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1Dragon Age Codex Compendium
2
3Volume 1
4
5Codex entries from:
6
7Dragon Age: Origins
8
9Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening
10
11The Golems of Amgarrak 
12
13Witch Hunt
14eliana's Song
15
16The Darkspawn Chronicles
17
18Notes: Codex entries added by Return to Ostagar, The Stone Prisoner, and 
19Warden's Keep are grouped with those from Dragon Age: Origins, while 
20entries added by expansions are in discrete sections.
21
22Where a codex entry would, in game, dynamically reflect the given name 
23of the player character, I have substituted either 'The Warden' or 'The 
24Warden-Commander', as is applicable. 
25
26Where a codex entry would, in game, dynamically reflect the player-
27chosen name of the mabari hound, I have substituted the generic 'Dog'.
28
29Bracketed notations are used to provide context or delineate variables, 
30when appropriate. The bracketed text does not appear in the in-game 
31codex.
32
33Version 1.6
3420150419
35
36###
37
38Codex: Creatures (Origins)
39
40Abomination
41On abominations.
42
43"We arrived in the dead of night. We had been tracking the maleficar for 
44days, and finally had him cornered... or so we thought. 
45
46As we approached, a home on the edge of the town exploded, sending 
47splinters of wood and fist-sized chunks of rocks into our ranks. We had 
48but moments to regroup before fire rained from the sky, the sounds of 
49destruction wrapped in a hideous laughter from the center of the village.
50
51There, perched atop the spire of the village chantry, stood the mage. But 
52he was human no longer.
53
54We shouted prayers to the Maker and deflected what magic we could, but 
55as we fought, the creature fought harder. I saw my comrades fall, burned 
56by the flaming sky or crushed by debris. The monstrous creature, looking 
57as if a demon were wearing a man like a twisted suit of skin, spotted me 
58and grinned. We had forced it to this, I realized; the mage had made this 
59pact, given himself over to the demon to survive our assault."
60
61--Transcribed from a tale told by a former templar in Cumberland, 8:84 Blessed.
62
63It is known that mages are able to walk the Fade while completely aware 
64of their surroundings, unlike most others who may only enter the realm as
65dreamers and leave it scarcely aware of their experience. Demons are 
66drawn to mages, though whether it is because of this awareness or simply 
67by virtue of their magical power in our world is unknown.
68
69Regardless of the reason, a demon always attempts to possess a mage 
70when it encounters one--by force or by making some kind of deal, 
71depending on the strength of the mage. Should the demon get the upper 
72hand, the result is an unholy union known as an abomination. 
73Abominations have been responsible for some of the worst cataclysms in 
74history, and the notion that some mage in a remote tower could turn into 
75such a creature unbeknownst to any was the driving force behind the 
76creation of the Circle of Magi.
77
78Thankfully, abominations are rare. The Circle has methods for weeding 
79out those who are too at risk for demonic possession, and scant few mages
80would give up their free will to submit to such a bond with a demon. But 
81once an abomination is created, it will do its best to create more. 
82Considering that entire squads of templars have been known to fall at the 
83hands of a single abomination, it is not surprising that the Chantry takes 
84the business of the Circle of Magi very serious indeed.
85
86Arcane Horror 
87About Arcane Horrors.
88
89"Upon ascending to the second floor of the tower, we were greeted by a 
90gruesome sight: a ragged collection of bones wearing the robes of one of 
91the senior enchanters. I had known her for years, watched her raise 
92countless apprentices, and now she was a mere puppet for some demon."
93
94--Transcribed from a tale told by a templar in Antiva City, 7:13 Storm
95
96Demons, of course, have no form in our world. When they enter, either 
97where the Veil is particularly thin or through blood magic summoning, 
98they must take possession of a body.
99
100When a pride demon takes control of the corpse of a mage, an arcane 
101horror is born. Although they appear to be little more than bones, these 
102are fierce creatures, possessing not only all the spellcasting abilities of a 
103living mage, but also the capacity to heal and even command other 
104animated corpses.
105
106Archdemon
107On the archdemon.
108
109"In Darkness eternal they searched,
110For those who had goaded them on,
111Until at last they found their prize, 
112Their god, their betrayer:
113The sleeping dragon Dumat. Their taint
114
115Twisted even the false-god, and the whisperer 
116Awoke at last, in pain and horror, and led 
117Them to wreak havoc upon all the nations of the world:
118The first Blight."
119
120--Threnodies 8:7
121
122The false dragon-gods of the Tevinter Imperium lie buried deep within the
123earth, where they have been imprisoned since the Maker cast them down.
124
125No one knows what it is that drives the darkspawn in their relentless 
126search for the sleeping Old Gods. Perhaps it is instinct, as moths will fly 
127into torch flames. Perhaps there is some remnant of desire for vengeance 
128upon the ones who goaded the magisters to assault heaven. Whatever the 
129reason, when darkspawn find one of these ancient dragons, it is 
130immediately afflicted by the taint. It awakens twisted and corrupted, and 
131leads the darkspawn in a full-scale invasion of the land: A Blight.
132
133Urthemiel was once the Tevinter god of beauty. In ancient times, he was 
134worshiped by musicians, artists, and poets. The Feast of Urthemiel was 
135the grandest celebration of the year, an event that lasted a full twelve days.
136Plays and entire symphonies were written in his honor. Now, he is a 
137maddened husk of his former self, filled with nothing but a desire to 
138destroy all life.
139
140When the first Blight began, many brave men and women threw 
141themselves at Dumat, the first archdemon, trying to strike him down. But 
142no matter the numbers, no matter their strength, he would always return. 
143This was proof, some said, of his divine power.
144
145But the Grey Wardens soon learned otherwise. Their tainted blood bound 
146them to the archdemon, and they could hear it, feel it, as it died and was 
147born anew, its spirit drawn to possess the nearest tainted creature. The 
148darkspawn were mindless, soulless, empty shells of flesh that could be 
149bent and remade in the dragon's image. But a man... a man's soul was not 
150so malleable. When a Warden's hand struck a fatal blow against Dumat, 
151the Old God's spirit was drawn not to a darkspawn but to the man who 
152had slain him. In that moment, the souls of both the Warden and the 
153archdemon were utterly destroyed. And the dragon rose no more. The 
154Blight was over.
155
156Ash Wraith
157Concerning Ash Wraiths.
158
159egend has it that when Andraste's Ashes were taken into hiding, some of 
160her closest disciples gave themselves to the fire, that their restless souls 
161might remain to guard her final resting place forever.
162
163Whether they are the spirits of Andraste's disciples or merely Fade spirits, 
164the temple that houses the Sacred Urn is filled with wraiths. Created from 
165a burnt corpse, an ash wraith is a powerful and amorphous opponent able
166to lash and smother while being immune to most physical attacks. Even if 
167successfully dispersed, it can reform at a later time. Magic is the only real 
168way to fight such a creature, wind and ice attacks being the most useful.
169
170They are capable of creating small whirlwinds that are devastating to 
171anyone unfortunate enough to get close, and their touch leaves a person 
172drained.
173
174Bear
175About bears, their lore, and the threat they pose.
176
177"No beast is more beloved by Dirthamen than the bear. When the world 
178was new, Dirthamen gave one secret to each creature to keep. The foxes 
179traded their secrets to Andruil for wings. The hares shouted theirs to the 
180treetops. The birds sold theirs for gold and silver. Only the bears kept 
181Dirthamen's gift, deep within their dens, they slept the months away in 
182the company of their secrets and nothing else.
183
184When Dirthamen discovered what had been done with his gifts, he 
185snatched the wings from the foxes, silenced the voices of the hares, and 
186turned the birds into paupers. But the bears he honored for their 
187steadfastness."
188
189--Transcribed from a Dalish tale, 9:8 Dragon.
190
191Normally, it is almost unheard of for bears to attack travelers. They are, in 
192fact, so shy and so inactive during the day that most people never 
193encounter a bear at all. However, should a bear be provoked, they are 
194remarkably dangerous. The normally placid-seeming creatures become 
195enraged, and can strike massive blows with their paws, capable of 
196knocking a man off his feet.
197
198Bronto
199On the dwarven Bronto.
200
201"There's only two things a noble will step aside for: Paragons and angry 
202brontos."
203
204--Dwarven saying.
205 
206This hulking beast was originally bred by the dwarven Shaperate as a 
207beast of burden and food source, the rough equivalent to surface oxen and
208cows. Some versions of bronto have even been developed as dwarven 
209mounts, valued far more for their sure-footedness and stamina than for 
210their speed. While present within Orzammar in large numbers, some 
211bronto still exist in packs within the Deep Roads, having returned to a 
212wild state after the fall of the dwarven kingdoms. They require 
213remarkably little sustenance, consuming organic material from water, 
214fungus and even rocks (hence the "rock-licker" appellation used by many 
215dwarves to describe bronto), and exist in primarily dormant states until 
216provoked. An angry, charging bronto is considered to be a rather 
217dangerous opponent.
218
219Broodmother
220About broodmothers.
221
222It is well-known that darkspawn carry off those captured in their raids to 
223underground lairs. Most assume that the prisoners are eaten, or somehow 
224tainted and turned into darkspawn themselves, though this could never 
225account for the sheer numbers of the horde. Forays made by Grey 
226Wardens into the underground have uncovered the answer.
227
228When exposed to the darkspawn taint, men are driven mad and 
229eventually die. Women, however, undergo great pain and gross mutations
230
231that cause most of them to perish. Those that survive, however, become 
232the grotesque broodmothers. These giant, twisted behemoths birth many 
233darkspawn at a time; a single broodmother can create thousands of 
234darkspawn over the course of her lifetime. Each type of darkspawn is born
235from a different broodmother: Humans produce hurlocks, dwarves 
236produce genlocks, elves give birth to shrieks, and from qunari are born the
237ogres.
238
239Corpse
240About the walking dead.
241
242"To anyone who doubts the wickedness of blood magic, I say: With your 
243own hands, strike down the corpses of your own brothers who have fallen
244in battle to a maleficar, then we may discuss morality."
245
246--Knight-Commander Benedictus, in a letter to the Divine, 5:46 Exalted.
247
248The walking dead are not, as the superstitious are wont to believe, the 
249living come back for revenge. They are, rather, corpses possessed by 
250demons.
251
252The shambling corpse, controlled by a demon of sloth, causes its enemies 
253to become weak and fatigued. Corpses possessed by rage demons go 
254berserk and simply wade into their opponents mindlessly. Devouring 
255corpses are held by hunger demons and feed upon the living. The more 
256powerful demons rarely deign to possess a dead host.
257
258Deepstalker
259On the common deepstalker.
260
261"A fool trusts his eyes. A wise man fears every rock is a deepstalker" 
262
263--Dwarven saying.
264
265Possibly the strangest of all the creatures found in the Deep Roads is the 
266deepstalker. Tezpadam, as the dwarves call them, hunt in packs, generally 
267by burrowing underground and then striking when their prey is in their 
268
269midst.
270
271Stalkers come in several types. Spitters have venom glands and can spit 
272secretions that slow or injure their prey. Jumpers hurl themselves at their 
273targets, knocking them down and making the kill easier. The most 
274common variety scares its prey, leaving the unfortunate victim helpless 
275against the rest of the pack.
276
277Desire Demon
278About the desire demons.
279
280"In all my studies, I must say that the most intriguing was my interview 
281with the desire demon. That the creature was willing to speak with me 
282was a sign that this was no mere monster, mindlessly driven by its nature, 
283but rather a rational being as interested in me as I was in it. It took a form 
284that I would call female, though I had no doubt that it could appear 
285otherwise. I wondered if it appeared as it did because I wanted it to or 
286because I expected it to. She... and, indeed, I could only think of her as 
287such now... smiled warmly at me and laughed a musical sound that 
288seemed to thrill my old heart.
289
290So frightened was I of this creature's legendary abilities to twist the hearts 
291of men, and so relieved was I when I looked across the table into her dark 
292eyes. This was a fearsome creature of the Fade, but as I spoke with her I 
293slowly came to realize that this demon was merely as misunderstood as 
294we mages are, ourselves."
295
296--From the journal of former Senior Enchanter Maleus, once of the Circle of 
297Rivain, declared apostate in 9:20 Dragon.
298
299Of all the threats from beyond the Veil, few are more insidious and 
300deceptively deadly than the desire demon. In folklore, such demons are 
301characterized as peddlers of lust, luring their prey into a sexual encounter 
302only to be slain at the culmination. While a desire demon can indeed deal 
303in pleasure, in truth they deal with any manner of desire that humans can 
304possess: wealth, power, and beauty, to name a few.
305
306Far more intelligent than the bestial hunger and rage demons, and more 
307
308ambitious than the demons of sloth, these dark spirits are among the most 
309skilled at tempting mages into possession. Many who serve the whims of 
310a desire demon never realize it. They are manipulated by illusions and 
311deceit if not outright mind control, although these demons are reluctant to
312resort to such crude measures. Instead, they seem to take great pleasure in
313corruption. The greater the deceit, the greater their victory.
314
315Only demons of pride prove more fearsome opponents when roused. 
316Their abilities to affect the mind allow them to assume disguises and even 
317alter the environment to their purposes, not to mention the great strength 
318and speed they possess if they should have to resort to more physical 
319means. Most often a desire demon will attempt to bargain its way to 
320freedom if overpowered--many stories exist that depict mages defeating 
321desire demons to the point where a wish can be wrested from them. It 
322should be noted that in such stories the demon almost always gets the 
323upper hand even when the mage thinks his wish has been granted.
324
325Dragon
326About dragons.
327
328Dragonlings
329Newly-hatched dragons are roughly the size of a deer and voraciously 
330hungry. They live for a short time in their mother's lair before venturing 
331out on their own. The slender, wingless creatures are born in vast 
332numbers, as only a few ever make it to adulthood.
333
334Drakes
335Male dragons never develop into the winged monsters of myth. At most, 
336their forelegs grow the vestigial spurs where wing membrane might have 
337been.
338
339Once they have fully matured, males immediately seek out the lairs of 
340adult females. When they find one, they move into her lair and spend the 
341rest of their lives there, hunting for her and defending her young. They 
342will aggressively defend her nest, and many would-be dragon hunters 
343have been lost to their fiery breath and crushing blows from their tails.
344
345Dragons
346Female dragons take much longer to mature than their male counterparts. 
347They too undergo a metamorphosis of sorts at adulthood: But while males
348lose the use of their forepaws, females actually grow a third set of limbs 
349specifically to serve as wings.
350
351Young females travel great distances looking for a suitable nesting site. 
352Because of their nomadic habits, these are the dragons most frequently 
353encountered by man.
354
355High Dragon
356A fully mature adult female dragon is the high dragon: the great monster 
357of legend, the rarest of all dragonkind. These dragons hollow out massive 
358lairs for themselves, for they need the space to house their harem of 
359drakes as well as their eggs and the dragonlings.
360
361High dragons are seldom seen. They spend most of their time sleeping 
362and mating, living off the prey their drakes bring back. But once every 
363hundred years or so, the high dragon prepares for clutching by emerging 
364from her lair and taking wing. She will fly far and wide, eating hundreds 
365of animals, most often livestock, over the course of a few weeks and 
366leaving smoldering devastation in her wake. She then returns to her lair to
367lay her eggs and will not appear in the skies again for another century.
368
369Genlock
370Information about genlocks.
371
372These are the most common darkspawn in the underground. Stocky and 
373tough, genlocks are notoriously difficult to kill, even by magic.
374
375Alphas
376In any group of genlocks, there is usually one who is dominant. As the 
377tallest, strongest, and smartest of their kind, alphas serve as a sort of 
378commander, directing or bullying the others in combat.
379
380Emissaries
381The most intelligent of the alphas become gifted sorcerers, with many
382abilities akin to blood magic. These are the emissaries and they usually 
383
384only appear during a Blight.
385
386Ghoul
387Concerning ghouls.
388
389What the Blight does not destroy, it corrupts.
390
391Any creature infected with the darkspawn taint that does not have the 
392good fortune to die outright becomes a ghoul: a twisted shadow of itself.
393
394The name originally comes from men--whether human, dwarven, or 
395elven--who became tainted, usually while being held as a captive food 
396source by the darkspawn. They would turn cannibal, preying on other 
397captives, slaves to the will of the archdemon, driven mad by pain.
398
399During a Blight, the corruption of the darkspawn spreads through the 
400wilder areas of Thedas and infects the animals found there. This produces 
401grotesque, enraged bears called bereskarn as well as blight wolves.
402
403Fortunately, ghouls rarely survive their corruption for long.
404
405Golem
406About golems.
407
408Once a crucial part of Orzammar's defenses, golems have all but vanished 
409as the secret to their manufacture was lost over a thousand years ago. 
410What few golems remain are guarded closely by the Shaperate, brought 
411out when the battle with the darkspawn grows desperate enough to risk 
412their loss. No one now would sell a golem for any price, but in ancient 
413times, dwarves sold many golems to the magister lords of Tevinter.
414
415They are devastating weapons in war, living siege engines, capable of 
416hurling boulders like a catapult or plowing through enemy lines like an 
417earthquake.
418
419Halla
420About the Halla.
421
422No creature is more revered by the Dalish than the halla. No other animal 
423has a god of its own. These white stags are much larger than ordinary 
424deer, and the Dalish halla keepers carve their antlers as they grow, making
425them curve into intricate designs. In ancient times, these stags bore elven 
426knights into combat, but since the fall of the Dales, they are used less as 
427mounts and more to pull the aravels.
428
429Hurlock
430Information about hurlocks.
431
432Taller than their genlock cousins, the hurlocks are roughly of human-size 
433but are possessed of considerable strength and constitution. The shock 
434troop of the darkspawn, a single berserking hurlock can often be a match 
435for numerous opponents at once. They are known to adorn themselves 
436with roughly-carved tattoos to keep track of their kills and deeds, though 
437it is unknown whether or not there is a uniform standard to these 
438markings.
439
440Alphas
441Alpha hurlocks are more intelligent and more skilled fighters, often 
442serving as commanders or even generals.
443
444Emissaries
445Hurlock emissaries have also been known to appear during a Blight. 
446These darkspawn are the only ones recorded as being capable of human 
447speech and are often capable of employing magic.
448
449Mabari War Hound
450About the mabari.
451
452Dogs are an essential part of Fereldan culture, and no dog is more prized 
453than the mabari. The breed is as old as myth, said to have been bred from 
454the wolves who served Dane. Prized for their intelligence and loyalty, 
455these dogs are more than mere weapons or status symbols: The hounds 
456
457choose their masters, and pair with them for life. To be the master of a 
458mabari anywhere in Ferelden is to be recognized instantly as a person of 
459worth.
460
461The mabari are an essential part of Fereldan military strategy. Trained 
462hounds can easily pull knights from horseback or break lines of pikemen, 
463and the sight and sound of a wave of war dogs, howling and snarling, has 
464been known to cause panic among even the most hardened infantry 
465soldiers.
466
467Nug
468About nugs.
469
470"Hip deep in mad nugs.
471Our screams deafen their keen ears.
472We will be nug poop."
473
474--From Songs That Only Nugs Can Hear  by Paragon Ebryan, 5:84 Exalted
475
476The nug is an omnivore common to the Deep Roads, a hairless creature 
477that is almost blind as well as completely docile. It spends most of its time 
478wading in shallow pools as well as mud pits, feeding on small insects, 
479worms, and (in a pinch) limestone and simple metals. Indeed, the 
480digestive system of the nug is legendary, able to make a meal out of 
481almost anything a nug finds on the cavern floors. Nugs reproduce rapidly,
482spreading into any niche within the Deep Roads they can find, and serve 
483to support a variety of predators such as giant spiders and deepstalkers. 
484So, too, do dwarves make meals out of them... nugs are, in the poorer slum
485portions of Orzammar, one of the most common sources of meat available.
486Some dwarves even domesticate the creatures, claiming to find the 
487creature's high-pitched squeaks pleasing.
488
489Ogre
490Concerning ogres.
491
492Towering over their darkspawn kin, the massive ogres are a rare sight on 
493the battlefield. Traditionally, they only appear during a Blight, but some 
494records claim that ogres have been spotted in the Deep Roads hunting 
495alone or in small groups. At least one report by the Grey Wardens claims 
496that an ogre was spotted alone in the Korcari Wilds in 9:19 Dragon, 
497though it was weakened and easily dispatched. Up to a hundred of these 
498creatures can accompany a darkspawn horde at any one time during a 
499Blight, often using their great strength to burst through fortifications and 
500demolish the front lines of the opposing army.
501
502They use brute force to charge their enemies like bulls, slam the ground 
503with their fists to shake enemies off their feet, and hurl giant rocks into the
504face of oncoming foes. Melee can be difficult against a giant that snatches 
505a warrior up in one hand, crushing the life out of him or beating him into 
506oblivion with the other hand. The nimble can try to wiggle his way free, or
507an ally can attempt an array of stunning blows on an ogre to free the 
508comrade in danger.
509
510Grey Warden lore urges caution when slaying an ogre. Unless it is 
511ensured that they have received a major wound to the head or the heart, it 
512is possible that they are lying dormant and will regenerate to full health 
513within a matter of minutes. During a Blight, most Grey Wardens 
514recommend burning all darkspawn to ashes... "dead" ogres in particular.
515
516Pride Demon
517On the dangers of facing pride demons.
518
519"Let me explain what it is to face a pride demon, my friends.
520
521You may scoff and say that our talents exist only to face mages, but you 
522will encounter demons often. They will be summoned by a maleficar and 
523bound to do his bidding, and while at times they will be forced into the 
524possession of a host, they will also face you in their true form... a powerful
525opponent indeed. Do not underestimate it.
526
527Pride is powerful, and intelligent. When we have encountered one in its 
528true form, its most common attacks are bolts of fire and ice. Fire they will 
529use to burn an opponent, and the magical flame will combust anything 
530you wear regardless of make. Ice they will use to freeze an opponent in 
531place--be cautious, for they enjoy employing this against warriors in 
532particular. More than one group of templars has made the mistake of 
533attempting to overwhelm a pride demon and suffered the consequences, 
534believe me. And if you think that having the aid of other mages will assist 
535you, you are wrong. Pride demons can render themselves immune to 
536magic for short times, and are adept at dispelling magic that is cast upon 
537you... as much as we templars are able to disrupt spells.
538
539Think on that for a moment, my friends. Be wary of how prideful you 
540become, lest you find too much in common with such a fiend."
