "The Band of 
4254Three" 
4255
4256***
4257
4258We went to the center of it all. F. is dead and I am alone and injured. I 
4259must go back and put an end to it. The maddening thing is there is still no 
4260answer. But the Forgotten One, or demon or whatever it is, must be 
4261destroyed. I fear one may already be unbound.
4262
4263I foreswear my oaths. The magister's lore must be burned and the ashes 
4264scattered. No good can come of it. And Maker help us if someone does 
4265answer what we could not.
4266
4267--Hidden near curious markings and signed, "The Band of Three"
4268
4269The Fade
4270
4271The study of the Fade is as old as humankind. For so long as men have 
4272dreamed, we have walked its twisting paths, sometimes catching a 
4273glimpse of the city at its heart. Always as close as our own thoughts, but 
4274impossibly separated from our world.
4275
4276The Tevinter Imperium once spent vast fortunes of gold, lyrium, and 
4277human slaves in an effort to map the terrain of the Fade, an ultimately 
4278futile endeavor. Although portions of it belong to powerful spirits, all of 
4279the Fade is in constant flux. The Imperium succeeded in finding the 
4280disparate and ever-shifting realms of a dozen demon lords, as well as 
4281cataloging a few hundred types of spirits, before they were forced to 
4282abandon the project.
4283
4284The relationship of dreamers to the Fade is complex. Even when entering 
4285the Fade through the use of lyrium, mortals are not able to control or 
4286affect it. The spirits who dwell there, however, can, and as the Chantry 
4287teaches us, the great flaw of the spirits is that they have neither 
4288imagination nor ambition. They create what they see through their 
4289sleeping visitors, building elaborate copies of our cities, people, and 
4290events, which, like the reflections in a mirror, ultimately lack context or 
4291life of their own. Even the most powerful demons merely plagiarize the 
4292worst thoughts and fears of mortals, and build their realms with no other 
4293ambition than to taste life.
4294
4295--From Tranquility and the Role of the Fade in Human Culture, by First 
4296Enchanter Josephus.
4297
4298Felandaris
4299
4300The name felandaris is elven, meaning "demon weed," which is fitting for 
4301this rare plant because it grows only in places where the Veil is thin. 
4302
4303Felandaris is easily identified. It's a twisted, wicked-looking shrub with 
4304
4305long, thorny shoots, and no leaves: a skeletal hand, reaching out from an 
4306unmarked grave. Many swear the plant radiates a palpable aura of 
4307malevolence, so it comes as no surprise that it unnerves many a junior 
4308herbalist.
4309
4310--An excerpt from The Botanical Compendium by Ines Arancia, botanist 
4311
4312The First Darkspawn
4313
4314Those who had been cast down, the demons who would be gods, began to
4315whisper to men from their tombs within the earth. And the men of 
4316Tevinter heard, and raised altars to the pretender-gods once more, and in 
4317return were given, in hushed whispers, the secrets of darkest magic.
4318
4319But it was not worship the false gods craved.
4320
4321They urged the magisters to ever-greater depravity, rewarding them with 
4322power and more. Arrogance became a great caged beast in the lands of 
4323Tevinter, an emptiness that consumed all and could never be filled. To 
4324satisfy its hunger, the mage-lords, at the goading of their gods, assaulted 
4325the Golden City, heart of all creation, to take the Maker's power for 
4326themselves.
4327
4328With magic born of mingled blood and lyrium, the Tevinter broke into the
4329Maker's House. But the promised power did not await them there.
4330
4331The moment they entered the city of the Maker, their sin poisoned it. 
4332What had been golden turned black, and violently they were flung from 
4333the world of dreams back into the waking world. Twisted and corrupted 
4334by their crime and their magic into monsters, they fled underground, 
4335unable to bear the light of day. The first darkspawn.
4336
4337--Threnodies 8:21-27, the Canticle of Transfigurations
4338
4339Forbidden  Knowledge
4340
4341Tarohne's Book of Blood
4342
4343Was Dabbon Hait one mage? Or a full cabal? I found another reference to 
4344Xebenkeck in his Black Journal:
4345
4346"The blood feeds, the blood nourishes.
4347In blood, the call is heard. In blood, the deal is made.
4348My master bathed in a river of blood,
4349Then the Great Xebenkeck came!"
4350
4351***
4352
4353Tarohne's Beginning
4354
4355In 4:2 Black is the oldest account of the Forbidden Ones, though most 
4356mages consider them a hoax. But someone had to make that first deal, that
4357first contact with the other side. From the unknown mage's account:
4358
4359"The first of the magus cast themselves deep in the Fade in search of 
4360answers and power, always power. They found the forbidden ones -- 
4361Xebenkeck, Imshael, Gaxkang the Unbound, and The Formless One. Many
4362conversations were had and much of the fabric of the world revealed. And
4363thus the magic of blood was born."
4364
4365Even those who consider this folly dare not utter these names.
4366
4367***
4368
4369Tarohne's Lessons
4370
4371Everything you learned was a lie. Andraste was a deluded fool. The 
4372Maker is a hoax. There is far more evidence of the Forbidden Ones and 
4373demons than has been gathered over a thousand years of a fictitious god.
4374
4375Demons are not enemies--they are tools to be used. Extract what secrets 
4376you can and teach others. Some of us will die, some will be corrupted. But 
4377each victory is another pieces of the truth we uncover.
4378
4379***
4380
4381Tarohne's Beginnings II
4382
4383Inside the grimoire's pages were such secrets. A mage's rightful place is 
4384not under the heel of the templars. We are masters of the elements. We 
4385call forth the spirits themselves. As far as we have advanced, the ancient 
4386Tevinter mages knew so much more... and even they were only starting 
4387their journey to understand the nature of our world.
4388
4389We were never meant to walk among mortal men. We were meant to 
4390command them.
4391
4392***
4393
4394Tarohne's Prophecies 
4395The Fell Grimoire holds the names of power. It holds the key to their 
4396summoning. Xebenkeck will return. He will feast on the blood of a 
4397thousand of my enemies. It is inevitable!
4398
4399***
4400
4401Excerpt from The Last Letters of Tarohne
4402
4403I have copied the grimoire and hidden it. It must live on. It is the signpost 
4404of The Path, and The Path never dies. I have set guardians along it, but 
4405you must overcome them. Read the signs, my brothers and sisters. For 
4406even if my enemies destroy me, together we cannot fail. There are secrets 
4407undreamt of deep in the Fade. Therein lies our destiny--our salvation. 
4408
4409The Founding of the Chantry
4410
4411Kordilius Drakon, king of the city-state of Orlais, was a man of 
4412uncommon ambition. In the year -15 Ancient, the young king began 
4413construction of a great temple dedicated to the Maker, and declared that 
4414by its completion he would not only have united the warring city-states of
4415the south, he would have brought Andrastian belief to the world.
4416
4417In -3 Ancient, the temple was completed. There, in its heart, Drakon knelt 
4418before the eternal flame of Andraste and was crowned ruler of the Empire 
4419of Orlais. His first act as Emperor: To declare the Chantry as the 
4420established Andrastian religion of the Empire.
4421
4422It took three years and several hundred votes before Olessa of 
4423Montsimmard was elected to lead the new Chantry. Upon her coronation 
4424as Divine, she took the name Justinia, in honor of the disciple who 
4425recorded Andraste's songs. In that moment, the ancient era ended and the 
4426Divine Age began.              
4427
4428--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4429
4430Glitterdust
4431
4432Glitterdust is the powdered form of a rock found along the Wounded 
4433Coast. When explorers brought the sparkling rock to the markets of the 
4434Free Marches, it became immediately popular among wealthy ladies who 
4435crushed it and applied the powder to their faces. The added brightness 
4436and lustre to the skin, however, soon paled in comparison to the 
4437developing rash and coughing fits. 
4438
4439As it turned out, glitterdust is dangerous if ingested or inhaled. It's also 
4440extremely flammable, as several ladies discovered after powdering their 
4441hair while standing next to a candle. Unfortunately, this resulted in a 
4442dozen deaths by conflagration. 
4443
4444These days, glitterdust is used sparingly, and only by experienced 
4445alchemists. The most common form of the substance is Volatile 
4446Glitterdust. If gathered from caves where darkspawn dwell, the rock 
4447produces a powder known as Tainted Glitterdust.
4448
4449--An excerpt from The Alchemist's Encyclopedia, by Lord Cerastes of Marnas
4450Pell 
4451
4452The Grey Wardens
4453
4454The first Blight had already raged for 90 years. The world was in chaos. A 
4455god had risen, twisted and corrupted. The remaining gods of Tevinter 
4456were silent, withdrawn. What writing we have recovered from those times
4457is filled with despair, for everyone believed, from the greatest archons to 
4458the lowliest slaves, that the world was coming to an end.
4459
4460At Weisshaupt fortress in the desolate Anderfels, a meeting transpired. 
4461Soldiers of the Imperium, seasoned veterans who had known nothing 
4462their entire lifetimes except hopeless war, came together. When they left 
4463Weisshaupt, they had renounced their oaths to the Imperium. They were 
4464soldiers no longer: They were the Grey Wardens.
4465
4466The Wardens began an aggressive campaign against the Blight, striking 
4467back against the darkspawn, reclaiming lands given up for lost. The Blight
4468was far from over, but their victories brought notice, and soon they 
4469received aid from every nation in Thedas.
4470
4471They grew in number as well as reputation. Finally, in the year 992 of the 
4472Tevinter Imperium, upon the Silent Plains, they met the archdemon 
4473Dumat in battle. A third of all the armies of northern Thedas were lost to 
4474the fighting, but Dumat fell and the darkspawn fled back underground.   
4475
4476Even that was not the end.
4477
4478The Imperium once revered seven gods: Dumat, Zazikel, Toth, Andoral, 
4479Razikale, Lusacan, and Urthemiel. Four have risen as archdemons. The 
4480Grey Wardens have kept watch through the ages, well aware that peace is 
4481fleeting, and that their war continues until the last of the dragon-gods is 
4482gone.
4483
4484--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar
4485
4486The Hedge Witch
4487
4488Saramish was an witch who lived in the Planasene Forest about a hundred
4489years ago. She possessed only a modicum of magical power--enough to 
4490draw the templars' attention, but not nearly enough to defend herself from
4491them. As the templars closed in on her, Saramish worked a spell of 
4492transformation. No one knows what her intentions were, but the outcome 
4493could not have been to her liking. All that was left of Saramish when her 
4494spell was complete was a mighty hedge, almost as tall as a man.
4495
4496he hedge was uprooted and taken to the College of Enchanters in 
4497Cumberland, where the enchanters declared it harmless, and not too 
4498different from a common hawthorn. Since hawthorn bushes do not have 
4499the capacity for thought, it was decided that it would be impossible for 
4500Saramish to return to her true form. Out of pity for the poor woman, the 
4501"hedge witch" was planted outside the college.
4502
4503It was later uprooted and sold to a private collector of curios, as the 
4504college's groundskeepers could no longer maintain the "hedge witch"--for
4505while it required very little water or sunlight, the bush's aggressive 
4506growth made constant trimming a necessity.
4507
4508--Excerpt from Templar Tomfoolery: Saucy Little Tales from the Barracks 
4509compiled by Senior Enchanter Wentworth Higginbottom 
4510
4511Hierarchy of the Circle
4512
4513It is no simple matter, safeguarding ordinary men from mages, and mages
4514from themselves. Each Circle tower must have some measure of self-
4515government, for it is ever the Maker's will that men be given the power to 
4516take responsibility for our own actions: To sin and fail, as well as to 
4517achieve the highest grace and glory on our own strength.
4518
4519You, who will be tasked with the protection of the Circle, must be aware 
4520of its workings. The first enchanter is the heart of any tower. He will 
4521determine the course his Circle will take, he will choose which apprentices
4522may be tested and made full mages, and you will work most closely with 
4523him.
4524
4525Assisting the first enchanter will be the senior enchanters, a small council 
4526of the most trusted and experienced magi in the tower. From this group, 
4527the next first enchanter is always chosen. Beneath the council are the 
4528enchanters. These are the teachers and mentors of the tower, and you 
4529must get to know them in order to keep your finger on the pulse of the 
4530Circle, for the enchanters will always know what is happening among the 
4531children.
4532
4533All those who have passed their Harrowing but have not taken 
4534apprentices are mages. This is where most trouble in a Circle lies, in the 
4535idleness and inexperience of youth. The untested apprentices are the most 
4536numerous denizens of any tower, but they more often pose threats to 
4537themselves, due to their lack of training, than to anyone else.
4538
4539--Knight-Commander Serain of the Chantry templars, in a letter to his successor.
4540
4541History of Kirkwall: Chapter 1
4542
4543It's difficult for many to comprehend today, but there was a time when 
4544Kirkwall was believed to be the very edge of the world.
4545
4546It was Emerius then, named after its founder Magister Emerius Krayvan, 
4547and it was but one outpost on the very fringe of the Tevinter Imperium. 
4548There the magister's serfs worked at the quarries for the jet stone needed 
4549for the mighty temples of Minrathous. After a slave rebellion nearly 
4550burned the temple to the ground in the great city, it was determined that a
4551center for slave trade would need to be established well away from the 
4552more civilized parts of the Imperium. (Though account may be 
4553exaggerated, since the notorious Archon Vanarius Issar narrowly escaped 
4554assassination at the hands of an elven slave at the time.)
4555
4556Because the new slave outpost would become wealthy beyond imagining, 
4557competition among prospects reportedly took over twenty years to 
4558resolve, resulting in great bloodshed in the frontier, well away from the 
4559archon's eyes. Magister took arms against magister, mostly in the form of 
4560small armies of serfs and mercenaries. Over half the slaves in existence 
4561allegedly died in these battles before Emerius was finally chosen, thanks 
4562
4563to the marriage of Krayvan's son to the archon's daughter.
4564
4565Within a mere decade, the mighty fortress was erected on the cliff where 
4566Kirkwall now stands. Over one million slaves passed through its gates 
4567before the Imperium eventually fell, an unimaginable number by today's 
4568standards. The Krayvan family itself became patrons of the next three 
4569archons and was one of the driving forces behind the extension of the 
4570Imperial  Highway into the Ferelden Valley, a move that would cost them 
4571considerable political influence after the resistance of the Alamarri tribes. 
4572During its height, Emerius was a jewel to rival the mightiest of the 
4573Imperial cities and the greatest center of civilization outside Tevinter.
4574
4575--From Kirkwall: The City of Chains, by Brother Genitivi, 9:24 Dragon 
4576
4577History of Kirkwall: Chapter 2
4578
4579As the Imperium's borders slowly receded after the devastation of the 
4580First Blight and the subsequently barbarian invasion, many outposts in the
4581area known today as the Free Marches, were cut off from centers of 
4582power. Numerous warlords tried consolidating the region into a single 
4583kingdom, but resistance prevailed. Emerius held out for almost a century 
4584until it fell to a slave revolt in 25 Ancient. It was not the first such revolt 
4585Emerius suffered, but it was the last.
4586
4587It started when an Alamarri slave named Radun began earning popularity
4588and power by pushing for better conditions. Radun's growing influence 
4589prevented the magisters from touching him, but eventually they had him 
4590poisoned. Furious, a group of Radun's supporters stormed the Gallows 
4591and were massacred, and so began a bloody yearlong rebellion.
4592
4593The city burned, and wealthy Hightown was sacked. The magisters hung 
4594before cheering crowds. Emerius assumed the new name of Kirkwall, 
4595"kirk" meaning "black," after its jet stone cliffs. The new city plunged into 
4596anarchy for over a decade, and its defenses fell into ruin. Kirkwall has 
4597been conquered many times since, the city's own independence suffering 
4598since the freeing of its slaves. 
4599
4600--From Kirkwall: The City of Chains, by Brother Genitivi, 9:24 Dragon 
4601
4602History of Kirkwall: Chapter 3
4603
4604The Qunari first thundered into Kirkwall in 7:56 Storm during last of the 
4605New Exalted Marches.
4606
4607The collected nations of Thedas were attempting to drive the Qunari from 
4608the northern mainland once and for all. Qunari armies were on the retreat,
4609but in a desperate gamble, their fleet circled around the Amaranthine 
4610coast and landed a great force near the Marcher city of Ostwick. Their 
4611plan was to overwhelm the Marcher cities of Starkhaven and Kirkwall, 
4612Starkhaven to block the roads leading north, and Kirkwall to block ships 
4613on the Waking Sea coming from Orlais, all in an effort to deny supplies to 
4614the Thedas armies assaulting Rivain. The attack on Starkhaven eventually 
4615failed, but Kirkwall was attacked in a daring night raid where the Qunari 
4616used their leashed saarebas mages in an unprecedented display of sorcery.
4617The walls were torn down and the city was taken, and for the next four 
4618years, Kirkwall endured the most brutal occupation in its history.
4619
4620Writings from that time are scarce. It was not until after the city was freed 
4621that the Qunari's deeds came to light: children taken from families, forced 
4622conversion to the Qunari religion, and brutal labor camps. It's ironic that 
4623the old slave quarters of Lowtown, still intact after centuries, provided the
4624perfect means for the Qunari to control the city's people. When the famous
4625Orlesian chevalier, Ser Michel Lafaille, rode into the city after finally 
4626defeating the Qunari defenders, he wrote, "Kirkwall is full of people with 
4627empty eyes that have had all independent thought driven from them." 
4628When Lafaille was appointed the city's first viscount by the emperor in 
46297:60 Storm, he made it his mission to undo the religious conditioning. The 
4630Lafaille bloodline remained popular enough that when the city finally 
4631rebelled against Orlesian rule in 8:05 Blessed, "viscount" remained the 
4632enduring title for Kirkwall's rulers despite its origin. 
4633
4634--From Kirkwall: The City of Chains, by Brother Genitivi, 9:24 Dragon 
4635
4636History of Kirkwall: Chapter 4
4637
4638The Threnhold family assumed its foreboding control of the city at the 
4639very onset of the Dragon Age, less than a week after Maric Theirin retook 
4640the Ferelden throne from Orlais. 
4641
4642Since this was followed by a civil war in Antiva (the much-maligned 
4643"ThreeQueens" era) and a coup in the Tevinter Imperium, many thought 
4644the Dragon Age would bring devastating change. Perhaps this was a hasty
4645estimate, but it was true for Kirkwall. Viscount Chivalry Threnhold was a 
4646vicious thug who took power through a campaign of intimidation, and his
4647son Perrin who succeeded him in 9:14 Dragon Age was even worse.
4648 
4649Taxes were crippling and Perrin Threnhold used the ancient chains 
4650extending from "the Twins" standing at Kirkwall's harbor--unused since 
4651the New Exalted Marches--to block sea traffic and charge exorbitant fees 
4652from Orlesian ships. The Empire threatened invasion following the 
4653closure of the Waking Sea passage, and for the first time, the Chantry used
4654the templars to pressure the viscount. Until that point, the templars had 
4655done nothing to counter the Threnholds even though, as the largest armed
4656force in Kirkwall, they could have. Knight-Commander Guylian's only 
4657written comment was in a letter to Divine Beatrix III: "It is not our place to 
4658interfere in political affairs. We are here to safeguard the city against 
4659magic, not against itself." The divine, as a friend to the emperor, clearly 
4660had other ideas.
4661
4662In response, Viscount Perrin hired a mercenary army, forcing a 
4663showdown with the templars. They stormed the Gallows and hung 
4664Knight-Commander Guylian, igniting a series of battles that ended with 
4665Perrin's arrest and the last of his family's rule. The templars were hailed as
4666heroes, and even though they wished to remain out of Kirkwall's affairs, it
4667was now forced upon them. Knight-Commander Meredith appointed 
4668Lord Marlowe Dumar as the new viscount in 9:21 Dragon and she has 
4669remained influential in the city's rule ever since.
4670 
4671--From Kirkwall: The City of Chains, by Brother Genitivi, 9:24 Dragon 
4672
4673The History of the Chantry: Chapter 1
4674
4675The first Blight devastated the Tevinter Imperium. Not only had the 
4676darkspawn ravaged the countryside, but Tevinter citizens had to face the 
4677fact that their own gods had turned against them. Dumat, the Old God 
4678once known as the Dragon of Silence, had risen to silence the world, and 
4679despite the frenzied pleas for help, the other Old Gods did nothing. The 
4680people of the Imperium began to question their faith, murdering priests 
4681and burning temples to punish their gods for not returning to help.
4682
4683In those days, even after the devastation of the first Blight, the Imperium 
4684stretched across the known world. Fringed with barbarian tribes, the 
4685Imperium was well prepared for invasions and attacks from without. 
4686Fitting, then, that the story of its downfall begins from within. 
4687
4688The people of the far northern and eastern reaches of the Imperium rose 
4689up against their powerful overlords in rebellion. The Tevinter magisters 
4690summoned demons to put down these small rebellions, leaving corpses to 
4691burn as examples to all who would dare revolt. The Imperium began to 
4692tear itself apart from within, throngs of angry and disillusioned citizens 
4693doing what centuries of opposing armies could not. But the magisters 
4694were confident in their power, and they could not imagine surviving a 
4695Blight only to be destroyed by their own subjects.
4696
4697Even after the Blight, Tevinter commanded an army larger than that of 
4698any other organized nation in Thedas, but that army was scattered and its 
4699morale dwindling. The ruin of Tevinter was such that the Alamarri 
4700barbarians, who had spread their clans and holds over the wilderness of 
4701the Ferelden Valley at the far southeast edge of the Imperium, saw 
4702weakness in their enemy, and, after an age of oppression, embarked on a 
4703campaign not only to free their own lands, but to bring down mighty 
4704Tevinter as well. 
4705
4706The leaders of that blessed campaign were the great barbarian warlord, 
4707Maferath, and his wife, Andraste. Their dreams and ambitions would 
4708change the world forever.
4709
4710--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
4711scholar
4712
4713The History of the Chantry: Chapter 2
4714
4715When the prophet Andraste and her husband Maferath arrived at the 
4716head of their barbarian horde, southern Tevinter was thrown into chaos. 
4717The Imperium had defended against invasions in the past, but now they 
4718stood without the protection of their gods, with their army in tatters and 
4719their country devastated by the Blight. Many felt that the timing of the 
4720invasion was yet another of the Maker's miracles in Andraste's campaign 
4721to spread His divine word.
4722
4723Andraste was more than simply the wife of a warlord, after all--she was 
4724also the betrothed of the Maker. Enraptured by the melodic sound of her 
4725voice as she sang to the heavens for guidance, the Maker Himself 
4726appeared to Andraste and proposed that she come with Him, leaving 
4727behind the flawed world of humanity. In her wisdom, Andraste pleaded 
4728with the Maker to return to His people and create paradise in the world of
4729men. The Maker agreed, but only if all of the world would turn away from
4730the worship of false gods and accept the Maker's divine commandments.
4731 
4732Armed with the knowledge of the one true god, Andraste began the 
4733Exalted March into the weakened Imperium. One of the Maker's 
4734commandments, that magic should serve man rather than rule over him, 
4735was as honey to the souls of the downtrodden of Tevinter, who lived 
4736under the thumbs of the magisters.
4737
4738Word of Andraste's Exalted March, of her miracles and military successes,
4739spread far and wide. Those in the Imperium who felt the Old Gods had 
4740abandoned them eagerly listened to the words of the Maker. Those 
4741throngs of restless citizens that destroyed temples now did so in the name 
4742of the Maker and His prophet, Andraste. As Maferath's armies conquered 
4743the lands of southern Tevinter, so did Andraste's words conquer hearts.
4744
4745It is said that the Maker smiled on the world at the Battle of Valarian 
4746Fields, in which the forces of Maferath challenged and defeated the 
4747greatest army Tevinter could muster. The southern reaches of the mighty 
4748Imperium now lay at the mercy of barbarians. Faith in the Maker, 
4749bolstered by such miracles, threatened to shake the foundations of the 
4750Imperium apart. 
4751
4752Of course, the human heart is more powerful than the greatest weapon, 
4753and when wounded, it is capable of the blackest of deeds.
4754
4755--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
4756scholar
4757
4758The History of the Chantry: Chapter 3
4759
4760It is said that at the Battle of Valarian Fields, Maferath stood and looked 
4761out over his armies. He had conquered the southern reaches of the 
4762greatest empire the world had ever known and built splintered barbarian 
4763clans into a force to be feared. With pride in his heart, he turned to 
4764congratulate his men and found that they had turned from him.
4765
4766Maferath fell to the evil of jealousy. After all that he had done, his wife 
4767was the one to receive all the glory. He saw his wife's power and 
4768influence, and tired of his place as second husband, below the Maker. His 
4769heart swelled with fury. If he had conquered just to have his wife wrested 
4770from him by a forgotten god and a legion of faith-hungry rabble, then 
4771perhaps this war was not worth the trouble. 
4772
4773Here, history and the Chant of Light come apart. History tells us that 
4774Maferath looked north into the central Imperium and saw nothing but 
4775more war against a rapidly regrouping army, and he despaired. The 
4776Chant of Light holds that Maferath chafed with jealousy of the Maker, and
4777jealousy of the glory that Andraste received although it was he who led 
4778the armies.
4779
4780Maferath traveled to the Imperial capital of Minrathous to speak with the 
4781Archon Hessarian. There he offered up his wife to the Imperium in return 
4782for a truce that would end hostilities once and for all. The archon, eager to 
4783put down the voice of the prophet that stirred his own people against him,
4784agreed. Maferath led Andraste into an ambush where she was captured 
4785by Imperial agents, putting an end to her Exalted March. 
4786
4787Crowds of loyalists stood in the central square of Minrathous to watch 
4788
4789Andraste's execution. By command of the archon, she was burned at the 
4790stake in what the Imperium believed to be the most painful punishment 
4791imaginable. According to the Chantry, however, Andraste was instead 
4792purified and made whole by the flames, ascending to life at her Maker's 
4793side. By all accounts, there was only silence where they expected screams. 
4794At the sight of the prophet burning, the crowds were filled with a 
4795profound guilt, as if they had participated in a great blasphemy. So 
4796moving was the moment that the archon himself drew his sword and 
4797thrust it into the prophet's heart, ending her torment and leaving those 
4798assembled to consider the weight of what they had seen.
4799
4800Whereas the execution of Andraste was meant to be a symbol of defeat for
4801the faith of the Maker, in truth it all but sealed the fate of the worship of 
4802the Old Gods and paved the way for the spread of the Maker's chant.
4803 
4804--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
4805scholar
4806
4807The History of the Chantry: Chapter 4
4808
4809The crowds present at the death of Andraste were right to feel despair. It 
4810is believed that the prophet's execution angered the Maker, and He turned
4811His back on humanity once more, leaving the people of Thedas to suffer in
4812the dark.
4813
4814In these dark times, mankind scrambled for a light, any light. Some found 
4815comfort in demonic cults that promised power and riches in return for 
4816worship. Others prayed to the Old Gods for forgiveness, begging the great
4817dragons to return to the world. Still others fell so low as to worship the 
4818darkspawn, forming vile cults dedicated to the exaltation of evil in its 
4819purest form. It is said that the world wept as its people begged for a savior
4820who would not come. 
4821
4822Andraste's followers, however, did not abandon her teachings when she 
4823died. The Cult of Andraste rescued her sacred ashes from the courtyard in
4824Minrathous after her execution, stealing them away to a secret temple. The
4825location of that temple has long been lost, but the ashes of Andraste 
4826served as a symbol of the enduring nature of the faith in the Maker, that 
4827
4828humanity could earn the Maker's forgiveness despite its grievous insult to 
4829Him. 
4830
4831With time, the Cult of Andraste spread and grew, and the Chant of Light 
4832took form. Sing this chant in the four corners of Thedas, it was said, and 
4833the world would gain the Maker's attention at last. As the Chant of Light 
4834spread, the Cult of Andraste became known as the Andrastian Chantry. 
4835Those who converted to the Chantry's beliefs found it their mission to 
4836spread Andraste's word.
4837
4838There were many converts, including powerful people in the Imperium 
4839and in the city-states of what is now Orlais. Such was the power of the 
4840Maker's word that the young King Drakon undertook a series of Exalted 
4841Marches meant to unite the city-states and create an empire solely 
4842dedicated to the Maker's will. The Orlesian Empire became the seat of the 
4843Chantry's power, the Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux the source of the 
4844movement that birthed the organized Chantry as we know it today. 
4845Drakon, by then Emperor Drakon I, created the Circle of Magi, the Order 
4846of Templars and the holy office of the Divine. Many within the Chantry 
4847revere him nearly as equal with Andraste herself.
4848
4849The modern Chantry is a thing of faith and beauty, but it is also a house of
4850necessity, protecting Thedas from powerful forces that would do it harm. 
4851Where the Grey Wardens protect the world from the Blights, the Chantry 
4852protects mankind from itself. Most of all, the Chantry works to earn the 
4853Maker's forgiveness, so that one day He will return and transform the 
4854world into the paradise it was always meant to be.
4855 
4856--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
4857scholar
4858
4859History of the Circle
4860
4861It is a truth universally acknowledged that nothing is more successful at 
4862inspiring a person to mischief as being told not to do something. 
4863Unfortunately, the Chantry of the Divine Age had some trouble with 
4864obvious truths. Although it did not outlaw magic--quite the contrary, as 
4865the Chantry relied upon magic to kindle the eternal flame which burns in 
4866
4867every brazier in every chantry--it relegated mages to lighting candles and 
4868lamps and perhaps occasional dusting of rafters and eaves.
4869
4870I will give my readers a moment to contemplate how well such a role 
4871satisfied the mages of the time.
4872
4873It surprised absolutely no one when the mages of Val Royeaux, in protest, 
4874snuffed the sacred flames of the cathedral and barricaded themselves 
4875inside the choir loft. No one, that is, but Divine Ambrosia II, who was 
4876outraged and attempted to order an Exalted March upon her own 
4877cathedral. Even her most devout templars discouraged that idea. For 21 
4878days, the fires remained unlit while negotiations were conducted, legend 
4879tells us, by shouting back and forth from the loft.
4880
4881The mages went cheerily into exile in a remote fortress outside of the 
4882capital, where they would be kept under the watchful eye of the templars 
4883and a council of their own elder magi. Outside of normal society, and 
4884outside of the Chantry, the mages would form their own closed society, 
4885the Circle, separated for the first time in human history. 
4886
4887--From Of Fires, Circles, and Templars: A History of Magic in the Chantry,
4888by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4889
4890An Honest Answer Regarding Apostates
4891
4892A mage who does not receive the teachings of the Circle and who does not
4893have the words of Andraste in her heart is an apostate, and a danger to us 
4894all. Without the guidance of the holy Chantry, a mage may foolishly 
4895dabble in the darker arts--blood magic, or demon summoning, thus 
4896becoming maleficarum. And a mage's mind will ever be a doorway to 
4897spirits of the Fade; without proper instruction, this doorway remains open
4898and unsecured. If a demon should come through this doorway and 
4899possess a mage, an abomination is created. Abominations know only 
4900madness. They cannot be reasoned with and will slaughter man, woman 
4901and child without thought. Whole cities have fallen to these creatures. 
4902Thousands have died at their hands.
4903
4904The Chantry and her templars have a duty to ensure that this does not 
4905
4906happen.
4907
4908If I knew a better way to deal with magic, I would seize upon it 
4909immediately. You say we should let the mages guard themselves. I tell 
4910you that this is no solution. Look at the Tevinter Imperium. Their 
4911magisters do not know restraint. Without Chantry oversight the magisters
4912abuse their power. Those without magic are trampled underfoot and 
4913forced to serve. Slaves are slaughtered by the hundreds to feed the 
4914magisters' hunger for power. Even some mages are not spared, for in 
4915mages as in all humans, there exists a spectrum--on one end, the very 
4916powerful, on the other, those that can barely light a candle. The Empire 
4917cares only for the strongest, and those who do not compare favorably are 
4918thrown to the wolves.
4919
4920Imagine your children growing up in such a world. If a mage asked it of 
4921you, you would have to give him your daughter, not knowing what his 
4922plans for her might be. You could not resist him, and neither could she. 
4923Without our templars and without the Circle, the common man would 
4924have no defense against magic. We must deny the mages certain freedoms
4925for the common good. I wish there was another way. I tell the apprentices 
4926this is a test of their faith, that it is the will of the Maker. Many understand
4927that we do what we do for their own good.
4928
4929--Excerpt of a letter from Grand Cleric Francesca of Starkhaven to Lord Guthrie 
4930Abholz. 
4931
4932The Imperial Chantry
4933
4934There are those who would tell you that the Chantry is the same 
4935everywhere as it is here, that the Divine in Val Royeaux reigns supreme in
4936the eyes of the Maker and that this fact is unquestioned throughout 
4937Thedas.
4938
4939Do not believe it.
4940
4941The Maker's second commandment, "Magic must serve man, not rule over
4942him," never held the same meaning within the ancient Tevinter Imperium 
4943as it did elsewhere. The Chantry there interpreted the rule as meaning that
4944
4945mages should never control the minds of other men, and that otherwise 
4946their magic should benefit the rulers of men as much as possible. When 
4947the clerics of Tevinter altered the Chant of Light to reflect this 
4948interpretation of the commandment, the Divine in Val Royeaux ordered 
4949the clerics to revert to the original Chant. They refused, claiming 
4950corruption within Val Royeaux, an argument that grew until, in 4:87 
4951Towers, the Chantry in Tevinter elected its own "legitimate and 
4952uncorrupted" Divine Valhail--who was not only male, but also happened 
4953to be one of the most prominent members of the Tevinter Circle of the 
4954Magi. This "Black Divine" was reviled outside Tevinter, his existence an 
4955offense to the Chantry in Val Royeaux.
4956
4957After four Exalted Marches to dislodge these "rebels," all that the Chantry 
4958in Val Royeaux accomplished was to cement the separation. While most 
4959aspects of the Imperial Chantry's teachings are the same, prohibitions 
4960against magic have been weakened, and male priests have become more 
4961prevalent. The Circle of the Magi today rules Tevinter directly, ever since 
4962the Archon Nomaran was elected in 7:34 Storm directly from the ranks of 
4963the enchanters, to great applause from the public. He dispensed with the 
4964old rules forbidding mages from taking part in politics, and within a 
4965century, the true rulers within the various imperial houses--the mages--
4966took their places openly within the government. The Imperial Divine is 
4967now always drawn from the ranks of the first enchanters and operates as 
4968Divine and Grand Enchanter both. 
4969
4970This is utter heresy to any member of the Chantry outside of Tevinter, a 
4971return to the days of the magisters, which brought the Blights down upon 
4972us. But it exists, and even though we have left the Tevinter Imperium to 
4973the mercies of the dread Qunari, still they have endured. Further 
4974confrontation between the Black Divine and our so-called "White Divine" 
4975is inevitable.
4976
4977--From Edicts of the Black Divine, by Father David of Qarinus, 8:11 Blessed.
4978
4979The Kirkwall City Guard
4980
4981It is with pride that I, your viscount, grant the authority of law and civil 
4982enforcement upon the guardsmen of an independent Kirkwall. 
4983
4984No more will we defer to the will of foreign troops or draw a holy order 
4985into tasks unbefitting their mandate. These proud men and women will be
4986of the people and will enforce the laws we have elected for a civil and 
4987ordered society. And should the specter of invasion return, the noble 
4988guardsmen will conscript from the population, for who better to amass 
4989the people's will than the constables of law charged with its inspection?
4990
4991This is a great day, fair Kirkwall, and I am honored to appoint the first 
4992guard-captain. Long may he serve the will of a free people.
4993
4994--From Orlesian Legacy: How Institutions of the Oppressors Linger, the 
4995speeches of Viscount Michel Lafaille, collected by Philliam, a Bard! 
4996
4997Lady Amandine du Val 
4998
4999Lady Amandine du Val arrived at the court of Emperor Corentine, aged 
5000only fifteen, and by all accounts took it by storm. Her bright gold hair, 
5001expressive eyes, and graceful mannerisms endeared her to all. The 
5002emperor's sister, Lady Charlotte, wrote:
5003
5004"Little Amandine is a true delight! Such sparkling wit, and oh, those 
5005dainty feet flitting across the ballroom... she is spring come upon our tired 
5006court."
5007
5008This adoration did not last long, however. Not a year after her arrival, 
5009little Amandine became enchanted with a bard who taught her 
5010swordplay, amongst other things. Beingyoung and nimble, Amandine 
5011took to blades like a fish to water. Seduced by the life of romance and high
5012adventure, she ran away from court, dressed as a boy. In the years that 
5013followed, Amandine became a sailor, a highway robber, and a courtesan. 
5014Once, she was betrothed to the emperor's cousin.
5015
5016At the age of forty-four, Amandine entered into a cloister. She remained 
5017
5018there till the end of her life and died a penitent.
5019
5020--From The Gallery of Knaves, a portrait book, compiled by Lady Wilhelmina
5021Bonchance 
5022
5023A Library of Distinction
5024
5025It was with no small flair that Duke Prosper de Montfort offered a home 
5026to the exiled Esme de Jolie's considerable library of social graces, including
5027the ever-growing volumes of Courtly Prominence so carefully logged by 
5028the dedicated scholars of Her Majesty's intimate circle.
5029
5030It was an act of charity to a former enemy that, while earning a 
5031considerable influence, was no small expense of delivery. De Montfort 
5032downplayed these elements with customary charm, insisting that he 
5033accepted this burden with the increase in status firmly second among his 
5034considerations. "It is an honor to be honored when literary lineage is the 
5035true benefactor. De Jolie can rest well knowing that I hold his treasured 
5036tomes where none shall harm or read them. If he is allowed to encroach 
5037upon Orlesian territory at some distant time, perhaps he can petition to 
5038visit them."
5039
5040--A Library of Distinction: Notes on the Dispensing of the Holdings of the
5041Disgraced Esme de Jolie, collected and edited by Delsea Veland in service of 
5042Duke Prosper de Montfort 
5043
5044The Llomerryn Accords
5045
504650 years. That's how long it took the Imperium to drive out the Qunari 
5047occupation. But the rest of Northern Thedas was not so lucky.
5048
5049Both Divines, white and black, declared Exalted Marches and for the only 
5050time since the Schism of the Chantry, they worked together. A century-
5051long siege resulted, with the giant Qunari entrenched in Antiva and 
5052Rivain, and all of Thedas throwing armies against them.
5053
5054The war drained the resources of every nation in Thedas, leaving most on 
5055
5056the brink of collapse. For the giants, it did not appear to be the damage to 
5057their armada or the loss of their soldiers, but the terrible toll upon the 
5058Rivaini population that prompted their retreat. When the Third New 
5059Exalted March had all but massacred the people of Kont-aar without even 
5060chipping the Qunari occupying force, the giants finally withdrew.
5061
5062The treaty that put an official end to the Qunari Wars was signed on the 
5063politically neutral island of Llomerryn off the southern coast of Rivain. 150
5064years after the assault on the mainland began, the Qunari left our shores. 
5065They received the northern archipelago in exchange for cessation of 
5066hostilities against all the nations on the accord. Only Tevinter refused to 
5067sign, and so the war continues to rage in the Imperium to the present day.
5068
5069It's worth noting, however, that the Kingdom of Rivain immediately 
5070violated the treaty. Twice. Once, when the humans of northern Rivain--
5071nearly all practitioners of the Qun and therefore by definition, "Qunari"--
5072refused to leave their homes and go in exile to the islands. And again, 
5073when the Rivain Chantry and nationalist forces, unable to convert its 
5074people back to the worship of the Maker, tried a purge by the sword, 
5075slaughtering countless unarmed people and burying them in mass graves.
5076It's a fortunate mystery that the leaders in Kont-aar did not alert their 
5077allies in the Northern Passage, or we'd still be fighting the giants now.
5078
5079--From The Exalted Marches: An Examination of Chantry Warfare, by 
5080Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
5081
5082Lyrium
5083
5084Lyrium is the king of metals. Beneath our feet, it sings. When properly 
5085refined, it is a smooth, slightly iridescent, silvery liquid. In the hands of 
5086the dwarven Smith Caste, it is mixed with steel to produce indestructible 
5087armor and blades that hold an edge for centuries. In the hands of the 
5088Shaperate, it becomes a repository for living memories. And some 
5089scholars maintain this as evidence that lyrium is, itself, alive.
5090
5091It finds its most lucrative its application in the hands of the Formari, who 
5092use it in conjuction with baser metals like gold, silverite, veridium, or even
5093iron to produce enchantments. Though mages, of course, consume it in a 
5094
5095diluted form to bolster their abilities, this is not recommended. 
5096Overindulgence in lyrium can have disastrous consequences, particularly 
5097in more concentrated amounts. It is not advisable, for instance, that any 
5098reader handle raw lyrium, which in many cases can kill on contact.
5099 
5100--An excerpt from An Alchemical Primer of Metallurgy: Volume One by 
5101Lord Cerastes of Marnas Pell. 
5102
5103The Mage Underground
5104
5105To Knight-Commander Meredith, re. the so-called "Mage Underground"
5106
5107Every Circle in Thedas suffers from individual mages who rebel and 
5108attempt to flee. These apostates are usually found and returned to the 
5109Circle or mercifully killed if they have fallen to demonic temptation. Until 
5110now, I have never served anywhere that the populace does not fully 
5111cooperate in hunting these rebels.
5112
5113Here in Kirkwall, citizens actually help rebel mages escape. Escaped 
5114apostates have survived their freedom long enough to form the "the mage 
5115underground," a network that feeds and shelters escapees and even 
5116transports apostates into remote areas of the Free Marches and beyond 
5117our easy reach.
5118
5119As of late, the movement has grown bolder, sending raiding parties into 
5120the Gallows in an attempt to break out mages who lack the skills or 
5121willpower to escape on their own. This is a grave concern. My 
5122recommendation is to fight back, both physically and in turning the minds
5123and hearts of their supporters against them. 
5124
5125--Knight-Captain Cullen 
5126
5127The Maker
5128
5129There was no word
5130For heaven or for earth, for sea or sky.
5131All that existed was silence.
5132Then the Voice of the Maker rang out,
5133The first Word,
5134And His Word became all that might be:
5135Dream and idea, hope and fear,
5136Endless possibilities.
5137And from it made his firstborn.
5138And he said to them:
5139In My image I forge you,
5140To you I give dominion
5141Over all that exists.
5142By your will
5143May all things be done.
5144
5145Then in the center of heaven
5146He called forth
5147A city with towers of gold,
5148streets with music for cobblestones,
5149And banners which flew without wind.
5150There, He dwelled, waiting
5151To see the wonders
5152His children would create.
5153
5154The children of the Maker gathered
5155Before his golden throne
5156And sang hymns of praise unending.
5157But their songs
5158Were the songs of the cobblestones.
5159They shone with the golden light
5160Reflected from the Maker's throne.
5161They held forth the banners
5162That flew on their own.
5163
5164And the Voice of the Maker shook the Fade
5165Saying: In My image I have wrought
5166
5167My firstborn. You have been given dominion
5168Over all that exists. By your will
5169All things are done.
5170Yet you do nothing. 
5171The realm I have given you
5172Is formless, ever-changing.
5173
5174And He knew he had wrought amiss.
5175So the Maker turned from his firstborn
5176And took from the Fade
5177A measure of its living flesh
5178And placed it apart from the Spirits, and spoke to it, saying:
5179Here, I decree
5180Opposition in all things:
5181For earth, sky
5182For winter, summer
5183For darkness, Light.
5184By My Will alone is Balance sundered
5185And the world given new life.
5186
5187And no longer was it formless, ever-changing,
5188But held fast, immutable,
5189With Words for heaven and for earth, sea and sky.
5190At last did the Maker
5191From the living world
5192Make men. Immutable, as the substance of the earth,
5193With souls made of dream and idea, hope and fear,
5194Endless possibilities.
5195
5196Then the Maker said:
5197To you, my second-born, I grant this gift:
5198In your heart shall burn
5199An unquenchable flame
5200All-consuming, and never satisfied.
5201From the Fade I crafted you,
5202And to the Fade you shall return
5203Each night in dreams
5204That you may always remember me.
5205
5206And then the Maker sealed the gates
5207
5208Of the Golden City
5209And there, He dwelled, waiting
5210To see the wonders
5211His children would create.
5212
5213--Threnodies 5:1-8.
5214
5215The Maker's First Children
5216
5217The Maker's first creations were the spirits, glorious beings that populated
5218the many spires of the Golden City, and the Chant of Light says that they 
5219revered the Maker with unquestioning devotion. The Maker, however, 
5220was dissatisfied. Although the spirits were like Him in that they could 
5221manipulate the ether and create from it, they did not do so. They had no 
5222urge to create, and even when instructed to do so possessed no 
5223imagination to give their creations ingenuity or life.
5224
5225The Maker realized His own folly: He had created the spirits to resemble 
5226Him in all but the one and most important way: they did not have a spark 
5227of the divine within them. He expelled all the spirits out of the Golden 
5228City and into the Fade and proceeded to His next creation: life.
5229
5230The Maker created the world and the living beings upon it, separated 
5231from the Fade by the Veil. His new children would be unable to shape the 
5232world around them and thus would need to struggle to survive. In return 
5233for their struggle, the Maker gave them the spark of the divine, a soul, and
5234He watched with pleasure as His creations flourished and showed all the 
5235ingenuity that He had hoped for. 
5236
5237The spirits grew jealous of the living and coaxed them into the Fade when 
5238they slept. The spirits wished to know more of life, hoping to find a way 
5239to regain the Maker's favor. Through the eyes of the living, they 
5240experienced new concepts: love, fear, pain, and hope. The spirits re-
5241shaped the Fade to resemble the lives and concepts that they saw, each 
5242spirit desperately trying to bring the most dreamers to their own realm so 
5243they could vicariously possess a spark of the divine through them.