541
542--Transcript of a lecture given by Vheren, templar-commander of Tantervale, 6:86 
543Steel
544
545Rage Demon
546About demons of rage.
547
548Encountered in the Fade, the true form of a rage demon is a frightening 
549sight: a thing of pure fire, its body seemingly made of amorphous lava 
550and its eyes two pinpricks of baleful light radiating from its core. The 
551abilities of such a demon center on the fire it generates. It burns those who
552come near, and the most powerful of its kind are able to lash out with 
553bolts of fire and even firestorms that can affect entire areas. 
554
555Fortunately, even powerful rage demons are less intelligent than most 
556other varieties. Their tactics are simple: attack an enemy on sight with as 
557much force as possible until it perishes. Some rage demons carry over 
558their heat-based abilities into possessed hosts, but otherwise the true form 
559is mostly seen outside of the Fade when it's specifically summoned by a 
560mage to do his bidding.
561
562Rat
563On the threat, or complete lack of threat, posed by rats.
564
565"What are you, mad? Even the most giant of rats isn't going to present that
566much of a problem to anyone larger than a cat. Even the stories in the 
567archives that tell of Blight-touched rats still only attributed them with the 
568ability to spread the plague. The rats themselves got no larger than 
569perhaps three feet in length, covered in sharp bony spikes and boils. 
570Disturbing, certainly, but dangerous? This is no fantasy conjured by 
571madmen, young man! You have much more important creatures to 
572concern yourself with!"
573
574-- Transcript of a lecture given by Nalia, Senior Enchanter of Hossberg, 8:44 
575Blessed (Note: she was later eaten by a Blight Rat in 8:46 Blessed)
576
577Revenant
578On revenants.
579
580"An entire unit of men, all slain by one creature. I didn't believe it at first, 
581your Perfection, but it appears that this is so. We have a survivor, and 
582while at first I thought his rantings pure exaggeration... it appears to be no
583simple skeleton. The descriptions of the creature's abilities were eerily 
584similar to those our brothers at Marnas Pell encountered almost a century 
585ago: men pulled through the air to skewer themselves on the creature's 
586blade, and attacks so quick that it was able to assault multiple opponents 
587at once. No, your Perfection, what we have here is indeed a revenant and 
588nothing less."
589
590--From a letter to Divine Amara III, 5:71 Exalted.
591
592A revenant is a corpse possessed by a demon of pride or of desire... 
593making it amongst the most powerful possessed opponents that one can 
594face. Many possess spells, but most are armed and armored and prefer the
595use of their martial talents. They are weak against physical attacks but 
596regenerate quickly, and commonly use telekinesis to pull opponents into 
597melee range should they try to flee. Revenants also have the ability to 
598strike multiple opponents surrounding them. Stay at range if possible and 
599strike quickly--that is the only way to take such a creature down.
600
601Shade
602Concerning the shade.
603
604"It has often been suggested that the only way for a demon to affect the 
605world of the living is by possessing a living (or once living) body, but this 
606is not always true. Indeed, a shade is one such creature: a demon in its 
607true form that has adapted to affect the world around it.
608
609My hypothesis is this: We already know that many demons become 
610confused when they pass through the Veil into our world. They are unable
611to tell the living from the dead, the very static nature of our universe being
612confusing to a creature that is accustomed to a physicality defined entirely
613by emotion and memory. Most demons seek to immediately seize upon 
614anything they perceive as life, jealously attempting to possess it--but what 
615of those that do not? What of those that encounter no life, or fail to possess
616a body? What of those that are more cautious by their nature?
617
618These demons watch. They lurk. They envy.
619
620In time, such a demon will learn to drain energy from the psyche of those 
621it encounters, just as it did in the Fade. Once it has drained enough, it has 
622the power to manifest and will forever after be known as a shade. Such a 
623creature spurns possession. It instead floats as a shadow across its piece of
624land, preying upon the psyche of any who cross its path. Perhaps it 
625believes itself still in the Fade? There is evidence to believe this is so.
626
627A shade will weaken the living by its very proximity. If it focuses its will, it
628can drain a single target very quickly. Some have even been known to 
629assault the minds of a living victim, causing confusion or horror and 
630making the target ripe for the kill. The tragedy of a shade is perhaps that, 
631once it has drained a target whole, its appetite is only heightened rather 
632than slaked."
633
634-- From the journal of former Senior Enchanter Maleus, once of the Circle of 
635Rivain, declared apostate in 9:20 Dragon Age.
636
637Shrieks
638On shrieks.
639
640Scholars call these tall, lean darkspawn the sharlock, though they are more
641popularly known as shrieks because of the ear-splitting cries they emit in 
642battle. Many tales exist of soldiers being unnerved by the sounds of 
643approaching shrieks, cloaked in darkness and never seen until the 
644moment they strike.
645As horrors of the night, shrieks are renowned for their incredible speed 
646and agility as well as their stealth. They are the assassins of the 
647darkspawn, penetrating the enemy lines and striking their targets using 
648long, jagged blades attached to their forearms to rip their opponent to 
649shreds in seconds. They have been known to employ poison, often drawn 
650from their own blood, and have demonstrated cunning group tactics 
651when attacking in numbers.
652
653Skeleton
654About skeletons.
655
656The demons of the Fade are jealous of the living beings they sense from 
657across the Veil. They constantly push against the boundaries of the Fade, 
658and when they finally cross over, they attempt to possess the first living 
659creature they see. They are unable, however, to distinguish that which was
660once living from that which still is... in fact, a corpse provides an even 
661more tempting target to a weaker demon as it has no will with which to 
662resist the possession. The demon cannot rationalize why this is so; it only 
663sees a target and grasps at the opportunity.
664
665A skeleton is exactly that: a corpse animated by a possessing demon. Upon
666finding itself trapped within a body that cannot sustain it, the demon is 
667driven insane... it seeks to destroy any life that it encounters, attacking 
668without thought to its own welfare.
669
670The exact names given to skeletons of this type vary according to the 
671nature of the demon that possesses it. A "fanged skeleton" is a skeleton 
672possessed by a hunger demon. These skeletons devour whatever life they 
673encounter and often possess the ability to drain life energy and mana from
674their victims. A "shambling skeleton" is a slower-moving skeleton 
675
676possessed by a sloth demon, able to bring entropic powers against its 
677opponents, slowing them and even putting them to sleep. More powerful 
678demons have been known to command skeletons, but at that level they are
679known by other names: revenants and arcane horrors, to name two.
680
681Sloth Demon
682On the behaviors and habits of sloth demons.
683
684"And I looked at the creature and it had become me. A veritable copy of 
685my form, of my very mind, stared back at me as if from within a mirror. I 
686thought surely that this was a trick, an illusion meant to put me off 
687guard... but as I engaged the thing with my sword it fought me with 
688maneuvers that I recognized. It parried as I parried; it swung as I swung. 
689It spoke to me and said things that only I could know. I... I think this 
690demon of sloth has no form or identity of its own. It is envy as much as 
691sloth, I believe, and mine was not the first shape it stole that day."
692
693-- An excerpt from a transcribed deposition of Tyrenus, templar-commander of 
694Cumberland, 3:90 Towers.
695
696The most difficult assumption for some who study demons to overcome is
697the notion that a sloth demon is, in and of itself, slothful. If that were so, it 
698seems highly unlikely that any such demons would cross the Veil into our 
699own world, or once here would fight to possess any creature with a will of
700its own--and we know both these things to not be the case. Certainly, some
701demons are lazy and complacent, but who knows? Perhaps these 
702creatures even cultivate such a reputation.
703
704The truth is that demons of sloth are named so because this is the portion 
705of the human psyche that they feed upon. Doubt. Apathy. Entropy. They 
706seek to spread these things. The sloth demon hides in its forms, a master 
707of shapes and disguises, always in the last place you look... and from its 
708hiding place it spreads its influence. A community afflicted by a demon of 
709sloth could soon become a dilapidated pit where injustices are allowed to 
710pass without comment, and none of the residents could be aware that 
711such a change has even taken place. The sloth demon weakens, tires, tears 
712at the edges of consciousness and would much rather render its victim 
713helpless than engage in a true conflict. Such creatures are best faced only 
714
715with a great deal of will, and only with an eye to piercing their many 
716disguises.
717
718Giant Spider
719On giant spiders.
720
721Giant spiders tend to appear in old ruins and other places where the Veil 
722has become thin because of magical disturbances or a great number of 
723deaths. In such places, spirits and demons pass into the world of the living
724and attempt to take control over living beings, spiders among them. Not 
725all scholars accept this explanation for the presence of these beasts, 
726however. Some claim that the thinning Veil allows magic to "leak" from 
727the Fade, tainting such creatures as these spiders to transform into larger 
728and more potent creatures than they ever would become naturally. While 
729such spiders are known to possess powerful poisons and the ability to 
730fling their webs at opponents in combat, studies of them have been few 
731and the full range of their abilities are unknown.
732
733Corrupted spiders are giant arachnids that originally grew in the depths 
734of the Deep Roads, feeding on numerous species of large bats. When the 
735Deep Roads were lost to the darkspawn, they began to feed on the 
736numerous genlocks and their numbers grew exponentially... as did their 
737size. The darkspawn taint has become a permanent part of their system, 
738passed on to their progeny. This has had the effect of increasing their size 
739abnormally, as well as their aggressiveness. Some corrupted spiders have 
740made their lairs in surface forests, but most remain underground, close to 
741their Blight-tainted meals.
742
743Wild Sylvan
744About wild sylvans.
745
746For demons crossing over into our world, mankind is not always the 
747preferred prey. Possessing humans means risking encounters with 
748powerful mages and templars, as well as other complications. Some 
749demons find it far easier to seek out animals or even plants, assuming that
750these will make as suitable a host as a human. Those that possess trees are 
751known as wild sylvans.
752
753Generally, only demons of rage, the weakest of the demon hierarchy, will 
754become a sylvan. Once they do, they must spend a great deal of time 
755twisting and molding the host in order to make it mobile, and once they 
756have the sylvan is a powerful and deadly opponent. Other, more 
757intelligent, spirits have also been known to become sylvans, and are 
758generally much less violent, but these are rare.
759
760Slow but immensely powerful, wild sylvans prefer to lay in ambush, 
761waiting for a victim to become lost, tired, or trapped before closing in for 
762the kill. They hide among regular trees, nearly undetectable until they 
763begin to move and to reach. When they do "come to life" as some travelers 
764say, they stand tall, roots forming into legs and feet and branches 
765stretching out into lashing arms.
766
767When not presented with a living target, however, it has been noted that 
768sylvans often fall into a form of dormancy, perhaps brought on by the 
769nature of their tree host. While mobile, they normally return to wherever 
770they were rooted once their prey has been killed. For both these reasons, a 
771forest that has sylvans within can become incredibly dangerous to pass 
772through for very long periods of time.
773
774Werewolf
775On werewolves.
776
777"And Dane he stood his ground,
778The fanged beast approached.
779He saw the rage within its eyes,
780The wolf that once was there.
781The sword he raised,
782Merciful death be praised,
783To the Maker went his prayer."
784
785--From the popular telling of  Dane and the Werewolf, a legend of Ferelden 
786circa 4:50 Black.
787
788Fereldan lore is full of instances where these creatures have plagued the 
789countryside: wolves possessed by rage demons and transformed into 
790
791humanoid monsters with incredible speed and strength, able to spread a 
792curse to those they bit that would drive them mad with unthinking fury. 
793When in this enraged state, a human host can likewise become possessed 
794and be transformed into a feral, wolf-like beast. Tales differ on these 
795werewolves of human origin, some claiming that their transformation into
796a bestial form happens uncontrollably. Some claim the transformation is 
797irreversible. As is often the case with demonic tales, both versions were 
798most likely true at some point.
799
800The ability of normal dogs to detect a werewolf even when it is in a 
801human guise is what first led Fereldans to adopt dogs as indispensable 
802companions in every farmhold. The alliance between humans and regular 
803wolves is the subject of the popular Fereldan folk tale "Dane and the 
804Werewolf."
805
806The actual hero Dane led a crusade to eliminate the werewolf threat 
807during the early Black Age, and while werewolves have never assumed 
808the same prominence since, there have still been reports of individual 
809packs lurking in remote forests. In recent years, some have even been 
810reported to have developed an uncanny willpower and intelligence... 
811though why this is so is still unknown.
812
813Wisp
814Concerning wisps.
815
816"A great deal is made of the most powerful demons, those that create 
817abominations and those that have changed the history of Thedas. It is 
818often forgotten that not all demons are such awe-inspiring beings. Some 
819that break through the cracks in the Veil into our world are known as 
820wisps, a sliver of a thought that once was. A wisp is a demon that has lost 
821its power; either it has existed in our world for too long without finding a 
822true host or it has been destroyed--often, so we've found, by other 
823demons. What remains of its mind clings tightly to the one concept that 
824created it--a hatred of all things living. 
825
826While its ability to target a living creature is limited, these wisps often 
827mindlessly attack when encountered in the Fade. In the living world, they 
828often have been known to maliciously lure the living into dangerous 
829
830areas, being mistaken for lanterns or other civilized light sources. This 
831does, however, seem to be the very limit of their cunning."
832
833--From the journal of former Senior Enchanter Maleus, once of the Circle of 
834Rivain, declared apostate in 9:20 Dragon Age.
835
836Wolf
837About wolves.
838
839"It is rather unfair, the reputation that the wolf possesses in Ferelden. For a
840people that so clearly adore their hounds, Fereldans simultaneously 
841harbor a distrust of wolves that borders on the unreasonable. 
842Unreasonable, that is, if one were not familiar with the ancient legends 
843regarding werewolves. There was a time in Ferelden's past when demons 
844inhabited the bodies of wolves in great numbers, causing the wars against 
845werewolves and spreading great fear and panic. The werewolves were 
846slain, but even today the noble wolf is still looked upon with distrust." 
847
848--From Legends of Ferelden, by Mother Ailis of Denerim, 9:10 Dragon.
849
850An attack by wolves upon civilized folk happens rarely, often only in 
851times of desperation and even then only when the wolves have the 
852advantage of numbers. This can change during a Blight. When darkspawn
853rise onto the surface their presence dramatically alters the savage nature 
854of normal beasts.
855
856In Blights past, as the corruption of the darkspawn spread through the 
857wilder areas of Thedas, it would infect the animals found there... and the 
858more powerful of them would survive and be transformed into a more 
859vicious and dangerous beast. A blight wolf is one such example, mad with
860the pain of its infection, and only through the overriding command of the 
861darkspawn does it still retain some semblance of its pack instincts. Blight 
862wolves are always found in large groups and will tend to overwhelm a 
863single target if they can, using their numbers to their advantage. It is 
864fortunate that these creatures rarely survive their corruption for very long.
865
866Mabari Dominance
867On mabari dominance.
868
869Mabari hounds are descended from pack hunters, and like their ancestors,
870they are highly influenced by a defined order of dominance. The primary 
871method of determining that order is by claiming territory through scent-
872marking major landmarks. Once established, the dominant mabari gains a
873substantial increase in confidence and stature within his territory, a trait 
874that indirectly benefits master as well as hound.
875
876Codex: Creatures (Awakening)
877
878Armored Ogre
879
880The darkspawn scavenge their armor from the Deep Roads, from lost 
881thaigs and from battlefields where vast armies once clashed. Typically, 
882only hurlocks, shrieks, and genlocks wear any such protection, ogres 
883being far too large for conventional armor. 
884
885But occasionally the Legion encounters ogres wearing crude patchworks 
886of breastplates and shields threaded together with rope and wire. While 
887better than nothing, there are many vulnerable gaps in the assemblage. 
888Thank the ancestors that the darkspawn and their ghouls make such lousy
889craftsmen. 
890
891--From the journal of Kardol, Legionnaire of the Dead
892
893Baroness of the Blackmarsh
894
895The magic worked! I banished the dragon's essence to the Fade, but the 
896enchantment was imperfect and the bond between spirit and physical 
897body remained. The beast lay dormant long enough for me to rip her 
898apart and scatter her about the marsh. That should suffice for now.
899
900Had the spell failed, I would have perished. What was I thinking, working
901untried magic on such a powerful beast? Ah, hindsight.
902
903So I saved this soggy cesspit. I don't know what that proves, but these are 
904my lands now, and Orlais must not see me as a failure.
905
906--From the journal of the baroness of Blackmarsh
907
908Blighted Werewolf
909
910When a man in West Hill told me about his encounter with a blighted 
911werewolf, I was inclined to believe him. Although werewolves may be 
912abominations of a sort--wolves possessed by rage demons, or so the story 
913goes--it is true that their bodies still live. The Blight is known to corrupt 
914bears and wolves in addition to humans, elves, and dwarves, so it is 
915conceivable that any living creature, even a werewolf, is at risk.
916
917The man saw the beast ambush a bear, springing from the shadows with 
918such speed that it seemed a blur. The bear was dead within seconds.
919
920I thank the Maker that I have never even seen a run-of-the-mill werewolf. I
921am sure I never want to encounter one that is blighted.
922
923--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
924Brother Genitivi.
925
926Charred Sylvan
927
928Occasionally, demons attempt to escape the Fade by possessing something
929other than mortal flesh. By corrupting a tree, for instance, a demon avoids 
930the madness that results from possessing a sentient creature. Demon-
931possessed trees are known as wild sylvans.
932
933On rare occasions, demons possess trees almost completely destroyed by 
934fire but that still retain a spark of life. This union often rekindles the fire 
935that first damaged the tree, resulting in a sylvan that burns continuously 
936without being destroyed.
937
938The Children
939
940The Children appear to be twisted mutations of darkspawn. They have set
941even hurlocks, genlocks, and ogres to fleeing.
942
943The monsters appear first as childer grubs, gruesome larval creatures that 
944wriggle on the ground. This is the only vulnerable stage of their 
945
946development. To squish them is to do the world a favor.
947
948When grubs devour the flesh of slain darkspawn, a dramatic change 
949occurs. To a sound of tearing flesh, legs emerge. The childer can now run 
950down its prey with startling speed.
951
952Upon gorging itself again, the childer transforms further, developing 
953spindly limbs tipped with spikes that skewer prey.
954
955These foul creatures are the progeny of the Mother, a mysterious 
956broodmother about whom little is known.
957
958The Disciples
959
960The disciples are darkspawn that have become sapient after some sort of 
961process of awakening, after which they choose their own names. They are 
962cunning, powerful, and hold influence over non-awakened darkspawn.
963
964The disciples are split into two factions. Some serve the Architect, some 
965the Mother.
966
967The Architect is responsible for awakening the disciples. Those who now 
968serve the Mother appear to have turned to her because they resent their 
969newfound freedom.
970
971Inferno Golem
972
973"It's so much better when it's on fire!" 
974
975Centuries ago, during the dwarven empire's golden age, dwarves 
976commanded vast armies of golems. Golems guarded the thaigs and 
977patrolled every branch of the Deep Roads. As men of steel and stone, they 
978were eternal, indestructible, and perfectly obedient. 
979
980But Paragon Hirol was not satisfied. He wanted Kal'Hirol's golems to be 
981greater. In his forge, he gave them hearts like furnaces that would burn 
982evermore. Thus became the inferno golems, with eyes that burned and 
983
984veins coursing with molten lava.
985
986Tears in the Veil
987
988Studies of the Veil have never been thorough. The Tevinters once 
989theorized that the Veil is thin in places that have seen great bloodshed. As 
990the Chantry is so fond of reminding us, the magisters of the Imperium 
991only once crossed physically into the Fade, the catastrophe that blackened 
992the Golden City. As the story goes, the ritual consumed a vast quantity of 
993lyrium and the blood of a hundred slaves. But was it the deaths that 
994bridged the worlds, or simply the blood and lyrium? Or both?
995
996Demons seize every opportunity, every tear in the Veil, to enter our world.
997Once the Veil is torn, it is extremely difficult to mend, some say 
998impossible.
999
1000--From The Lectures of First Enchanter Wenselus.
1001
1002Codex: Creatures (The Golems of Amgarrak) 
1003
1004A Bronto Named Snug
1005On Snug.
1006
1007"Years ago, Jerrik saved a young, injured bronto from the darkspawn. The 
1008bronto took to Jerrik immediately and refused to leave his side. It even 
1009started sleeping under Jerrik's bed, even though the space was far too 
1010snug for him. Jerrik started calling the bronto "Snug", and the name stuck. 
1011Snug is extremely protective of Jerrik and will protect him to the death."
1012
1013Protector Golem
1014
1015Golem has chain lightning and cleansing aura (heals slowly while active 
1016and removes injuries when cast). 
1017
1018Heals everybody. 
1019
1020Golem makes your weapons do fire damage. 
1021
1022Big electric storm. 
1023
1024Party member revived. 
1025
1026Generic buff to stats. 
1027
1028Generic buff to stats. 
1029
1030The Harvester
1031
1032The Harvester is the product of a misguided attempt to recreate Paragon 
1033Caridin's research to build golems for Orzammar. The researchers used 
1034the flesh of casteless dwarves as a cheap alternative to stone or steel. Fade 
1035spirits were bound to dead flesh, animating it. The creature turned out to 
1036be uncontrollable, resulting in the death of the research team. 
1037
1038The Harvester appears to be a twisted construct of rotting, flailing limbs 
1039with a disproportionately large head. It is able to attach itself to, and
1040control, larger constructs of flesh.
1041
1042Codex: Creatures (Witch Hunt)
1043
1044The Varterral
1045
1046According to Ariane, the elven gods created varterrals to guard the elves 
1047and their most treasured artifacts. They are so rare that even the Dalish 
1048believe they are only legends. 
1049
1050The one you encountered was especially vicious, attacking even Ariane-
1051one of the people it was created to protect. Why, exactly, is anyone's guess.
1052
1053Codex: Items (Origins)
1054
1055The Litany of Adralla
1056Concerning the Litany of Adralla.
1057
1058Adralla of Vyrantium dedicated her life to the study of blood magic--the 
1059academic study, rather than the practice. A deeply pious mage, she was 
1060renowned in her day for having found a counter to every form of mind 
1061control, a defense against dream walkers, and even counter-spells to 
1062demonic summons.
1063
1064Her efforts went unappreciated in her native Tevinter, however. After 
1065three different magisters attempted to have her killed, she fled the 
1066country, choosing to take refuge in the land of Blessed Andraste's birth. 
1067She spent the remainder of her days with the Circle in Ferelden.