5244
5245As the spirits grew in power, however, some of them became 
5246
5247contemptuous of the living. These were the spirits that saw the darkest 
5248parts of the dreamers. Their lands were places of torment and horror, and 
5249they knew that the living were strongly drawn to places that mirrored 
5250those dark parts of themselves. These spirits questioned the Maker's 
5251wisdom and proclaimed the living inferior. They learned from the 
5252darkness they saw and became the first demons.
5253
5254Rage, hunger, sloth, desire, pride: These are the dark parts of the soul that 
5255give demons their power, the hooks they use to claw their way into the 
5256world of the living. It was demons that whispered into the minds of men, 
5257convincing them to turn from the Maker and worship false gods. They 
5258seek to possess all life as their due, forging kingdoms of nightmare in the 
5259Fade in the hopes of one day storming the walls of heaven itself.
5260
5261And the Maker despaired once again, for He had given the power of 
5262creation to his new children--and in return they had created sin.
5263
5264--From The Maker's First Children, by Bader, Senior Enchanter of Ostwick, 
52658:12 Blessed.
5266
5267The Commandments of the Maker
5268
5269These truths the Maker has revealed to me:
5270As there is but one world, 
5271One life, one death, there is 
5272But one god, and He is our Maker.
5273They are sinners, who have given their love
5274To false gods.
5275
5276Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him.  
5277Foul and corrupt are they
5278Who have taken His gift
5279And turned it against His children.
5280They shall be named Maleficar, accursed ones.
5281They shall find no rest in this world
5282Or beyond.
5283
5284All men are the Work of our Maker's Hands,
5285
5286From the lowest slaves
5287To the highest kings.
5288Those who bring harm
5289Without provocation to the least of His children
5290Are hated and accursed by the Maker. 
5291
5292Those who bear false witness
5293And work to deceive others, know this:
5294There is but one Truth.
5295All things are known to our Maker
5296And He shall judge their lies.
5297
5298All things in this world are finite.
5299What one man gains, another has lost.
5300Those who steal from their brothers and sisters
5301Do harm to their livelihood and to their peace of mind.
5302Our Maker sees this with a heavy heart.
5303
5304--Transfigurations 1:1-5.
5305
5306Maleficarum
5307
5308It has been asked, "What are maleficarum? How shall we know them?" I 
5309have been as troubled by this question as you. You have come to me for 
5310the wisdom of the Maker, but none have seen the Maker's heart save 
5311Beloved Andraste. And so I have done as all mortals must, and looked to 
5312the words of His prophet for answers. And there, I found respite from a 
5313troubled mind.  
5314
5315For she has said to us, "Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over 
5316him." Therefore, I say to you, they who work magic which dominates the 
5317minds and hearts of others, they have transgressed the Maker's law.
5318
5319Also, Our Lady said to us, "Those who bring harm without provocation to
5320the least of His children are hated and accursed by the Maker." And so it is
5321made clear to me, as it should be to us all: That magic which fuels itself by 
5322harming others, by the letting of blood, is hated by the Maker.
5323
5324Those mages who honor the Maker and keep His laws we welcome as our
5325brothers and sisters. Those who reject the laws of the Maker and the 
5326words of His prophet are apostate. They shall be cast out, and given no 
5327place among us.
5328
5329--From The Sermons of Justinia I.
5330
5331Mana and the Use of Magic
5332
5333Mana is that which defines a mage. It is potential that dwells within a 
5334person but does not always manifest itself. All men are connected to the 
5335Fade; we go there to dream. But only those with this potential may draw 
5336upon its power.  Mana is, then, a measurement of one's ability to draw 
5337power from the Fade, and it is this power that is expended in magic.
5338
5339As in all other things, it has limits. Just as a man has the strength to lift 
5340only so much weight and no more, a mage cannot work more magic at 
5341one time than his mana allows. If he wishes to work magic that would be 
5342beyond his strength, a mage must bolster his mana with lyrium. Without 
5343lyrium, it is possible for the reckless to expend their own life-force in the 
5344working of magic, and occasionally, ambitious apprentices injure or even 
5345kill themselves by over-exertion.  
5346
5347--From The Lectures of First Enchanter Wenselus.
5348
5349Might of the Sten
5350
5351This heavy Qunari sword is exquisitely balanced. Although no nicks mar 
5352the edge, the bloodstains on the leather grip suggest that it has seen its 
5353share of battle. 
5354
5355Notes on the Avvar Sky Cult
5356
5357Every Avvar holy site, regardless of clan or deity, has a well-hidden 
5358opening in the altar which would be aligned with the rising sun on the 
5359Winter Solstice, where the sacred relics of the god or goddess would be 
5360
5361enshrined. This would never be removed, even in dire emergency, for fear
5362of angering the gods.
5363
5364Avvar tales from the Divine Age are filled with warnings about those who
5365mistreat or showed the least disrespect to altars of the Lady of the Skies. 
5366Unfortunately, the superstitious Avvars counted a host of innocuous 
5367things as disrespectful, including speaking, coughing, holding objects in 
5368your right hand, and possessing anything containing feathers. It is 
5369unlikely there is any real danger in approaching the altar. 
5370
5371Orichalcum
5372
5373Like lyrium, orichalcum is a metal most commonly encountered in liquid 
5374form. Unlike lyrium, however, orichalcum forms pools and must be 
5375drawn like water rather than mined. 
5376
5377Deep Orichalcum is the most common type of the metal, and is often 
5378found in places where opals are mined. The rarer Crystalline Orichalcum 
5379is found in small pools in the mountains. Folk wisdom says that a drop of 
5380orichalcum mixed with wine is a potent aphrodisiac, though it has a 
5381pungent smell similar to lye, so I could not bring myself to put this legend 
5382to the test.
5383
5384--An excerpt from An Alchemical Primer of Metallurgy: Volume One, by 
5385Lord Cerastes of Marnas Pell 
5386
5387The Pickled Apples of Arlathan
5388
5389I expressed my incredulity to the shop's assistant, who coldly noted that 
5390he did not like my implication. He insisted that every article in the Black 
5391Emporium was genuine--no fakes, imitations, or cheap knock-offs.
5392
5393I must have appeared unconvinced, for the assistant narrowed his eyes at 
5394me and disappeared into the bowels of the shop, returning several 
5395minutes later. He removed the jar of pickled apples from its display case, 
5396and proceeded to carefully, reverentially, remove the wax seal from the 
5397lid of the jar.
5398
5399I watched with fascination as the jar was opened, and a single, rosy apple 
5400pulled from it. It looked as if it had been picked just that day, at the peak 
5401of ripeness. With a paring knife, the assistant cut the tiniest sliver of flesh 
5402from the apple and presented it to me.
5403
5404The flavor of that one small sliver was astonishing. It was as close to a 
5405perfect apple as ever there was. I was experiencing the essence of every 
5406apple ever eaten, and that ever will be eaten. When it was over, the sense 
5407of loss that filled me was sharp enough to move me to tears.
5408
5409The rest of the apple was returned to the jar, which was then resealed. I 
5410paid five sovereigns for that single taste, and I believe I got the better part 
5411of the bargain.
5412
5413--From the letters of Brother Ferdinand Genitivi to Sister Petrine, Chantry 
5414scholar
5415
5416Portrait of the Dowager 
5417
5418The Orlesians have a saying: You must dance with the dowager if you 
5419want to play the Game.
5420
5421To a foreigner, this might sound like some sort of proverb. In fact, 
5422Dowager Lady Mantillon has been one of the most influential members of 
5423the Imperial Court for over thirty years, and nobody advances in the 
5424Game without her favor. The rumors surrounding her are many: She was 
5425Emperor Florian's mistress. She was Florian's assassin. She placed 
5426Empress Celene on the throne. She once killed a rival with only harsh 
5427words. She rules Orlais from the shadows.
5428
5429One thing is certain, however. If you must have the best society in Orlais, 
5430ask a dance of the dowager.
5431
5432--From A Guide to Good Society, by Lady Alcyone 
5433
5434Pride and Rider
5435
5436An image in oil of the last pure Anderfel stabled at court, before the 
5437practice of mounted sport fell from favor. This is an absolutely iconic and 
5438typical example of the artist.
5439
5440The work preserves the true majesty of a species that, while in abundance 
5441on their natural plains, becomes exotic to a people who eschew mounted 
5442travel in their daily existence. An ambitious work often referred to as 
5443Pride and Rider, it is part of a series of similarly-themed canvasses which, 
5444for reasons known only to the creator, were labeled And Went the Griffon.
5445
5446--Auction notes for the works of Bujete Pochesvides, a catalogue of the foreign 
5447and lost dispensed by the holding house of Therein and Whatnot 
5448
5449The Qun
5450
5451Long ago, the Ashkaari lived in a great city by the sea. Wealth and 
5452prosperity shone upon the city like sunlight, and still its people grumbled 
5453in discontent. The Ashkaari walked the streets of his home and saw that 
5454all around him were the signs of genius: triumphs of architecture, artistic 
5455masterpieces, the palaces of wealthy merchants, libraries, and concert 
5456halls. But he also saw signs of misery: the poor, sick, lost, frightened, and 
5457the hopeless. And the Ashkaari asked himself, "How can one people be 
5458both wise and ignorant, great and ruined, triumphant and despairing?"
5459
5460So the Ashkaari left the land of his birth, seeking out other cities and 
5461nations, looking for a people who had found wisdom enough to end 
5462hopelessness and despair. He wandered for many years through empires 
5463filled with palaces and gardens, but in every nation of the wise, the great, 
5464the mighty, he found the forgotten, the abandoned, and the poor. Finally, 
5465he came to a vast desert, a wasteland of bare rock clawing at the empty 
5466sky, where he took shelter in the shadow of a towering rock, and resolved 
5467to meditate until he found his answer or perished.
5468
5469Many days passed until one night, as he gazed out from the shadow of the
5470rocks, he saw the lifeless desert awaken. A hundred thousand locusts 
5471hatched from the barren ground, and as one, they turned south, a single 
5472
5473wave of moving earth. The Ashkaari rose and followed in their wake: a 
5474path of devastation miles wide, the once verdant land turned to waste. 
5475And the Ashkaari's eyes were opened.
5476
5477Existence is a choice.
5478There is no chaos in the world, only complexity.
5479Knowledge of the complex is wisdom.
5480From wisdom of the world comes wisdom of the self.
5481Mastery of the self is mastery of the world. Loss of the self is the source of 
5482suffering.
5483Suffering is a choice, and we can refuse it.
5484It is in our own power to create the world, or destroy it.
5485
5486And the Ashkaari went forth to his people.
5487 
5488--An excerpt from The Qun, Canto 1 
5489
5490The Qunari
5491
5492The people of the Qun are, perhaps, the least-understood group in 
5493Thedas. The Qunari Wars were brutal, but so was the Chantry Schism. So 
5494was the fall of the Imperium. Some of this misunderstanding is an 
5495accident of nature: The race we call "Qunari" are formidable. Nature has 
5496given them fierce horns and strange eyes, and the ignorant look on them 
5497and see monsters.
5498
5499Some is an accident of language: Few among the Qun's people speak the 
5500common tongue, and fewer speak it well. In a culture that strives for 
5501mastery, to have only a passable degree of skill is humiliating indeed, and 
5502so they often keep quiet among foreigners, out of shame.
5503
5504But much of it is a result of the culture itself. The Qunari view their whole 
5505society as a single creature: a living entity whose health and well-being is 
5506the responsibility of all. Each individual is only a tiny part of the whole, a 
5507drop of blood in its veins. Important not for itself, but for what it is to the 
5508whole creature. Because of this, the Qunari most outsiders meet belong to 
5509the army, which the Qun regards as if it were the physical body: arms, 
5510legs, eyes and ears, the things a creature needs in order to interact with the
5511
5512world. One cannot get to know a person solely by studying his hand or his
5513foot, and so one cannot truly "meet" the Qunari until one has visited their 
5514cities. That is where their mind and soul dwell.
5515
5516In Seheron and Par Vollen, one can truly see the Qunari in their entirety. 
5517There, the unification of the Qunari into a single being is most evident. 
5518Workers, whom the Qun calls the mind, produce everything the Qunari 
5519require. The soul, the priesthood, seeks a greater understanding of the 
5520self, the world, and exhorts the body and mind to continually strive for 
5521perfection. The body serves as the go-between for the mind, the soul, and 
5522the world. Everyone and everything has a place, decided by the Qun, in 
5523which they work for the good of the whole. It is a life of certainty, of 
5524equality, if not individuality.
5525
5526--From the writings of the seer of Kont-arr, 8:41 Blessed 
5527
5528The Qunari - Asit tal-eb
5529
5530When the Ashkaari looked upon the destruction wrought by locusts,
5531He saw at last the order in the world.
5532A plague must cause suffering for as long as it endures,
5533Earthquakes must shatter the land.
5534They are bound by their being.
5535Asit tal-eb. It is to be.
5536For the world and the self are one.
5537Existence is a choice.
5538A self of suffering, brings only suffering to the world.
5539It is a choice, and we can refuse it. 
5540
5541--An excerpt from The Qun, Canto 4 
5542
5543The Qunari - Saarebas
5544
5545The Qun teaches that all living things have a place and a purpose, and 
5546only when they are in the correct place and in control of their self may 
5547they attain balance. When balance is lost, suffering follows. Mastery of the
5548self is, therefore, the first and greatest duty.
5549
5550Those born with magic are at a terrible disadvantage, for demons can 
5551always rob them of their self. Because of this, the Qunari name them 
5552saarebas, meaning "dangerous thing," and treat them with the utmost 
5553caution. Saarebas must be carefully controlled by someone else, an 
5554arvaarad, "one who holds back evil," because they cannot truly control 
5555themselves. The evil is not the mage, but the loss of the mage, the loss of 
5556the mage's self, and the suffering that inevitably follows. 
5557
5558The Qunari pity and honor the saarebas, for striving while under constant 
5559threat from within is truly selfless, which is the highest virtue of the Qun. 
5560
5561--From the writings of the seer of Kont-aar, 8:41 Blessed 
5562
5563Qunari of Other Races
5564
5565Many believe that Qunari is the name of the race of horned behemoths 
5566from the north. They are mistaken. "Qunari" means "people of the Qun." 
5567There are elves, humans, even dwarves who have submitted to the Qun 
5568and who think of themselves as Qunari.
5569
5570All soldiers of the Imperium must remain aware of this fact: Any person 
5571could be a Qunari spy. Elves seem particularly susceptible to conversion.
5572
5573New converts uniformly become zealots, either of their own volition or as 
5574a result of the Ben-Hassrath's "re-education." Yet the converts still 
5575understand our culture as only those born to it can. They can move 
5576unnoticed in Tevinter lands. If elven, they may even return themselves to 
5577slavery.
5578
5579These spies, as long as they remain undiscovered, will pass sensitive 
5580information to Par Vollen. They may even try to convert others by sowing 
5581doubt and uncertainty. Every Imperial soldier must watch for this 
5582treachery.
5583
5584--From a lecture to new recruits of the Tevinter army
5585
5586The Raiders of the Waking Sea
5587
5588The Raiders of the Waking Sea--or simply, the Raiders--is the common 
5589name given to an association of Antivan pirates called the Felicisima 
5590Armada. These pirates were once little more than opportunists, based out 
5591of the coastal city of Llomerryn, that preyed on sea traffic. They were often
5592targeted by Orlesian and Free Marcher cities that were bent on destroying 
5593the pirates once and for all. After each such effort, new pirates would 
5594appear to fill the vacuum.
5595
5596During the New Exalted Marches, the nations of Thedas needed every 
5597ship they could muster against the massive power of the Qunari 
5598dreadnoughts. The Llomerryn pirates were faced with a difficult decision: 
5599they had to band together under one flag and fight with those they had 
5600previously preyed upon or face conversion and annihilation by the 
5601Qunari.
5602
5603Thus the Armada was formed. The pirates brought their knowledge of 
5604stealth and trickery to bear, plaguing Qunari supply lines and even 
5605launching seaborne invasions against the Qunari coast. For a time it was 
5606said the Armada was the premier naval power of Thedas, and after the 
5607signing of the Llomerryn Accord, they maintained their association rather 
5608than disband as many had hoped.
5609
5610Wealthy merchants now often pay the leaders of the Armada rather than 
5611risking their ships commandeered and their merchandise stolen and sold 
5612on the black market. The Armada is hardly unified, and bloody battles 
5613between Armada leaders are frequent, but when faced with an attack by 
5614outsiders, the group instantly puts aside their differences and closes 
5615ranks; the raiders have thus become far more of a threat in the last century
5616than they ever were before. 
5617There is many a legend told about how dashing and romantic life aboard 
5618a Raider vessel is, but don't believe it. They are scoundrels and smugglers 
5619all. 
5620
5621--From The Dowager's Field Guide to Good Society, by Lady Alcyone 
5622
5623The Resolutionists
5624
5625Each Circle of Magi is home to various fraternities of enchanters that serve
5626as social outlets for mages and ways for those of like mind to promote 
5627their philosophies on magic. The most marginal of these were always the 
5628Libertarians, who believed mages must take a more active role in the 
5629politics of Thedas. While publicly only advocating greater power for the 
5630Circles, many Libertarians secretly wished to split completely from the 
5631Chantry, as mages did in Tevinter. The Chantry allowed the group to 
5632continue in order to note potential troublemakers.
5633
5634The Resolutionists changed all that. Splitting from the main Libertarian 
5635fraternity, the Resolutionists are open apostates who support freedom for 
5636mages at all costs. They engaged in acts of terror and sabotage against the 
5637Chantry throughout Thedas, and many are connected to Kirkwall's mage 
5638underground. They have declared that unless mages are freed to rule 
5639themselves, they will show every person in Thedas how little protection 
5640the Circle of Magi actually offers. 
5641
5642The Right of Annulment
5643
5644In the 83rd year of the Glory Age, one of the mages of the Nevarran Circle 
5645was found practicing forbidden magic. The templars executed him 
5646swiftly, but this brewed discontent among the Nevarra Circle. The mages 
5647made several magical attacks against the templars, vengeance for the 
5648executed mage, but the knight-commander was unable to track down 
5649which were responsible.
5650
5651Three months later, the mages summoned a demon and turned it loose 
5652against their templar watchers. Demons, however, are not easily 
5653controlled. After killing the first wave of templars who tried to contain it, 
5654the demon took possession of one of its summoners. The resulting 
5655abomination slaughtered Templars and mages both before escaping into 
5656the countryside.
5657
5658The grand cleric sent a legion of templars to hunt the fugitive. They killed 
5659the abomination a year later, but by that time it had slain 70 people.
5660
5661Divine Galatea, responding to the catastrophe in Nevarra and hoping to 
5662prevent further incidents, granted all the Grand Clerics of the Chantry the 
5663power to purge a Circle entirely if they rule it irredeemable. This Rite of 
5664Annulment has been performed 17 times in the last 700 years.
5665
5666--From Of Fires, Circles, and Templars: A History of Magic in the Chantry,
5667by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
5668
5669Ring of Resilience
5670
5671This faceted iron ring pulses with a mysterious energy. As the beating of 
5672your heart increases, so does the intensity of its glow. 
5673
5674The Seekers of Truth
5675
5676Ser Whitmore,
5677
5678When I mentioned powers greater than the templars, I didn't mean the 
5679Chantry. Sure they command the templars, but that was not always so--
5680the Inquisition once hunted heretics and cultists as well as mages, and 
5681their reign of terror ended only with the inception of the Circle of Magi. 
5682They became the Templar Order, for good or ill the watchers of the mages 
5683and the martial arm of the Chantry.
5684
5685It was a mutually beneficial arrangement, but few know that the Chantry 
5686created yet another order to watch over the templars: the Seekers of Truth.
5687I know little of them myself, but I can say the following things with 
5688certainty: they serve the Divine and they are feared. When a Seeker steps 
5689from the shadows, templars run for cover--because why would he come 
5690unless the templars somehow failed in their duties? Seekers are extremely 
5691effective investigating abuses within the Circle and hunting particularly 
5692evasive apostates. It's said they are immune to a blood mage's mind 
5693control and possess the ability to read minds or erase memories, but this is
5694likely exaggeration.
5695
5696So we return to my original dilemma. Who watches powers greater than 
5697that of the templars? One assumes it's the Divine, but how much could 
5698
5699She know about their activities when their very existence is a mystery to 
5700most?
5701
5702--A letter from an unknown priest, found in the Grand Cathedral archives, 8:80 
5703Blessed 
5704
5705Seeker's Bulwark
5706
5707Emblazoned with the symbols of the Chantry templars and greatly 
5708scarred from use, this large iron shield bears an unseen weight. It has been
5709warded against magic, to better protect the Seekers who wield it in the 
5710pursuit of apostate mages. 
5711
5712The Sermons of Divine Renata I
5713
5714The weakness of mortal will is the great failing of all the Maker’s children.
5715We trade our honor as if it were the cheapest of currency. We do not 
5716understand what integrity is or what it is truly worth. From this 
5717ignorance, original sin was born.
5718
5719At some time, each of us has thought, "What does it matter if I keep hold 
5720of my integrity? I am but one mortal. I am powerless." How blind we all 
5721are! The virtue of a single slave destroyed the Tevinter Imperium. The 
5722dishonor of one man drove the Maker from our sight. I tell you truly, 
5723nothing but the integrity of our hearts will win the love of the Maker back 
5724to us. It is all the power we shall ever possess to change this world for 
5725good or for ill.
5726
5727--From a sermon on integrity.
5728
5729Silverite
5730
5731The lustrous, white-blue silverite has long been prized by the dwarves for 
5732use in jewelry, rune making, and weapon smithing, but on the surface, it 
5733is more commonly used by apothecaries and healers. Since the metal does 
5734not rust, many traditions believe it to be proof against poison.
5735
5736There is a tale passed down among the people of the Anderfels: A knight 
5737returned home after many years of war, only to be struck by an adder. His
5738wife immediately bound the wound with a medallion of silverite pressed 
5739against the bite like a poultice. By morning, the poison had left him. And 
5740the knight lived to an old age.
5741
5742--An excerpt from An Alchemical Primer of Metallurgy: Volume One, by 
5743Lord Cerastes of Marnas Pell 
5744
5745Slavery in the Tevinter Imperium
5746
5747Slavery still thrives in Thedas, even if the trade has been outlawed. Who 
5748hasn't heard the tales of poverty-stricken elves lured into ships by the 
5749prospect of well-paying jobs in Antiva, only to find themselves clapped in 
5750leg-irons once at sea? And humans fall prey to this, too.
5751
5752If they're lucky, they end up in Orlais, which has only "servants." Most 
5753nobles treat them decently because they are afraid of admitting the truth. 
5754Orlesians go to great lengths to maintain the fiction that slavery is illegal.
5755
5756Of course, the greatest consumer of slave labor is the Tevinter Imperium, 
5757which would surely crumble if not for the endless supply of slaves from 
5758all over the continent. There, they are meat, chattel. They are beaten, used 
5759as fodder in the endless war against the Qunari, and even serve as 
5760components in dark magic rituals.
5761
5762--From Black City, Black Divine: A Study of the Tevinter Imperium, by 
5763Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
5764
5765Spindleweed
5766
5767It is an old country saying that spindleweed grows best for the sorrowful. 
5768Verdant spindleweed in a household's garden has often brought 
5769neighbors offering consolation, usually without even asking what might 
5770be wrong.
5771
5772This originates from the plant's use as a seasoning for dishes meant to 
5773speed the recovery of the infirm. A person who grows much of it is likely 
5774caring for the fatally ill.
5775
5776--An excerpt from The Botanical Compendium by Ines Arancia, botanist 
5777
5778Statue of Blessed Brother Joffrey of Ghislain
5779
5780In 4:25 Black, Lord Joffrey of Montfort left the life of a courtier behind, 
5781citing irreconcilable differences with Lady Chantal of Val Chevin. He 
5782traveled to a small abbey outside Ghislain and took orders as an initiate of
5783the Chantry.
5784
5785From his cell, Brother Joffrey penned innumerable meditations on the 
5786nature of sin and the forgiveness of trespasses, most of which he sent to 
5787Lady Chantal.
5788
5789In 4:40 Black, the Chantry declared the first Exalted March to end the 
5790heresy in Tevinter. Brother Joffrey celebrated the occasion by writing a 
5791series of letters to the chantry in Minrathous, denouncing their scandalous
5792behavior and urging them to better themselves. Although none of his 
5793letters were answered, Brother Joffrey was undeterred--he continued 
5794writing to the Minrathous Chantry, suggesting in the strongest possible 
5795terms that they apologize to the Divine at once, as she was really quite 
5796upset.
5797
5798Upon his death in 4:52 Black, the brothers of the Ghislain abbey found 
5799Joffrey's humble cell stacked with copies of his letters from floor to ceiling.
5800The Divine officially recognized his efforts on behalf of the Chantry in 4:57
5801Black, when his correspondence was moved into the archive of the Grand 
5802Cathedral.
5803
5804The skeletal hand of Brother Joffrey, still clutching his pen, is kept in a 
5805reliquary in Ghislain abbey to this day. There are several documented 
5806cases of people being overwhelmed by a desire to apologize after touching
5807it.
5808
5809--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
5810Brother Genitivi
5811
5812A Study of the Fifth Blight, Vol. One 
5813
5814While some of my contemporaries dispute whether the Fifth Blight was a 
5815true Blight or merely a large darkspawn resurgence, historians agree that 
5816it began in the swamps of the Korcari Wilds on the southeastern border of 
5817Ferelden in the year 9:30 Dragon.
5818
5819King Cailan Theirin was swift in responding to the threat, gathering the 
5820royal army, every Grey Warden in his country, and sending a call for aid 
5821to the Ferelden nobility. The assembled armies laid a trap in the ruins of 
5822Ostagar, hoping to crush the force before it reached civilization. But they 
5823failed.
5824
5825Darkspawn overran the defenders of Ostagar and decimated the king and 
5826his army. They continued their advance into Ferelden unopposed. Only 
5827two Grey Wardens managed to escape the slaughter. And somehow, they 
5828came into possession of ancient treaties, which compelled the races of men
5829to join arms against the massing horde. 
5830
5831***
5832
5833[Hero of Ferelden preset, Martyr preset, or import where the mages were 
5834recruited]
5835The surviving Wardens made their way to Kinloch Hold, home of the 
5836Ferelden Circle, and conscripted the mages. 
5837
5838[No Compromise preset or import where the Templars were recruited]
5839The surviving Wardens made their way to Kinloch Hold, and assisted in 
5840annulling the Fereldan Circle of Magi, which had fallen to abominations. 
5841With the end of that tragic disaster, the Wardens conscripted the templars.
5842
5843***
5844
5845[Hero of Ferelden preset, Martyr preset, or import where the Dalish Elves were 
5846recruited]
5847In desperation to find more allies, the Wardens journeyed into the 
5848Brecilian Forest, seeking the Dalish. The elves, too, joined the growing 
5849army.
5850
5851[No Compromise preset or import where the the Werewolves were recruited]
5852In desperation to find more allies, the Wardens journeyed into the 
5853Brecilian Forest, seeking the Dalish. The elves failed to uphold their treaty,
5854but another answered in their place: Werewolves, straight out of Fereldan 
5855folktales, joined the growing army. 
5856
5857***
5858
5859[Hero of Ferelden preset or import where the Anvil of the Void is destroyed]
5860Into the Deep Roads the surviving Wardens went, searching for Paragon 
5861Branka in hopes she could settle the unrest in Orzammar and unite the 
5862dwarves in the battle against the Archdemon. Branka could not be located,
5863but another Paragon was found: the legendary Caridin, who forged a 
5864crown that ended all question of succession.
5865
5866[Martyr preset or import  where Branka commits suicide]
5867Into the Deep Roads the survivors went, searching for Paragon Branka in 
5868hopes she could settle the unrest in Orzammar and unite the dwarves in 
5869the battle against the Archdemon. They found her, and she forged a crown
5870that played a key role in sorting out the royal succession.
5871
5872[No Compromise preset  or import where the Anvil of the Void was reclaimed]
5873Into the Deep Roads the surviving Wardens went, searching for Paragon 
5874Branka in hopes she could settle the unrest in Orzammar and unite the 
5875dwarves in the battle against the Archdemon. Not only did the Paragon 
5876settle the matter of royal succession, but she also reclaimed the lost secrets 
5877of golem manufacture. An army of stone and steel joined the war effort. 
5878
5879***
5880
5881[Martyr preset or import where Prince Bhelen is crowned king]
5882Bhelen Aeducan was crowned king of Orzammar, and the dwarven 
5883armies marched for the surface. 
5884
5885[Hero of Ferelden preset,  No Compromise preset, or import where Lord 
5886Harrowmont is crowned king]
5887Pyral Harrowmont was crowned king of Orzammar, and the dwarven 
5888armies marched for the surface.
5889
5890***
5891
5892Despite their successes, though, greater challenges were yet to come.
5893
5894--From A Study of the Fifth Blight, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
5895
5896A Study of the Fifth Blight, Vol. Two
5897
5898[if the Warden aided Redcliffe]
5899The Wardens sought Arl Eamon, uncle of the late King Cailan, in the 
5900hopes of mustering troops from the Fereldan nobility. Upon arriving in 
5901Redcliffe they learned that the arl had fallen ill and was near death. His 
5902knights had gone in pursuit of the fabled Ashes of Andraste, Eamon’s 
5903only hope for a cure, and the village surrounding the Keep was beset by a 
5904host of animated corpses. The Wardens found and stopped the demon 
5905behind the undead before joining the search for Eamon's cure. 
5906
5907[if the Warden abandoned Redcliffe]
5908The Wardens sought Arl Eamon, uncle of the late King Cailan, in the 
5909hopes of mustering troops from the Fereldan nobility. But upon arriving 
5910in Redcliffe, they learned that the arl had fallen ill and was near death, his 
5911knights gone in pursuit of the fabled Ashes of Andraste, as his only hope 
5912for a cure. The Wardens immediately set out to join the search for the 
5913Ashes. 
5914
5915***
5916
5917No one is certain if the Wardens actually located the final resting place of 
5918Our Lady Andraste, but whatever they found saved the arl of Redcliffe.
5919
5920Upon his recovery, Eamon Guerrin called for a Landsmeet and he and the 
5921Wardens traveled to Denerim. 
5922
5923***
5924
5925[if Loghain was conscripted into the Grey Wardens and Anora remained Queen 
5926with Warden Cousland as Prince-Consort]
5927The gathered lords and ladies of Ferelden found Teyrn Loghain guilty of a
5928
5929number of crimes. He was sentenced to join the Grey Wardens to atone for
5930his deeds. Furthermore, the Landsmeet bore witness to the betrothal of 
5931Queen Anora to Teyrn Bryce Cousland's youngest son, who was one of 
5932the two Grey Wardens to survive Ostagar. 
5933
5934[if Loghain was conscripted into the Grey Wardens and Anora remained Queen]
5935The gathered lords and ladies of Ferelden found Teyrn Loghain guilty of a
5936number of crimes. He was sentenced to join the Grey Wardens to atone for
5937his deeds. Furthermore, the Landsmeet granted the vacant throne to 
5938Anora, widow of King Cailan.
5939
5940[if Loghain was conscripted into the Grey Wardens and Alistair and Anora rule 
5941together]
5942The gathered lords and ladies of Ferelden found Teyrn Loghain guilty of a
5943number of crimes. He was sentenced to join the Grey Wardens to atone for
5944his deeds. Furthermore, the Landsmeet bore witness to the betrothal of 
5945Queen Anora to Alistair Theirin, the lost son of Maric. 
5946
5947[if Loghain was executed and Anora remained Queen]
5948The gathered lords and ladies of Ferelden found Teyrn Loghain guilty of a
5949number of crimes and sentenced him to execution. Furthermore, the 
5950Landsmeet granted the vacant throne to Anora, widow of King Cailan.
5951
5952[if Loghain was executed, and Alistair and Anora rule togther]
5953The gathered lords and ladies of Ferelden found Teyrn Loghain guilty of a
5954number of crimes and sentenced him to execution. Furthermore, the 
5955Landsmeet bore witness to the betrothal of Queen Anora to Alistair 
5956Theirin, the lost son of Maric.
5957
5958[if Loghain was executed, Alistair became King, and was married to Warden 
5959Cousland as Queen]
5960The gathered lords and ladies of Ferelden found Teyrn Loghain guilty of a
5961number of crimes and sentenced him to execution. Furthermore, the 
5962Landsmeet granted the throne to Alistair Theirin, the lost son of Maric, 
5963and bore witness to his betrothal to Teyrn Bryce Cousland's daughter.
5964
5965[if Loghain was executed and Alistair became King]
5966The gathered lords and ladies of Ferelden found Teyrn Loghain guilty of a
5967number of crimes and sentenced him to execution. Furthermore, the 
5968Landsmeet granted the throne to Alistair Theirin, the lost son of Maric.
5969
5970***
5971
5972The nobility then pledged their own armies in the battle against the Blight.
5973
5974***
5975
5976[if the Warden died in the final battle]
5977The Archdemon clashed with the allied forces at the city of Denerim and 
5978was eventually slain, but at terrible cost. Much of the city lay in ruin and 
5979the Warden who rallied the armies--later known as the Hero of Ferelden
5980--perished in battle. 
5981
5982[if the Dark Ritual occurred]
5983The Archdemon clashed with the allied forces at the city of Denerim and 
5984was eventually slain, but at terrible cost. Much of the city lay in ruin. The 
5985Warden who rallied the armies was named the Hero of Ferelden and 
5986accorded the highest honor. 
5987
5988***
5989
5990The Fifth Blight ended before most of Thedas knew it had begun. But it 
5991left a terrible wound on Ferelden. The losses suffered at Ostagar and 
5992Denerim greatly compromised the security of the kingdom. Southern 
5993Ferelden from the Korcari Wilds to the edge of the Bannorn are, to this 
5994day, a wasteland. It's uncertain how far the ripples from this event shall 
5995travel, or what waves it has already stirred. 
5996
5997--From A Study of the Fifth Blight, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
5998
5999Surface Dwarves
6000
6001In Orzammar, dwarven society is divided into rigid castes with houses 
6002that compete for power and prestige. But all that is discarded when a 
6003dwarf abandons the Stone for the surface. Under the open sky, everyone is
6004equal. Or so the story goes.
6005
6006The truth is that thousands of years of tradition are not so easily tossed 
6007
6008aside. Even though surface dwarves are officially stripped of their caste, 
6009many maintain a hierarchy among themselves along the old caste lines. 
6010Formerly noble houses are accorded more respect than casteless brands 
6011who come up in search of opportunity. The poorest "noble" dwarf on the 
6012surface looks upon the rich "lower caste" dwarves with contempt.
6013
6014Upper-class surface dwarf society is roughly divided into two camps: 
6015kalnas, who insist on maintaining caste and rank (typically those from the 
6016Noble or Merchant Caste families) and ascendants, who believe in leaving 
6017Orzammar's traditions underground and embracing life in the sunlit 
6018world.
6019
6020Maintaining some tie to Orzammar was seen for generations as the only 
6021lifeline for surface dwarves. Bringing surface goods to their kin 
6022underground and lyrium and metals to the surface was not only the most 
6023lucrative means of making a living, but also a sort of sacred duty, as many
6024surface dwarves willingly accepted exile and the loss of their caste to 
6025better serve their house or patron. In recent years, many surface dwarves, 
6026particularly ascendants, have branched out. They started banks, 
6027mercenary companies, and overland trade caravans. They became 
6028investors and speculators in purely surface trade. These new industries 
6029have proven tremendous sources of wealth, but are looked down upon by 
6030their more conservative kin.
6031
6032For less-affluent surface dwarves, association with a powerful kalna can 
6033open many doors. They can get credit with dwarven merchants and are 
6034offered work opportunities by the powerful Dwarven Merchants' Guild 
6035more readily, sometimes, than more qualified but less-connected 
6036individuals.
6037
6038--From The Dowager's Field Guide to Good Society, by Lady Alcyone 
6039
6040Tal-Vashoth
6041
6042Being lost in an ancient Tevinter ruin in northern Rivain is highly 
6043overrated.
6044
6045And then I found myself beset by several bands of Qunari, apparently 
6046
6047working in concert. I fled and managed to hide in a little village by the 
6048name of Vindaar. The people there, mostly humans and a few elves, were 
6049devout followers of the Qun.
6050
6051It was the most organized village I ever laid eyes on. The houses were 
6052identical and arranged along perfectly orthogonal lines. The fields were 
6053well tended and apparently communal. But there were signs of damage 
6054everywhere, as if the town had suffered repeated sieges: buildings 
6055shattered, fields burned, and a great many empty houses. I spent the night
6056in the home of Vindaar's matriarch, who introduced herself only as, 
6057"Seer." When I tried to regale my hostess with the tale of my Qunari 
6058assailants, I discovered something.
6059
6060Qunari, Seer said, are people who follow the Qun. Her people. Those born
6061into Qunari society who reject the Qun are called Vashoth, which means 
6062"gray ones." These gray ones must leave their homes, for they have no 
6063place among the Qunari. Sadly, many turn against the society that cast 
6064them out.
6065
6066These outcasts call themselves Tal-Vashoth, "the true gray ones." Often, 
6067they have no skills to make an honest living, so they sell themselves into 
6068service, usually becoming mercenaries. Even the most inept fighter among
6069the Qunari race possesses prodigious size and an intimidating visage. 
6070These, she informed me, were my attackers in the countryside, the same 
6071band that wreaked such havoc on Vindaar.
6072
6073The Tal-Vashoth wage a bitter war against the Qun, the Qunari, and 
6074sometimes against order itself. They are no match for the Qunari army, so 
6075they generally strike at farms, travelers, and those who stray too far from 
6076Qunari protection. I was lucky to escape with my life.
6077
6078--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
6079Brother Genitivi 
6080
6081The Tale of Iloren
6082
6083In the days after the rising of Zazikel, the dark ones covered every corner 
6084of the land. The archdemon drove all the nations of the world before him, 
6085shemlen and elvhen alike.
6086
6087In the far north, where the hills wander the plains and the earth is 
6088eternally baked beneath the uncaring sun, the lands which the shemlen 
6089call Anderfels, a clan of our people lived, struggling to survive the Blight.
6090
6091Iloren was their keeper. A hunter in his younger days, crafty as any wolf, 
6092he led his people always just ahead of the darkspawn who chased them. 
6093But the old hunter knew that even halla cannot run forever. They must 
6094turn and fight, or be run down.
6095
6096At the foot of the Merdaine, the darkspawn cornered Iloren's clan. That 
6097night, the moon was strangled by clouds, the earth concealed by a dread 
6098mist that rose out of nowhere, so that the elvhen could not tell up from 
6099down.  In the confusion, the darkspawn attacked.
6100
6101But Iloren had prepared for them. All around the camp, the hunters had 
6102strewn dry grass, brush, and brambles. When the sound of rustling 
6103footfalls began, Iloren and the other hahren called upon the old magic. 
6104They struck out with lightning, and though the bolts missed the 
6105darkspawn, they hit their target all the same. The sea of kindling lit, and 
6106not one of the dark creatures made it through the fire to reach Iloren's 
6107clan.
6108
6109--From "The Tale of Iloren," written by Zathrian, as it has been passed down 
6110from keeper to keeper for generations
6111
6112Templars
6113
6114Often portrayed as stoic and grim, the Order of Templars was created as 
6115the martial arm of the Chantry. Armed with the ability to dispel and resist 
6116magic in addition to their formidable combat talents, the templars are 
6117uniquely qualified to act as both a foil for apostates--mages who refuse to 
6118submit to the authority of the Circle--and a first line of defense against the 
6119
6120dark powers of blood mages and abominations.
6121
6122While mages often resent the templars as symbols of the Chantry's control
6123over magic, the people of Thedas see them as saviors and holy warriors, 
6124champions of all that is good, armed with piety enough to protect the 
6125world from the ravages of foul magic. In reality, the Chantry's militant 
6126arm looks first for skilled warriors with unshakable faith in the Maker, 
6127with a flawless moral center as a secondary concern. Templars must carry 
6128out their duty with an emotional distance, and the Order of Templars 
6129prefers soldiers with religious fervor and absolute loyalty over paragons 
6130of virtue who might question orders when it comes time to make difficult 
6131choices.
6132
6133The templars' power derives from the substance lyrium, a mineral 
6134believed to be the raw element of creation. While mages use lyrium in 
6135their arcane spells and rituals, templars ingest the primordial mineral to 
6136enhance their abilities to resist and dispel magic. Lyrium use is regulated 
6137by the Chantry, but some templars suffer from lyrium addiction, the 
6138effects of which include paranoia, obsession, and dementia. Templars 
6139knowingly submit themselves to this "treatment" in the service of the 
6140Order and the Maker.
6141
6142It is this sense of ruthless piety that most frightens mages when they draw
6143the templars' attention: When the templars are sent to eliminate a possible 
6144blood mage, there is no reasoning with them, and if the templars are 
6145prepared, the mage's magic is all but useless. Driven by their faith, the 
6146templars are one of the most feared and respected forces in Thedas.
6147
6148--From Patterns Within Form, by Halden, First Enchanter of Starkhaven, 8:80 
6149Blessed.
6150
6151Tevinter: The Magisters
6152
6153Before it became the Imperium, Tevinter was ruled by a dynasty of kings. 
6154And long before the Chantry there was a Circle of Magi: the society of 
6155mages in each city. The titles our modern Circles use--enchanter, senior 
6156enchanter, first enchanter--all originated here. But above the first 
6157enchanter, the Circles of Tevinter had another office: magister.
6158
6159The magisters formed a council of the most powerful mages in the 
6160kingdom. They convened in Minrathous and held dominion over all 
6161magic in the land. When Darinius seized the throne in -1195 Ancient, the 
6162Court of the Magisters became the royal court, and "magister" was the 
6163only title of nobility recognized in Tevinter.
6164
6165The Imperium today is a magocracy. Political power is solely in the hands 
6166of the magisters, who come only from the ranks of the Circle. Every young
6167mage aspires to be a magister's apprentice because it's the best chance of 
6168ascending to the rank of magister themselves.
6169
6170--From Black City, Black Divine: A Study of the Tevinter Imperium, by 
6171Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar 
6172
6173Thedas Calendar
6174
6175For most good folk, the details of our calendar have little purpose. It is 
6176useful only for telling them when the Summerday festival will be held, 
6177when the snows are expected to begin, and when the harvest must be 
6178complete. The naming of the years are a matter for historians and taxmen, 
6179and few if pressed could even tell you the reason that our current Age is 
6180named after dragons.
6181
6182It is 9:30 Dragon Age, the thirtieth year of the ninth Age since the 
6183crowning of the Chantry’s first Divine.
6184
6185Each Age is exactly 100 years, with the next Age's name chosen in the 99th
6186year. The scholars in Val Royeaux advise the Chantry of portents seen in 
6187that 99th year, and Chantry authorities pore over the research for months 
6188before the Divine announces the name of the imminent Age. The name is 
6189said to be an omen of what is to come, of what the people of Thedas will 
6190face for the next hundred years.
6191
6192The current Age was not meant to be the Dragon Age. Throughout the last
6193months of the Blessed Age, the Chantry was preparing to declare the Sun 
6194Age, named for the symbol of the Orlesian Empire, which at that time 
6195sprawled over much of the south of Thedas and controlled both Ferelden 
6196
6197and what is now Nevarra. It was to be a celebration of Orlesian imperial 
6198glory.
6199
6200But as the rebellion in Ferelden reached a head and the Battle of River 
6201Dane was about to begin, a peculiar event occurred: a rampage, the rising 
6202of a dreaded high dragon. Dragons had been thought practically extinct 
6203since the days of the Nevarran dragon hunts, and they say that to see this 
6204great beast rise from the Frostbacks was both majestic and terrifying. As 
6205the rampage began and the high dragon decimated the countryside in its 
6206search for food, the elderly Divine Faustine II abruptly declared the 
6207Dragon Age.
6208
6209Some say the Divine was declaring support for Orlais in the battle against 
6210Ferelden, since the dragon is an element of the Dufayel family heraldry of 
6211King Meghren, the so-called Usurper King of Ferelden. Be that as it may, 
6212the high dragon’s rampage turned towards the Orlesian side of the 
6213Frostback Mountains, killing hundreds and sending thousands more 
6214fleeing to the northern coast. The Fereldan rebels won the Battle of River 
6215Dane, ultimately securing their independence. 
6216
6217Many thus think that the Dragon Age will come to represent a time of 
6218violent and dramatic change for all of Thedas. It remains to be seen.
6219
6220--From The Studious Theologian, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar, 9:25 
6221Dragon
6222
6223The Tranquil
6224
6225The Tranquil are the least understood but most visible members of the 
6226Circle. Every city of respectable size boasts a Circle of Magi shop, and 
6227every one of these shops is run by a Tranquil proprietor.
6228
6229The name is a misnomer, for they are not tranquil at all; rather, they are 
6230like inanimate objects that speak. If a table wished to sell you an 
6231enchanted penknife, it could pass as one of these people. Their eyes are 
6232expressionless, their voices monotone. Incomparable craftsmen they might
6233be, but they are hardly the sort of mages to put ordinary folk at ease.  
6234
6235--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
6236Brother Genitivi.
6237
6238Uncertainty
6239
6240In uncertainty, find infinite possibility.
6241
6242--An old Orlesian saying
6243
6244The Vael Family
6245
6246Before the Vaels came to power, Starkhaven was ruled in quick succession
6247by a number of petty warlords; some were genuine bannorn, but others 
6248were little more than bandits. Tired of the constant petty raiding and 
6249warfare between Starkhaven and neighboring cities, the original Lord 
6250Vael organized a peaceful protest against "King Ironfist," the low-born, 
6251self-declared "King of Starkhaven." Hundreds of Starkhaven's most 
6252prominent citizens fasted for ten days and nights on the steps of the 
6253chantry, their numbers increasing every day. When his soldiers began 
6254deserting in droves at this example of piety, Ironfist surrendered his 
6255sword to the templars and left Starkhaven forever. 