1068
1069The Litany of Adralla disrupts the casting of mind-control spells. Use the 
1070itany whenever a creature tries to dominate another with magic, and it 
1071will interrupt the casting. Once the spell is in effect and a character is 
1072under a blood mage's power, it is too late.
1073
1074Archons of the Imperium
1075A tale of two rings.
1076
1077Archon Darinius of Tevinter journeyed deep into the lightless realm of the
1078dwarves and there forged a covenant with Endrin Stonehammer, lord of 
1079the dwarven empire. As a symbol of their pact, Endrin gave the archon a 
1080pair of rings--one that shone like the evening star, and one as luminous as 
1081the dawn. So long as the rings were united, Darinius need fear nothing, 
1082for the friendship of the dwarves is a mighty sword and shield. 
1083
1084The archon wore the rings of Dawn and Dusk for 20 years, never 
1085removing them, and when he died, they were cut from his fingers by 
1086magisters squabbling over his vacant throne, then separated, and finally 
1087lost.
1088
1089--From a book formerly in the possession of a hermit.
1090
1091Havard's Aegis
1092On the shield of Havard.
1093
1094Havard was Maferath's closest friend. They were children together in the 
1095same Avvar clan. They fought side-by-side in so many battles that 
1096Maferath dubbed him, "Havard the Aegis," better to have at his side than 
1097any shield.
1098
1099Maferath brought Havard with him to meet with the Tevinters; it was 
1100unthinkable to stand before his enemies without his Aegis.
1101
1102When he understood that Maferath was giving Andraste over to be 
1103executed, Havard, unwilling to draw swords against his friend and liege, 
1104placed himself between Andraste and the Tevinter soldiers. The Tevinters 
1105struck him down, and Maferath left him for dead.
1106
1107But Aegis was not so easily destroyed. Havard lived and made his way, 
1108gravely wounded, to the gates of Minrathous to stop the execution. Too 
1109late. He found only the ashes of the prophet, left to the wind and rain. 
1110When his fingers touched the ash, his ears filled with song, and he saw a 
1111vision of Andraste dressed in cloth of starlight. She knelt at his side, 
1112saying, "Rise, Aegis of the Faith, the Maker shall never forget you so long 
1113as I remember."
1114
1115His wounds healed instantly. And with new strength, Havard gathered 
1116up Andraste's remains and carried them safely back to the lands of the 
1117Alamarri.
1118
1119Ancient Elven Armor
1120About the ancient elven armor.
1121
1122Before the fall of Arlathan, even before Arlathan itself, the civilization of 
1123the elves stretched across all of Thedas like a great, indolent cat.
1124
1125This armor was made for temple guards in a time when the Creators still 
1126spoke to the elves. The techniques of its forging, even the name of the 
1127metal it is forged from, have long since faded from memory.
1128
1129Aodh
1130About the axe Aodh.
1131
1132ong ago, a soldier from Gwaren was returning home after twenty years 
1133at war. He had sold his sword for passage to Denerim and had to make 
1134his way through the Brecilian Forest with nothing to his name but a single 
1135crust of bread.
1136
1137On his way, he met an old blind woodcutter sitting on a tree stump. "Here
1138is someone worse off than myself," said the soldier, and he gave the old 
1139man his last scrap of bread. The old man blessed him, and gave the soldier
1140his axe in return.
1141
1142The soldier went on his way, and soon night fell. He made his bed in a 
1143tree branch and held the woodcutter's axe at his side to ward against 
1144beasts and bandits. When the moon was high, he was awakened by the 
1145sound of weeping. "Show yourself!" he shouted, for try as he might, the 
1146soldier could find no one nearby.
1147
1148"Help me," spoke the tree in which he'd been sleeping, "A mage 
1149transformed me into this shape, and I will never be set free. If you had any
1150pity in you, you would cut me down so that my spirit could go to the 
1151Maker."
1152
1153So the solider took up his axe and struck the tree. The cuts bled like 
1154wounds, and soon hot blood covered the axe and burned the soldier's 
1155hands. But he held tightly to the axe and felled the tree. The tree shattered 
1156when it hit the ground, and from the splinters rose a demon, who bowed 
1157to the soldier and vanished into the Fade.
1158
1159The soldier was chilled to the bone, and could not sleep. In the morning, 
1160he found that the axe still burned like the blood of the sylvan, but despite 
1161its heat, he could not get warm again. They say he ended his days in 
1162Gwaren, cutting wood for his seven fireplaces, shivering and cursing the 
1163spirits.
1164
1165Bard's Dancing Shoes
1166About the Bard's Dancing Shoes.
1167
1168The rules of the Grand Game are clear: Anything goes. If a noble cannot 
1169obtain the heights of prestige in the court by purchase, alliance, or deed, 
1170he can always obtain it by removing his rivals.
1171
1172In this, bards have always been invaluable. Orlesians cannot do without 
1173music and dancing. Even when they know that half the musicians in their 
1174ballroom are spies in the employ of their enemies, they welcome the 
1175scoundrels with open arms. In fact, that makes music and musicians so 
1176much more popular, for it makes the Game more exciting.
1177
1178Blood Ring
1179The history of the Blood Ring.
1180
1181There are clear signs that this ring was made in the Tevinter Imperium--
1182it's covered in dragon motifs, for one thing. And it gives anyone who 
1183wears it a slightly uneasy feeling, for another. But beyond that, very little 
1184is known about it.
1185
1186Warriors of House Ivo took this ring in the Blessed Age from the hand of a
1187madman, a surfacer mage who had wandered into the underground and 
1188attacked lyrium miners near Orzammar. From there, the ring changed 
1189hands many times, until its history had been lost and the dwarves no 
1190longer remembered how it had ever come into their lands.
1191
1192The Bow of the Golden Sun
1193The history of the Bow of the Golden Sun.
1194
1195There is no more famous ruler in history than Kordilius Drakon, first 
1196emperor of Orlais. Few, however, know the story of his empress.
1197
1198Empress Area was the third of Lord Montlaures of Val Chevin's famously 
1199unmarriageable six daughters. When she met young Prince Kordilius, she 
1200was the captain of her father's archers and led the defense of Laures 
1201
1202Castle. She was not the fairest of ladies, nor the most elegant or charming, 
1203but Area could shoot the wings off a bumblebee at one hundred paces. By 
1204all accounts, when the prince witnessed that particular feat, Drakon--who 
1205was not noted for his charm or elegance, and rather better known for his 
1206sword and shield--was instantly smitten.
1207
1208On their wedding day, Drakon presented his bride with a golden bow 
1209crafted by the mages of Val Royeaux, so that they could ride into battle 
1210and spread the Light of the Maker side by side.
1211
1212Camenae's Barbute
1213About Bann Camenae of Waking Sea.
1214
1215The Waking Sea Bannorn has been famous since time immemorial for its 
1216archers. Children there are given bows before they can walk, and parents 
1217have been known, on occasion, to disown their offspring for failure to hit 
1218bulls-eyes.
1219
1220When Calenhad came to demand the Waking Sea's fealty, Bann Camenae 
1221greeted her would-be king by shooting his horse out from under him half 
1222a league from Castle Eremon. Calenhad reached the gates on foot and 
1223found them barred, with dozens of archers watching him from the castle 
1224walls.
1225
1226He waited outside the walls with his men until sunset, when Camenae 
1227opened the gates and met him, armored to the teeth with her bow in hand.
1228"You have proven you have sense and humility, Theirin. And no man can 
1229hope to lead the Bannorn without those gifts." She then knelt and swore 
1230her oath.
1231
1232To this day, the Eremon family of the Waking Sea presents every newly 
1233crowned king or queen of Ferelden with two gifts: an arrow and a horse.
1234
1235Dark Moon
1236On the Dark Moon.
1237
1238At Shartan's word, the sky
1239Grew black with arrows.
1240At Our Lady's, ten thousand swords
1241Rang from their scabbards,
1242A great hymn rose over Valarian Fields gladly proclaiming:
1243Those who had been slaves were now free
1244
1245--Shartan 10:1.
1246
1247They say that Shartan's followers stole whatever they could find to make 
1248weapons. They fought with knives of sharpened stone and glass, and with
1249bows made from broken barrels or firewood. This bow was ox horn, made
1250in secret over the course of months by a slave who worked in the 
1251slaughterhouses of Minrathous. 
1252
1253The slave's name has been lost to history, and the verses that spoke of his 
1254deeds, stricken from the chant, but the weapon endures.
1255
1256Katriel's Grasp
1257About Katriel's Grasp.
1258
1259The Theirin family refused to die.
1260
1261This was a problem for the Empire, for the stubborn Fereldans would not 
1262accept Orlesian rule so long as some vagabond in the woods could call 
1263himself their king.
1264
1265So the Orlesian court sent their agents in Ferelden a gift: A bard by the 
1266name of Katriel, to assassinate the surviving Prince Maric.
1267
1268She did not, of course, succeed, but that's another story.
1269
1270The Life Drinker
1271About the Lifedrinker.
1272
1273No one knows for certain where this amulet came from. All we have is a 
1274legend: 
1275
1276ong before the Golden City turned black, there lived in the Tevinter 
1277Imperium a frail old magician in the court of the archon. He was the least 
1278among the mages of the court, the lamp-lighter, whose task it was to set 
1279all the thousands of candles alight and snuff them again when the archon 
1280retired for the evening. He was counted as useless by all the most 
1281influential magisters.
1282
1283But he was only biding his time.
1284
1285One day, when all the magisters of the Imperium were assembled in the 
1286great hall of the archon, the lamp-lighter struck. He conjured a massive 
1287fire storm in the hall, trying to assassinate all who were assembled and 
1288seize power himself. The court was made up of the most powerful mages 
1289of the Imperium, and they worked quickly to destroy the would-be 
1290usurper, but found, to their astonishment, their magic was no match for 
1291the old mage. Every spell they cast was countered, and the magisters 
1292began to fall, one by one, until only the archon himself and the lamp-
1293lighter were left, locked in a battle of magic and will.
1294
1295The archon saw that with each spell he cast, the lamp-lighter himself 
1296seemed to wither and fade a little more. So he bombarded the mage with 
1297spell after spell, until at last nothing was left of the palace but rubble, 
1298nothing left of the court but corpses, and nothing left of the lamp-lighter 
1299but a golden pendant--this, the archon kept to remind himself that 
1300treachery could come from even the most innocuous sources.
1301
1302The Magister's Shield 
1303On the Magister's Shield.
1304
1305On the very day that the final stone was set into place in the Grand 
1306Cathedral of Orlais, Archon Vespasian was assassinated. For three days, 
1307every magister lord of the Imperium lived behind a wall of armored 
1308
1309guards. When his successor, Hadarius, was finally named archon, the first 
1310enchanter of the Circle of Minrathous presented him with a gift: a silvery 
1311unadorned chain made from pure lyrium. Enchantments had been 
1312worked into the links of the chain so that donning this necklace was like 
1313holding up a shield: Blows struck at the wearer glanced harmlessly away. 
1314Unfortunately, Hadarius found that the shield did not protect him against 
1315poison nearly so well.
1316
1317Shadow of the Empire
1318On the Shadows of the Empire.
1319
1320The Crows of Antiva may be the most famous and most expensive of 
1321Thedas's assassins, but they are not the most active. That dubious honor 
1322belongs to the Shadows of the Emperor, the personal cadre of killers 
1323employed by the throne of Orlais. 
1324
1325Almost exclusively, the Shadows work against other noble families in Val 
1326Royeaux. No one knows who they are, not even the sitting emperor, and 
1327some in the court dismiss them as only a myth. The assassins have slipped
1328into aristocratic life working as palace servants, ladies-in-waiting, and, on 
1329one notorious occasion, the chamberlain himself.
1330
1331This armor was made for use by the Shadows whenever the Grand Game 
1332should wander out of hand.
1333
1334The Summer Sword
1335The story of the Summer Sword.
1336
1337In 8:84 Blessed, Lord Aurelien of Montsimmard, champion of the Grand 
1338Tourney of Ansburg, commissioned a sword for his youngest son Luis, 
1339who aspired to the Chevaliers. Insisting that his boy have nothing but the 
1340best, Lord Aurelien sought out the most renowned master smith in the 
1341Orlesian Empire, Vercenne of Halamshiral, who was at that time nearly 
1342eighty, and begged the old man to make the blade. Vercenne refused. His 
1343sight was failing him and he had no wish to come out of retirement. But 
1344Aurelien offered an exorbitant sum of gold, and eventually overcame the 
1345artisan's resistance.
1346
1347The old master labored for several months, folding steel, honing the edge 
1348to perfection. The resulting blade was as long as a man is tall, and sharp as
1349the tongue of any noblewoman. Vercenne proclaimed it to be his greatest 
1350work, and named it, in a fit of irony, the "Summer Sword," since he had 
1351crafted it in the winter of his lifetime.
1352
1353ord Aurelien brought Luis with him to receive the sword from the hand 
1354of the old master. When the boy saw the Summer Sword, he turned up his
1355nose at his father's gift: Such great two-handed blades were no longer in 
1356fashion at court. He preferred an estoc. Aurelien was mortified; he insisted
1357that Luis carry the blade and apologized to Vercenne, but to no avail. The 
1358sword smith cursed the boy, saying that for his pride, regardless of blade 
1359he carried, he would fail anyway.
1360
1361uis was eventually knighted, and joined the ranks of the Chevaliers. In 
13628:98 Blessed he was appointed command of the Chevaliers in Denerim, 
1363and hoped to make a name for himself. And so he did: he was the most 
1364detested chevalier in Ferelden, well-known for his acts of depravity. In 9:1 
1365Dragon, he met Loghain Mac Tir in battle at Avinash. Luis lost his estoc 
1366early in the fighting, became separated from his men, and ended up facing
1367down Loghain himself armed only with the Summer Sword--which he 
1368had never before drawn. Practice might have saved him where pride did 
1369not. Loghain made short work of the pompous chevalier and took the 
1370greatsword as a trophy.
1371
1372Thorn of the Dead Gods
1373On the Thorn of the Dead Gods.
1374
1375In the moment that it struck, the blade of the Grey Warden who killed 
1376Toth, Archdemon of Fire, shattered into three pieces. After the Battle of 
1377Hunter Fell, the Wardens carried their fallen brother to Weisshaupt for a 
1378hero's burial, but the broken pieces of his sword were left behind.
1379
1380For years, the shards lay forgotten on the battlefield. Steel became etched 
1381with the corrupted blood of the dead god. They were eventually 
1382discovered by a Nevarran woman, searching among the bones for a sign 
1383
1384of her lost son. She sold them to a blacksmith, not knowing what they 
1385truly were, for ten bits.
1386
1387The smith, however, knew that he had purchased more than scrap metal, 
1388and fashioned the shards into three identical daggers: the Thorns of the 
1389Dead Gods. They left his hands and were scattered to the far corners of 
1390Thedas. But everywhere they went, the Thorns left misery and loss in their
1391wake. The woman who unearthed them died soon after of plague. The 
1392smith fell into his forge. Each person who has held one of the Thorns, even
1393briefly, has died an untimely death.
1394
1395Thorval's Luck
1396About Thorval's Luck.
1397
1398Ser Thorval of Rainesfere was the sixth son of a sixth son, a child of ill-
1399fortune. It showed on his 13th birthday, when he narrowly avoided being 
1400run over by a cart, only to have a tree fall on him. It showed on his 
1401wedding day, when his bride ran off with a roving dwarven tinker.
1402
1403But nowhere was Thorval's misfortune more obvious than on the 
1404battlefield. Although peerless among the knights of Rainesfere and 
1405undefeated in the tourneys of Redcliffe and West Hills, Ser Thorval was 
1406plagued by loss, for every blade he took into battle broke. Every shield 
1407cracked. He won himself honor and acclaim... and a tremendous 
1408blacksmithing bill as he sought out stronger blades and sturdier shields to 
1409replace his losses.
1410
1411One day as he rode to a tournament in Denerim, Thorval's horse threw a 
1412shoe, pitching the knight head-first into a hollow tree stump. When he 
1413came to, he found his nose inches from the heavy steel head of an 
1414enormous war hammer. Since his sword, naturally, had shattered in the 
1415fall, Thorval took the hammer as a replacement.
1416
1417It was highly unorthodox for a knight to use a hammer in a tournament, 
1418but Thorval won his matches easily. And the hammer even survived. 
1419From that day forth, he used no other weapon. When he died many years 
1420later, he left the hammer to his sixth son, Anselm, who promptly lost it.
1421
1422Yusaris: The Dragonslayer
1423Concerning Yusaris.
1424
1425"In the company of monsters he went,
1426Down the empty wolf-roads after the dragon
1427To the lands where the ice is like steel,
1428
1429And the air grows thin as a beggar,
1430And every rocky path is strewn with the bones
1431Of the lonely dead. There Dane dwelled, 
1432And fifty swords were worn to rusted ruin 
1433Before at last they found the cave of Fenshal,
1434Ancient keeper of the mountains, bane of wolves.
1435Dane sought a way in which the dragon might be felled,
1436
1437Fiend of fire and talon, its scales
1438Brighter than any warrior's mail, teeth greater than men,
1439And all around the slumbering wyrm were bones:
1440Wolves, men, beasts beyond counting.
1441The fume of death frightened even the wolf pack,
1442And Dane, desperate, crept into the cavern
1443To seek the monster's death alone.
1444
1445There, shining among the dead like a star
1446His hand found a sword. Yusaris:
1447Forged by the dwarf smiths for an Alamarri lord long ago,
1448Waiting age after age to be taken to battle once more.
1449And this Dane freed from the earth and struck
1450At the eye of the dragon, still sleeping,
1451With a swift, terrible blow.
1452
1453And Fenshal woke, wroth, only to die."
1454
1455--From Dane and the Werewolf.
1456
1457The legend of the blade Yusaris predates Andraste. The sword that Dane 
1458found in the dragon's treasure hoard, which he used to slay both Fenshal 
1459and the werewolf, was passed on to his son Hafter.
1460
1461Dane may have been fiction, but Hafter was fact. In 1:40 Divine, he led the 
1462Alamarri tribes against darkspawn that flooded into the Ferelden valley 
1463from the dwarven lands. He not only drove back the horde, he also then 
1464defeated the combined forces of the Avvars and Chasind who hoped to 
1465take advantage of the chaos. His victories earned him such respect from 
1466the tribes, he was named the first teyrn.
1467
1468After years of ruling the valley in peace, it is said that Hafter left Ferelden,
1469sailing into the unknown east of the Amaranthine Ocean with the blade 
1470still in hand, never to be seen again.
1471
1472Codex: Magic and Religion (Origins)
1473
1474Andruil: Goddess of the Hunt
1475The Dalish Goddess of the Hunt.
1476
1477Hear me, sons and daughters of the People--
1478I am Sister of the Moon, Mother of Hares,
1479ady of the Hunt: Andruil.
1480
1481Remember my teachings,
1482Remember the Vir Tanadhal:
1483The Way of Three Trees
1484That I have given you.
1485
1486Vir Assan: the Way of the Arrow
1487Be swift and silent;
1488Strike true, do not waver
1489And let not your prey suffer.
1490That is my Way.
1491
1492Vir Bor'assan: the Way of the Bow
1493As the sapling bends, so must you.
1494In yielding, find resilience;
1495In pliancy, find strength.
1496That is my Way.
1497
1498Vir Adahlen: the Way of the Wood
1499Receive the gifts of the hunt with mindfulness.
1500Respect the sacrifice of my children
1501Know that your passing shall nourish them in turn.
1502That is my Way.
1503
1504Remember the Ways of the Hunter
1505And I shall be with you.
1506
1507--From The Charge of Andruil, Goddess of the Hunt.
1508
1509Dirthamen: Keeper of Secrets
1510The Elven God of Secrets.
1511
1512The twins Falon'Din and Dirthamen are the eldest children of Elgar'nan 
1513the All-Father and Mythal the Protector. The brothers were inseparable 
1514from the moment of their conception, known for their great love for each 
1515other. That is why we often speak of Falon'Din in one breath and 
1516Dirthamen the next, for they cannot bear to be apart, not even in our tales.
1517
1518When the world was young, the gods often walked the earth, and 
1519Falon'Din and Dirthamen were no exception. Both were delighted by the 
1520many wonders of our earth. They played with the animals, whispered to 
1521the trees, and bathed in the lakes and streams. Their days were filled with 
1522bliss, and they did not know sorrow.
1523
1524And then one day, while passing through the forest, Falon'Din and 
1525Dirthamen came across an old and sickly deer resting beneath a tree. 
1526"Why do you sit so still, little sister?" asked Falon'Din. 
1527
1528"Play with us," said Dirthamen.
1529
1530"Alas," spoke the deer, "I cannot. I am old, and although I wish to go to my
1531rest, my legs can no longer carry me."
1532
1533Taking pity on the deer, Falon'Din gathered her up into his arms and 
1534carried her to her rest beyond the Veil. Dirthamen tried to follow them, 
1535but the shifting grey paths beyond the Veil would not let him. Separated 
1536for the first time from Falon'Din, Dirthamen wandered aimlessly till he 
1537came across two ravens.
1538
1539"You are lost, and soon you will fade," the raven named Fear said to 
1540Dirthamen.
1541
1542"Your brother has abandoned you. He no longer loves you," said the other,
1543named Deceit.
1544
1545"I am not lost, and Falon'Din has not abandoned me," replied Dirthamen. 
1546He subdued the ravens and bade them carry him to Falon'Din. This they
1547did, for they had been defeated and were now bound to Dirthamen's 
1548
1549service.
1550
1551When Dirthamen found Falon'Din, he found also the deer, who once 
1552again was light on her feet, for her spirit was released from her weakened 
1553body. Both Falon'Din and Dirthamen rejoiced to see this. Falon'Din vowed
1554that he would remain to carry all the dead to their place Beyond, just as he
1555did the deer. And Dirthamen stayed with him, for the twins cannot bear to
1556be apart.
1557
1558--From The Story of Falon'Din and Dirthamen, as told by Gisharel, keeper of 
1559the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
1560
1561Elgar'nan: God of Vengeance
1562The Elven God of Vengeance, "the All-Father".
1563
1564ong ago, when time itself was young, the only things in existence were 
1565the sun and the land. The sun, curious about the land, bowed his head 
1566close to her body, and Elgar'nan was born in the place where they 
1567touched. The sun and the land loved Elgar'nan greatly, for he was 
1568beautiful and clever. As a gift to Elgar'nan, the land brought forth great 
1569birds and beasts of sky and forest, and all manner of wonderful green 
1570things. Elgar'nan loved his mother's gifts and praised them highly and 
1571walked amongst them often.