6256
6257In gratitude, the people of Starkhaven demanded that Lord Vael be king; 
6258he refused, however, saying he had no right to that title. He was instead 
6259proclaimed prince of Starkhaven, and his family has ruled there ever 
6260since. They remain devout, dedicating at least one son or daughter per 
6261generation to become a cleric in the chantry. 
6262
6263Vallaslin: Blood Writing
6264
6265After my encounter with the Dalish elves on the road to Nevarra, I studied
6266every book on the elves I could find. I sought out legends and myths and 
6267history and tried to make sense of it all. But there is only so much one can 
6268learn from books. I knew that in order to truly understand the Dalish, I 
6269would have to seek them out--a dreadful idea, in hindsight. In my 
6270defense, I was young--and also inebriated when the idea popped into my 
6271
6272head. Unfortunately, even after I had regained some measure of sobriety, 
6273the idea still held appeal. It proved remarkably resistant to my attempts to
6274ignore it.
6275
6276I gave in after months of that nagging thought at the back of my head and 
6277set out to learn about the Dalish first-hand. I tramped through the forests 
6278bordering Orlais for weeks before finally found--or was found by--a 
6279Dalish hunter. I stumbled into one of his traps and suddenly was hanging 
6280from a tree with a rope about my ankles.
6281
6282So there I was, defenseless, upside down with my robe over my head, my 
6283underclothes on display. Descriptions of my predicament might elicit 
6284laughter these days, but trust me when I say it was a situation I would not
6285wish on anyone. Thankfully, my ridiculous appearance may have caused 
6286my captor to stay his hand--what threat is a silly human with his pants 
6287showing?
6288
6289And so he sat, made a small fire, and began to skin the deer he had 
6290caught. I soon mustered the courage to speak. I tried to assure him that I 
6291was not there to harm him--but he laughed at this and replied that if I 
6292were there to harm him, I had failed terribly. Eventually we got to talking,
6293and when I say talking, I mean that I asked him questions, and 
6294occasionally he would deign to answer.
6295
6296He told me that while some Dalish actively seek out human travelers to 
6297rob or frighten, most of his people would rather be left alone. He seemed 
6298to believe that punishing the humans for past actions only led to more 
6299violence. I asked him about the intricate tattoos on his face; he told me 
6300they were called vallaslin--"blood writing." His were symbols of Andruil 
6301the Huntress, one of the most highly revered elven goddesses. He said the 
6302Dalish mark themselves to stand out from humans and from those of their
6303kin who have chosen to live under human rule. He said the vallaslin 
6304remind his people that they must never again surrender their beliefs.
6305
6306When he finished skinning the deer, he cut me down. By the time I had 
6307righted myself and conquered the dizziness of all the blood rushing out of
6308my head, he was gone.
6309
6310I do not recommend that my readers seek out the Dalish for themselves. I 
6311was very lucky to have met the man that I did, and to have walked away 
6312
6313from our meeting unscathed. Perhaps the Maker watches over those who 
6314seek knowledge with an open heart; I certainly would like to think so.
6315
6316--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
6317Brother Genitivi
6318
6319The Veil
6320
6321I detest this notion that the Veil is some manner of invisible "curtain" that 
6322separates the world of the living from the world of the spirits (whether it 
6323be called the Fade or the Beyond is a matter of racial politics I refuse to 
6324indulge in at the moment). There is no "this side" and "that side" when it 
6325comes to the Veil. One cannot think of it as a physical thing or a barrier or 
6326even a "shimmering wall of holy light" (thank you very much for that 
6327image, Your Perfection).
6328
6329Think of the Veil, instead, as opening one's eyes.
6330
6331Before you opened them, you saw our world as you see it now: static, 
6332solid, unchanging. Now that they are open, you see our world as the 
6333spirits see it: chaotic, ever-changing, a realm where the imagined and the 
6334remembered have as much substance as that which is real--more, in fact. 
6335A spirit sees everything as defined by will and memory, and this is why 
6336they are so very lost when they cross the Veil. In our world, imagination 
6337has no substance. Objects exist independently of how we remember them 
6338or what emotions we associate with them. Mages alone possess the power 
6339to change the world with their minds, and perhaps this forms the nature 
6340of a demon's attraction to them--who can say?
6341
6342Regardless, the act of passing through the Veil is much more about 
6343changing one's perceptions than a physical transition. The Veil is an idea, 
6344it is the act of transition itself, and it is only the fact that both living beings 
6345and spirits find the transition difficult that gives the Veil any credence as a
6346physical barrier at all.
6347
6348--From A Dissertation on the Fade as a Physical Manifestation, by Mareno, 
6349Senior Enchanter of the Minrathous Circle of Magi, 6:55 Steel.
6350
6351Velvet Cailan
6352
6353The Velvet Cailan is a portrait of the late King Cailan of Ferelden, painted 
6354on luminescent velvet.
6355
6356According to rumor, King Cailan commissioned a large number of these 
6357paintings. The portraits were distributed to stores around Denerim shortly
6358after his coronation, and the king received a portion of the profits from 
6359each sale. The coin funded his ever-growing kennel of mabari war dogs.
6360
6361Art patrons throughout Thedas find the Velvet Cailans singularly 
6362revolting. As part of her ongoing mission to rid Thedas of their ghastly 
6363influence, Orlesian art collector Blanchette de Lemoux is offering a reward
6364for every Velvet Cailan brought to her. Mistress de Lemoux has publicly 
6365derided the paintings and has been quoted as saying, "I despise furry art."
6366
6367--Excerpt from the Hightown newsletter Artists' Quarterly 
6368
6369A Vessel of Tears
6370
6371Although this wax-stoppered vessel is clearly labeled "Tears Shed During 
6372the Burning of Treviso," many questions remain, not the least of which is: 
6373Which burning of Treviso? When the Qunari conquered it in 6:35 Steel? 
6374When it was burned by the liberating armies of the White and Black 
6375Divines during the Second Exalted March of 7:52 Storm? Or when it was 
6376accidentally burned to the ground in 8:62 Blessed after a dockhand 
6377knocked over a lantern in a warehouse full of lamp oil?
6378
6379Even assuming the correct event could be determined, the question of 
6380whose tears have been collected remains. Presumably not any of the 
6381numerous fire victims. Surviving relatives, perhaps? Nobles with summer 
6382homes on the Antivan coast? It should be noted that nowhere on the label 
6383does it say that these tears were shed in relation to the event, so they could
6384have been the tears of a woman in Montsimmard, weeping because she 
6385was not asked to dance at the last costume ball, unaware that at that very 
6386moment, one of the greatest port cities of Thedas was aflame.
6387
6388--From the letters of Brother Ferdinand Genitivi to Sister Petrine, Chantry 
6389scholar 
6390
6391Codex: Characters (Dragon Age II)
6392
6393Alistair
6394
6395[import where Alistair and the Hero of Ferelden marry and rule together]
6396King Alistair Theirin was crowned ruler of his kingdom after the end of 
6397the Fifth Blight, with the legendary Hero of Ferelden reigning as his 
6398queen. Both former Grey Wardens are wildly popular in their homeland, 
6399though some claim Alistair is not of Theirin blood and that his bloodline 
6400as a king's bastard son is a lie imposed on Ferelden to depose Queen 
6401Anora. Thus, the royals' rule has been plagued with trouble, both within 
6402the kingdom as well as with neighboring Orlais. The Blight greatly 
6403weakened Ferelden, and many believe a renewal of the long-standing 
6404rivalry between the two nations is inevitable.
6405
6406[Hero of Ferelden preset, Martyr preset, or import where Alistair rules alone]
6407King Alistair Theirin was crowned the ruler of Ferelden after the end of 
6408the Fifth Blight, and is considered a hero among his people for having 
6409fought against the darkspawn as a Grey Warden.
6410
6411He is one of the few known to have ever left the secretive order, never 
6412mind one who went on to rule a nation afterwards. Some in Ferelden 
6413claim that the Theirin line ended with the death of King Cailan and that 
6414the existence of an unknown bastard was a lie imposed upon the people to
6415overthrow Queen Anora. As such, Alistair's rule has been plagued with 
6416trouble... both within his own lands as well as with neighboring Orlais. 
6417The Blight greatly weakened Ferelden, and many believe that a renewal of
6418the long-standing rivalry between the two nations is inevitable.
6419
6420[Martyr preset or import where Anora and Alistair marry and rule jointly]
6421King Alistair Theirin was crowned ruler of Ferelden after the end of the 
6422Fifth Blight; his people consider him a hero for fighting against the 
6423darkspawn as a Grey Warden. Few Wardens have ever left the secretive 
6424order, and he is the only of those who went on to rule a nation; Queen 
6425Anora, daughter of the legendary Teyrn Loghain, rules at his side. 
6426Although Ferelden has prospered under their reign, it was greatly 
6427weakened by the Blight. Tensions with neighboring Orlais have been high,
6428and many believe a renewal of their long-standing conflict is inevitable.
6429
6430[import where Alistair remains a Grey Warden]
6431A hero of the recent Fifth Blight, the Grey Warden Alistair is credited 
6432alongside the Hero of Ferelden with slaying the Archdemon and sparing 
6433Thedas the ravages of the darkspawn. Rumor has it that he is an heir to 
6434the Fereldan throne, but that he turned it down in deference to Queen 
6435Anora, daughter to the traitorous Teryn Loghain.
6436
6437[No Compromise preset or import where Alistair was exiled]
6438Once a Grey Warden, and rumored to be the bastard son of King Maric of 
6439Ferelden, Alistair turned down the throne and abandoned his order at the 
6440height of the Fifth Blight in Ferelden. He has slipped into anonymity, 
6441living down his disgrace in a drunken stupor in the Free Marches.
6442
6443Anders
6444
6445"Magic is a tool, same as a bow or sword. Would you cut off a child's hand
6446to ensure he never wields one in anger?"
6447
6448Anders has a rocky history with the Circle of Magi. Taken from his family 
6449when his talents first manifested, Anders was still a boy the first time he 
6450ran away from the Circle. Recaptured and returned dozens of times, 
6451Anders was still considered only a reckless scamp by First Enchanter 
6452Irving, who thought his easy temper and sense of humor made him no 
6453true threat. But during his final escape, Anders befriended the Warden 
6454Commander of Amaranthine and accepted an offer to become a Grey 
6455Warden.
6456
6457Life as a Warden changed him, introducing him to the free Fade spirit 
6458called Justice, who slowly convinced Anders to turn his attention beyond 
6459his personal suffering. Infused with Justice's fervor, Anders offered to 
6460merge with the spirit in the name of mage freedom, starting them both 
6461down a dangerous path that turned the purity of Justice into the 
6462unthinking hatred of Vengeance.
6463
6464Anders - After the Deep Roads
6465
6466In the past three years, Anders has become more reclusive, verging on 
6467paranoid. When not with the Champion, he spends his time among the 
6468Fereldan refugees in Darktown, healing their ills and counting on their 
6469loyalty to protect him from curious templars. After his friend Karl was 
6470made Tranquil, then killed, Anders was convinced that the Chantry's 
6471entire structure must be overturned to free mages completely from their 
6472control. He has joined a group of like-minded apostates who are slowly 
6473wearing away Kirkwall's Circle by helping other mages escape. The spirit 
6474of Vengeance inside him has manifested more strongly, making it nearly 
6475impossible for him to control himself when fighting templars.
6476
6477Anders - The Last Three Years
6478
6479[if Ella was killed during Dissent]
6480The past three years has seen Anders cross the edge from moodiness into 
6481open paranoia. Increasingly, his inner struggle against the spirit 
6482Vengeance has boiled over into his dealings with the rest of the world. It's 
6483clear he is losing this fight. More determined than ever to see the mages of
6484Thedas freed, Anders has taken to spending long hours cloistered with 
6485ancient Tevinter texts, adding more layers to his already lofty plans for 
6486overthrowing the Chantry.
6487
6488[if Ella was not killed]
6489After his attack on Ella, Anders lost interest in the cause of mage 
6490revolution. Convinced that he was no better than an abomination, Anders 
6491was determined to gain mastery over the spirit inside him... or die trying. 
6492It is increasingly apparent that he is losing this struggle. Prone to wild 
6493mood swings between deep melancholy and manic determination, Anders
6494has again taken up the mantle of mage freedom--though it is unclear 
6495whether this decision came from Anders or Justice. 
6496
6497[if Hawke is in a romance with Anders]
6498Hawke's status as Champion has protected Anders from the attention of 
6499the templars, despite his increasing notoriety. Though they have lived 
6500openly together for some time, Anders remains uncomfortable in the 
6501spotlight Hawke's presence has cast him into. In private, though, he 
6502
6503remains a tender and devoted lover; he has repeatedly declared that 
6504Hawke is the only reason he's retained any sanity at all. 
6505
6506Aveline Vallen
6507
6508"If it's family, you protect. Doesn't matter who it is, blood or not."
6509
6510Aveline was born in Orlais, but she never knew the country. Her father, 
6511Benoit du Lac, was a chevalier who lost his patron to the game of intrigue. 
6512He fled to Ferelden while Aveline was an infant, and though his holdings 
6513were meager, he was determined she would have the life he had lost: she 
6514would become a knight, no matter the cost. He eventually sold everything 
6515to sponsor Aveline into King Cailan's service.
6516
6517Knightly skills seemed bred into Aveline's bones, but she had her doubts
6518--starting with her namesake, Ser Aveline. The first female knight of 
6519Orlais was orphaned, mocked for her looks and murdered when she 
6520dared stand with men in tournament. Her glory lies in tragedy, but the 
6521living Aveline doesn't revere sacrifice: a principled death is still a death. 
6522Her father was proud of her, but she would never be the knight he wished
6523for.
6524
6525Aveline married Wesley Vallen while serving in the Fereldan army. They 
6526were kindred spirits and determined guardians. His death during the 
6527Blight scarred her--not just his loss, but that she failed to protect him. 
6528Aveline has healed in the past year, but she has yet to forgive herself. 
6529Accordingly, she is fiercely protective of the Hawkes and Hawke. They 
6530share a bond in loss, a connection she cherishes but will not allow to be 
6531repeated.
6532
6533Aveline - After the Deep Roads
6534
6535[if The Way It Should Be was completed]
6536Since the adventure in the Deep Roads, Aveline has settled into life as the 
6537captain of the guard. She has removed the stain of Captain Jeven's 
6538corruption and turned the guardsmen into effective enforcers of law and 
6539order.
6540
6541[if The Way It Should Be was not completed]
6542Since the adventure in the Deep Roads, Aveline has redoubled her efforts 
6543in the city guard. The previous captain left suddenly, and while a Fereldan
6544could not be promoted outright, Aveline's military experience made her 
6545an "adequate choice" for the captain of the guard in Seneschal Bran's 
6546estimation.
6547
6548***
6549
6550Becoming captain of the guard title should have brought Aveline stability, 
6551but she has instead found herself taxed by having so many people under 
6552her care. She is very protective of the people she commands, to the point 
6553of training each guardsman herself and personally reinforcing otherwise 
6554simple patrols. Injury rates are lower than ever before, but the guards are 
6555beginning to feel smothered.
6556
6557Aveline is utterly dedicated to her job, leaving no time for anything 
6558beyond the occasional sidetrack with Hawke--even that is an excuse to 
6559watch over people she cares about. She is a guardian in every waking 
6560moment, and she doesn't seem to know how to put down the weight she 
6561carries.
6562
6563Aveline - The Last Three Years
6564
6565[if Aveline does not marry Donnic]
6566It is three years since the Qunari uprising, and Guard-Captain Aveline is 
6567as driven as ever. Her guards could give a Fereldan battalion a run for 
6568their coin, and she commands their undying respect; however, all would 
6569agree that she's the hardest captain they have ever served. Aveline takes 
6570that as a compliment, although it is not always intended as such. She 
6571knows it, but accepts it as necessary for the greater good, both theirs and 
6572that of Kirkwall.
6573
6574Being captain of the guard is an all-consuming position that she wouldn't 
6575give up for the world, although some in the templars would prefer that 
6576her guard had a lesser presence in keeping order. At the least, they would 
6577prefer that Aveline be more accepting of their oversight. Her association 
6578
6579with the Champion has helped dissuade them, but pressure is mounting. 
6580
6581[if Aveline marries Donnic]
6582Thanks to the Champion's actions, Aveline and Donnic Hendyr were 
6583married a year ago in a simple ceremony on the Hawke estate. They 
6584honeymooned in Orlais, the only time that Aveline has visited the country 
6585of her namesake. The pair has since settled into a happy marriage. 
6586Although she remains his captain and he her guardsman, Aveline now 
6587strictly divides her personal and private life.
6588
6589She is no less driven to keep her guardsmen safe, but Donnic provides 
6590another perspective, and she is now giving her guard the authority they 
6591need to truly serve Kirkwall. As a force for law and order, the guard has 
6592never been more respected. This brings its own challenges, however, as 
6593some among the templars would prefer that the guard be under their 
6594direct command. 
6595
6596Bartrand Tethras
6597
6598"Half of Kirkwall wants to be my best friend right now."
6599
6600The history of noble House Tethras stretches back to the foundation of 
6601Orzammar. The memories say that three times, a child of House Tethras 
6602took the office of Assembly Steward. They held appointments in the 
6603Shaperate of Memories and the Shaperate of Golems. But no longer.
6604
6605In the second year of the reign of King Endrin Aeducan, Lord Andvar 
6606Tethras was found guilty before the Assembly of willfully manipulating 
6607Proving matches in favor of his House. For this affront to the Ancestors, he
6608and all his House were sentenced to exile on the surface. Andvar died a 
6609mere five years later, leaving behind his Lady Ilsa, ten-year-old Bartrand, 
6610and two-year-old Varric.
6611
6612Exile, surface life, and the loss of her husband conspired against Lady Ilsa,
6613who took to drink, leaving young Bartrand to manage what was left of 
6614House Tethras.
6615
6616By the time he was fifteen, Bartrand had doubled his family's fortune. The 
6617
6618disgrace of House Tethras fueled his ambition and his once-noble title 
6619gave him an instant place among the kalnas, the old money elite of the 
6620Dwarven Merchants Guild; he used it to build alliances and business 
6621ventures as if he were a member of the Orzammar Assembly.
6622
6623By the time Lady Ilsa died, Bartrand had made the Tethras family one of 
6624the Guild's most influential, but wealth and power on the surface couldn't 
6625sate him. He began to court alliances with the wealthiest ascendant 
6626families, branching into banking and mercenary companies. Guild 
6627members mutter that nothing will satisfy Bartrand but a complete 
6628reconstruction of House Tethras' estate in Orzammar--down to the rivers 
6629of lava--built in Kirkwall. 
6630
6631Bethany Hawke
6632
6633[if Bethany survives the prologue] 
6634"I was just hoping it would be different here in Kirkwall. We're not 
6635running away. We're coming home."
6636
6637Even growing up as an apostate has not dimmed Bethany's faith and 
6638sunny nature, though it has colored her view of the world. Bethany wishes
6639above all else to be "normal." She appreciates the trouble her family took 
6640to keep her out of the Circle, but the running, hiding, and constant fear 
6641have taken their toll. Though she would never admit so to her mother--
6642not after all she sacrificed to protect her--Bethany sometimes wonders 
6643whether she would be better off in the Circle. At least there she would be 
6644with other mages, confident she'd be serving the will of the Maker and not
6645defying a millennium of religious teachings. Still, her first loyalty is to her 
6646family; despite her doubts, she gladly embraces her magic if it keeps them 
6647safe. She has a teasing rivalry with her twin, Carver, and greatly respects 
6648Hawke. 
6649
6650[if Bethany dies during the prologue] 
6651Hawke's younger sister, Bethany, died during the family's flight from 
6652Lothering, leaving Hawke and Bethany's twin brother, Carver, as the only 
6653surviving children. Like Hawke, Bethany was an apostate mage in hiding 
6654from the Circle since childhood. Protecting Hawke and Bethany from the 
6655templars became the defining fact of the family's life, forcing them to 
6656
6657move frequently and live well below their means in small hamlets in 
6658Lothering. Bethany was close to her eldest sibling and idolized and envied
6659the way Hawke embraced magic, but she could never give up her 
6660resentment of being different and fear for what their future would hold. 
6661
6662Bethany - After the Deep Roads
6663
6664[if Bethany was taken into the Deep Roads and did not die]
6665Since joining the Grey Wardens, Bethany has had little contact with her 
6666family. Resentful that Hawke escaped the Deep Roads unscathed while 
6667she nearly died, Bethany communicates only with their mother, relaying 
6668little beyond the fact that she is alive and continues to travel with the 
6669Warden Stroud. Her responsibilities rarely bring her back to the Kirkwall 
6670area; she usually patrols deep into the Free Marches or across the border 
6671in Ferelden, the only member of the Hawke family to return to their 
6672homeland. 
6673
6674[if Bethany was not a part of the Deep Roads Expedition]
6675Bethany communicates often with her family since entering the Circle, 
6676and she is adjusting to her new life with ease. For the first time, she can 
6677study magic without watching over her shoulder. After passing her much-
6678delayed Harrowing, she took a senior position within the Circle, teaching 
6679and mentoring the newest apprentices. Bethany is surprised at how many 
6680templars are honest Andrastians, who believe they serve the Maker and 
6681the people by keeping mages from using blood magic. However, this up-
6682close look at the templars has also shown her the abuses that inevitably 
6683occur when one group of people is given life-and-death power over 
6684another. Bethany supports the Circle as it is, but this grows harder as 
6685Knight-Commander Meredith clamps down more tightly.
6686
6687Carver Hawke
6688
6689[if Carver survives the prologue] 
6690"A hundred ways to run, and we choose backward. Whatever you say, but 
6691chasing an old name isn't really starting over."
6692
6693Strong and strapping, Carver is a skilled warrior set on proving himself, 
6694
6695although it's not always clear who he is trying to impress. The son and 
6696sibling of mages, he grew up surrounded by magic he couldn't truly 
6697understand - and he feels like something was expected that he could never
6698deliver. He cares deeply for his family, but sometimes feels like the 
6699stupidest person in the room.
6700
6701Carver foundered in Lothering. He blamed his lack of direction on not 
6702wanting to draw attention to his family of apostates at home. After his 
6703father died, he started down a military path; however, the Blight and rout 
6704at Ostagar ended his career almost before it could start. While he knows 
6705that swift flight was the only reasonable course in the face of the 
6706darkspawn advance, he almost would rather have stood and fought. 
6707Doomed though the effort was, facing the horde had purpose - something 
6708Carver had been searching for.
6709
6710[if Carver dies during the prologue]
6711Carver grew up surrounded by magic he couldn't truly understand. He 
6712cared deeply for his family, but sometimes felt like the stupidest person in 
6713the room. Carver foundered in Lothering, caught between the gifts of his 
6714apostate sister, Bethany and the growing skill of his more focused sibling, 
6715Hawke.