1572
1573The sun, looking down upon the fruitful land, saw the joy that Elgar'nan 
1574took in her works and grew jealous. Out of spite, he shone his face full 
1575upon all the creatures the earth had created, and burned them all to ashes. 
1576The land cracked and split from bitterness and pain, and cried salt tears 
1577for the loss of all she had wrought. The pool of tears cried for the land 
1578became the ocean, and the cracks in her body the first rivers and streams.
1579
1580Elgar'nan was furious at what his father had done and vowed vengeance. 
1581He lifted himself into the sky and wrestled the sun, determined to defeat 
1582him. They fought for an eternity, and eventually the sun grew weak, while
1583Elgar'nan's rage was unabated. Eventually Elgar'nan threw the sun down 
1584from the sky and buried him in a deep abyss created by the land's sorrow. 
1585With the sun gone, the world was covered in shadow, and all that 
1586remained in the sky were the reminders of Elgar'nan's battle with his 
1587
1588father--drops of the sun's lifeblood, which twinkled and shimmered in the 
1589darkness.
1590
1591--From The Tale of Elgar'nan and the Sun, as told by Gisharel, keeper of the 
1592Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
1593
1594Falon'Din: Friend of the Dead, the Guide
1595On the Dalish God of the Dead.
1596
1597"O Falon'Din
1598ethanavir--Friend to the Dead
1599Guide my feet, calm my soul,
1600ead me to my rest."
1601
1602In ancient times, the People were ageless and eternal, and instead of dying
1603would enter uthenera--the long sleep--and walk the shifting paths beyond 
1604the Veil with Falon'Din and his brother Dirthamen. Those elders would 
1605learn the secrets of dreams, and some returned to the People with 
1606newfound knowledge.
1607
1608But we quickened and became mortal. Those of the People who passed 
1609walked with Falon'Din into the Beyond and never returned. If they took 
1610counsel with Dirthamen on their passage, his wisdom was lost, for it went 
1611with them into the Beyond also, and never came to the People. 
1612
1613Then Fen'Harel caused the gods to be shut away from us, and those who 
1614passed no longer had Falon'Din to guide them. And so we learned to lay 
1615our loved ones to rest with an oaken staff, to keep them from faltering 
1616along the paths, and a cedar branch, to scatter the ravens named Fear and 
1617Deceit who were once servants of Dirthamen, now without a master.
1618
1619--As told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
1620
1621Fen'Harel: The Dread Wolf
1622A tale of the Dread Wolf.
1623
1624There is precious little we know about Fen'Harel, for they say he did not 
1625care for our people. Elgar'nan and Mythal created the world as we know 
1626it, Andruil taught us the Ways of the Hunter, Sylaise and June gave us fire
1627and crafting, but Fen'Harel kept to himself and plotted the betrayal of all 
1628the gods. And after the destruction of Arlathan, when the gods could no 
1629longer hear our prayers, it is said that Fen'Harel spent centuries in a far 
1630corner of the earth, giggling madly and hugging himself in glee.
1631
1632The legends say that before the fall of Arlathan, the gods we know and 
1633revere fought an endless war with others of their kind. There is not a 
1634hahren among us who remembers these others: Only in dreams do we 
1635hear whispered the names of Geldauran and Daern'thal and Anaris, for 
1636they are the Forgotten Ones, the gods of terror and malice, spite and 
1637pestilence. In ancient times, only Fen'Harel could walk without fear 
1638among both our gods and the Forgotten Ones, for although he is kin to the
1639gods of the People, the Forgotten Ones knew of his cunning ways, and 
1640saw him as one of their own.
1641
1642And that is how Fen'Harel tricked them. Our gods saw him as brother, 
1643and they trusted him when he said that they must keep to the heavens 
1644while he arranged a truce. And the Forgotten Ones trusted him also when 
1645he said he would arrange for the defeat of our gods, if only the Forgotten 
1646Ones would return to the abyss for a time. They trusted Fen'Harel, and 
1647they were all of them betrayed. And Fen'Harel sealed them away so they 
1648could never again walk among the People.
1649
1650--From "The Tale of Fen'Harel's Triumph," as told by Gisharel, keeper of the 
1651Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
1652
1653Ghilan'nain: Mother of the Halla
1654A tale of the Goddess of Halla.
1655
1656They say Ghilan'nain was one of the People, in the days before Arlathan, 
1657and the chosen of Andruil the Huntress. She was very beautiful--with hair
1658of snowy white--and as graceful as a gazelle. She kept always to Andruil's 
1659
1660Ways, and Andruil favored her above all others.
1661
1662One day, while hunting in the forest, Ghilan'nain came across a hunter she
1663did not know. At his feet lay a hawk, shot through the heart by an arrow. 
1664Ghilan'nain was filled with rage, for the hawk--along with the hare--is an 
1665animal much beloved of Andruil. Ghilan'nain demanded that the hunter 
1666make an offering to Andruil, in exchange for taking the life of one of her 
1667creatures. The hunter refused, and Ghilan'nain called upon the goddess to 
1668curse him, so that he could never again hunt and kill a living creature.
1669
1670Ghilan'nain's curse took hold, and the hunter found that he was unable to 
1671hunt. His prey would dart out of sight and his arrows would fly astray. 
1672His friends and family began to mock him for his impotence, for what use 
1673is a hunter who cannot hunt? Ashamed, the hunter swore he would find 
1674Ghilan'nain and repay her for what she had done to him.
1675
1676He found Ghilan'nain while she was out on a hunt with her sisters, and 
1677lured her away from them with lies and false words. He told Ghilan'nain 
1678that he had learned his lesson and begged her to come with him, so she 
1679could teach him to make a proper offering to Andruil. Moved by his plea, 
1680Ghilan'nain followed the hunter, and when they were away from all of her
1681sisters, the hunter turned on Ghilan'nain. He blinded her first, and then 
1682bound her as one would bind a kill fresh from the hunt. But because he 
1683was cursed, the hunter could not kill her. Instead he left her for dead in 
1684the forest.
1685
1686And Ghilan'nain prayed to the gods for help. She prayed to Elgar'nan for 
1687vengeance, to Mother Mythal to protect her, but above all she prayed to 
1688Andruil. Andruil sent her hares to Ghilan'nain and they chewed through 
1689the ropes that bound her, but Ghilan'nain was still wounded and blind, 
1690and could not find her way home. So Andruil turned her into a beautiful 
1691white deer--the first halla. And Ghilan'nain found her way back to her 
1692sisters, and led them to the hunter, who was brought to justice.
1693
1694And since that day, the halla have guided the People, and have never led 
1695us astray, for they listen to the voice of Ghilan'nain.
1696
1697--From "The Tale of Ghilan'nain," as told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin 
1698clan of the Dalish elves.
1699
1700June: God of the Craft
1701A tale of the Goddess of the Craft.
1702
1703We dedicate all our crafts to June, for it is he who taught the People to 
1704bend the branches of trees to make our bows, and to fashion coverings of 
1705furs and ironbark. Without June, would we have the aravel, or the 
1706harnesses for our halla?
1707
1708When the People were young, we wandered the forests without purpose. 
1709We drank from streams and ate the berries and nuts that we could find. 
1710We did not hunt, for we had no bows. We wore nothing, for we had no 
1711knowledge of spinning or needlecraft. We shivered in the cold nights, and 
1712went hungry though the winters, when all the world was covered in ice 
1713and snow.
1714
1715Then Sylaise the Hearthkeeper came, and gave us fire and taught us how 
1716to feed it with wood. June taught us to fashion bows and arrows and 
1717knives, so that we could hunt. We learned to cook the flesh of the 
1718creatures we hunted over Sylaise's fire, and we learned to clothe ourselves
1719in their furs and skins. And the People were no longer cold and hungry.
1720
1721--As told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
1722
1723Mythal: the Great Protector
1724A tale of the Mother of Gods.
1725
1726Elgar'nan had defeated his father, the sun, and all was covered in 
1727darkness. Pleased with himself, Elgar'nan sought to console his mother, 
1728the earth, by replacing all that the sun had destroyed. But the earth knew 
1729that without the sun, nothing could grow. She whispered to Elgar'nan this
1730truth, and pleaded with him to release his father, but Elgar'nan's pride 
1731was great, and his vengeance was terrible, and he refused.
1732
1733It was at this moment that Mythal walked out of the sea of the earth's tears
1734and onto the land. She placed her hand on Elgar'nan's brow, and at her 
1735touch he grew calm and knew that his anger had led him astray. 
1736Humbled, Elgar'nan went to the place where the sun was buried and 
1737spoke to him. Elgar'nan said he would release the sun if the sun promised 
1738
1739to be gentle and to return to the earth each night. The sun, feeling remorse 
1740at what he had done, agreed.
1741
1742And so the sun rose again in the sky, and shone his golden light upon the 
1743earth. Elgar'nan and Mythal, with the help of the earth and the sun, 
1744brought back to life all the wondrous things that the sun had destroyed, 
1745and they grew and thrived. And that night, when the sun had gone to 
1746sleep, Mythal gathered the glowing earth around his bed, and formed it 
1747into a sphere to be placed in the sky, a pale reflection of the sun's true 
1748glory.
1749
1750--From "The Tale of Mythal's Touch," as told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin
1751clan of the Dalish elves.
1752
1753Sylaise: the Hearthkeeper
1754On the Goddess of the Hearth.
1755
1756Sylaise the Hearthkeeper is seen as the sister of Andruil the Huntress. 
1757While Andruil loved to run with the creatures of the wild, Sylaise 
1758preferred to stay by her home-tree, occupying herself with gentle arts and 
1759song.
1760
1761It is Sylaise who gave us fire and taught us how to use it. It is Sylaise who 
1762showed us how to heal with herbs and with magic, and how to ease the 
1763passage of infants into this world. And again, it is Sylaise who showed us 
1764how to spin the fibers of plants into thread and rope.
1765
1766We owe much to Sylaise, and that is why we sing to her when we kindle 
1767the fires and when we put them out. That is why we sprinkle our aravels
1768with Sylaise's fragrant tree-moss, and ask that she protect them and all 
1769within.
1770
1771--As told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
1772
1773The Aeonar
1774On the prison of Aeonar.
1775
1776When the Imperium occupied the area that is present-day Ferelden, they 
1777had two sites dedicated to magical experimentation at the extreme ends of
1778the Imperial Highway. The southern one was the fortress of Ostagar, 
1779which looked out over the Korcari Wilds. The northern one was Aeonar, 
1780although the exact location is now a secret known only to a handful of 
1781Templars.  
1782
1783Whatever it was the Tevinter were trying to discover at Aeonar, their 
1784work was never completed. The fortress was overrun by disciples of 
1785Andraste upon hearing the news of her death. According to legend, it was 
1786a massacre--eerily silent, for the invaders caught the mages while all but 
1787one of them were in the Fade.  
1788
1789The site was left structurally sound but spiritually damaged. Possibly 
1790because of this, the Chantry chose to put it to use as a prison. Accused 
1791maleficarum and apostates are held in the confines of Aeonar. Those who 
1792have a powerful connection to the Fade, and particularly to demons, will 
1793inevitably attract something across the Veil, making the guilty somewhat 
1794easier to tell from the innocent.
1795
1796--From Of Fires, Circles, and Templars: A History of Magic in the Chantry,
1797by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
1798
1799Andraste: Bride of the Maker
1800An account of the life of the Prophet Andraste.
1801
1802There was once a tiny fishing village on the Waking Sea that was set upon 
1803by the Tevinter Imperium, which enslaved the villagers to be sold in the 
1804markets of Minrathous, leaving behind only the old and the infirm. One of
1805the captives was the child Andraste.
1806
1807She was raised in slavery in a foreign land. She escaped, then made the 
1808long and treacherous journey back to her homeland alone. She rose from 
1809nothing to be the wife of an Alamarri warlord.
1810
1811Each day she sang to the gods, asking them to help her people who 
1812remained slaves in Tevinter. The false gods of the mountains and the 
1813winds did not answer her, but the true god did.
1814
1815The Maker spoke. He showed her all the works of His hands: the Fade, the
1816world, and all the creatures therein. He showed her how men had 
1817forgotten Him, lavishing devotion upon mute idols and demons, and how
1818He had left them to their fate. But her voice had reached Him, and so 
1819captivated Him that He offered her a place at His side, that she might rule 
1820all of creation.
1821
1822But Andraste would not forsake her people.  
1823
1824She begged the Maker to return, to save His children from the cruelty of 
1825the Imperium. Reluctantly, the Maker agreed to give man another chance. 
1826
1827Andraste went back to her husband, Maferath, and told him all that the 
1828Maker had revealed to her. Together, they rallied the Alamarri and 
1829marched forth against the mage-lords of the Imperium, and the Maker 
1830was with them.
1831
1832The Maker's sword was creation itself: fire and flood, famine and 
1833earthquake. Everywhere they went, Andraste sang to the people of the 
1834Maker, and they heard her. The ranks of Andraste's followers grew until 
1835they were a vast tide washing over the Imperium. And when Maferath 
1836saw that the people loved Andraste and not him, a worm grew within his 
1837heart, gnawing upon it.
1838
1839At last, the armies of Andraste and Maferath stood before the very gates 
1840of Minrathous, but Andraste was not with them.
1841
1842For Maferath had schemed in secret to hand Andraste over to the 
1843Tevinter. For this, the archon would give Maferath all the lands to the 
1844south of the Waking Sea.
1845
1846And so, before all the armies of the Alamarri and of Tevinter, Andraste 
1847was tied to a stake and burned while her earthly husband turned his 
1848armies aside and did nothing, for his heart had been devoured. But as he 
1849watched the pyre, the archon softened. He took pity on Andraste, and 
1850drew his sword, and granted her the mercy of a quick death.
1851
1852The Maker wept for His Beloved, cursed Maferath, cursed mankind for 
1853their betrayal, and turned once again from creation, taking only Andraste 
1854with him. And Our Lady sits still at his side, where she still urges Him to 
1855take pity on His children.
1856
1857--From The Sermons of Justinia II.
1858
1859The Right of Annulment
1860The history of the Rite of Annulment.
1861
1862In the 83rd year of the Glory Age, one of the mages of the Nevarran Circle 
1863was found practicing forbidden magic. The templars executed him 
1864swiftly, but this brewed discontent among the Nevarra Circle. The mages 
1865made several magical attacks against the templars, vengeance for the 
1866executed mage, but the knight-commander was unable to track down 
1867which were responsible.
1868
1869Three months later, the mages summoned a demon and turned it loose 
1870against their templar watchers. Demons, however, are not easily 
1871controlled. After killing the first wave of templars who tried to contain it, 
1872the demon took possession of one of its summoners. The resulting 
1873abomination slaughtered Templars and mages both before escaping into 
1874the countryside.
1875
1876The grand cleric sent a legion of templars to hunt the fugitive. They killed 
1877the abomination a year later, but by that time it had slain 70 people.
1878
1879Divine Galatea, responding to the catastrophe in Nevarra and hoping to 
1880prevent further incidents, granted all the Grand Clerics of the Chantry the 
1881power to purge a Circle entirely if they rule it irredeemable. This Rite of 
1882Annulment has been performed 17 times in the last 700 years.
1883
1884--From Of Fires, Circles, and Templars: A History of Magic in the Chantry,
1885by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
1886
1887Apostates
1888On the history of Apostate mages.
1889
1890It is not uncommon for the neophyte to mistake apostates and 
1891maleficarum as one and the same. Indeed, the Chantry has gone to great 
1892lengths over the centuries to establish that this is so. The truth, however, is
1893that while an apostate is often a maleficar, he need not be so. A maleficar 
1894is a mage who employs forbidden knowledge such as blood magic and the
1895summoning of demons, whereas an apostate is merely any mage who 
1896does not fall under the auspices of the Circle of Magi (and therefore the 
1897Chantry). They are hunted by the templars, and quite often they will turn 
1898to forbidden knowledge in order to survive, but it would be a lie to say 
1899that all apostates begin that way.
1900
1901Historically, apostates become such in one of two ways: They are either 
1902mages who have escaped from the Circle or mages who were never part 
1903of it to begin with. This latter category includes what we tend to refer to as
1904"hedge mages"--those with magical ability out in the hinterlands who 
1905follow a different magical tradition than our own. Some of these hedge 
1906mages are not even aware of their nature. Undeveloped, their abilities can 
1907express themselves in a variety of ways, which the hedge mage might 
1908attribute to faith, or will, or to another being entirely (depending on his 
1909nature). Some of these traditions are passed down from generation to 
1910generation, as with the so-called "witches" of the Chasind wilders or the 
1911"shamans" of the Avvar barbarians.
1912
1913No matter how a mage has become apostate, the Chantry treats them 
1914alike: Templars begin a systematic hunt to bring the apostate to justice. In 
1915almost all cases, "justice" is execution. If there is some overriding reason 
1916the mage should live, the Rite of Tranquility is employed instead. Whether
1917we of the Circle of Magi believe this system fair is irrelevant: It is what it 
1918is.
1919
1920--From Patterns Within Form, by Halden, First Enchanter of Starkhaven, 8:80 
1921Blessed.
1922
1923The Black City
1924An explanation of the Black City.
1925
1926No traveler to the Fade can fail to spot the Black City. It is one of the few 
1927constants of that ever-changing place. No matter where one might be, the 
1928city is visible. (Always far off, for it seems that the only rule of geography 
1929in the Fade is that all points are equidistant from the Black City.)
1930
1931The Chant teaches that the Black City was once the seat of the Maker, from
1932whence He ruled the Fade, left empty when men turned away from Him. 
1933Dreamers do not go there, nor do spirits. Even the most powerful demons 
1934seem to avoid the place.
1935
1936It was golden and beautiful once, so the story goes, until a group of 
1937powerful magister-lords from the Tevinter Imperium devised a means of 
1938breaking in. When they did so, their presence defiled the city, turning it 
1939black. (Which was, perhaps, the least of their worries.)
1940
1941--From Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons, by Enchanter Mirdromel.
1942
1943The Chant of Light: The Blight
1944The Chant of Light on the first darkspawn.
1945
1946No matter their power, their triumphs,
1947The mage-lords of Tevinter were men
1948And doomed to die.
1949Then a voice whispered within their hearts,
1950Shall you surrender your power
1951To time like the beasts of the fields?
1952You are the Lords of the earth!
1953Go forth to claim the empty throne
1954Of Heaven and be gods.
1955
1956In secret they worked
1957Magic upon magic
1958All their power and all their vanity
1959They turned against the Veil
1960Until at last, it gave way.
1961
1962Above them, a river of Light,
1963Before them the throne of Heaven, waiting,
1964Beneath their feet
1965The footprints of the Maker,
1966And all around them echoed a vast
1967Silence.
1968
1969But when they took a single step
1970Toward the empty throne
1971A great voice cried out
1972Shaking the very foundations
1973Of Heaven and earth:
1974
1975And So is the Golden City blackened
1976With each step you take in my Hall.
1977Marvel at perfection, for it is fleeting.
1978You have brought Sin to Heaven
1979And doom upon all the world.
1980
1981Violently were they cast down,
1982
1983For no mortal may walk bodily
1984In the realm of dreams,
1985Bearing the mark of their Crime:
1986Bodies so maimed
1987And distorted that none should see them
1988And know them for men.
1989
1990Deep into the earth they fled,
1991Away from the Light.
1992In Darkness eternal they searched
1993For those who had goaded them on,
1994Until at last they found their prize, 
1995Their god, their betrayer:
1996The sleeping dragon Dumat. Their taint 
1997Twisted even the false-god, and the whisperer 
1998Awoke at last, in pain and horror, and led 
1999Them to wreak havoc upon all the nations of the world:
2000The first Blight.
2001
2002--From Threnodies 8.
2003
2004The Commandments of the Maker
2005The Chant of Light on the commandments of the Maker.
2006
2007These truths the Maker has revealed to me:
2008As there is but one world, 
2009One life, one death, there is 
2010But one god, and He is our Maker.
2011They are sinners, who have given their love
2012To false gods.
2013
2014Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him.  
2015Foul and corrupt are they
2016Who have taken His gift
2017And turned it against His children.
2018They shall be named Maleficar, accursed ones.
2019They shall find no rest in this world
2020Or beyond.
2021
2022All men are the Work of our Maker's Hands,
2023From the lowest slaves
2024To the highest kings.
2025Those who bring harm
2026Without provocation to the least of His children
2027Are hated and accursed by the Maker. 
2028
2029Those who bear false witness
2030And work to deceive others, know this:
2031There is but one Truth.
2032All things are known to our Maker
2033And He shall judge their lies.
2034
2035All things in this world are finite.
2036What one man gains, another has lost.
2037Those who steal from their brothers and sisters
2038Do harm to their livelihood and to their peace of mind.
2039Our Maker sees this with a heavy heart.
2040
2041--Transfigurations 1:1-5.
2042
2043The Maker
2044The Chant of Light on the Maker and creation.
2045
2046There was no word
2047For heaven or for earth, for sea or sky.
2048All that existed was silence.
2049Then the Voice of the Maker rang out,
2050The first Word,
2051And His Word became all that might be:
2052Dream and idea, hope and fear,
2053Endless possibilities.
2054And from it made his firstborn.
2055And he said to them:
2056In My image I forge you,
2057To you I give dominion
2058Over all that exists.
2059
2060By your will
2061May all things be done.
2062
2063Then in the center of heaven
2064He called forth
2065A city with towers of gold,
2066streets with music for cobblestones,
2067And banners which flew without wind.
2068There, He dwelled, waiting
2069To see the wonders
2070His children would create.
2071
2072The children of the Maker gathered
2073Before his golden throne
2074And sang hymns of praise unending.
2075But their songs
2076Were the songs of the cobblestones.
2077They shone with the golden light
2078Reflected from the Maker's throne.
2079They held forth the banners
2080That flew on their own.
2081
2082And the Voice of the Maker shook the Fade
2083Saying: In My image I have wrought
2084My firstborn. You have been given dominion
2085Over all that exists. By your will
2086All things are done.
2087Yet you do nothing. 
2088The realm I have given you
2089Is formless, ever-changing.
2090
2091And He knew he had wrought amiss.
2092So the Maker turned from his firstborn
2093And took from the Fade
2094A measure of its living flesh
2095And placed it apart from the Spirits, and spoke to it, saying:
2096Here, I decree
2097Opposition in all things:
2098For earth, sky
2099For winter, summer
2100
2101For darkness, Light.
2102By My Will alone is Balance sundered
2103And the world given new life.
2104
2105And no longer was it formless, ever-changing,
2106But held fast, immutable,
2107With Words for heaven and for earth, sea and sky.
2108At last did the Maker
2109From the living world
2110Make men. Immutable, as the substance of the earth,
2111With souls made of dream and idea, hope and fear,
2112Endless possibilities.
2113
2114Then the Maker said:
2115To you, my second-born, I grant this gift:
2116In your heart shall burn
2117An unquenchable flame
2118All-consuming, and never satisfied.
2119From the Fade I crafted you,
2120And to the Fade you shall return
2121Each night in dreams
2122That you may always remember me.
2123
2124And then the Maker sealed the gates
2125Of the Golden City
2126And there, He dwelled, waiting
2127To see the wonders
2128His children would create.
2129
2130--Threnodies 5:1-8.
2131
2132The Chant of Light: Redemption
2133The Chant of Light on redemption and forgiveness.
2134
2135Many are those who wander in sin,
2136Despairing that they are lost forever,
2137But the one who repents, who has faith
2138Unshaken by the darkness of the world,
2139
2140And boasts not, nor gloats
2141Over the misfortunes of the weak, but takes delight
2142In the Maker's law and creations, she shall know
2143The peace of the Maker's benediction.
2144The Light shall lead her safely
2145Through the paths of this world, and into the next. 
2146For she who trusts in the Maker, fire is her water.
2147As the moth sees light and goes toward flame,
2148She should see fire and go towards Light. 
2149The Veil holds no uncertainty for her,
2150And she will know no fear of death, for the Maker
2151Shall be her beacon and her shield, her foundation and her sword.
2152
2153--From Transfigurations 10.
2154
2155The Imperial Chantry
2156On the schism of the Imperial Chantry.
2157
2158There are those who would tell you that the Chantry is the same 
2159everywhere as it is here, that the Divine in Val Royeaux reigns supreme in
2160the eyes of the Maker and that this fact is unquestioned throughout 
2161Thedas.
2162
2163Do not believe it.
2164
2165The Maker's second commandment, "Magic must serve man, not rule over
2166him," never held the same meaning within the ancient Tevinter Imperium 
2167as it did elsewhere. The Chantry there interpreted the rule as meaning that
2168mages should never control the minds of other men, and that otherwise 
2169their magic should benefit the rulers of men as much as possible. When 
2170the clerics of Tevinter altered the Chant of Light to reflect this 
2171interpretation of the commandment, the Divine in Val Royeaux ordered 
2172the clerics to revert to the original Chant. They refused, claiming 
2173corruption within Val Royeaux, an argument that grew until, in 4:87 
2174Towers, the Chantry in Tevinter elected its own "legitimate and 
2175uncorrupted" Divine Valhail--who was not only male, but also happened
2176to be one of the most prominent members of the Tevinter Circle of the 
2177Magi. This "Black Divine" was reviled outside Tevinter, his existence an 
2178
2179offense to the Chantry in Val Royeaux.
2180
2181After four Exalted Marches to dislodge these "rebels," all that the Chantry 
2182in Val Royeaux accomplished was to cement the separation. While most 
2183aspects of the Imperial Chantry's teachings are the same, prohibitions 
2184against magic have been weakened, and male priests have become more 
2185prevalent. The Circle of the Magi today rules Tevinter directly, ever since 
2186the Archon Nomaran was elected in 7:34 Storm directly from the ranks of 
2187the enchanters, to great applause from the public. He dispensed with the 
2188old rules forbidding mages from taking part in politics, and within a 
2189century, the true rulers within the various imperial houses--the mages--
2190took their places openly within the government. The Imperial Divine is 
2191now always drawn from the ranks of the first enchanters and operates as 
2192Divine and Grand Enchanter both. 
2193
2194This is utter heresy to any member of the Chantry outside of Tevinter, a 
2195return to the days of the magisters, which brought the Blights down upon 
2196us. But it exists, and even though we have left the Tevinter Imperium to 
2197the mercies of the dread qunari, still they have endured. Further 
2198confrontation between the Black Divine and our so-called "White Divine" 
2199is inevitable.
2200
2201--From Edicts of the Black Divine, by Father David of Qarinus, 8:11 Blessed.
2202
2203Chantry Hierarchy
2204On the political structure of the Chantry.
2205
2206The Divine is the titular head of the Chantry, although since the schism 
2207split the Imperial Chantry into its own faction there are now in fact two 
2208Divines at any one time. One Divine, informally called the White Divine, 
2209is a woman housed in the Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux. The other, 
2210known as the Black Divine, is a man housed in the Argent Spire in 
2211Minrathous.
2212
2213Neither Divine recognizes the existence of the other, and the informal 
2214names are considered sacrilegious. No matter the gender, a Divine is 
2215addressed as "Most Holy" or "Your Perfection."
2216
2217Beneath the rank of Divine is the grand cleric. Each grand cleric presides 
2218over numerous chantries and represents the highest religious authority for
2219their region. They travel to Val Royeaux when the College of Clerics 
2220convenes, but otherwise remain where they are assigned. All grand clerics
2221are addressed as "Your Grace."
2222
2223Beneath the grand cleric is the mother (or, in the Imperial Chantry, the 
2224father). If a mother is in charge of a particular chantry, "revered" is 
2225appended to her title. These are the priests responsible for administering 
2226to the spiritual well-being of their flock. A mother or revered mother is 
2227addressed as "Your Reverence."
2228
2229Brothers and sisters form the rank and file of the Chantry and consist of 
2230three main groups: affirmed, initiates, and clerics. Affirmed are the lay-
2231brethren of the Chantry, those regular folk who have turned to the 
2232Chantry for succor. Often they are people who have led a difficult or 
2233irreligious life and have chosen to go into seclusion, or even orphans and 
2234similar unfortunates who were raised into the Chantry life. The Affirmed 
2235take care of the Chantry and are in turn afforded a life of quiet 
2236contemplation, no questions asked. 
2237
2238Only those folk who take vows become initiates. These are men and 
2239women in training, whether in academic knowledge or the martial skills 
2240of a warrior. All initiates receive an academic education, although only 
2241those who seek to become templars learn how to fight in addition. 
2242
2243Clerics are the true academics of the Chantry, those men and women who 
2244have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of knowledge. They are often 
2245found in Chantry archives, sages presiding over libraries of books and 
2246arcane knowledge. The most senior of these clerics, placed in charge of 
2247such archives, are given the title "elder," although such a rank is still 
2248beneath that of mother. All other brothers and sisters are addressed 
2249simply by noting their title before their name, such as "Brother Genitivi."
2250
2251--From a guide for ambassadors from Rivain.
2252
2253Templars
2254A discussion of the Order of Templars.
2255
2256Often portrayed as stoic and grim, the Order of Templars was created as 
2257the martial arm of the Chantry. Armed with the ability to dispel and resist 
2258magic in addition to their formidable combat talents, the templars are 
2259uniquely qualified to act as both a foil for apostates--mages who refuse to 
2260submit to the authority of the Circle--and a first line of defense against the 
2261dark powers of blood mages and abominations.
2262
2263While mages often resent the templars as symbols of the Chantry's control
2264over magic, the people of Thedas see them as saviors and holy warriors, 
2265champions of all that is good, armed with piety enough to protect the 
2266world from the ravages of foul magic. In reality, the Chantry's militant 
2267arm looks first for skilled warriors with unshakable faith in the Maker, 
2268with a flawless moral center as a secondary concern. Templars must carry 
2269out their duty with an emotional distance, and the Order of Templars 
2270prefers soldiers with religious fervor and absolute loyalty over paragons 
2271of virtue who might question orders when it comes time to make difficult 
2272choices.
2273
2274The templars' power derives from the substance lyrium, a mineral 
2275believed to be the raw element of creation. While mages use lyrium in 
2276their arcane spells and rituals, templars ingest the primordial mineral to 
2277enhance their abilities to resist and dispel magic. Lyrium use is regulated 
2278by the Chantry, but some templars suffer from lyrium addiction, the 
2279effects of which include paranoia, obsession, and dementia. Templars 
2280knowingly submit themselves to this "treatment" in the service of the 
2281Order and the Maker.
2282
2283It is this sense of ruthless piety that most frightens mages when they draw
2284the templars' attention: When the templars are sent to eliminate a possible 
2285blood mage, there is no reasoning with them, and if the templars are 
2286prepared, the mage's magic is all but useless. Driven by their faith, the 
2287templars are one of the most feared and respected forces in Thedas.
2288
2289--From Patterns Within Form, by Halden, First Enchanter of Starkhaven, 8:80 
2290Blessed.
2291
2292The Founding of the Chantry
2293On the founding of the Chantry.
2294
2295Kordilius Drakon, king of the city-state of Orlais, was a man of 
2296uncommon ambition. In the year -15 Ancient, the young king began 
2297construction of a great temple dedicated to the Maker, and declared that 
2298by its completion he would not only have united the warring city-states of
2299the south, he would have brought Andrastian belief to the world.
2300
2301In -3 Ancient, the temple was completed. There, in its heart, Drakon knelt 
2302before the eternal flame of Andraste and was crowned ruler of the Empire 
2303of Orlais. His first act as Emperor: To declare the Chantry as the 
2304established Andrastian religion of the Empire.
2305
2306It took three years and several hundred votes before Olessa of 
2307Montsimmard was elected to lead the new Chantry. Upon her coronation 
2308as Divine, she took the name Justinia, in honor of the disciple who 
2309recorded Andraste's songs. In that moment, the ancient era ended and the 
2310Divine Age began.              
2311
2312--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
2313
2314The Fraternity of Enchanters
2315A brief description of the fraternities of enchanters.
2316
2317Another aspect of Circle life is the fraternity. When a mage becomes an 
2318enchanter, he may ally himself with a fraternity. These are cliques that 
2319cross Circle boundaries, mages of common interests and goals who band 
2320together to ensure that their voice is heard within the College of Magi in 
2321Cumberland. The largest fraternities currently are: 
2322
2323- the Loyalists, who advocate loyalty and obedience to the Chantry. 
2324- the Aequitarians, who advocate temperance and follow a distinct code of
2325conduct which they believe all mages should hold themselves to. 
2326- the Libertarians, a growing fraternity, publicly maintaining greater 
2327power for the Circles but secretly advocating a complete split from the 
2328Chantry--a dangerous opinion, naturally. 
2329
2330- the Isolationists, a small group that advocates withdrawing to remote 
2331territories in order to avoid conflicts with the general populace. 
2332- the Lucrosians, who maintain that the Circle must do what is profitable 
2333first and foremost. They prioritize the accumulation of wealth, with the 
2334gaining of political influence a close second.
2335
2336So far, an alliance between the Loyalists and Aequitarians has prevented 
2337the Libertarians from gaining much headway, but there are signs that the 
2338Aequitarians may throw their support in with the Libertarians. If that 
2339happens, many mages predict it will come to civil war among the Circles.
2340
2341--From The Circle of the Magi: A History, by First Enchanter Josephus.
2342
2343Hierarchy of the Circle
2344Meditations on the Circle.
2345
2346It is no simple matter, safeguarding ordinary men from mages, and mages
2347from themselves. Each Circle tower must have some measure of self-
2348government, for it is ever the Maker's will that men be given the power to 
2349take responsibility for our own actions: To sin and fail, as well as to 
2350achieve the highest grace and glory on our own strength.
2351
2352You, who will be tasked with the protection of the Circle, must be aware 
2353of its workings. The first enchanter is the heart of any tower. He will 
2354determine the course his Circle will take, he will choose which apprentices
2355may be tested and made full mages, and you will work most closely with 
2356him.
2357
2358Assisting the first enchanter will be the senior enchanters, a small council 
2359of the most trusted and experienced magi in the tower. From this group, 
2360the next first enchanter is always chosen. Beneath the council are the 
2361enchanters. These are the teachers and mentors of the tower, and you 
2362must get to know them in order to keep your finger on the pulse of the 
2363Circle, for the enchanters will always know what is happening among the 
2364children.
2365
2366All those who have passed their Harrowing but have not taken 
2367apprentices are mages. This is where most trouble in a Circle lies, in the 
2368
2369idleness and inexperience of youth. The untested apprentices are the most 
2370numerous denizens of any tower, but they more often pose threats to 
2371themselves, due to their lack of training, than to anyone else.
2372
2373--Knight-Commander Serain of the Chantry templars, in a letter to his successor.
2374
2375History of the Circle
2376An account of the foundation of the Circle.
2377
2378It is a truth universally acknowledged that nothing is more successful at 
2379inspiring a person to mischief as being told not to do something. 
2380Unfortunately, the Chantry of the Divine Age had some trouble with 
2381obvious truths. Although it did not outlaw magic--quite the contrary, as 
2382the Chantry relied upon magic to kindle the eternal flame which burns in 
2383every brazier in every chantry--it relegated mages to lighting candles and 
2384lamps. Perhaps occasional dusting of rafters and eaves.
2385
2386I will give my readers a moment to contemplate how well such a role 
2387satisfied the mages of the time.
2388
2389It surprised absolutely no one when the mages of Val Royeaux, in protest, 
2390snuffed the sacred flames of the cathedral and barricaded themselves 
2391inside the choir loft. No one, that is, but Divine Ambrosia II, who was 
2392outraged and attempted to order an Exalted March upon her own 
2393cathedral. Even her most devout Templars discouraged that idea. For 21 
2394days, the fires remained unlit while negotiations were conducted, legend 
2395tells us, by shouting back and forth from the loft.
2396
2397The mages went cheerily into exile in a remote fortress outside of the 
2398capital, where they would be kept under the watchful eye of the Templars 
2399and a council of their own elder magi. Outside of normal society, and 
2400outside of the Chantry, the mages would form their own closed society, 
2401the Circle, separated for the first time in human history. 
2402
2403--From Of Fires, Circles, and Templars: A History of Magic in the Chantry,
2404by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
2405
2406The Fade
2407An explanation of the Fade and its relation to dreams.
2408
2409The study of the Fade is as old as humankind. For so long as men have 
2410dreamed, we have walked its twisting paths, sometimes catching a 
2411glimpse of the city at its heart. Always as close as our own thoughts, but 
2412impossibly separated from our world.
2413
2414The Tevinter Imperium once spent vast fortunes of gold, lyrium, and 
2415human slaves in an effort to map the terrain of the Fade, an ultimately 
2416futile endeavor. Although portions of it belong to powerful spirits, all of 
2417the Fade is in constant flux. The Imperium succeeded in finding the 
2418disparate and ever-shifting realms of a dozen demon lords, as well as 
2419cataloging a few hundred types of spirits, before they were forced to 
2420abandon the project.
2421
2422The relationship of dreamers to the Fade is complex. Even when entering 
2423the Fade through the use of lyrium, mortals are not able to control or 
2424affect it. The spirits who dwell there, however, can, and as the Chantry 
2425teaches us, the great flaw of the spirits is that they have neither 
2426imagination nor ambition. They create what they see through their 
2427sleeping visitors, building elaborate copies of our cities, people, and 
2428events, which, like the reflections in a mirror, ultimately lack context or 
2429life of their own. Even the most powerful demons merely plagiarize the 
2430worst thoughts and fears of mortals, and build their realms with no other 
2431ambition than to taste life.
2432
2433--From Tranquility and the Role of the Fade in Human Culture, by First 
2434Enchanter Josephus.
2435
2436The Harrowing
2437A mention of the Harrowing.
2438
2439Among apprentices of the Circle, nothing is regarded with more fear than 
2440the Harrowing. Little is known about this rite of passage, and that alone 
2441would be cause for dread. But it is well understood that only those 
2442apprentices who pass this trial are ever seen again. They return as full 
2443members of the Circle of Magi. Of those who fail, nothing is known. 
2444
2445Perhaps they are sent away in disgrace. Perhaps they are killed on the 
2446spot. I heard one patently ridiculous rumor among the Circle at Rivain, 
2447which claimed that failed apprentices were transformed into pigs, 
2448fattened up, and served at dinner to the senior enchanters. But I could find
2449no evidence that the Rivaini Circle ate any particular quantity of pork.
2450
2451--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2452Brother Genitivi.
2453
2454yrium
2455On lyrium, its uses and trade.
2456
2457More than half the wealth of Orzammar comes from a single, extremely 
2458rare substance: Lyrium. The Chantry believes it to be the "Waters of the 
2459Fade" mentioned in the Canticle of Threnodies, the very stuff of creation 
2460itself, from whence the Maker fashioned the world. Only a handful of 
2461Mining Caste families hazard extracting the ore, finding veins in the Stone
2462quite literally by ear. For in its raw form, lyrium sings, and the discerning 
2463can hear the sound even through solid rock.
2464
2465Even though dwarves have a natural resistance, raw lyrium is dangerous 
2466for all but the most experienced of the Mining Caste to handle. Even for 
2467dwarves, exposure to the unprocessed mineral can cause deafness or 
2468memory loss. For humans and elves, direct contact with lyrium ore 
2469produces nausea, blistering of the skin, and dementia. Mages cannot even 
2470approach unprocessed lyrium. Doing so is invariably fatal.
2471
2472Despite its dangers, lyrium is the single most valuable mineral currently 
2473known. In the Tevinter Imperium, it has been known to command a 
2474higher price than diamond. The dwarves sell very little of the processed 
2475mineral to the surface, giving the greater portion of what they mine to 
2476their own smiths, who use it in the forging of all truly superior dwarven 
2477weapons and armor. What processed lyrium is sold on the surface goes 
2478only to the Chantry, who strictly control the supply. From the Chantry, it 
2479is dispensed both to the templars, who make use of it in tracking and 
2480fighting maleficarum, and to the Circle.
2481
2482In the hands of the Circle, lyrium reaches its fullest potential. Their 
2483Formari craftsmen transform it into an array of useful items from the 
2484practical, such as magically hardened stone for construction, to the 
2485legendary silver armor of King Calenhad.
2486
2487When mixed into liquid and ingested, lyrium allows mages to enter the 
2488Fade fully aware, unlike all others who reach it only while dreaming. Such
2489potions can also be used to aid in the casting of especially taxing spells, for
2490a short time granting a mage far greater power than he normally wields.
2491
2492yrium has its costs, however. Prolonged use becomes addictive, the 
2493cravings unbearable. Over time, templars grow disoriented, incapable of 
2494distinguishing memory from present, or dream from waking. They 
2495frequently become paranoid, as their worst memories and nightmares 
2496haunt their waking hours. Mages have additionally been known to suffer 
2497physical mutation: The magister lords of the Tevinter Imperium were 
2498widely reputed to have been so affected by their years of lyrium use that 
2499they could not be recognized by their own kin, nor even as creatures that 
2500had once been human.
2501
2502--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
2503Brother Genitivi.
2504
2505Maleficarum
2506A sermon on maleficar.
2507
2508It has been asked, "What are maleficarum? How shall we know them?" I 
2509have been as troubled by this question as you. You have come to me for 
2510the wisdom of the Maker, but none have seen the Maker's heart save 
2511Beloved Andraste. And so I have done as all mortals must, and looked to 
2512the words of His prophet for answers. And there, I found respite from a 
2513troubled mind.  
2514
2515For she has said to us, "Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over 
2516him." Therefore, I say to you, they who work magic which dominates the 
2517minds and hearts of others, they have transgressed the Maker's law.
2518
2519Also, Our Lady said to us, "Those who bring harm without provocation to
2520the least of His children are hated and accursed by the Maker." And so it is
2521made clear to me, as it should be to us all: That magic which fuels itself by 
2522harming others, by the letting of blood, is hated by the Maker.
2523
2524Those mages who honor the Maker and keep His laws we welcome as our
2525brothers and sisters. Those who reject the laws of the Maker and the 
2526words of His prophet are apostate. They shall be cast out, and given no 
2527place among us.
2528
2529--From The Sermons of Justinia I.
2530
2531Mana and the Use of Magic
2532An explanation of mana.
2533
2534Mana is that which defines a mage. It is potential that dwells within a 
2535person but does not always manifest itself. All men are connected to the 
2536Fade; we go there to dream. But only those with this potential may draw 
2537upon its power.  Mana is, then, a measurement of one's ability to draw 
2538power from the Fade, and it is this power that is expended in magic.
2539
2540As in all other things, it has limits. Just as a man has the strength to lift 
2541only so much weight and no more, a mage cannot work more magic at 
2542one time than his mana allows. If he wishes to work magic that would be 
2543beyond his strength, a mage must bolster his mana with lyrium. Without 
2544lyrium, it is possible for the reckless to expend their own life-force in the 
2545working of magic, and occasionally, ambitious apprentices injure or even 
2546kill themselves by over-exertion.  
2547
2548--From The Lectures of First Enchanter Wenselus.
2549
2550Demonic Possession
2551On the dangers posed by demons.
2552
2553Why do demons seek to possess the living?
2554
2555History claims they are malevolent spirits, the first children of the Maker, 
2556angry at their creator for turning from them and jealous of those creations 
2557he considered superior. They stare across the Veil at the living and do not 
2558understand what they see, yet they know they crave it. They desire life, 
2559they pull the living across the Veil when they sleep and prey on their 
2560psyche with nightmares. Whenever they can, they cross the Veil into our 
2561world to possess it outright.
2562
2563We know that any demon will seek to possess a mage, and upon doing so 
2564will create an abomination. Most of the world does not know, however, 
2565that the strength of an abomination depends entirely on the power of the 
2566demon that possesses the mage. This is true, in fact, of all possessed 
2567creatures. One demon is not the same as any other.
2568
2569Demons can, for instance, be classified. Enchanter Brahm's categorization 
2570of demons into that portion of the psyche they primarily prey upon has 
2571held since the Tower Age.
2572
2573According to Brahm, the weakest and most common of demons are those 
2574of rage. They are the least intelligent and most prone to violent outbursts 
2575against anything living. They expend their energies quickly, the most 
2576powerful of them exhibiting great strength and occasionally the ability to 
2577generate fire.
2578
2579Next are the demons of hunger. In a living host they become cannibals 
2580and vampires, and within the dead they feed upon the living. Theirs are 
2581the powers of draining, both of life force and of mana.
2582
2583Next are the demons of sloth, the first on Brahm's scale that are capable of 
2584true intelligence. In its true form, this demon is known as a Shade, a thing 
2585which is nearly indistinct and invisible, for such is sloth's nature. It hides 
2586and stalks, unaware, and when confronted, it sows fatigue and apathy.