6716
6717But even as Carver groused about his lot, he remained dedicated to 
6718protecting those he loved. He didn't think twice about sacrificing himself 
6719to save his mother during the flight from the darkspawn, and although 
6720Carver struggled to find his way in life, there is gratification in knowing 
6721his death had a purpose. 
6722
6723Carver - After the Deep Roads
6724
6725[if Carver was taken into the Deep Roads and did not die]
6726Carver rarely contacts his family since joining the Grey Wardens. His 
6727duties have taken him places even a soldier of Ferelden would never have 
6728seen. Despite his freedom and authority, Carver sees becoming a Warden 
6729as another decision that was out of his control - although the choice to be 
6730in harm's way was certainly his. If pressed, he would admit that his 
6731grudge is as much about familiarity as it is about family. Even between 
6732Blights, the Grey Warden oath is a heavy burden to bear - accepting it can 
6733
6734be a long process. 
6735
6736[if Carver was not a part of the Deep Roads Expedition]
6737Carver seldom contacts his family since joining the templars. He gives 
6738excuses of duty and training, but his words are those of a man still 
6739uncertain of his choice. He has little in common with others of the order, 
6740having come from a family so steeped in magic. And while he is certain 
6741that regulating the Circle is as much about protecting mages as it is 
6742controlling them, he has seen disturbing abuses of power. The purpose he 
6743has found in service is strained by the blind hate some of his superiors 
6744possess. There is good work to be done, but the path is more winding than
6745he had imagined.
6746
6747Empress Celene I of Orlais
6748
6749Empress Celene I is arguably the most powerful woman in Thedas. No 
6750other nation rivals Orlais in wealth or power, and Celene is Orlais 
6751personified.
6752
6753Rumor and scandal surround the empress's rise to the throne, and it is 
6754difficult to separate truth from fiction. Celene is the daughter of the late 
6755Emperor Florian's youngest sister, and others in the family held stronger 
6756claims when Florian died. Court rumors at the time implied that Celene 
6757had her uncle assassinated then schemed against her older cousins to 
6758challenge their right to rule.
6759
6760Regardless of how she came to the throne, Celene quickly proved that it 
6761was exactly where she belonged. The mad Florian's rule had brought the 
6762empire to the brink of collapse. Celene was its savior. Orlais has never 
6763been quite so peaceful or prosperous as it is now. The empress highly 
6764values education and learning and is an ardent patron of the arts. The 
6765aristocracy--in order to impress her--has followed suit, leading to a 
6766rebirth of Orlesian culture.
6767
6768--From Orlais: A Modern History, by Revered Mother Laeticia 
6769
6770Knight-Captain Cullen
6771
6772Knight-Captain Cullen was one of the few templars who survived the 
6773incident at the Circle of Magi in Ferelden. The possessed blood mage 
6774Uldred took over the tower, and in his madness, he filled it with 
6775summoned demons and abominations. Cullen was imprisoned, tortured, 
6776and forced to watch the slaughter of his fellow templars. The ordeal shook
6777him, and he emerged from it convinced that even templars fail to see how 
6778dangerous mages can be. 
6779
6780After Cullen returned to his duties, it became clear that he would go to 
6781any lengths to enforce the Chantry's rule. His zeal troubled Knight-
6782Commander Greagoir, who feared it unwise to let Cullen watch over the 
6783men and women he deemed responsible for his torment.
6784
6785Greagoir sent Cullen to serve under Knight-Commander Meredith in 
6786Kirkwall, hoping time away would calm him, and Meredith found 
6787Cullen's view of mages similar to her own. Of her company, only Cullen 
6788had seen mages' potentially terrifying power firsthand, and she believed 
6789he could influence the other templars' views. Consequently, Cullen rose 
6790quickly through the ranks to become Knight-Captain and Meredith's 
6791second-in-command.
6792
6793[if the Hero of Ferelden was a female mage]
6794For some time, a rumor has circulated in the Gallows that Knight-Captain 
6795Cullen once fell in love with a young mage from the Circle of Ferelden. 
6796The mage was recruited into the Grey Wardens and went on to become 
6797the Hero of Ferelden. This rumor seems to cause Cullen pain, though no 
6798one knows if it is the pain of lost, unrequited love, or if Cullen is shamed 
6799by having had feelings for a mage, of all things.
6800
6801Knight-Commander Meredith maintains that the rumor is untrue and 
6802punishes anyone caught repeating it. 
6803
6804Viscount Marlowe Dumar
6805
6806What happened to Viscount Perrin Threnhold was a travesty. I served in 
6807the Keep, and my blood boils when I hear people call him a tyrant. He was
6808a good man who tried his best to free Kirkwall from the control of those 
6809who use power for their own purposes. It's always been that way here, 
6810hasn't it? Long ago it was the Imperium. Then it was the Qunari, then the 
6811Orlesians, now the templars... when have we ever ruled ourselves? He 
6812tried to kick those templar bastards out and give us real freedom, and 
6813what did it get him?
6814
6815Now the Chantry has chosen Lord Marlowe Dumar as his replacement. 
6816After weeks and weeks of arguing, after telling the nobility that they 
6817would be choosing their viscount, after everyone saying it was time to use 
6818a new title--why not "king"? Why keep using the name imposed by the 
6819Orlesians? And after all that, the Chantry chose him. I suppose I can see 
6820why--everyone thinks he has the spine of a jellyfish, and it does seem that
6821way.
6822
6823Truly, he has the templars on one side, the nobility on the other, and 
6824everyone expects him to solve all their problems--yet he has no power to 
6825actually accomplish it. He keeps the peace as best he can, and I think he 
6826does a good job even if no one else does. And he loves that sad little boy. I 
6827see the way young Saemus looks at his father, and I feel for him. Locked 
6828up in the Keep with no other children, watching his father be put down by
6829every self-important windbag that walks into the great hall... it makes me 
6830miss the days of Perrin Threnhold, even if they were chaotic. We can only 
6831hope that one day Saemus gives this city the legacy it deserves.
6832
6833--Excerpt from a letter by an unknown servant, found in the Gallows vaults 9:28
6834Dragon 
6835
6836Grand Cleric Elthina
6837
6838"We will never have peace unless we try to understand one another."
6839
6840Revered Mother Elthina assumed the mantle of grand cleric almost twenty
6841years ago; she is responsible for the spiritual well-being of the southern 
6842Free Marches (everything south of Starkhaven and the Minanter River). 
6843She has long been a calming presence in the city, renowned for her 
6844kindness and generosity. People frequently turn to her to mediate disputes
6845--particularly those involving the powerful Templar Order, over whom 
6846she holds authority as the Chantry's ranking representative.
6847
6848Some claim that Elthina's advanced age has rendered her ineffective, and 
6849that she allows Knight-Commander Meredith more leeway with each 
6850passing year. Some are calling on the new Divine, Justinia V, to appoint a 
6851replacement--but they do so quietly, for Elthina is by far the most beloved
6852priest the city has ever known. 
6853
6854Fenris
6855
6856"Even those who live without chains are still bound: by fear, by tradition, 
6857by honor. Slaves dream of freedom, but I have found free men dream of it 
6858even more."
6859
6860Fenris was a slave--a bodyguard to Magister Danarius of the Tevinter 
6861Imperium--until his escape several years ago. He speaks little of his past, 
6862saying only that he most recently came to Kirkwall from Tantervale in the 
6863north. The markings on his skin are akin to runecrafting: made of lyrium 
6864and ink, they suffuse Fenris's flesh with a power even he does not fully 
6865understand. The process of their creation was painful, and in unguarded 
6866moments, Fenris attempts to control the agony that lingers still. Even so, 
6867the markings enhance his fighting skill and have made him a unique and 
6868formidable warrior.
6869
6870Fenris - After the Deep Roads 
6871
6872Since the adventure into the Deep Roads, Fenris has remained in Kirkwall,
6873
6874maintaining a residence in Danarius's abandoned mansion. That it doesn't 
6875truly belong to him has aroused the interest of curious neighbors, and 
6876thus, the city guard. Aveline has so far deflected their inquiries on Fenris's 
6877behalf; however, she's told him in no uncertain terms that the situation 
6878will not remain that way forever.
6879Though seemingly unconcerned about the house, Fenris has become 
6880increasingly nervous over the last year. He doesn't know if he's actually 
6881free from pursuit, or if his former master is planning something even 
6882worse. He tries not to think about it, taking pleasure in having a home for 
6883the first time in his life, even though his contact with anyone outside of 
6884the jobs he takes as a mercenary is very limited. 
6885
6886Fenris - The Last Three Years 
6887
6888[if Hawke and Fenris are friends]
6889Three years ago, after confronting Hadriana, Fenris learned of his long-
6890lost sister. He has spoken little of it, though it clearly still preys on his 
6891mind. He has not left Kirkwall to pursue the matter, remaining in 
6892Danarius's mansion even though it is common knowledge in Hightown 
6893that "a friend of the Champion" lives within. Fenris finds his high profile 
6894in the city both intriguing and alarming. Over the last year, he has spoken 
6895more than once of leaving Kirkwall for good; if not for the debt he owes to
6896Hawke, he would likely already have moved on. 
6897
6898[if Hawke and Fenris are rivals]
6899Fenris has remained in his Hightown mansion for the past three years. 
6900However, he's become increasingly restless and occasionally notes that it 
6901may almost be time for him to move on. Danarius has never reappeared, 
6902and Fenris assumes that he is now free to do as he wishes... but what will 
6903that be? For now, he seems content to stay at Hawke's side for the sake of 
6904his old debt, although things are bound to change at some point. 
6905
6906[if Hawke is in a romance with Fenris]
6907As for the night Fenris and Hawke shared three years ago, he refuses to 
6908speak more of it. However, it's clear he has not forgotten, although any 
6909lingering feelings remain unresolved. Whether that will change remains to
6910be seen. 
6911
6912Flemeth
6913
6914"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe."
6915
6916Ages ago, legend says Bann Conobar took to wife a beautiful young 
6917woman who harbored a secret talent for magic: Flemeth of Highever. And 
6918for a time they lived happily, until the arrival of a young poet, Osen, who 
6919captured the lady's heart with his verse.
6920
6921They turned to the Chasind tribes for help and hid from Conobar's wrath 
6922in the Wilds, until word came to them that Conobar lay dying: His last 
6923wish was to see Flemeth's face one final time.
6924
6925The lovers returned, but it was a trap. Conobar killed Osen, and 
6926imprisoned Flemeth in the highest tower of the castle. In grief and rage, 
6927Flemeth worked a spell to summon a spirit into this world to wreak 
6928vengeance upon her husband. Vengeance, she received, but not as she 
6929planned. The spirit took possession of her, turning Flemeth into an 
6930abomination. A twisted, maddened creature, she slaughtered Conobar and
6931all his men, and fled back into the Wilds.
6932
6933For a hundred years, Flemeth plotted, stealing men from the Chasind to 
6934sire monstrous daughters: Horrific things that could kill a man with fear. 
6935These Korcari witches led an army of Chasind from the Wilds to strike at 
6936the Alamarri tribes. They were defeated by the hero Cormac, and all the 
6937witches burned, so they say, but even now the Wilders whisper that 
6938Flemeth lives on in the marsh, and she and her daughters steal those men 
6939who come too near.
6940
6941Morrigan's mother saved the last Grey Wardens from death at the top of 
6942the Tower of Ishal, but just who, or what, Flemeth truly is, is a mystery. 
6943
6944Hawke
6945
6946[if Hawke is a mage]
6947The son/daughter of Malcolm Hawke and Leandra Amell, Hawke has 
6948lived in many places throughout Ferelden. His/her father was a mage, and
6949
6950his gifts were passed onto both Hawke and Bethany, Malcolm's younger 
6951daughter. Malcolm refused to submit himself to the Chantry's rule; he 
6952kept his abilities a secret and taught his children/daughters to do the 
6953same. Therefore, the family was constantly on the move to avoid templar 
6954hunters. Ten years ago, the family settled in the village of Lothering, 
6955building a home on the outskirts and making a life where they wouldn't 
6956forever be on the run. Though Leandra worried constantly that the 
6957templars would one day catch up with them, Malcolm's teachings were 
6958sufficient to keep them safe.
6959
6960He died three years ago, leaving Hawke responsible for the welfare of 
6961his/her mother and younger siblings. When the Blight began, Carver 
6962enlisted in King Cailan's regiment, saying the horde spilling from the 
6963Korcari Wilds meant their home would be quickly overrun if the 
6964darkspawn were not defeated immediately. Hawke remained in Lothering
6965to safeguard the family. Carver appeared on their doorstep almost a 
6966month later, exhausted and injured. King Cailan had been betrayed and 
6967slain at Ostagar, and the horde was advancing on Lothering. Though 
6968Hawke and the others were making plans to leave, they fled their home 
6969before they were fully prepared... and it may still be too late. 
6970
6971[if Hawke is a warrior or rogue]
6972The son/daughter of Malcolm Hawke and Leandra Amell, Hawke has 
6973lived in many places throughout Ferelden. His/Her father and younger 
6974sister, Bethany, were apostate mages; thus, the family was constantly on 
6975the move, avoiding templar hunters. Ten years ago, the family settled in 
6976the village of Lothering, building a home on the outskirts and making a 
6977life where they wouldn't forever be on the run. Though Leandra worried 
6978constantly that the templars would one day catch up with them, Malcolm 
6979kept his abilities a secret and taught his daughter to do the same.
6980
6981He died three years ago, leaving Hawke responsible for the welfare of 
6982his/her mother and younger siblings. When the Blight began, Hawke and 
6983Carver quickly enlisted in King Cailan's regiment. The horde spilling from
6984the Korcari Wilds meant their home would be quickly overrun if the 
6985darkspawn were not defeated immediately. However, the Battle of 
6986Ostagar ended with the betrayal and death of King Cailan. Hawke and 
6987Carver barely escaped the chaos with their lives, and returned to 
6988Lothering to get their mother and Bethany out with only moments to 
6989spare... 
6990
6991The Hero of Ferelden
6992
6993[Hero of Ferelden preset or Human Noble import]
6994The Hero of Ferelden was the younger son/the daughter of Bryce 
6995Cousland, Teyrn of Highever. When Arl Rendon Howe's forces attacked 
6996Castle Cousland and murdered most of the Cousland family, the Hero 
6997escaped to safety with Grey Warden Commander Duncan, who then 
6998recruited him/her into the order.
6999
7000[Martyr preset or Dalish Elf import]
7001The Hero of Ferelden once belonged to a clan of Dalish Elves. An 
7002encounter with a tainted magical mirror corrupted the Hero, and only the 
7003Grey Wardens held the cure. To save the Hero's life, the clan gave him/her 
7004up to Grey Warden Commander Duncan and the order.
7005
7006[No Compromise preset or Dwarf Noble import]
7007The Hero of Ferelden was born to noble House Aeducan of Orzammar, the
7008second son/the daughter of King Endrin Aeducan. After being charged 
7009with fratricide, the Hero was exiled to the Deep Roads. There, he/she met 
7010Grey Warden Commander Duncan, who then recruited him/her into the 
7011order.
7012
7013[City Elf import]
7014The Hero of Ferelden grew up in Denerim's impoverished elven alienage. 
7015A bitter clash with a Denerim noble during the Hero's wedding resulted in
7016the Hero facing arrest by the city guards. The Grey Warden Commander 
7017Duncan recruited the Hero, saving him/her from a certain death sentence.
7018
7019[Circle Mage import]
7020The Hero of Ferelden belonged to the Circle of Magi in Ferelden, and 
7021resided in the tower at Lake Calenhad for most of their life. First 
7022Enchanter Irving recommended the Hero to Grey Warden Commander 
7023Duncan; shortly after the Hero's Harrowing, Duncan recruited him/her 
7024into the order. 
7025
7026[Dwarf Commoner import]
7027The Hero of Ferelden was born casteless in the slums of Orzammar. 
7028He/She impersonated a man of Warrior Caste in Orzammar's Provings, a 
7029
7030crime punishable by death. However, the Hero's showing in the arena 
7031impressed Grey Warden Commander Duncan so much that he recruited 
7032the Hero before he/she could be executed. 
7033
7034***
7035
7036[Hero of Ferelden preset or import with Dark Ritual]
7037The Hero fought and killed the Archdemon, and lived to tell the tale. With
7038the Archdemon gone, the darkspawn ranks broke, and the horde was 
7039easily routed.
7040
7041[Martyr preset or Ultimate Sacrifice import]
7042The Hero fought and killed the Archdemon, making the ultimate sacrifice 
7043and dying to save Ferelden. With the Archdemon gone, the darkspawn 
7044ranks broke, and the horde was easily routed.
7045
7046[No Compromise preset or import where Alistair/Loghain died killing the 
7047Archdemon]
7048The armies the Hero had raised killed the Archdemon. With the 
7049Archdemon gone, the darkspawn ranks broke, and the horde was easily 
7050routed. 
7051
7052***
7053
7054[Hero of Ferelden and No Compromise presets or import where the HoF is alive]
7055After ending the Blight, the Hero of Ferelden took up the mantle of 
7056Warden-Commander and began the task of rebuilding the order in 
7057Ferelden.
7058
7059***
7060
7061[import where a Female Human Noble married Alistair and became Queen]
7062After ending the Blight, the Hero of Ferelden was wed to King Alistair and
7063crowned queen of Ferelden. She and the king now rule the country 
7064together.
7065
7066[import where a Male Human Noble married Anora] 
7067After ending the Blight, the Hero of Ferelden was wed to Queen Anora -- 
7068he now bears the title of prince-consort. 
7069
7070Isabela
7071
7072"I'm Isabela. Previously 'Captain' Isabela. Sadly, without my ship, the title 
7073rings a bit hollow."
7074
7075Isabela is vague about her days as a sea captain, though it's obvious she 
7076was involved with piracy and smuggling. Shortly after the Blight ended, 
7077Isabela's ship was caught in a storm near the Wounded Coast. The vessel 
7078was destroyed, and Isabela feels lucky to have escaped with her life. Now 
7079she's stranded in the Free Marches, spending most of her time in the 
7080Hanged Man tavern.
7081
7082Isabela also reveals that she was born in Rivain, but spent many years in 
7083Antiva. When asked about those years, she changes the subject.
7084
7085Isabela - After the Deep Roads
7086
7087Isabela spent the the past several years trying to track down the relic that 
7088she lost in the shipwreck. She believes that it's still in Kirkwall, though 
7089why she thinks so is a mystery. Despite her insistence that she's keeping a 
7090low profile to avoid her old employer, Castillon, Isabela seems to go out of
7091her way to cause trouble. Recently, one of her duels evolved into a bar 
7092brawl that then spilled out into Lowtown. Involving over twenty people, 
7093the fracas caused a great deal of damage to several merchant stalls.
7094
7095Isabela spent the next two weeks in the brig. Guard-Captain Aveline 
7096allowed her release, but not before extracting a promise--that Isabela 
7097would not duel on public property again. Whether Isabela actually keeps 
7098this promise remains to be seen. 
7099
7100Isabela - The Last Three Years
7101
7102[if Hawke and Isabela are friends]
7103Isabela's return during the Qunari crisis was surprising, most of all to 
7104Isabela, herself. She blamed Hawke for inspiring her to such foolishness, 
7105and seemed to regret exposing herself to danger. After the Arishok was 
7106killed, Isabela was seen in deep conversation with Hawke. The exchange 
7107
7108ended as Isabela walked off, saying, "You're reading too much into it."
7109
7110[if Hawke and Isabela are rivals]
7111When Isabela returned during the Qunari crisis, Tome of Koslun in hand, 
7112she knew she would have to answer to Hawke for her previous betrayal. 
7113After the Arishok was killed, Isabela was seen engaged in a heated 
7114argument with Hawke. It ended with Isabela storming off after letting 
7115loose a torrent of profanity.
7116
7117That was the last anyone in Kirkwall saw of her for some time. Many 
7118believed that she had left the Free Marches for good. Then as abruptly as 
7119she had departed, Isabela appeared one day in her usual spot in the 
7120Hanged Man, drinking as though she had never been gone. 
7121
7122[if Hawke is in a romance with Isabela]
7123Isabela's return during the Qunari crisis was surprising, most of all to 
7124Isabela, herself. She blamed Hawke for inspiring her to such foolishness, 
7125and seemed to regret exposing herself to danger. After the Arishok was 
7126killed, a tense exchange between Isabela and Hawke ended with Isabela 
7127leaving, saying, "I didn't do it for them. I did it for you. It was always 
7128about you."
7129
7130Divine Justinia V
7131
7132Formerly the Revered Mother Dorothea of Orlais, Divine Justinia V rose to
7133power after the death of Divine Beatrix III in the year 9:34 of the Dragon 
7134Age. Little is known of Dorothea's background before she joined the 
7135Chantry as an initiate. Within the Grand Cathedral, rivals suggest that her 
7136reticence in discussing her past means she's hiding something; few of her 
7137flock, however, can imagine her as anyone other than a gentle mother of 
7138obvious faith.
7139
7140When Beatrix III was felled by a massive stroke, she survived just long 
7141enough to put forth Dorothea's name as a candidate for her replacement. 
7142Grand Clerics from throughout Thedas flocked to Orlais for the Grand 
7143Consensus, a private meeting between the heads of all Chantries to select 
7144the next Divine.
7145
7146Though ritual demanded the decision be unanimous, servants attending 
7147the Consensus whispered of heated debate over Dorothea's suitability. Her
7148"worldly" background and demonstrated forgiveness for sinners were 
7149held against her; ultimately, however, the will of Beatrix III prevailed, and 
7150Dorothea began her reign as Justinia V. 
7151
7152Leliana
7153
7154[if the Warden did not romance Leliana]
7155Many stories have been told of Leliana; some say she fought alongside the 
7156Hero of Ferelden against the Blight prior to serving at the right hand of 
7157the Divine. Even that is hearsay--the only thing known for certain is that 
7158the bard is often seen at the Divine's side in Val Royeaux. This has caused 
7159no small degree of alarm in the Chantry's inner circles: Does the Divine 
7160have a plan of her own? What might Leliana's part be? The truth remains 
7161to be seen.
7162
7163[if the Warden romanced Leliana]
7164Leliana is a legendary adventuress in Thedas, a heroine of the Fifth Blight 
7165and reportedly the Hero of Ferelden's lover. Some stories say she yet 
7166remains at the Hero of Ferelden's side, but other tales from Val Royeaux 
7167say she'd been spotted in the company of Divine Justinia. Rumors within 
7168the Chantry claim the Divine has a plan of her own--one that involves 
7169Leliana as her personal agent--but few know what such a plan might 
7170entail. Given that Leliana is a master storyteller, it's not impossible that 
7171these rumors are of her own creation. The truth remains to be seen.
7172
7173[if Leliana was killed by the Warden after defiling the Sacred Ashes]
7174There are many tales of Leliana, Orlesian adventuress and bard, the most 
7175recent being that she fought against the Fifth Blight. Some even say she 
7176died at the hands of the Hero of Ferelden. How she could be alive--and 
7177reportedly acting as an agent of the Divine--is unknown. Perhaps the 
7178story of her death is exaggerated... or perhaps the supposed place of her 
7179demise, the altar of the fabled Urn of Sacred Ashes, is also the place of her 
7180rebirth. The truth remains to be seen.