2587
2588Demons of desire are amongst the most powerful, and are the ones most 
2589likely to seek out the living and actively trick them into a deal. These 
2590demons will exploit anything that can be coveted--wealth, power, lust--
2591and they will always end up getting far more than they give. A desire 
2592demon's province is that of illusions and mind control.
2593
2594Strongest of all demons are those of pride. These are the most feared 
2595creatures to loose upon the world: Masters of magic and in possession of 
2596vast intellect, they are the true schemers. It is they who seek most strongly
2597to possess mages, and will bring other demons across the Veil in numbers 
2598to achieve their own ends--although what that might be has never been 
2599discovered. A greater pride demon, brought across the Veil, would 
2600threaten the entire world.
2601
2602--From The Maker's First Children, by Bader, Senior Enchanter of Ostwick, 
26038:12 Blessed.
2604
2605The Cardinal Rules of Magic
2606The fundamental laws of magic.
2607
2608You must not be under the misimpression that magic is all-powerful. 
2609There are limits, and not even the greatest mages may overcome them.
2610
2611No one, for instance, has found any means of traveling--either over great 
2612distances or small ones--beyond putting one foot in front of the other. The 
2613immutable nature of the physical world prevents this. So no, you may not 
2614simply pop over to Minrathous to borrow a cup of sugar, nor may you 
2615magic the essay you "forgot" in the apprentice dormitory to your desk. 
2616You will simply have to be prepared.
2617
2618Similarly, even when you send your mind into the Fade, your body 
2619remains behind. Only once has this barrier been overcome, and reputedly 
2620the spell required two-thirds of the lyrium in the Tevinter Imperium as 
2621well as the lifeblood of several hundred slaves. The results were utterly 
2622disastrous.
2623
2624Finally, life is finite. A truly great healer may bring someone back from 
2625the very precipice of death, when breath and heartbeat have ceased but 
2626the spirit still clings to life. But once the spirit has fled the body, it cannot 
2627be recalled. That is no failing of your skills or power, it is simple reality.
2628
2629--From The Lectures of First Enchanter Wenselus.
2630Blood Magic: The Forbidden School
2631A discussion of blood magic.
2632
2633Foul and corrupt are you
2634Who have taken My gift
2635And turned it against My children.
2636--Transfigurations 18:10.
2637
2638The ancient Tevinters did not originally consider blood magic a school of 
2639its own. Rather, they saw it as a means to achieve greater power in any 
2640school of magic. The name, of course, refers to the fact that magic of this 
2641type uses life, specifically in the form of blood, instead of mana. It was 
2642common practice, at one time, for a magister to keep a number of slaves 
2643on hand so that, should he undertake the working of a spell that was 
2644physically beyond his abilities, he could use the blood of his slaves to 
2645bolster the casting.
2646
2647Over time, however, the Imperium discovered types of spells that could 
2648only be worked by blood. Although lyrium will allow a mage to send his 
2649conscious mind into the Fade, blood would allow him to find the sleeping 
2650minds of others, view their dreams, and even influence or dominate their 
2651thoughts. Just as treacherous, blood magic allows the Veil to be opened 
2652completely so that demons may physically pass through it into our world. 
2653
2654The rise of the Chant of Light and the subsequent fall of the old Imperium 
2655has led to blood magic being all but stamped out--as it should be, for it 
2656poses nearly as great a danger to those who would practice it as to the 
2657world at large.
2658
2659--From The Four Schools: A Treatise, by First Enchanter Josephus.
2660
2661The Four Schools of Magic: Creation
2662On the Creation School of magic.
2663
2664Opposition in all things:
2665For earth, sky
2666For winter, summer
2667For darkness, Light.
2668By My will alone is balance sundered
2669And the world given new life.
2670--Threnodies  5:5.
2671
2672The School of Creation, sometimes called the School of Nature, is the 
2673second of the Schools of Matter, the balancing force and complement of 
2674Entropy. Creation magic manipulates natural forces, transforming what 
2675exists and bringing new things into being.
2676
2677Creation requires considerable finesse, more than any other school, and is 
2678therefore rarely mastered. Those mages who have made a serious study of
2679creation are the highest in demand, useful in times of peace as well as war.
2680
2681--From The Four Schools: A Treatise, by First Enchanter Josephus.
2682
2683The Four Schools of Magic: Entropy
2684An explanation of the Entropic School of magic.
2685
2686To you, my second-born, I grant this gift:
2687In your heart shall burn
2688An unquenchable flame
2689All-consuming, and never satisfied.
2690--Threnodies 5:7.
2691
2692The second of the two Schools of Matter, Entropy is the opposing force of 
2693Creation; for this reason it is often called the School of Negation. Nothing 
2694lives without death. Time inevitably brings an end to all things in the 
2695material world, and yet in this ending is the seed of a beginning. A river 
2696may flood its banks, causing havoc, but bring new life to its floodplain. 
2697The fire that burns a forest ushers in new growth. And so it is with 
2698entropic magic that we manipulate the forces of erosion, decay, and 
2699destruction to create anew.
2700
2701--From The Four Schools: A Treatise, by First Enchanter Josephus.
2702
2703The Four Schools of Magic: Primal
2704An explanation of the Primal School of magic.
2705
2706Those who oppose thee
2707Shall know the wrath of heaven.
2708Field and forest shall burn,
2709The seas shall rise and devour them,
2710The wind shall tear their nations
2711From the face of the earth,
2712ightning shall rain down from the sky,
2713They shall cry out to their false gods,
2714And find silence.
2715--Andraste 7:19.
2716
2717Sometimes called the School of Power, the Primal School is the second of 
2718the Schools of Energy, balanced by Spirit, and concerns the most visible 
2719and tangible forces of nature itself. 
2720
2721This is the magic of war: Fire, ice, and lightning. Devastation. This is what 
2722the vast majority imagines when they hear the word "magic."  
2723
2724--From The Four Schools: A Treatise, by First Enchanter Josephus.
2725
2726The Four Schools of Magic: Spirit
2727A brief explanation of the Spirit School of magic.
2728
2729And the voice of the Maker shook the Fade
2730Saying: In My image I have wrought
2731My firstborn. You have been given dominion
2732Over all that exists. By your will
2733All things are done.
2734Yet you do nothing. 
2735The realm I have given you
2736Is formless, ever-changing.
2737--Threnodies 5:4.
2738
2739The first of the two Schools of Energy, Spirit is opposed by the Primal 
2740School. It is the school of mystery, the ephemeral school. This is the study 
2741of the invisible energies which surround us at all times, yet are outside of 
2742nature. It is from the Fade itself that this magic draws its power. Students 
2743of this school cover everything from direct manipulation of mana and 
2744spell energies to the study and summoning of spirits themselves.
2745
2746By its nature an esoteric school, as most others know virtually nothing 
2747about the Fade, studies of spirit magic are often misunderstood by the 
2748general populace, or even confused for blood magic--an unfortunate fate 
2749for a most useful branch of study.
2750
2751--From The Four Schools: A Treatise, by First Enchanter Josephus.
2752
2753Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons
2754A discussion of the creatures of the Fade.
2755
2756It is challenging enough for the casual observer to tell the difference 
2757between the Fade and the creatures that live within it, let alone between 
2758one type of spirit and another. In truth, there is little that distinguishes 
2759them, even for the most astute mages. Since spirits are not physical 
2760entities and are therefore not restricted to recognizable forms (or even 
2761having a form at all), one can never tell for certain what is alive and what 
2762is merely part of the scenery. (It is therefore advisable for the 
2763inexperienced researcher to greet all objects he encounters.)
2764
2765Typically, we misuse the term "spirit" to refer only to the benign, or at 
2766least less malevolent, creatures of the Fade, but in truth, all the denizens of
2767the realm beyond the Veil are spirits. As the Chant of Light notes, 
2768everything within the Fade is a mimicry of our world. (A poor imitation, 
2769for the spirits do not remotely understand what they are copying. It is no 
2770surprise that much of the Fade appears like a manuscript translated from 
2771Tevinter into Orlesian and back again by drunken initiates.)
2772
2773In general, spirits are not complex. Or, rather, they are not complex as we 
2774understand such things. Each one seizes upon a single facet of human 
2775experience: Rage, hunger, compassion, hope, etc. This one idea becomes 
2776their identity. We classify as demons those spirits who identify themselves
2777with darker human emotions and ideas.
2778
2779The most common and weakest form of demon one encounters in the 
2780Fade is the rage demon. They are much like perpetually boiling kettles, for
2781they exist only to vent hatred, but rarely have an object to hate. Somewhat 
2782above these are the hunger demons, who do little but eat or attempt to eat 
2783everything they encounter, including other demons (this is rarely 
2784successful). Then there are the sloth demons. These are the first intelligent 
2785creatures one typically finds in the Fade. They are dangerous only on 
2786those rare occasions that they can be induced to get up and do harm. 
2787Desire demons are more clever, and far more powerful, using all forms of 
2788bribery to induce mortals into their realms: Wealth, love, vengeance, 
2789whatever lies closest to your heart. The most powerful demons yet 
2790encountered are the pride demons, perhaps because they, among all their 
2791kind, most resemble men.
2792
2793--From Beyond the Veil: Spirits and Demons, by Enchanter Mirdromel.
2794
2795The Tranquil
2796An explanation of the Tranquil.
2797
2798[Magi origins]
2799Although apprentices do not know the nature of the Harrowing, all of 
2800them understand its consequences: They either pass and become full 
2801mages, or they are never seen again. Those who fear to undertake this rite 
2802of passage, or those who are deemed too weak or unstable, are given the 
2803Rite of Tranquility instead.  
2804
2805The actual procedure, like the Harrowing, is secret, but the results are just 
2806as well known. The rite severs connection to the Fade. The Tranquil, 
2807therefore, do not dream. This removes the greatest danger that threatens a
2808weak or unprepared mage, the potential to attract demons across the Veil. 
2809But this is the least of Tranquility's effects. For the absence of dreams 
2810brings with it the end of all magical ability, as well as all emotion.
2811
2812The Tranquil, ironically, resemble sleepwalkers, never entirely awake nor 
2813asleep. They are still part of our Circle, however, and some might say they
2814are the most critical part. They have incredible powers of concentration, 
2815for it is simply impossible to distract a Tranquil mage, and this makes 
2816them capable of becoming craftsmen of such skill that they rival even the 
2817adeptness of the dwarves. The Formari, the branch of the Circle devoted 
2818to item enchantment, is made up exclusively of Tranquil, and is the source
2819of all the wealth that sustains our towers.
2820
2821--From On Tranquility and the Role of the Fade in Human Society, by First 
2822Enchanter Josephus.
2823
2824[all other origins]
2825The Tranquil are the least understood but most visible members of the 
2826Circle. Every city of respectable size boasts a Circle of Magi shop, and 
2827every one of these shops is run by a Tranquil proprietor.
2828
2829The name is a misnomer, for they are not tranquil at all; rather, they are 
2830like inanimate objects that speak. If a table wished to sell you an 
2831enchanted penknife, it could pass as one of these people. Their eyes are 
2832expressionless, their voices monotone. Incomparable craftsmen they might
2833be, but they are hardly the sort of mages to put ordinary folk at ease.  
2834
2835--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2836Brother Genitivi.
2837
2838The Sacred Ashes of Andraste
2839The legend of the Urn of Sacred Ashes.
2840
2841Only one person witnessed Maferath's betrayal: Havard the Aegis. A 
2842childhood friend of Maferath, he accompanied his chief to the meeting 
2843with the Tevinters, not realizing what was planned. When he understood 
2844that Maferath was giving Andraste over to be executed, Havard, 
2845unwilling to draw swords against his friend and liege, placed himself 
2846between Andraste and the Tevinter soldiers. The Tevinters struck him 
2847down, and Maferath left him for dead.
2848
2849Gravely wounded, Havard made his way to the gates of Minrathous to 
2850stop the execution. When he reached it, the terrible deed was already 
2851done, the armies on the plains long since dispersed. Havard, cursing his 
2852weakness, gathered the earthly remains of Andraste that had been left to 
2853the wind and rain, and wept. When his fingers touched the pile of ash, his 
2854ears filled with song, and he saw before him a vision of Andraste, dressed 
2855in cloth made of starlight. She knelt at his side, saying, "The Maker shall 
2856never forget you so long as I remember."  
2857
2858The song faded, and the vision with it. And Havard was alone. But his 
2859wounds were healed. With new strength, Havard took up the ashes of 
2860Our Lady, and bore them back to the lands of the Alamarri.
2861
2862Fearing that Maferath's supporters would defile them, Havard took the 
2863ashes of Andraste to a secluded place high in the mountains, and there he 
2864carved from the living rock an urn to hold them.
2865
2866Time passed, and the whereabouts of the urn faded from memory. 
2867Perhaps it was the Maker's will that only the most worthy should find His 
2868Beloved's final resting place. Now, we have only the legends, such as that 
2869of the Chevalier Lothair, who quested to find the Urn to save his dying 
2870daughter, and either found it in time to cure her, or returned a hundred 
2871years after her death. The ballads end less than certain on that point.
2872
2873--From Thedas: Myths and Legends, by Brother Genitivi.
2874
2875The Veil
2876An account of the Veil.
2877
2878I detest this notion that the Veil is some manner of invisible "curtain" that 
2879separates the world of the living from the world of the spirits (whether it 
2880be called the Fade or the Beyond is a matter of racial politics I refuse to 
2881indulge in at the moment). There is no "this side" and "that side" when it 
2882comes to the Veil. One cannot think of it as a physical thing or a barrier or 
2883even a "shimmering wall of holy light" (thank you very much for that 
2884image, Your Perfection).
2885
2886Think of the Veil, instead, as opening one's eyes.
2887
2888Before you opened them, you saw our world as you see it now: static, 
2889solid, unchanging. Now that they are open, you see our world as the 
2890spirits see it: chaotic, ever-changing, a realm where the imagined and the 
2891remembered have as much substance as that which is real--more, in fact. 
2892A spirit sees everything as defined by will and memory, and this is why 
2893they are so very lost when they cross the Veil. In our world, imagination 
2894has no substance. Objects exist independently of how we remember them 
2895or what emotions we associate with them. Mages alone possess the power 
2896to change the world with their minds, and perhaps this forms the nature 
2897of a demon's attraction to them--who can say?
2898
2899Regardless, the act of passing through the Veil is much more about 
2900changing one's perceptions than a physical transition. The Veil is an idea, 
2901it is the act of transition itself, and it is only the fact that both living beings 
2902and spirits find the transition difficult that gives the Veil any credence as a
2903physical barrier at all.
2904
2905--From A Dissertation on the Fade as a Physical Manifestation, by Mareno, 
2906Senior Enchanter of the Minrathous Circle of Magi, 6:55 Steel.
2907
2908Codex: Magic and Religion (Awakening)
2909
2910Pilgrims and Amaranthine
2911On the pilgrims of Amaranthine.
2912
2913The faithful travel great distances to see the birthplace of Andraste in 
2914Denerim, yet many make their pilgrimage longer still by visiting 
2915Amaranthine. After all, it was from the city's port that Maferath and his 
2916army departed to invade the Tevinter Imperium, and the Chantry of Our 
2917ady Redeemer now stands on the site where Andraste first revealed the 
2918Chant of Light.
2919
2920This is why the road that joins Amaranthine to Denerim is known as the 
2921Pilgrim's Path, and why the Chantry of Our Lady Redeemer is the 
2922wealthiest chantry in all of Ferelden.
2923
2924--From Annals of Northern Ferelden, by Brother Bedine, Chantry scholar.
2925
2926Codex: Culture and History (Origins)
2927
2928Aravels
2929On Dalish landships.
2930
2931[Dalish origin only]
2932"We are the Dalish: keepers of the lost lore, walkers of the lonely path.
2933We are the last elvhen. Never again shall we submit."
2934--The Oath of the Dales
2935
2936Someone once told me that humans flee when they see the sails of our 
2937aravels flying above the tops of trees. I say, good, let them flee. The 
2938humans took everything from us--our homeland, our freedom, our 
2939immortality. What's a little fear compared to all the horrors inflicted upon 
2940us? I recite the Oath of the Dales to myself each day when I sleep and 
2941when I wake: "Never again shall we submit." Never again. 
2942
2943The keeper says that one day the Dalish will find a home that we can call 
2944our own. But why? Why should we tie ourselves to stone constructions 
2945like the humans and the dwarves? What is wrong with the life we have 
2946now? We owe nothing to anyone, we have no master but ourselves, and 
2947we go where the halla and the gods take us. There is nothing more 
2948wonderful than sitting on an aravel as it flies through the forest, pulled by 
2949our halla. We are truly free, for the first time in our people's history. Why 
2950should we change this?
2951
2952--From the journal of Taniel, clan hunter.
2953
2954[All other origins]
2955The Dalish, who band together in small groups of blood relatives, travel in
2956ornately carved wagons known as aravel, drawn by large white stags 
2957called halla. The aravel are a unique sight, beautiful in their swooping 
2958curvature, and adorned with broad hoods and bright silken cloths that 
2959flap in the wind, often displaying the noble banners that once flew over 
2960that family’s house. Most humans refer to the aravel as "landships," for in 
2961a strong wind it can often appear as if the elves travel in long boats with 
2962sails high overhead to announce their arrival (or warn others away). The 
2963halla are unique to the elves, and any but elven handlers consider them 
2964ornery and almost impossible to train. To the Dalish, they are noble beasts,
2965superior in breeding to the horse. Certainly most humans would agree 
2966that the halla are as beautiful as the elves themselves; the fact that many 
2967imperial nobles maintain a bounty on halla horns that find their way into 
2968Tevinter is an affront the Dalish consider unforgivable.
2969
2970Few among us can claim to have seen the Dalish landships up close. Any 
2971human who sees them on the horizon does well to head the other way. 
2972Few Dalish clans take kindly to humans intruding on their camps, and 
2973more than one tale tells of trouble-making humans who found themselves 
2974mercilessly filled with Dalish arrows.
2975
2976--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
2977Brother Genitivi.
2978
2979The Dales
2980The history of the elves from Andraste to the destruction of
2981the Dales.
2982
2983[Dalish origin only]
2984You will hear tales of the woman Andraste. The shemlen name her 
2985prophet, bride of their Maker. But we knew her as a war leader, one who, 
2986like us, had been a slave and dreamed of liberation. We joined her 
2987rebellion against the Imperium, and our heroes died beside her, 
2988unmourned, in Tevinter bonfires.
2989
2990But we stayed with our so-called allies until the war ended. Our reward: 
2991A land in southern Orlais called the Dales. So we began the Long Walk to 
2992our new home.
2993
2994Halamshiral, "the end of the journey," was our capital, built out of the 
2995reach of the humans. We could once again forget the incessant passage of 
2996time. Our people began the slow process of recovering the culture and 
2997traditions we had lost to slavery.
2998
2999But it was not to last. The Chantry first sent missionaries into the Dales, 
3000and then, when those were thrown out, templars. We were driven from 
3001Halamshiral, scattered. Some took refuge in the cities of the shemlen, 
3002living in squalor, tolerated only a little better than vermin.
3003
3004We took a different path. We took to the wilderness, never stopping long 
3005enough to draw the notice of our shemlen neighbors. In our self-imposed 
3006exile, we kept what remained of elven knowledge and culture alive. 
3007
3008"The End of the Long Walk," as told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of 
3009the Dalish elves.
3010
3011[All other origins]
3012Many forget that when Holy Andraste called out to the oppressed peoples
3013to rise up, it was the elves who answered her first.  
3014
3015The humblest slaves of the Imperium became her vanguard, and when 
3016victory came, they were rewarded accordingly: They were given a land in 
3017what is now the south of Orlais, called the Dales.
3018
3019A great exodus of elves undertook the journey to their new home, crossing
3020ocean, desert, and mountain. Their city, the first elven city since the fabled
3021Arlathan, was called Halamshiral. A new era had begun for the elves.
3022
3023But the old era wasn’t through with them. In their forest city, the elves 
3024turned again to worship their silent, ancient gods. They became 
3025increasingly isolationist, posting Emerald Knights who guarded their 
3026borders with jealousy, rebuking all efforts at trade or civilized discourse. 
3027Dark rumors spread in the lands that bordered the Dales, whispers of 
3028humans captured and sacrificed to elven gods.
3029
3030And then came an attack by the elves on the defenseless village of Red 
3031Crossing. The Chantry replied with the Exalted March of the Dales, and 
3032the era of the elven kingdom came to an end. Halamshiral was utterly 
3033destroyed, the elves driven out, scattered, left to survive on goodwill 
3034alone.
3035
3036--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3037
3038The Long Walk
3039The history of the elves' migration to Halamshiral.
3040
3041When our people left Tevinter, we had nothing except the knowledge that 
3042for the first time in countless centuries, we were free.
3043
3044It was Shartan's dream that one day we we would have our own 
3045homeland, where we could live as we chose. After the long struggle that 
3046claimed the lives of many, even Shartan himself, we were granted the 
3047Dales. And though the Dales were to the south of the land of Orlais, and a 
3048long way off from Tevinter, it mattered little. We were going home. And 
3049so we walked.
3050
3051We called our journey the Long Walk, for that was what it was. We 
3052walked with what little we had on our backs. Some walked without shoes,
3053for they had none. Whole families, women with infants, the old and 
3054young alike--all of them made their way across the land on foot. And if 
3055one of our people could no longer walk, we carried him, or sometimes left 
3056him behind.
3057
3058Many perished along the way. Some died of exhaustion, others simply 
3059gave up and fell by the wayside. A great number were set upon by human
3060bandits, even though we had few possessions. Along the way, a growing 
3061number began to bemoan the decision to leave Tevinter. "At least in 
3062Tevinter," they said, "we had food, and water, and shelter. What do we 
3063have here? Nothing but the open sky and the prospect of the never-ending
3064road ahead." Some turned back toward Tevinter. But most of us continued
3065walking.
3066
3067And the gods rewarded those of us who did not waver by bringing us to 
3068the Dales. Our people called the new city Halamshiral--"the end of the 
3069journey." And for a time, it was home.
3070
3071--As told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
3072
3073Uthenera
3074On the lost immortality of the elves.
3075
3076To the ancient elves who existed during the time of Arlathan, uthenera 
3077was an act of reverence. Elves did not age. They were not immortal, but 
3078they did not suffer from deterioration of mind or body. They suffered only
3079from a deterioration of the spirit.
3080
3081It did not happen often, but the oldest of the elves were said to reach a 
3082point where they became weary of life. Memories became too much to 
3083bear, and rather than fade into complacency, they voluntarily stood aside 
3084to let newer generations guide their people.
3085
3086Uthenera means "the long sleep," in which the elder would retire to a 
3087chamber that was one part bed and one part tomb. To great ceremony 
3088from all the extended family, the elder would succumb to a slumber from 
3089which they would not wake for centuries, and often never. In time, the 
3090body would deteriorate and the elder would die in truth. All the while, 
3091family would continue to visit the chamber to pay respect to one who 
3092made such a great sacrifice.
3093
3094With the arrival of humans and the quickening of elven blood that ensued,
3095the practice of uthenera began to fade. When Arlathan fell, it ceased 
3096forever.
3097
3098--From What Has Passed, by Hassandriel, Lord of Halamshiral, 2:7 Glory.
3099
3100Vallaslin: Blood Writing
3101An explanation of elven tattoo art.
3102
3103[Dalish origin only]
3104When the children of our people come of age, they earn the privilege of 
3105wearing the vallaslin, the blood writing. It sets us apart from the shemlen, 
3106and from the elves who have thrown their lot in with them. It reminds us 
3107that we will never again surrender our traditions and beliefs.
3108
3109The ritual deserves great reverence. The one who is to gain the vallaslin 
3110must prepare by meditating on the gods and the ways of our people, and 
3111
3112by purifying the body and the skin. When the time comes, the keeper of 
3113the clan applies the blood writing. This is done in complete silence. Cries 
3114of pain are signs of weakness. If one cannot tolerate the pain of the blood 
3115writing, they are not ready to undertake the responsibilities of an adult. 
3116The keeper may stop the ritual if they decide that the one gaining the 
3117vallaslin is not ready. There is no shame in this, for all children are 
3118different, and our ancestors once took centuries to come of age.
3119
3120--As told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
3121
3122[All other origins]
3123After my encounter with the Dalish elves on the road to Nevarra, I studied
3124every book on the elves I could find. I sought out legends and myths and 
3125history and tried to make sense of it all. But there is only so much one can 
3126learn from books. I knew that in order to truly understand the Dalish, I 
3127would have to seek them out--a dreadful idea, in hindsight. In my 
3128defense, I was young--and also inebriated when the idea popped into my 
3129head. Unfortunately, even after I had regained some measure of sobriety, 
3130the idea still held appeal. It proved remarkably resistant to my attempts to
3131ignore it.
3132
3133I gave in after months of that nagging thought at the back of my head and 
3134set out to learn about the Dalish first-hand. I tramped through the forests 
3135bordering Orlais for weeks before finally found--or was found by--a 
3136Dalish hunter. I stumbled into one of his traps and suddenly was hanging 
3137from a tree with a rope about my ankles.
3138
3139So there I was, defenseless, upside down with my robe over my head, my 
3140underclothes on display. Descriptions of my predicament might elicit 
3141laughter these days, but trust me when I say it was a situation I would not
3142wish on anyone. Thankfully, my ridiculous appearance may have caused 
3143my captor to stay his hand--what threat is a silly human with his pants 
3144showing?
3145
3146And so he sat, made a small fire, and began to skin the deer he had 
3147caught. I soon mustered the courage to speak. I tried to assure him that I 
3148was not there to harm him--but he laughed at this and replied that if I 
3149were there to harm him, I had failed terribly. Eventually we got to talking,
3150and when I say talking, I mean that I asked him questions, and 
3151occasionally he would deign to answer.
3152
3153He told me that while some Dalish actively seek out human travelers to 
3154rob or frighten, most of his people would rather be left alone. He seemed 
3155to believe that punishing the humans for past actions only led to more 
3156violence. I asked him about the intricate tattoos on his face; he told me 
3157they were called vallaslin--"blood writing." His were symbols of Andruil 
3158the Huntress, one of the most highly revered elven goddesses. He said the 
3159Dalish mark themselves to stand out from humans and from those of their
3160kin who have chosen to live under human rule. He said the vallaslin 
3161remind his people that they must never again surrender their beliefs.
3162
3163When he finished skinning the deer, he cut me down. By the time I had 
3164righted myself and conquered the dizziness of all the blood rushing out of
3165my head, he was gone.
3166
3167I do not recommend that my readers seek out the Dalish for themselves. I 
3168was very lucky to have met the man that I did, and to have walked away 
3169from our meeting unscathed. Perhaps the Maker watches over those who 
3170seek knowledge with an open heart; I certainly would like to think so.
3171
3172--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
3173Brother Genitivi.
3174
3175The History of the Drydens
3176On the Dryden merchant family.
3177
3178In the years following the siege of Soldier's Peak, all those who carried the 
3179Dryden name were hunted by King Arland's forces. Our noble Dryden 
3180name was smeared, and all lands and holdings belonging to the Drydens 
3181were seized by the crown. The king feared that the rebellion started by 
3182Sophia would be kept alive by her loyal friends and family, and anyone 
3183with connections to the Drydens suffered greatly. It is little wonder, then, 
3184that the few remaining Drydens found themselves with no allies and 
3185nowhere to turn.
3186
3187Toben Dryden, Sophia's brother and guardian of her young son, had no 
3188choice but to flee Ferelden. Toben bought passage to Antiva on a 
3189merchant vessel and traveled under the name Derocher. Once in Antiva, 
3190
3191Toben set about building a new, quiet life for himself and his nephew. He 
3192started a small business and eventually made a name for himself as a 
3193trader.
3194
3195The Derocher merchant family prospered, and the name Dryden was 
3196almost forgotten. However, in 8:15 Blessed, Silvie Derocher uncovered old
3197documents belonging to Toben and pieced together the family's history. In
3198her pride, and perhaps in her naivete, Silvie reclaimed the name Dryden 
3199and returned to Ferelden. 
3200
3201King Arland lies dead, and the Dryden name lives on. Our family has 
3202survived--even thrived--since the death of Sophia Dryden. The nobles of 
3203Ferelden may still spit on the Dryden name, but we Drydens know that 
3204Sophia Dryden was greater than them, almost a queen, and a hero of the 
3205people of Ferelden.
3206
3207--From the personal files of Levi Dryden, merchant.
3208
3209The History of Soldier's Peak: Chapter 1
3210On the establishment of the base at Soldier's Peak.
3211
3212The Grey Warden base at Soldier's Peak was built in the middle of the 
3213Glory Age, several decades after the second Blight was ended. Before 
3214then, Grey Wardens in Ferelden would take up residence in castles and 
3215forts that belonged to generous nobles. Warden-Commander Gaspar 
3216Asturian desired a fortified headquarters where his forces could train and 
3217live. He planned that Soldier's Peak would be a city unto itself. The defeat 
3218of the darkspawn and the archdemon Zazikel was fresh in the minds of 
3219the Fereldan people, and many were willing to donate gold to build 
3220Commander Asturian's fortress.
3221
3222Soldier's Peak was fully completed within 10 years, and dedicated to the 
3223Maker in 9:34 Glory.
3224
3225--From The History of Grey Wardens in Ferelden, by Brother Genitivi, 
3226Chantry scholar.
3227
3228The History of Soldier's Peak: Chapter 2
3229On the final years of Gaspar Asturian's command.
3230
3231As he approached his 60th year, rumors swirled that the corruption in 
3232Warden-Commander Asturian's blood was beginning to take its toll. 
3233According to reports from that time, the commander experienced 
3234terrifying waking dreams and heard his name whispered from the dark 
3235corners of Soldier's Peak. It is said that Asturian would spend hours 
3236locked up alone in the Great Hall of the base, muttering to himself, though
3237no one was ever able to make out what he was saying. Many also believed
3238that Asturian began, in secret, to draw up plans to expand his fortress, 
3239adding to it hidden passages and alcoves, all to protect himself from the 
3240shadows that pursued him.
3241
3242No one knows whether Asturian was able to complete his project, for his 
3243deterioration had become obvious to anyone who spent any amount of 
3244time with him. He was quickly replaced by Warden-Commander Frida 
3245Halwic. Asturian was taken to Orzammar, where he submitted to the 
3246Calling, the last rite of the Grey Wardens, and went to his death with 
3247honor.
3248
3249--From The History of Grey Wardens in Ferelden, by Brother Genitivi, 
3250Chantry scholar.
3251
3252The History of Soldier's Peak: Chapter 3
3253On the rumors about Commander Asturian.
3254
3255After Asturian's death, the rumors and theories became increasingly 
3256outlandish. One of the more ridiculous rumors told of Asturian's 
3257infatuation with an elven princess of lore, whom he was trying to 
3258resurrect in a secret ritual chamber through the use of blood magic and 
3259the princess's favorite food, raspberry jam.
3260
3261Warden-Commander Frida Halwic launched a thorough investigation 
3262into Asturian's "secret plans" but was unable to uncover any evidence that
3263anything in Soldier's Peak had been changed. Commander Halwic 
3264declared that the rumors about Asturian were a slight on his memory and 
3265that anyone found repeating them would be harshly punished. The stories
3266were thus silenced.
3267
3268--From The History of Grey Wardens in Ferelden, by Brother Genitivi, 
3269Chantry scholar.
3270
3271The History of Soldier's Peak: Chapter 4
3272On Asturian's Might.
3273
3274There was one mystery, however, that persisted, and this mystery 
3275perplexed even Commander Halwic herself. When Commander Asturian 
3276went to his Calling in the Deep Roads, he did not have in his hand his 
3277sword, Asturian's Might, forged for him by  dwarven smiths and 
3278presented to him upon the completion of Soldier's Peak. Nor did he pass 
3279the sword on to his successor, or to any other Grey Warden.
3280
3281While some maintained that Asturian had simply destroyed the sword in 
3282his dotage, others believed he had stashed it away somewhere in Soldier's 
3283Peak. One young Warden claimed that Asturian had once grabbed him by
3284the shoulders, fixed him with an unwavering gaze and said, "The sword 
3285will remind you what it is to be a Warden. Speak your oath to me, when 
3286the shadows come. You must speak the words."
3287
3288What this was supposed to mean was never made clear.
3289
3290--From The History of Grey Wardens in Ferelden, by Brother Genitivi, 
3291Chantry scholar.
3292
3293The Anderfels
3294An account of the Anderfels.
3295
3296The Anderfels are a land of shocking extremes. It is the most desolate 
3297place in all the world, for two Blights have left great expanses of the 
3298steppes so completely devoid of life that corpses cannot even decay there--
3299no insect or grub will ever reach them. 
3300
3301It is a land filled with wonders like the Merdaine, with its gigantic white 
3302statue of Our Lady carved into its face, her hands outstretched and 
3303bearing an eternal flame, or Weisshaupt Fortress, with its walls of living 
3304rock towering over the desolate plains below.
3305
3306The Anders, too, are a people of extremes: The most devout priests and 
3307the most deadly soldiers, the poorest nation in the world and the most 
3308feared.
3309
3310--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother 
3311Genitivi.
3312
3313Antiva
3314An account of the nation of Antiva.
3315
3316In the rest of the civilized world, it is common belief that Antiva has no 
3317king. I assure you, gentle readers, that this is untrue. The line of kings in 
3318Antiva has remained unbroken for two and a half thousand years--it is 
3319simply that nobody pays any attention to them whatsoever.
3320
3321The nation is ruled in truth by a collection of merchant princes. They are 
3322not princes in the literal sense, but heads of banks, trading companies, and
3323vineyards. Their power is conferred strictly by wealth.
3324
3325But Antiva is not primarily renowned for its peculiar form of government,
3326nor for its admittedly unparalleled wines. Antiva is known for the House 
3327of Crows. Since Antivans are well-known for being good at everything but
3328fighting, it is more than a little ironic that Antiva possesses the most 
3329deadly assassins in the world. Their fame is such that Antiva keeps no 
3330standing army: No king is willing to order his troops to assault her 
3331borders, and no general is mad enough to lead such an invasion. The 
3332attack would likely succeed, but its leaders would not see the day.
3333
3334--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother 
3335Genitivi.
3336
3337The Avvars
3338On the Avvar peoples.
3339
3340Driven across the Frostbacks in ancient times, the Alamarri tribesmen split
3341into three groups: One settled the Ferelden Valley, one was pushed into 
3342the Korcari Wilds, and the last returned to the mountains. Modern 
3343Fereldans bear little resemblance to their Alamarri ancestors, and the 
3344Chasind remember few of their traditions, but the Avvars have changed 
3345little throughout the ages.
3346
3347ike the Chasind, the Avvars are not a united people. Each tribe fends for 
3348itself and is beholden only to its thane. They still follow their own gods: 
3349Korth the Mountain-Father, Hakkon Wintersbreath, The Lady of the Skies,
3350as well as dozens of animal gods never named to outsiders.
3351
3352Nothing lasts in the mountains. Wind and rain eventually eat away the 
3353strongest holds. Valleys that were arable one generation are locked in 
3354year-round ice the next. Game is constantly on the move. Even among 
3355themselves, the Avvar make no absolute promises: They wed by a 
3356tradition in which the groom struggles to untie a tightly knotted rope 
3357while the bride sings a hymn to one of the gods. However many knots he 
3358has undone by the time her song ends is the number of years she will 
3359spend with him. Lowlanders often forget that there is no such thing as a 
3360permanent alliance in the Frostbacks.
3361
3362--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3363
3364The Bannorn
3365The Bannorn's role in Fereldan politics.
3366
3367The central Ferelden Valley has always been a paradox: No single bann 
3368holds more than a few dozen leagues of farmland, yet together they 
3369govern a greater territory than all the teyrns and arls combined. This 
3370collection of independent banns is known as the Bannorn, and it is the 
3371heart of Fereldan politics.
3372
3373No person has ever sat upon the throne of Ferelden without first winning 
3374the approval of the Bannorn. Queen Fionne, who had the misfortune to 
3375take the throne in the eighteenth year of the Steel Age, wrote of the 
3376Bannorn, "There have been three wars this year fought over elopements. 
3377Five fought over wool. And one started by an apple tree. It isn't even 
3378winter yet. Who would believe that these same banns, now trying so hard 
3379to kill one another, just last year united to give me the crown?"
3380
3381--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3382
3383The Brecilian Forest
3384A story of the Brecilian Forest.
3385
3386There are places in the Brecilian Forest where the Veil is so thin the 
3387difference between awake and dreaming is next to nothing.  In one such 
3388place, a wood-shaper was born under such unfortunate stars that his 
3389mother named him Abelas, which means "sorrow." And he lived up to his 
3390name. He could keep no apprentices, and lost his stock of bows in mishap 
3391after mishap, until finally he had nothing. The rest of the clan began to 
3392fear that his ill luck would harm them, too, and whispered among 
3393themselves of casting him out.
3394
3395Abelas heard them and resolved to change his luck, and so went into the 
3396forest alone to seek a suitable tree from which to make bows.  
3397
3398At last he spied a young rowan growing beside a stream. He drew his axe,
3399and the tree cried out in fear, begging to be spared. But Abelas said, "If I 
3400do not take your life, mine will surely end." With two strokes he felled the 
3401tree. From the tree, he made the finest three bows he had ever crafted. 
3402Pleased, Abelas returned to camp and gave his bows to the hunters at 
3403once.
3404
3405By nightfall, however, the camp was in an uproar. The hunters had 
3406returned with braces of hares which, when cut open, revealed only worms
3407and sawdust. The elder said it was a sign that the hunters had robbed 
3408some spirit of its host, for it is well known that spirits do not go about the 
3409waking world on their own, but inhabit another creature's body.  The 
3410elder worked a charm to banish the spirit back to the Fade, and the clan 
3411went to sleep hungry.
3412
3413The next day, the hunters brought back a doe, and again the beast bled 
3414sawdust. Now the clan began to fear the spirit would starve them, and 
3415wondered what they had done to deserve it. Abelas came forward then 
3416and told of the rowan tree. The Elder considered for a long time before 
3417declaring that they must replace what Abelas had taken from the spirit. So
3418he sent the hunters to dig up a rowan sapling, and bring it, living, to the 
3419camp.
3420
3421There the elder ordered the sapling planted, and appealed to the spirit for 
3422forgiveness.  
3423
3424There was a terrible sound then, as if the whole forest were crying out in 
3425protest. Darkness fell upon the camp, though it was just past midday. And
3426when the darkness passed, a rowan grove, every tree bearing the frozen 
3427face of a terrified elf, stood where the camp had been. From then on, it 
3428was forbidden in every clan to cut living trees in the Brecilian Forest. The 
3429spirits know nothing of forgiveness.
3430
3431--"The Rowan Grove: A Dalish Tale," from Ferelden: Folklore and History, by
3432Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3433
3434Thedas Calendar
3435A discussion of the Chantry calendar.
3436
3437For most good folk, the details of our calendar have little purpose. It is 
3438useful only for telling them when the Summerday festival will be held, 
3439when the snows are expected to begin, and when the harvest must be 
3440complete. The naming of the years are a matter for historians and taxmen, 
3441and few if pressed could even tell you the reason that our current Age is 
3442named after dragons.
3443
3444It is 9:30 Dragon Age, the thirtieth year of the ninth Age since the 
3445crowning of the Chantry’s first Divine.
3446
3447Each Age is exactly 100 years, with the next Age's name chosen in the 99th
3448year. The scholars in Val Royeaux advise the Chantry of portents seen in 
3449that 99th year, and Chantry authorities pore over the research for months 
3450before the Divine announces the name of the imminent Age. The name is 
3451said to be an omen of what is to come, of what the people of Thedas will 
3452face for the next hundred years.
3453
3454The current Age was not meant to be the Dragon Age. Throughout the last
3455months of the Blessed Age, the Chantry was preparing to declare the Sun 
3456Age, named for the symbol of the Orlesian Empire, which at that time 
3457sprawled over much of the south of Thedas and controlled both Ferelden 
3458and what is now Nevarra. It was to be a celebration of Orlesian imperial 
3459glory.
3460
3461But as the rebellion in Ferelden reached a head and the Battle of River 
3462Dane was about to begin, a peculiar event occurred: a rampage, the rising 
3463of a dreaded high dragon. Dragons had been thought practically extinct 
3464since the days of the Nevarran dragon hunts, and they say that to see this 
3465great beast rise from the Frostbacks was both majestic and terrifying. As 
3466the rampage began and the high dragon decimated the countryside in its 
3467search for food, the elderly Divine Faustine II abruptly declared the 
3468Dragon Age.
3469
3470Some say the Divine was declaring support for Orlais in the battle against 
3471Ferelden, since the dragon is an element of the Dufayel family heraldry of 
3472King Meghren, the so-called Usurper King of Ferelden. Be that as it may, 
3473the high dragon’s rampage turned towards the Orlesian side of the 
3474Frostback Mountains, killing hundreds and sending thousands more 
3475fleeing to the northern coast. The Fereldan rebels won the Battle of River 
3476Dane, ultimately securing their independence. 
3477
3478Many thus think that the Dragon Age will come to represent a time of 
3479violent and dramatic change for all of Thedas. It remains to be seen.
3480
3481--From The Studious Theologian, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar, 9:25 
3482Dragon.
3483
3484The Chasind
3485On the Chasind people.
3486
3487The Chasind "wilders" have lived in the Korcari Wilds since the first wars 
3488with the Alamarri drove them southward a millennium ago. According to 
3489their own lore, they had always been a forest-dwelling people that 
3490adapted quickly to their new home. Game and fish are plentiful in the 
3491wetlands, and the Chasind thrived.
3492
3493For a time, they and the hill-dwelling Avvars were true threats to the 
3494northern lowlands. The Tevinter Imperium had arrived and was hard-
3495pressed to keep back the waves of invasions from the south and the west. 
3496The fortress of Ostagar was built specifically to watch for Chasind hordes 
3497venturing north of the tree line. It was not until the legendary warrior 
3498Hafter soundly defeated the Chasind in the first half of the Divine Age 
3499that the question of their ability to contest the lowlands was settled 
3500permanently.
3501
3502Today, the Chasind are considered largely peaceful, though their ways are
3503still primitive compared to our own. In the Korcari Wilds they live in 
3504strange-looking huts built on stilts or even built into the great treetops. 
3505They paint their faces and are split into small tribes ruled by shamans like 
3506those amongst the Avvars. There are many tales of these shamans having 
3507learned their magic from the "Witches of the Wilds," witches that inspire 
3508as much terror as they do awe and gratitude even if there is no definitive 
3509proof they exist. In particular, the tale of Flemeth, the greatest witch of the 
3510wilds, is celebrated amongst all tribes.
3511
3512While there is no way to know how many there are in the Wilds today, 
3513few travelers that pass through the forests tell of Chasind eking out an 
3514existence even in the frozen wastelands of the far south. One can assume 
3515that should the Chasind ever organize themselves once more, we might 
3516have reason to fear them here in Ferelden. We ignore them at our peril.
3517
3518--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3519
3520The City Elves
3521An explanation of the city-dwelling elves.
3522
3523[City Elf origin only]
3524The humans tell tales of Andraste, and to them, she was a prophet. To our 
3525people, however, she was an inspiration. Her rebellion against Tevinter 
3526gave our people a window through which to see the sun, and we reached 
3527toward it with all our strength. The rebellion was brief but successful; 
3528even after the death of the prophetess, we fought on for independence as 
3529the human Imperium began to crumble. In the end, we won freedom and 
3530the southern land known as the Dales, and we began the Long Walk to 
3531our new homeland. 
3532
3533There, in the Dales, our people revived the lost lore as best we could. We 
3534called the first city Halamshiral, "end of the journey," and founded a new 
3535nation, isolated as elves were meant to be, this time patrolled by an order 
3536of Emerald Knights charged with watching the borders for trouble from 
3537humans.
3538
3539But you already know that something went wrong. A small elven raiding 
3540party attacked the nearby human village of Red Crossing, an act of anger 
3541that prompted the Chantry to retaliate and, with their superior numbers, 
3542conquer the Dales.
3543
3544We were not enslaved as we had been before, but our worship of the 
3545ancient gods was now forbidden. We were allowed to live among the 
3546humans only as second-class citizens who worshipped their Maker, 
3547forgetting once more the scraps of lore we had maintained through the 
3548centuries. 
3549
3550--"The Rise and Fall of the Dales," as told by Sarethia, hahren of the Highever 
3551alienage.