7181
7182[if Leliana was not recruited in Lothering or left the party after being recruited]
7183Many stories are told of Leliana; some say she fled the Blight in Ferelden 
7184
7185only to serve as the right hand of Divine Justinia. The only fact known for 
7186certain is that the Orlesian bard is often seen at the Divine's side in Val 
7187Royeaux. This has caused no small degree of alarm in the Chantry's inner 
7188circles: Does the Divine have a plan of her own? What might Leliana's part
7189be? The truth remains to be seen.
7190
7191Knight-Commander Meredith
7192
7193"I have sympathy for the mages. They bear a terrible curse--one that 
7194endangers not only themselves but innocents as well. We allow them 
7195freedom only at the risk of unleashing them upon the unwary."
7196
7197Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard is a native of Kirkwall. An orphan
7198who joined the Templar Order when quite young, she worked her way up 
7199the ranks by merit of sheer determination. She is credited with removing 
7200the previous viscount, Perrin Threnhold, from his position after he 
7201attempted to have the templars expelled from the city in 9:21 Dragon. The 
7202acting knight-commander was arrested and executed, and Meredith led a 
7203group of templars into the heart of the Keep to capture Threnhold. He was
7204tried and imprisoned three days later by Grand Cleric Elthina and died 
7205from poisoning two years later. Meredith was subsequently elevated to 
7206her current position.
7207 
7208Many say the templars fought only to preserve their own position in 
7209Kirkwall, not to oppose Threnhold's tyranny. Others believe Meredith has 
7210always held the moral high ground, even if not all approve of her 
7211methods. For now, she enjoys the grand cleric's full support and has free 
7212rein in Kirkwall as the commander of its most powerful military force. 
7213
7214Merrill
7215
7216"The stories tell us that all elvhen once had the gift; but like so many 
7217things, it was lost. It's a Keeper's job to remember, to restore what we can."
7218
7219As each generation passes, magic becomes more rare among the Dalish. 
7220As the gift dies out, talented children are moved between clans so that 
7221every Keeper has a successor, and no clan is in danger of being left 
7222
7223without guidance.
7224
7225Merrill was born to the Alerion clan, which wandered the hills of Nevarra.
7226She was the third child of the clan with the ancient gift born to her--when 
7227the next Arlathvenn (gathering of the clans) occurred, she was given to the
7228Sabrae clan to be First to Keeper Marethari. Merrill was just four years old.
7229
7230She spent most of her life in Ferelden and the Korcari Wilds until her clan 
7231was driven north by the Blight. 
7232
7233Merrill - After the Deep Roads
7234
7235"It's a Keeper's place to remember! Even the dangerous things."
7236
7237Since her arrival in Kirkwall's elven alienage, Merrill has had difficulty 
7238adjusting. Her neighbors ignore her existence, and even the most 
7239determined socialites in Lowtown cross the street to avoid her. She also 
7240gets lost frequently, a matter that doesn't seem to be solving itself through 
7241time or familiarity with the city; on separate occasions, she has 
7242accidentally found herself in the viscount's bathing room, the chantry 
7243airing cupboard, and in the middle of a dog racing track in Darktown. 
7244
7245Merrill - The Last Three Years
7246
7247[if Hawke and Merrill are friends or rivals]
7248"Everything I do, everything I've ever done, was for the good of my 
7249people."
7250
7251Merrill spends more and more of her time locked away in her house in the
7252alienage with her mirror; she leaves only to buy food, which she does so 
7253rarely that Varric has taken to having produce delivered to her door. At 
7254least she no longer gets lost as she wanders the city.
7255
7256[if Hawke is in a romance with Merrill]
7257"If you hadn't come to Sundermount that day... I can't imagine where I'd 
7258be now."
7259
7260Merrill moved into Hawke's Mansion in Hightown--and not as a servant, 
7261much to the horror of the neighbors. She further scandalized the 
7262neighborhood by wandering around with no shoes on, picking the flowers
7263out of other people's gardens, and cooing cheerfully at their attack dogs. 
7264Several angry letters were sent to the Champion and the seneschal, but the
7265situation remains unchanged.
7266
7267She continues to return to her ramshakle house in the alienage, spending a
7268great deal of time working on her mirror. 
7269
7270Duke Prosper de Montfort
7271
7272Duke Prosper is the head of the powerful Montfort dynasty, the 
7273descendents of Ser Gaston de Montfont, a chevalier who rose to 
7274prominence during the Fourth Blight.
7275
7276Prosper de Montfort is a close personal friend of Empress Celene and a 
7277perennial fixture at the empress's annual Spring Fête. He spends most of 
7278his time outside Orlais either on personal business for the empress or 
7279vacationing at his estates in Nevarra and the Free Marches.
7280
7281(Note: Titles other than lord (or lady) and emperor (or empress) were 
7282abolished during Emperor Kordilius Drakon's reign. Duke Prosper uses 
7283his title only in his private dealings or when he travels beyond Orlais's 
7284borders. At court, he is addressed as Lord Prosper de Montfort.)
7285
7286--From Lifestyles of the Wealthy and Politically Influential, by Lady Jonquil 
7287Severin 
7288
7289First Enchanter Orsino
7290
7291"You deny us our freedom so that you may sleep better at night, but I say 
7292it is a restless and undeserved slumber."
7293
7294First Enchanter Orsino is an elf from the Free Marches city of Ansburg 
7295who was brought to the Gallows when he was very young. Some claim he 
7296became the youngest first enchanter to hold the position in Kirkwall not 
7297
7298by his own merit, but because nobody else wanted it. He would call that 
7299cynicism--someone must advocate for the mages, after all. Even if the job 
7300is thankless, the alternative would be for Kirkwall's mages to have no 
7301advocate whatsoever. For the past five years, Orsino has had constant--
7302sometimes very public--disputes with Knight-Commander Meredith. The
7303common belief amongst the populace is that he is a troublemaker... 
7304possibly a dangerous one. 
7305
7306Sebastian Vael
7307
7308"In the face of danger, sometimes the bravest thing is to stand back and 
7309trust that the Maker will see justice done."
7310
7311Sebastian Vael is the only surviving son of the ruling family of Starkhaven,
7312which was murdered in a violent coup d'etat. Sebastian cannot forget the 
7313irony that he still lives only because his family was so ashamed of his 
7314drinking and womanizing that they committed him to the Kirkwall 
7315Chantry against his will. After initially rejecting a priest's lifestyle, 
7316Sebastian was more surprised than anyone when he realized that his show
7317of faith had turned real.
7318
7319Since then, his belief in the Maker and His plan for Thedas have been 
7320unshakable. Embracing his new role, Sebastian took vows of poverty and 
7321chastity to become a sworn brother of the Chantry... until word of his 
7322family's deaths forced him to take up worldly concerns once again. Grand 
7323Cleric Elthina, Sebastian's mentor and friend, hopes to convince him to 
7324walk away from the struggle for Starkhaven and return to the good works 
7325of the Chantry. 
7326
7327Sebastian - After the Deep Roads
7328
7329Sebastian has spent the past three years advancing his campaign to retake 
7330Starkhaven. He has been traveling extensively between Kirkwall and other
7331Free Marches cities, attempting to recruit sufficient allies to build an army.
7332With Hawke securing the Hawke family a place among Kirkwall's 
7333nobility, the two have crossed paths a few times, but an exiled prince like 
7334Sebastian has far better access than Hawke to the viscount and other 
7335
7336heads of state. So far, though, few families have agreed to support 
7337Sebastian with actual troops, leaving him in the difficult position of trying 
7338to retake his city with no army. 
7339
7340Sebastian - The Last Three Years
7341
7342After his confrontation with the desire demon Allure, Sebastian had a 
7343crisis of faith over breaking his priestly vows to pursue worldly power in 
7344Starkhaven. He questioned his own motives, worrying that he wanted to 
7345retake Starkhaven for his own personal power, not because it was the right
7346thing to do. Trusting Starkhaven's fate to the Maker, he returned to the 
7347Chantry, but was turned away by Grand Cleric Elthina, who believed he 
7348had not yet committed fully to either course.
7349
7350Though he has not renewed his vows or returned to his duties as a 
7351brother, Sebastian proved a faithful servant to the grand cleric over the 
7352past three years. As Kirkwall grows ever-more turbulent, the grand cleric 
7353relies on Sebastian to be her eyes and ears in the often-dangerous secular 
7354world. Whether he will again devote himself to the Chantry or return to 
7355Starkhaven is still anyone's guess, though Sebastian was heard saying he 
7356will not leave Kirkwall as long as both the Champion and the grand cleric 
7357need him. 
7358
7359Varric Tethras
7360
7361"I know everyone in this city worth knowing."
7362
7363Varric was born three years after his father's exile from Orzammar, into 
7364the world of the Merchants Guild: the Ancestors never spoke and 
7365Paragons were the heroes in tall tales; the number of dances a kalna lady 
7366gave to a lowborn ascendant boy were more pivotal than the reign of 
7367kings.
7368
7369While Bartrand ran the businesses and drove House Tethras ever higher 
7370up the social ladder, Varric looked after the family and their retainers. His 
7371mother, Lady Ilsa, suffered terribly from the trauma of her disgrace and 
7372exile, finding solace in liquor and smoke. It fell to her younger son to try 
7373
7374to curb the worst of her drunken rages, to keep her from becoming a 
7375matter of public scandal, and to care for her when she fell ill from her 
7376excesses.
7377
7378Though he is famous throughout the Merchants Guild for his stories, 
7379Varric speaks rarely of himself or his family. Most of Kirkwall knows him; 
7380everyone has bought him a drink at least once--for the sake of his fictions 
7381rather than his family connections. 
7382
7383Varric - After the Deep Roads 
7384
7385"Bianca sends her regards."
7386
7387Bartrand vanished after the Deep Roads expedition, and Varric had to 
7388divert his attention from searching for his wayward brother to keeping the
7389now-abandoned family business from falling apart.
7390
7391Varric now occupies his brother's seat in the Dwarven Merchants Guild--
7392technically. He rarely attends Guild meetings and is hardly ever seen 
7393actually occupying the chair in their hall that belongs to House Tethras. 
7394He prefers to run the Tethras financial empire from his suite at the 
7395Hanged Man. And he never replies to his mail. 
7396
7397Varric - The Last Three Years 
7398
7399"There's power in stories. That's all history is: the best tales. The ones that 
7400last. Might as well be mine." 
7401
7402[if Bartrand was killed]
7403The death of his elder brother forced Varric to take up the mantle of 
7404House Tethras officially; however, according to the updated official 
7405Kirkwall and Merchants Guild documentation, the family businesses are 
7406run by nonexistent uncles, aunts, cousins, and household pets. 
7407
7408[if Bartrand is alive]
7409Varric saw Bartrand settled into a sanitarium just outside Kirkwall, run by 
7410the Chantry. He then took up the mantle of House Tethras officially; 
7411
7412however, according to the updated official Kirkwall and Merchants Guild 
7413documentation, the family businesses are run by nonexistent uncles, 
7414aunts, cousins, and household pets.
7415
7416Xenon the Antiquarian
7417
7418You received the invitation? Then you are fortunate, indeed. Xenon is no 
7419ordinary man, as you will discover for yourself when you enter the Black 
7420Emporium. The... item you'll see resting in the chair is not one of the 
7421displays; rather, it is the proprietor. It may speak to you--that's Xenon, 
7422using the mystical bauble that has allowed him to communicate since he 
7423lost the power of speech.
7424
7425The story tells that Xenon was a Kirkwall nobleman in the Age of Steel, 
7426almost three hundred years ago. Obsessed with the pursuit of eternal life, 
7427he made a deal with a powerful witch (some say it was the legendary 
7428Antivan "Witch of the Weyrs"), and his wish was granted. He obtained 
7429eternal life--but not eternal youth. His body became decrepit, and he used
7430his vast wealth to seek out ways to preserve it. Some were magical, many 
7431were dangerous, and almost all of them were unsuccessful.
7432
7433What remains is an immobile mass of twisted flesh--and I think Xenon's 
7434mind has slowly decayed along with his body. He hid away in the 
7435Undercity and has slowly amassed a collection that's sure to amaze. If he 
7436invited you, he thinks you have the coin he needs to further his search for 
7437a cure.
7438
7439Just don't think of stealing anything. The golem is not for show.
7440
7441Although you're free to look around the shop, I wouldn't suggest staying 
7442overlong. You might be present for one of the "baths" his servant gives 
7443him hourly to keep his flesh from becoming completely desiccated.
7444
7445Trust me: you don't want that.
7446
7447--From a letter of unknown origin, 8:49 Blessed 
7448
7449Zevran Arainai
7450
7451We are in danger, friend. Two of the seven Guildmasters are already in 
7452Zevran Arainai's pocket, and the Guildmaster of Rialto is dead. While no 
7453proof exists, we both know he was involved whether he claims the deed or
7454not. They should have released him when they discovered he lived, 
7455"honor of the Antivan Crows" be damned. What option do we have now?
7456
7457***
7458
7459 
7460[if the Warden did not romance Zevran]
7461After centuries of unity that have led us to rule a nation from the shadows
7462and have placed kings and queens in our pockets, we are being torn apart 
7463from within by a single elf who didn't even succeed in his mission to kill 
7464the so-called Hero of Ferelden. 
7465
7466[if the Warden romanced Zevran]
7467After centuries of unity that have led us to rule a nation from the shadows
7468and have placed kings and queens in our pockets, we are being torn apart 
7469from within by a single elf who didn't even succeed in his mission. How 
7470could anyone have guessed that the Grey Warden would become his lover
7471and support his crusade? That Zevran would help defeat the Blight and 
7472become a hero within the Crows, even as we branded him anathema? 
7473
7474***
7475
7476The Guildmasters dismissed Zevran's threat without considering just how
7477many assassins were similarly disaffected. Too many of our numbers have
7478been cheated out of their rightful tithes, driven into hiding, or intimidated 
7479into silence... and somehow, Zevran is finding them all. You report that he 
7480is not in Antiva, but that isn't always the case. He appears in a city until 
7481our operatives find him and chase him out into Rivain or the Free Marches
7482--and then we never hear from them again. We have both spoken to the 
7483remaining Guildmasters, and they have denied us. They are blind, and it 
7484makes me think maybe Zevran is right. Perhaps it is time for a change.
7485
7486-- From a half-burned letter found in a Treviso warehouse, 9:35 Dragon. 
7487
7488Codex: Letters and Notes (Dragon Age II)
7489
7490The Awiergan Scrolls: First Aspect 
7491
7492(The first scroll is marked with a Chasind chieftain's sigil.)
7493
7494Mine dottir was taken by the caster, and mine legion met him. She was 
7495pried from his blood-scrawls, but some horror did inhabit him instead. 
7496Mine legion could not contain, and I ask for a seal, whatever the faith. 
7497Price be paid, Scholar.
7498
7499(The second scroll is vellum with archaic script and phrasing, but the red 
7500ink remains somehow wet.)
7501
7502Of binding a symptom, no vial can contain you.
7503One of three, separated in prevention.
7504Unbound, but caged, I must not follow.
7505Truth will hold you, for that is what truth does.
7506
7507(The second scroll ends with a crude map and a handprint in red, the little
7508finger severed at the first knuckle.)
7509
7510The Awiergan Scrolls: Second Aspect 
7511
7512(Two scrolls. The first is a letter bearing the seal of a lesser Orlesian noble 
7513house.)
7514
7515Our line is dead, but still walking. I know not if it is because of the old 
7516ways, but my three boys are now something other because of want. If He 
7517can be called on, I ask you, Scholar, do so, and the price is paid.
7518
7519(The second scroll is vellum, with archaic script and phrasing, but the red 
7520ink remains somehow wet.)
7521
7522Of binding a symptom, no vial can contain you.
7523Two of three, three yourself, asunder.
7524Caged, but still meddling, you will not goad me.
7525Truth will hold you, or it is no longer true.
7526
7527(The second scroll ends with a crude map, and a handprint in red, the 
7528little finger severed at the second knuckle.)
7529
7530The Awiergan Scrolls: Third Aspect 
7531
7532(The first scroll bears Rivaini markings.)
7533
7534He was our hero against Par Vollen, and we were in awe. Perhaps it was 
7535our fault. There was a day when he changed and saw us as servants, not 
7536those he offered to serve. And then he was infested. We need a seal, 
7537Scholar, in the faith you choose. The price is paid.
7538
7539(The second scroll is vellum with archaic script and phrasing, but the red 
7540ink remains somehow wet.)
7541
7542Of binding a symptom, no vial can contain you.
7543Three of three, you perverted a man elevated by others.
7544I will not yield, even as I must turn to face you.
7545Truth will hold you, or a new truth we will create.
7546
7547(The second scroll ends with a crude map and a handprint in red, the little
7548finger severed at the root.) 
7549
7550A Badly Copied Leaflet
7551
7552TAKE BACK OUR STREETS!
7553
7554Ferelden refugees, Qunari soldiers... Who next? Tevinter slavers snatching 
7555children out of their beds?
7556
7557THIS ENDS NOW!
7558
7559Send a message that Kirkwallers WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS! We must 
7560band together to drive foreign waste from our doorstep. Reclaim the Free 
7561Marches FOR THE MARCHERS!
7562
7563If you care about our future, join the Friends of Kirkwall! Reclaim our city!
7564
7565Bill of Lading
7566
7567(A note is scrawled on the back of the bill.)
7568
7569Bill of Lading
7570Smetty's Fish Guttery
7571Crate 1023
7572
7573Gamlen,
7574
7575I'm sure you're losing patience by now, but what is one small trip to the 
7576warehouse district after waiting twenty years to get your hands on this 
7577gem? Find the crate noted on this bill. Enjoy your search!
7578
7579Blood Mage Dispatches
7580
7581We narrowly escaped Meredith's hounds. The city just isn't safe, Bancroft. 
7582We must get five out through the gates tonight and get to the caves. It's 
7583that, or risk capture and interrogation.
7584
7585-"MS"
7586
7587Casualties
7588
7589The hounds nabbed Franke the Cobbler tonight; no one knows where he is
7590now. Thom Beshcal and his wife were killed three days back. They're no 
7591longer just hunting us: they're hunting our friends and family. To the Void 
7592with the consequences! We must strike back while we still can.
7593
7594-"A"
7595
7596I can get two out tonight. A guide on the other side will take them to the 
7597refuge. Don't pick anyone with a cold; last time, a careless sneeze almost 
7598alerted the guard.
7599
7600-Bancroft
7601
7602Shipping Notice
7603
7604We can't trust the raiders' promise of passage - the templar's bounty on us 
7605is far too tempting. Press on every contact you have! We must leave 
7606Kirkwall before the knight-commander does something drastic. Each 
7607night, more of our brethren make it to the coast.
7608
7609If the hounds sniff out your current location, the other site we discussed is 
7610clear. Be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
7611
7612-Bancroft 
7613
7614Captain Reiner's Accounts
7615
7616Sold:
7617-2 barrels of fish, Viscount's Keep
7618-3 barrels of rum, Hanged Man
7619-1 male human mage, Danzig (Undercity)
7620-25 Rivaini furs, Helton's Clothiers
7621
7622Capture Gamlen
7623
7624Bring Gamlen to the caverns where we first met. If he's not alive, you 
7625won't get a single copper.
7626
7627A Change of Course
7628
7629I was wrong. We cannot control the creature Corypheus. Even our most 
7630powerful mages hold no influence with him. In truth, it is they who have 
7631been most vulnerable.
7632
7633A dozen times, those assigned to guard or study the creature have sought 
7634the key to free him. When they are removed to a safe distance, they 
7635remember little. They speak of a voice in their minds, a calling like that of 
7636the Old Gods, but it wanes outside Corypheus's presence.
7637
7638Darkspawn have attacked as well, seeking him. I can only assume they are
7639summoned the same way. Somehow, his magic lets him speak through the
7640blight itself, affecting any who bear its taint.
7641
7642This same power stays the hand of any Warden who approaches to kill 
7643him. I must recommend that we seal this prison over and conceal its very 
7644existence. Corypheus must not be allowed to go free.
7645--From Warden-Commander Daneken to the First Warden in Weisshaupt, 1014 
7646TE 
7647
7648A Crumpled Note
7649
7650Gamlen,
7651
7652I found the Gem of Keroshek. If you want it, come to Darktown. Alone.
7653
7654Dockside Redirect - Woodrow's Warehouse, East
7655
7656(This document is an order to redirect cargo to Woodrow's Warehouse to 
7657the east. It is endorsed with Harbormaster Liam's barely legible signature, 
7658along with a note from his assistant, Aden.)
7659
7660Orlesian Port Authority Seal, here? Suggest we apply the "special" rate for 
7661this. 
7662
7663Duty
7664
7665To whomever elects to participate in the charitable deed of assisting the 
7666Vael family of Starkhaven--
7667
7668His most worthy highness, Prince Sebastian Vael, has provided 
7669instructions for anyone brave and noble enough to attempt eradication of 
7670the rabble who dared attack his family. Three groups of Flint Company 
7671mercenaries have been sighted in the Kirkwall vicinity.
7672
7673* One group makes camp not far from the elves of the Sundermount 
7674mountain range.
7675
7676* The second has been seeking information on the Docks after nightfall.
7677* The third is far from the main road off the Wounded Coast; they are 
7678believed to have a small campsite well past any known landmarks.
7679
7680A princely award awaits whoever finds and defeats all these rogues.
7681
7682May the Maker guide you.
7683
7684Chanter Taletha 
7685
7686Flora Harimann's Diary
7687
7688First Day of Harvestmere
7689
7690Mother finally began her expansion to the estate today. She brought in two
7691dozen men from the Imperium who I'm sure were slaves, and they've 
7692been excavating the hillside behind the house. The dirt is awful. And the 
7693noise! Must they shatter every rock in Kirkwall? It's been quiet since 
7694lunch, though, and Mother is behaving very strangely. She's now talking 
7695about stopping the expansion--just like that, with no explanation. She 
7696never tells me anything...
7697
7698Tenth Day of Harvestmere
7699
7700Father is behaving so oddly. Today he pinched my buttocks! Just reached 
7701around the table and... I can't imagine what would make him do such a 
7702thing. And to the servant girls, as well! Some of the things he says would 
7703truly make a sailor blush. I told the maids to lock up the wine, but it hasn't
7704made any difference so far. I'm going to the chantry tonight to pray for 
7705him.
7706
7707Eleventh Day of Harvestmere
7708
7709What can be happening? First Father, now Brett. I can't talk to either of 
7710them anymore. I don't know what they're drinking, but they are lost in 
7711their own little worlds. And Mother doesn't care; should she even be here, 
7712all she talks about is Starkhaven and marrying me off to that idiot Goran 
7713Vael. What madness has come over this place? 
7714
7715Emeric's Notes
7716
7717(Emeric's notes are a messy collection of half-baked thoughts written on 
7718scraps of paper. Only one seems to stand out.)
7719
7720There's something about that Lowtown foundry where Mharen's trail 
7721ended. I've got a strange feeling about it.
7722
7723The Great One's Key
7724
7725The Wardens did not guard the key with care. It was left in a repository, 
7726with objects of little worth. Trinkets. Dusty Grey Warden trophies. Not 
7727even a guard posted. Fools. If only they knew what they had, and had lost.
7728
7729It will not wake at my touch; it sleeps and its power remains within. The 
7730Great One says it requires Malcolm Hawke's blood to awaken it. Only 
7731then can its powers set him free. 
7732I will find the heir to the blood and the Great One will reward me. Yes. Let
7733it be soon.
7734
7735--From the journal of Rhatigan, leader of the Carta in Kirkwall 
7736
7737Larius's Final Missive
7738
7739My dearest brothers and sisters,
7740
7741I am leaving to take that last long walk into the deep. I have been a Grey 
7742Warden for a full thirty years, and the Joining can only hold back the taint 
7743for so long.
7744
7745These last months, the song of the Archdemons has become not a whisper 
7746to me, but a terrible roaring that I cannot endure. My conscience compels 
7747me to leave before the corruption becomes too much, before the madness 
7748takes over.
7749
7750It has been my honor serving with every single one of you. I go to the 
7751
7752Deep Roads to meet my death in combat against our eternal foe. When my
7753brothers in Orzammar salute my departure, I will walk proudly in my 
7754duty, and joyful in the knowledge that my burden will soon be lifted.
7755
7756Remember me, and do not fear your own Calling, when the time comes.
7757
7758--Larius, Commander of the Grey 
7759
7760First Legionnaire's Journal
7761
7762It's ironic. Hearing of Tethras Garen's crime first gave me the courage to 
7763confess my own and join the Legion of the Dead. Knowing that a 
7764Paragon's son could give in to the same base passions as a mere merchant, 
7765commit a murder even fouler than mine...
7766
7767Yet he was sentenced to die in the Deep Roads for murdering his sister, 
7768not even offered the chance at the Legion. I am grateful every day for 
7769what the Legion gave me: a family, a purpose, and my name is clear.
7770
7771So when the Paragon learned that the Carta were responsible for the 
7772murder, not his son, I was the first to volunteer to retrieve the prince. It's 
7773not right that he should be the only one who doesn't know he's been 
7774exonerated.
7775
7776--From the journal of Malev Haran, Legion of the Dead
7777
7778Second Legionnaire's Journal
7779
7780Paragon Garen refuses to give up. We're the eighth Legion unit he's sent 
7781after Tethras in the past five years. None dare tell him that after so long 
7782alone in the Deep Roads, Tethras is certainly dead. The Paragon insists he 
7783will see his heir restored to his rightful place. May the ancestors favor his 
7784cause.
7785
7786We've followed the paths of the other Legionnaires, and so far, we seem to 
7787be on the right trail. We're in a section of the Deep Roads that appears to 
7788have been altered by human magic, so perhaps we'll find some new clue 
7789
7790here. We're going in tomorrow. Ancestors be with us.
7791
7792--From the journal of Karles Aratack, Legion of the Dead
7793
7794Third Legionnaire's Journal
7795
7796This place is cursed. For ten years, Paragon Garen has been sending 
7797Legionnaires to search out our lost heir. Now I know what's become of 
7798them.
7799
7800There's no way out. This is no normal part of the Deep Roads. There's 
7801lyrium worked into the walls, into the Stone itself, some kind of human 
7802magic. From the outside, it looks like just another tunnel, but walk in and 
7803it's a prison. There is no way past the barriers, no way forward, no way 
7804back. But the trap remains open to every beast, darkspawn, and dwarf 
7805that wanders in.
7806
7807My brothers in the Legion have died, and I have done my best to lay their 
7808spirits to rest in the Stone. I am the last. There will be no one to do the 
7809same for me, or for Tethras, if he too was snared by this noose. For you, 
7810my prince, I wish you the Stone's blessing. Atrast tunsha. Totarnia amgetol
7811tavash aeduc.
7812
7813May someone recite the ritual words over your bones and return your 
7814spirit to the Stone.
7815 
7816--From the journal of Bashath Garen, Legion of the Dead
7817
7818A Letter from the Circle
7819
7820My dear friend,
7821
7822I have obtained the books you requested. I'll leave them at our usual 
7823hiding spot. Please collect them as soon as possible. I would hate to see 
7824them in the wrong hands!
7825
7826Your last letter was fascinating! You have proven me wrong, once again, 
7827
7828by doing the impossible. I shouldn't have doubted your resolve, and I 
7829hope you will keep me apprised of further progress.
7830
7831Your friend and colleague,
7832
7833O 
7834
7835Letter to Gerav
7836
7837My dear Gerav,
7838
7839A little bird told me you were spotted near Kirkwall. Come by the Hanged
7840Man sometime and show me the new self-loading chambers you were 
7841working on for our little girl. Bianca's missed you, and I think she might 
7842need a tune-up.
7843
7844Your friend, 
7845Varric Tethras 
7846
7847Locks within Locks
7848
7849The Wardens set a trap for Corypheus and bound him in a prison of their 
7850own making. Beneath the Free Marches, they carved out a series of 
7851caverns--a veritable maze--and enchanted them. Wards within wards, 
7852locks within locks, spells woven with the help of a powerful artifact they 
7853called "the key." All this to hold Corypheus.
7854
7855It seems that even that wasn't enough. Warden-Commander Riannon 
7856writes in her private journals:
7857
7858"Corypheus is too powerful. Nothing will hold him forever. The seals are 
7859already weakening. We must find a way to fortify them, and soon."
7860
7861--From Janeka's research notes 
7862
7863Malcolm Hawke's Reply
7864
7865Warden-Commander Larius:
7866
7867I have been considering your offer, and I accept your terms. In addition to 
7868what was discussed, I find a payment of twenty-five sovereigns per seal to
7869be sufficient. All I require from you is your promise that my wife will be 
7870kept safe while I am gone, and that Lord Aristide Amell will be convinced 
7871to let Leandra leave Kirkwall with me when I return. I wish for my bride 
7872and I to be free, and I do not intend to have her father's men hunting us 
7873down.
7874
7875Before we depart I would also like to confirm your statement that the 
7876ritual does not require contact with demonic influences. I would also like 
7877to discuss this "darkspawn of magical talents" in greater detail. It quite 
7878defies belief that the Grey Wardens have kept a secret of this magnitude 
7879buried so close to Kirkwall.
7880
7881I await your reply
7882
7883--Malcolm Hawke
7884
7885Meredith's Apology
7886
7887Messere DuPuis,
7888
7889Please accept my humble apologies for recent events. The templar, Emeric,
7890has been reprimanded for his wrongful accusations and for arousing 
7891suspicions within the city guard that led to the raid on your estate. I will 
7892see that he is restrained in future.
7893
7894Sincerely yours,
7895Knight-Commander Meredith 
7896
7897Olivia's Letter to Thrask
7898
7899Father,
7900
7901I know the sacrifices you've made to conceal my secret, but I am a child no
7902longer. I cannot burden you my whole life, lest my secret destroy us both. 
7903I must live my own life as a woman... and as a mage. It is oddly freeing to 
7904write the word.
7905
7906Farewell, Father. I hope one day you make peace between what you have 
7907been taught and what you have seen.
7908
7909All my love,
7910Olivia
7911
7912Praise Corypheus!
7913
7914Like many of you, I was once a thieving wretch. I was a servant to coin 
7915and my own base desires. And that is when I heard his call. Corypheus 
7916opened my eyes, just as he has opened yours, and showed me what was 
7917true.
7918
7919What is the Carta beside Corypheus? Nothing but dust and ashes. Only 
7920Corypheus is eternal. We are his hands and his eyes on the the surface. We
7921are the ones he honored with his trust, to dig him from his prison in the 
7922Deep Roads.
7923
7924When Corypheus steps into the sunlight, we will be rewarded. Praise him!
7925Praise Corypheus!
7926
7927--From a scrap of parchment, evidently notes for a speech
7928
7929Privileged to the Wardens
7930
7931All we hear is that this is one of the great Grey Warden secrets. "It must be 
7932protected at all costs." As usual, we're most concerned with deceiving our 
7933own people. But why hide that the Deep Roads were shaped not only by 
7934
7935the dwarves but also by us?
7936
7937I found records dating back to 1004 TE, the wake of the First Blight. Early 
7938Wardens discovered that some darkspawn could think and speak and 
7939commanded portions of the horde even after the Archdemon's death. A 
7940few could wield magic with the skill of a Tevinter magister, and the 
7941Wardens greatly feared them.
7942
7943It was here, in the Vimmark Mountains, that Warden Sashamiri set her 
7944trap to capture and study the greatest of these creatures, the one whom 
7945they called Corypheus.
7946
7947--From Janeka's research notes
7948
7949A Reply from Starkhaven
7950
7951Messere DuPuis,
7952
7953This is in regards to your inquiry into missing mages. I would like to 
7954remind you that the duty of seeking out missing mages, if there were any 
7955to begin with, would fall to the templars of Starkhaven, not a minor 
7956nobleman from Kirkwall.
7957
7958I would also like to take this opportunity to remind you that the Circle of 
7959the Magi, as a whole, does not welcome casual inquiries about the mages 
7960in its care.
7961
7962Thank you, 
7963First Enchanter Raddick 
7964
7965A Scribbled Note
7966
7967[appears in the in-game codex as four identically named individual codices rather 
7968than as a single multi-part entry]
7969
7970Used quicklime to preserve her feet. Unsure whether texture of the skin is 
7971to my liking. Will try other methods.
7972
7973***
7974
7975Mharen... it's a pretty name. I saw her hands. Long, slender fingers. Fair 
7976skin--the hands of a lifelong scholar. Oh, to lock my own clumsy fingers 
7977in hers again...
7978
7979***
7980
7981Today is our anniversary. Had hoped to complete my work befire now, but
7982one piece is missing. I'm so sorry, love. Please wait a little longer. I haven't 
7983forgotten my promise.
7984
7985When I see it, I'll know. I would know that face anywhere.
7986
7987***
7988
7989It's close, now. My long wait is almost over.
7990
7991Am I doing the right thing? It all seemed so clear to me, but now... what 
7992have I become? When did this happen? Someone will eventually try to 
7993stop me. I've left too many clues for them not to. When they come, should 
7994I try to stop them? Maybe the Maker took her from me because I deserved 
7995to lose her.
7996
7997No. It's too late for me to stop, now. The Maker will need to stop me if he 
7998thinks I need to be stopped.
7999
8000No one else.
8001
8002Scout's Report
8003
8004My team was sent to evaluate the fortified structures that overlook the 
8005northern caravan routes in the Vimmark Mountains. The viscount's library
8006suggests the buildings were part of an ancient Grey Warden fortress, 
8007constructed to guard the pass but abandoned after the Free Marches 
8008gained independence from Tevinter.
8009
8010Our examination revealed construction that is remarkably sturdy for its 
8011age. The fortress's foundations reach deeper into the rock than expected. 
8012Two levels below the surface, we discovered a series of twisting, 
8013underground passages, chiseled out of the mountain itself. I commanded 
8014the men to set up camp there.
8015
8016Not an hour later, one of the newer men reported voices from the depths. 
8017He flew into a frenzy, demanding that we leave immediately. Those 
8018unused to tight spaces often display such hysteria. Thankfully, I was able 
8019to calm him before his raving affected the rest of the team.
8020
8021But he was gone this morning. Tracks lead deeper into the caverns. We 
8022shall follow him.
8023 
8024--From a scout's report, apparently quite old 
8025
8026Ser Alrik's Letter
8027
8028To Her Excellency, Divine Justinia,
8029
8030I am well aware both you and Knight-Commander Meredith have rejected
8031my proposal, but I beg you to reconsider. The mages in the Free Marches 
8032are past controlling, their numbers have doubled in three years, and they 
8033have found a way to plant their abominations in our ranks. They cannot 
8034be contained!
8035
8036The Tranquil Solution is our answer. All mages at the age of majority must
8037be made Tranquil. They'll coexist peacefully, retain their usefulness--a 
8038perfect strategy! It's simply the best way to ensure mages obey the laws of 
8039men and Maker.
8040
8041I remain, as always, your obedient servant,
8042Ser Otto Alrik
8043
8044Shipping Notice
8045
8046We can't trust the raiders' promise of passage - the templar's bounty on us 
8047is far too tempting. Press on every contact you have! We must leave 
8048Kirkwall before the knight-commander does something drastic. Each 
8049night, more of our brethren make it to the coast.
8050
8051If the hounds sniff out your current location, the other site we discussed is 
8052clear. Be prepared to leave at a moment's notice.
8053
8054-Bancroft
8055
8056Speculations on Kirkwall
8057
8058The records say Corypheus has been trapped below the Vimmarks since 
8059the days of the Tevinter Imperium. Can it be a coincidence that the 
8060darkspawn besiege this area more fiercely than anywhere else on the 
8061surface of Thedas? Or that Kirkwall, the closest city, suffers from endless 
8062plagues of violence, lunacy, human sacrifice, and blood magic?
8063
8064If one studies Kirkwall's public records, it becomes hard to deny that some
8065malevolent force has long shaped its history. Could a darkspawn, even a 
8066powerful mage, have such influence even as it slumbers?
8067
8068--From a weathered journal bearing the Grey Wardens' seal
8069
8070Templar Letter
8071
8072Ser Bardel,
8073
8074I have told you a hundred times not to bother the knight-commander with
8075your pathetic questions. She's a busy woman and has no time to nurse you
8076through your crisis of conscience. You are under my command. If you take
8077issues with my orders, you bring them to me or I will see you stripped of 
8078your knighthood!
8079
8080The mage Karl is dangerous and we must take steps to deal with him and 
8081
8082any friends who assisting his rebellion. I expect this done by next week. If 
8083I must see to it personally, I will also find out exactly why you failed to 
8084carry out your sacred duties.
8085
8086The Maker has given us a divine task, Bardel. We cannot fail Him.
8087
8088Ser Alrik
8089
8090A Thank You Note
8091
8092Gascard,
8093
8094Thank you kindly for your last shipment. It arrived in almost perfect 
8095condition. The requested payment is on its way. Please use the artifact 
8096with care. The creatures can be difficult to control, even for an experienced
8097mage.
8098
8099A pleasure doing business,
8100Your friend
8101
8102Thoughts on Tallis
8103
8104It's been over a year now since I met Tallis, and she hasn't resurfaced so 
8105far.
8106
8107Or has she? I spotted a red-headed elf in the market just the other day, and
8108there was something familiar in the way she moved, despite the servant's 
8109clothing and all the Orlesian braiding. I tried to get a closer look, but she 
8110disappeared into the crowd.
8111
8112If it was her, I've no clue what she's up to. Tallis spoke of Qunari spies 
8113throughout Thedas... doing what, I wonder? Just providing information to
8114the Qunari, or something more sinister? 
8115
8116Unsurprisingly, mentioning the spies to those in power has earned only 
8117disbelief or indifference. Those who bothered to consider the possibility 
8118weren't certain what could be done. They appeared unwilling to admit 
8119
8120that the Qunari might be inclined towards subterfuge. Too dangerous a 
8121foe, if so.
8122
8123[if Heart of the Many is completed before Demands of the Qun]
8124You'd think this would merit attention, considering that several hundred 
8125Qunari warriors are camped in Kirkwall's docks. Perhaps people don't 
8126want to think about that too closely. Either way, I doubt this is the last I've 
8127heard of Tallis. She'll show up again one day. That's just the way things 
8128work out.
8129
8130[if Heart of the Many is completed after Demands of the Qun]
8131You'd think that after what happened in Kirkwall, it wouldn't be such a 
8132shock. Regardless, I doubt this is the last we've heard from the Qunari... or
8133from Tallis. She'll show up again one day. That's just the way things work 
8134out.
8135
8136--From the diary of Hawke
8137
8138To Capture the Hawke
8139
8140[if obtained prior to the Deep Roads expedition]
8141Small hovel in Lowtown, owner one Gamlen Amell. Take the youngest 
8142two, but do not harm them. The blood of Malcolm Hawke must remain 
8143pure. Do as you wish with the old man and woman. They are of no 
8144consequence. 
8145
8146[if the Hawke sibling died in the Deep Roads]
8147You will find Malcolm Hawke's heir in Hightown. By the grand stairs to 
8148the keep. The home will be well-defended, but do not spill Hawke's blood.
8149Use the poison if capture proves difficult. If you have to kill anyone else, 
8150do it quietly. 
8151And don't go near the young dwarf. He sees things. 
8152
8153[if Carver became a Templar]
8154We have found Carver Hawke in the templar barracks. Take him from 
8155there intact and unharmed. The blood of Malcolm Hawke must remain 
8156pure. Kill the others if you must. The Great One will reward you richly for
8157your service. 
8158
8159[if Carver became a Grey Warden]
8160We have learned Carver Hawke is with the Grey Wardens. Search all of 
8161the Free Marches if you must, but find him. Kill whoever gets in your way,
8162but make sure the boy is unharmed. The blood of Malcolm Hawke must 
8163remain pure. The Great One demands this of you. 
8164
8165[if Bethany became a Circle Mage]
8166We have tracked Bethany Hawke to the Gallows, where the mages are 
8167housed. Bring her intact and unharmed. The blood of Malcolm Hawke 
8168must remain pure. If someone gets in your way, kill them, but do it quietly.
8169The Great One will reward you richly for your service. 
8170
8171[if Bethany became a Grey Warden]
8172We have learned Bethany Hawke is with the Grey Wardens. Search all of 
8173the Free Marches if you must, but find her. Kill whoever gets in your way, 
8174but make sure the girl is unharmed. The blood of Malcolm Hawke must 
8175remain pure. The Great One demands this of you. 
8176
8177--In the name of the Master, Corypheus. May he see sunlight again. 
8178
8179A Torn Note
8180
8181(A torn note found in a conspirator's pocket.)
8182
8183...will not tell you again: it's not safe to bring new recruits to our meetings.
8184Meredith has eyes everywhere. Bring anyone who claims to be against her
8185to Gardibali's Warehouse at night. We must ensure their loyalty, lest 
8186Meredith discover us before we are ready to confront her...
8187
8188An Unsigned Note
8189
8190Renzo,
8191
8192Someone has to clean up what's left of Edge. The squirrely little dwarf 
8193made a mess when we questioned him, but we got what we needed.
8194
8195[if Hawke worked for Meeran and the Red Iron mercenaries]
8196Hawke will be in the Hightown market tonight. Be sure to deliver the best 
8197regards of Lord Friedrich's family.
8198
8199[if Hawke worked for Athenril and the smugglers]
8200Hawke will be in the Hightown market tonight. Be sure to deliver the 
8201Cavril family's best regards. 
8202
8203An Unusual Discovery
8204
8205The creature can speak. It has a name, Corypheus. We have encountered 
8206darkspawn before who use words, but none individual enough to have 
8207chosen a name. This Corypheus appears unique among darkspawn, and 
8208has gathered many of its brethren to follow it.
8209
8210It would be wasteful to kill such a creature. If it can be captured, tamed 
8211somehow, its unnatural influence over the darkspawn could perhaps be 
8212turned to our favor. It is clear the darkspawn will never bow to human 
8213commands, but this Corypheus seems at times more human than beast. I 
8214have conversed with it, and though its thoughts are disordered and 
8215inhuman, it speaks of the Old Gods by their Tevinter names. I have 
8216wondered if perhaps he is no darkspawn at all, but a ghoul, so corrupted 
8217by the taint as to have become a new creature entirely.
8218
8219I recommend we find a way to capture Corypheus, hold it somewhere safe
8220from both men and darkspawn, and study its unique nature. This will 
8221require magic, however, for Corypheus's own abilities are powerful. It 
8222uses spells both human and tainted, and has a strength that would shame 
8223any magister. We must muster our best mages to face it and to hold it.
8224
8225--From Warden-Commander Farele to the First Warden in Weisshaupt, 1004 TE
8226
8227Wallop Mallet
8228
8229Gamlen,
8230
8231This gem is very pretty, I can understand your obsession with it. 
8232Remember the game, wallop? Find the place your wallop mallet came 
8233from. Your answers are there. 
8234
8235The Wine of Chateau Haine
8236
8237Don't you wish you could've been invited to the duke's party? Oh, 
8238everything is so splendid here and so Orlesian! The decorations, the 
8239company, the food! And just thinking about the wine sends me into a 
8240giddy fit.
8241
8242The duke spares no expense, truly! I hear he has it brought in from Val 
8243Chevin, just for these parties. He has whole crews of thick, simple-minded
8244Fereldans to carry his barrels of wine up the mountain. And they're too 
8245stupid to know that what they carry is worth more than what they earn in 
8246a year.
8247
8248It's so funny. Fifi and I actually saw the laborers. One rolled down the 
8249mountain and crashed to the bottom. It was such a shame. I almost died 
8250seeing all that gorgeous red seeping into the ground. Or maybe that was 
8251from the laborer. Well, whatever.
8252
8253--Excerpt from a letter written by Babette de Launcet to her brother, Emile
8254
8255Codex: Notes (Dragon Age II)
8256
8257Grey Warden Letters 
8258
8259Take the first boat from Amaranthine to Kirkwall, then proceed with all 
8260haste to Weisshaupt Fortress. If the roads prove too perilous or blocked, 
8261our agent in Kirkwall can assist. Find the dead drop located in an 
8262alleyway near the Lowtown foundries during daylight hours. Protect the 
8263letters at all costs. 
8264
8265Warden-Commander of Ferelden
8266
8267[if Avernus was allowed to continue his research, but with ethical constraints]
8268The limitations put upon my research have greatly hampered progress. 
8269With just a few subjects, I could test certain critical hypotheses. However, 
8270the information sent about the Architect has proven invaluable to my 
8271efforts, and I am pleased to report limited success. As the Architect 
8272surmised, considerable untapped power exists within Grey Warden blood.
8273When properly prepared, its effects can be remarkable. 
8274
8275But my research has also revealed some alarming implications, which I've 
8276attached in the old Acanthan cipher. I urge you to send this to the First 
8277Warden at once.
8278 
8279I will conduct further tests as long as I'm able. My documentation is very 
8280thorough--if time finally claims me, others may follow in my footsteps.
8281
8282Avernus 
8283
8284[if Avernus was allowed to continue his research with no constraints]
8285The last shipment was quite helpful for my research, Commander. If you 
8286could double the supply next time, it would prove most efficacious. 
8287Additionally, the information regarding the Architect has proven 
8288invaluable--we have made several breakthroughs recently. As the 
8289Architect surmised, considerable untapped power exists within Grey 
8290Warden blood. When properly prepared, its effects can be remarkable. 
8291
8292But my research has also revealed some alarming implications, which I've 
8293attached in the old Acanthan cipher. I urge you to send this to the First 
8294
8295Warden at once. 
8296
8297I will conduct further tests as long as I'm able. My documentation is very 
8298thorough--if time finally claims me, others may follow in my footsteps.
8299
8300Avernus