3552
3553[Dalish origin only]
3554It is hard to tell our children about those of our people who have decided 
3555to live in the shemlen's cities. They ask, "Why would anyone want to be 
3556treated like that?" And sometimes I do not know what to say. I do not 
3557understand it myself. They were freed, but they have returned to live in 
3558the service of their former masters. They are housed like animals in walled
3559sections of the shemlen's cities. They do the meanest of tasks and are 
3560rewarded with nothing. Why? I do not know.
3561
3562We tell the children that the elvhen are strong, that we are a proud people,
3563but they hear of these city elves who choose to toil under the humans' 
3564heavy hand. How do we teach them pride when they know there are 
3565others who would allow themselves to be trampled into the dust? So we 
3566tell them that these city elves are to be pitied, that they have given up on 
3567their people, given up their heritage. We tell them that some people are so 
3568used to being controlled that, when freed, they know not what to do with 
3569themselves. They are weak and afraid--afraid of the unfamiliar, afraid of 
3570our life of wandering. Above all, they are afraid even to hope that one day
3571we may have a home of our own.
3572
3573--Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
3574
3575[Other origins]
3576When the holy Exalted March of the Dales resulted in the dissolution of 
3577the elven kingdom, leaving a great many elves homeless once again, the 
3578Divine Renata I declared that all lands loyal to the Chantry must give the 
3579elves refuge within their own walls. Considering the atrocities committed 
3580by the elves at Red Crossing, this was a great testament to the Chantry's 
3581charity. There was one condition, however--the elves were to lay aside 
3582their pagan gods and live under the rule of the Chantry.
3583
3584Some of the elves refused our goodwill. They banded together to form the 
3585wandering Dalish elves, keeping their old elven ways--and their hatred of 
3586humans--alive. To this day, Dalish elves still terrorize those of us who 
3587stray too close to their camps. Most of the elves, however, saw that it was 
3588wisest to live under the protection of humans.
3589And so we took the elves into our cities and tried to integrate them. We 
3590invited them into our own homes and gave them jobs as servants and 
3591farmhands. Here, in Denerim, the elves even have their own quarter, 
3592governed by an elven keeper. Most have proven to be productive 
3593members of society. Still, a small segment of the elven community remains
3594dissatisfied. These troublemakers and malcontents roam the streets 
3595causing mayhem, rebelling against authority and making a general 
3596nuisance of themselves.
3597
3598--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3599
3600Alienage Culture
3601On alienage culture.
3602
3603There have always been alienages. They have been around for as long as 
3604elves and shems have lived in the same lands. Ours isn't even the worst: 
3605They say that Val Royeaux has ten thousand elves living in a space no 
3606bigger than Denerim's market. Their walls are supposedly so high that 
3607daylight doesn't reach the vhenadahl until midday.
3608
3609But don't be so anxious to start tearing down the walls and picking fights 
3610with the guards. They keep out more than they keep in. We don't have to 
3611live here, you know.  Sometimes a family gets a good break, and they buy 
3612a house in the docks, or the outskirts of town. If they're lucky, they come 
3613back to the alienage after the looters have burned their house down. The 
3614unlucky ones just go to the paupers' field.
3615
3616Here, we're among family. We look out for each other. Here, we do what 
3617we can to remember the old ways. The flat-ears who have gone out there, 
3618they're stuck. They'll never be human, and they've gone and thrown away 
3619being elven, too. So where does that leave them? Nowhere.  
3620
3621--Sarethia, hahren of the Highever alienage.
3622
3623Arlathan: Part One
3624On the history of the elves before the fall of Arlathan.
3625
3626Before the ages were named or numbered, our people were glorious and 
3627eternal and never-changing. Like the great oak tree, they were constant in 
3628their traditions, strong in their roots, and ever reaching for the sky. 
3629
3630They felt no need to rush when life was endless. They worshipped their 
3631gods for months at a time. Decisions came after decades of debate, and an 
3632introduction could last for years. From time to time, our ancestors would 
3633drift into centuries-long slumber, but this was not death, for we know 
3634they wandered the Fade in dreams.
3635
3636In those ages, our people called all the land Elvhenan, which in the old 
3637language means "place of our people." And at the center of the world 
3638stood the great city of Arlathan, a place of knowledge and debate, where 
3639the best of the ancient elves would go to trade knowledge, greet old 
3640friends, and settle disputes that had gone on for millennia.
3641
3642But while our ancestors were caught up in the forever cycle of ages, 
3643drifting through life at what we today would consider an intolerable pace,
3644the world outside the lush forests and ancient trees was changing.
3645
3646The humans first arrived from Par Vollen to the north. Called shemlen, or 
3647"quicklings," by the ancients, the humans were pitiful creatures whose 
3648lives blinked by in an instant. When they first met the elves, the humans 
3649were brash and warlike, quick to anger and quicker to fight, with no 
3650patience for the unhurried pace of elven diplomacy.
3651
3652But the humans brought worse things than war with them. Our ancestors 
3653proved susceptible to human diseases, and for the first time in history, 
3654elves died of natural causes. What's more, those elves who spent time 
3655bartering and negotiating with humans found themselves aging, tainted 
3656by the humans' brash and impatient lives. Many believed that the ancient 
3657gods had judged them unworthy of their long lives and cast them down 
3658among the quicklings. Our ancestors came to look upon the humans as 
3659parasites, which I understand is similar to the way the humans see our 
3660people in the
3661cities. The ancient elves immediately moved to close Elvhenan off from 
3662the humans, for fear that this quickening effect would crumble the 
3663civilization.
3664
3665--"The Fall of Arlathan," as told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the 
3666Dalish elves.
3667
3668Arlathan: Part Two
3669On the fall of Arlathan.
3670
3671You ask what happened to Arlathan? Sadly, we do not know. Even those 
3672of us who keep the ancient lore have no record of what truly happened. 
3673What we have are accounts of the days before the fall, and a fable of the 
3674
3675whims of the gods.
3676
3677The human world was changing even as the elves slept. Clans and tribes 
3678gave way to a powerful empire called Tevinter, which--and for what 
3679reason we do not know--moved to conquer Elvhenan. When they 
3680breached the great city of Arlathan, our people, fearful of disease and loss 
3681of immortality, chose to flee rather than fight. With magic, demons, and 
3682even dragons at their behest, the Tevinter Imperium marched easily 
3683through Arlathan, destroying homes and galleries and amphitheaters that 
3684had stood for ages. Our people were corralled as slaves, and human 
3685contact quickened their veins until every captured elf turned mortal. The 
3686elves called to their ancient gods, but there was no answer.
3687
3688As to why the gods didn't answer, our people left only a legend. They say 
3689that Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf and Lord of Tricksters, approached the 
3690ancient gods of good and evil and proposed a truce. The gods of good 
3691would remove themselves to heaven, and the lords of evil would exile 
3692themselves to the abyss, neither group ever again to enter the other's 
3693lands. But the gods did not know that Fen'Harel had planned to betray 
3694them, and by the time they realized the Dread Wolf’s treachery, they were 
3695sealed in their respective realms, never again to interact with the mortal 
3696world. It is a fable, to be sure, but those elves who travel the Beyond claim
3697that Fen'Harel still roams the world of dreams, keeping watch over the 
3698gods lest they escape from their prisons.
3699
3700Whatever the case, Arlathan had fallen to the very humans our people had
3701once considered mere pests. It is said that the Tevinter magisters used 
3702their great destructive power to force the very ground to swallow 
3703Arlathan whole, destroying eons of collected knowledge, culture, and art. 
3704The whole of elven lore left only to memory.
3705
3706--"The Fall of Arlathan," as told by Gisharel, Keeper of the Ralaferin Clan of the 
3707Dalish Elves.
3708
3709The Dalish Elves
3710An account of the Dalish people.
3711
3712[Dalish origin only]
3713In time, the human empires will crumble. We have seen it happen 
3714countless times. Until then, we wait, we keep to the wild border lands, we 
3715raise halla and build aravels and present a moving target to the humans 
3716around us. We try to keep hold of the old ways, to relearn what was 
3717forgotten.
3718
3719We call to the ancient gods, although they do not answer and have not 
3720heard us since before the fall of Arlathan, so that one day they might 
3721remember us: Elgar'nan the Eldest of the Sun and He Who Overthrew His 
3722Father, Mythal the Protector, Fen'Harel the Dread Wolf, Andruil the 
3723Huntress, Falon'Din the Friend of the Dead, Dirthamen the Keeper of 
3724Secrets, Ghilan'nain the Mother of Halla, June the Master of Crafts, and 
3725Sylaise the Hearthkeeper.
3726
3727We gather every ten years for the Arlathvhen, to retell the ancient stories 
3728and keep them alive. For when the human kingdoms are gone, we must 
3729be ready to teach the others what it means to be elves. 
3730
3731--As told by Gisharel, keeper of the Ralaferin clan of the Dalish elves.
3732
3733[All other origins]
3734I took the road north from Val Royeaux toward Nevarra with a merchant 
3735caravan. A scant two days past the Orlesian border, we were beset by 
3736bandits. They struck without warning from the cover of the trees, 
3737hammering our wagons with arrows, killing most of the caravan guards 
3738instantly. The few who survived the arrow storm drew their blades and 
3739charged into the trees after our attackers. We heard screams muffled by 
3740the forest, and then nothing more of those men.
3741
3742After a long silence, the bandits appeared. Elves covered in tattoos and 
3743dressed in hides, they looted all the supplies and valuables they could 
3744carry from the merchants and disappeared back into the trees.
3745
3746These, I was informed later, were the Dalish, the wild elves who lurk in 
3747the wilderness on the fringes of settled lands, preying upon travelers and 
3748
3749isolated farmers. These wild elves have reverted to the worship of their 
3750false gods and are rumored to practice their own form of magic, rejecting 
3751all human society.
3752
3753--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
3754Brother Genitivi.
3755
3756Denerim
3757On the city of Denerim.
3758
3759When anyone in Ferelden speaks of "going to the city," they inevitably 
3760mean Denerim. There is no other place in the kingdom which rivals it: Not
3761in size, population, wealth, or importance. It is the seat of the Theirin 
3762family, the capital of Ferelden, the largest seaport, and, by ancient 
3763tradition, the meeting place of the Landsmeet.
3764
3765As well, Denerim was the birthplace of Andraste. One of them, anyway, 
3766as several other sites claim to have been the prophet's early home, 
3767including Jader, in Orlais. The Chantry takes no stance on which site's 
3768claim is valid, but it is well known that Andraste was Fereldan by birth. 
3769When visiting the pilgrimage site in Denerim, it is inadvisable to mention 
3770Jader at all.
3771
3772The city rests at the foot of the Dragon's Peak, a solitary mountain scarred 
3773by ancient lava flows. During Andraste's lifetime, it reputedly filled the 
3774sky with a great column of black ash and sent burning rock raining down 
3775as far away as the Free Marches, but it is now considered extinct. Some 
3776believe it merely sleeps, and will again darken the sky with ash and fire 
3777when the last Fereldan king dies, but this is highly unlikely.
3778
3779--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
3780Brother Genitivi.
3781
3782Dragon Cults
3783On the worship of dragons.
3784
3785et us suggest, for the moment, that a high dragon is simply an animal. A 
3786cunning animal, to be sure, but in possession of no true self-awareness or 
3787sentience. There has not, after all, been a single recorded case of a dragon 
3788attempting to communicate or performing any act that could not likewise 
3789be attributed to a clever beast.
3790
3791How, then, does one explain the existence of so-called "dragon cults" 
3792throughout history?
3793
3794One dragon cult might be explainable, especially in light of the reverence 
3795of the Old Gods in the ancient Tevinter Imperium. In the wake of the first 
3796Blight, many desperate imperial citizens turned to the worship of real 
3797dragons to replace the Old Gods who had failed them. A dragon, after all, 
3798was a god-figure that they could see: It was there, as real as the 
3799archdemon itself, and, as evidence makes clear, did offer a degree of 
3800protection to its cultists.
3801
3802Other dragon cults could be explained in light of the first. Some cult 
3803members might have survived and spread the word. The worship of the 
3804Old Gods was as widespread as the Imperium itself--certainly such secrets
3805could have made their way into many hands. But there have been reports 
3806of dragon cults even in places where the Imperium never touched, among 
3807folks who had never heard of the Old Gods or had any reason to. How 
3808does one explain them?
3809
3810Members of a dragon cult live in the same lair as a high dragon, nurturing
3811and protecting its defenseless young. In exchange, the high dragon seem 
3812to permit those cultists to kill a small number of those young in order to 
3813feast on draconic blood. That blood is said to have a number of strange 
3814long-term effects, including bestowing greater strength and endurance, as 
3815well as an increased desire to kill. It may breed insanity as well. Nevarran 
3816dragon-hunters have said these cultists are incredibly powerful 
3817opponents. The changes in the cultists are a form of blood magic, surely, 
3818but how did the symbiotic relationship between the cult and the high 
3819dragon form in the first place? How did the cultists know to drink the
3820
3821dragon’s blood? How did the high dragon convince them to care for its 
3822young, or know that they would?
3823
3824Is there more to draconic intelligence than we have heretofore guessed at? 
3825No member of a dragon cult has ever been taken alive, and what accounts 
3826exist from the days of the Nevarran hunters record only mad rants and 
3827impossible tales of godhood. With dragons only recently reappearing and 
3828still incredibly rare, we may never know the truth, but the question 
3829remains.
3830
3831--From Flame and Scale, by Brother Florian, Chantry scholar, 9:28 Dragon.
3832
3833History of Ferelden: Chapter 1
3834The history of Ferelden up to the Orlesian occupation.
3835
3836Ferelden, as we think of it now, did not exist before the Exalted Age. 
3837Instead, the valley was divided up into dozens of old Alamarri clans. They
3838warred constantly with one another over land, honor, the allegiance of the
3839freeholders, and, on one notable occasion, the name given to a favorite 
3840mabari.
3841
3842And then, in the 33rd year of the Exalted Age, Calenhad Theirin became 
3843teyrn of Denerim, and everything changed.
3844
3845Most of what we know about the founding of our nation comes from old 
3846songs that the bards passed down through the Ages. The songs are filled 
3847with wild exaggerations and outright lies, but this hardly differs from the 
3848scholarly papers of some of my contemporaries. There is no agreement 
3849among poets or scholars on how he did it, but Calenhad gained the 
3850support of the Circle of Magi, and they crafted for him a suit of silvery 
3851white armor that, by all accounts, repelled both arrow and blade. 
3852Calenhad led his army across the valley and captured Redcliffe--one of 
3853only three men who ever successfully laid siege to that fortress--and 
3854presented himself to the banns of the Landsmeet as their king.
3855
3856The poets tell us that every lord knelt before Calenhad without question. 
3857The fact that he attended the Landsmeet surrounded by Ash Warriors and
3858loyal mages of the Circle is generally omitted from the ballads, however.
3859
3860From Calenhad came the line of Theirin kings and queens who reigned, 
3861uninterrupted, until the 44th year of the Blessed Age, when the Orlesian 
3862invasion came. The rightful king was forced to flee Denerim, and for 70 
3863years a puppet sat upon the throne. 
3864
3865--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3866
3867History of Ferelden: Chapter 2
3868The Orlesian occupation of Ferelden.
3869
3870The occupation was a dark blot on Ferelden's history. Our people, who 
3871from time immemorial valued their freedom over all else, were forced to 
3872bow to Orlesian rule. The Empire declared our elves property and sold 
3873them like cattle. Chevaliers routinely plundered freeholds of coin, food, 
3874and even women and children, and excused it as "taxation." And for 70 
3875years no Landsmeets were held, for the Imperial throne had declared our 
3876ancient laws a form of treason.
3877
3878King Brandel was one of those who escaped. He tried to organize the 
3879other fugitive lords to retake their land, but Brandel was neither clever nor
3880persuasive, and the nobles preferred to take their chances alone. Ferelden 
3881might still be little more than a territory of the Empire were it not for the 
3882fact that his daughter had all the charisma that her royal father lacked. 
3883The Rebel Queen's rule began with a midnight attack on the imperial 
3884armory at Lothering. It was swift and successful, and with their pilfered 
3885arms the rebels began a campaign against the Orlesians in earnest.
3886
3887But the turning point of the war came when a young freeholder joined the 
3888queen's army. The lad, Loghain Mac Tir, possessed a remarkable talent for
3889strategy, and quickly became the favorite advisor of young Prince Maric. 
3890The queen finally died at the hands of Orlesian sympathizers anxious to 
3891curry favor with their painted masters, and Maric took her place as the 
3892leader of the rebellion. Loghain became Maric's right hand. Maric and 
3893oghain led the rebels in a new campaign against their Orlesian 
3894oppressors, culminating in the battle of River Dane, where the last 
3895Chevaliers in Denerim were crushed. With the capital once more in the 
3896
3897hands of Fereldans, the battle to free our people was finally over. But the 
3898battle to rebuild what had been lost had only just begun.
3899
3900--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
3901
3902Culture of Ferelden
3903A brief explanation of Fereldan culture.
3904
3905The Fereldans are a puzzle. As a people, they are one bad day away from 
3906reverting to barbarism. They repelled invasions from Tevinter during the 
3907height of the Imperium with nothing but dogs and their own obstinate 
3908disposition. They are the coarse, willful, dirty, disorganized people who 
3909somehow gave rise to our prophet, ushered in an era of enlightenment, 
3910and toppled the greatest empire in history.  
3911
3912There are few things you can assume safely in dealing with these people: 
3913First, they value loyalty above all things, beyond wealth, beyond power, 
3914beyond reason. Second, although they have nothing in their entire country
3915which you are likely to think at all remarkable, they are extremely proud 
3916of their accomplishments. Third, if you insult their dogs, they are likely to 
3917declare war. And finally, the surest sign that you have underestimated the
3918Fereldans is that you think you have come to understand them.
3919
3920--Empress Celene I of Orlais, in a letter to her newly appointed ambassador to 
3921Denerim.
3922
3923Dogs in Ferelden
3924On the role of dogs in Fereldan society.
3925
3926I am frequently asked, during my travels in other lands, to explain the 
3927dogs omnipresent in Ferelden. Inevitably, I tell my foreign questioners 
3928that there are no more dogs in my homeland than in their own. In every 
3929civilized corner of Thedas, an astute observer will notice dogs employed 
3930in hunting game, keeping barns and storehouses free of vermin, herding 
3931livestock, guarding homes, and even used as beasts of burden in the 
3932mountains. It is simply that Fereldans show appreciation for the work that
3933our dogs do. And perhaps the reason for that is tangled up in mythology.
3934
3935Hafter, the first man to be named teyrn, the hero who united our Alamarri
3936ancestors to drive back the darkspawn of the second Blight, was reputed 
3937to be the son of a werewolf. Now, perhaps this was meant to be some 
3938comment on his temperament, or simply a way of making a great man 
3939even larger than life.  But more than half the noble families of Ferelden 
3940claim to be descendants of Hafter, and consequently, many of our people 
3941believe they have some distant kinship with wolves. It is only good 
3942manners to be polite to one's kin.
3943
3944--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
3945Brother Genitivi.
3946
3947Geography of Ferelden
3948On the geography of Ferelden.
3949
3950The kingdom of Ferelden is the southernmost civilized nation in Thedas--
3951although some scholars dispute that claim to civilization. It is perhaps the 
3952most physically isolated of all the 
3953kingdoms of Thedas: To the east is the Amaranthine Ocean, to the north 
3954the Waking Sea, and to the south the Korcari Wilds, which in the summer 
3955months are a vast peat bog, and in the winter become a treacherous 
3956labyrinth of iced-over waterways. The Frostback Mountains guard the 
3957western border, and only a narrow plain between the mountains and the 
3958sea allows travel between Ferelden and Orlais.
3959
3960Most of the land in the central portion of the kingdom, called the Bannorn,
3961is open plains. These are crossed by the remnants of an ancient Tevinter 
3962highway that once connected Val Royeaux with Ostagar, on the edge of 
3963the Korcari Wilds. The western part of Ferelden is dominated by Lake 
3964Calenhad, a huge caldera filled by the runoff of glaciers from nearby 
3965mountains. Lake Calenhad is home to the famed fortress of Redcliffe, as 
3966well as the Circle Tower, which houses Ferelden's Circle of Magi.
3967
3968In the east is the vast Brecilian Forest, which the superstitious locals 
3969profess to be haunted, and from which rises the Dragon's Peak, a solitary 
3970mountain that guards the capital city of Denerim.
3971
3972--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
3973Brother Genitivi.
3974
3975The Free Marches
3976An account of the Free Marches.
3977
3978The Free Marches are not a kingdom, nor even a nation in the most basic 
3979sense. People from that region dislike even being lumped together as 
3980"Marchers." Rather, they are a collection of independent city-states united 
3981only when it suits them; in this respect, they resemble the Bannorn before 
3982the arrival of King Calenhad. Because of this, the Free Marches have no 
3983capital, and what passes for a central government exists only sporadically,
3984a sort of Landsmeet that convenes only during times of crisis.
3985
3986I arrived in time for the Grand Tourney while it was on in Tantervale--a 
3987remarkable sight indeed. I saw Avvar hillsmen test their mettle against 
3988Orlesian Chevaliers, riders from the Anderfels buying Nevarran cavalry 
3989horses, Antivan craftsmen selling their wares to Tevinter mages. All of 
3990Thedas was on display. 
3991
3992--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
3993Brother Genitivi.
3994
3995Politics of Ferelden
3996An explanation of Fereldan politics.
3997
3998To our neighbors, Ferelden seems utterly chaotic. Unlike other 
3999monarchies, power does not descend from our throne. Rather, it rises from
4000the support of the freeholders.
4001
4002Each freehold chooses the bann or arl to whom it pays allegiance. 
4003Typically, this choice is based on proximity of the freehold to the lord's 
4004castle, as it's worthless to pay for the upkeep of soldiers who will arrive at 
4005your land too late to defend it. For the most part, each generation of 
4006freeholders casts its lot with the same bann as their fathers did, but things 
4007can and do change. No formal oaths are sworn, and it is not unheard of, 
4008especially in the prickly central Bannorn, for banns to court freeholders 
4009
4010away from their neighbors--a practice which inevitably begets feuds that 
4011last for ages.
4012
4013Teyrns arose from amongst the banns, warleaders who, in antiquity, had 
4014grown powerful enough to move other banns to swear fealty to them. 
4015There were many teyrns in the days before King Calenhad, but he 
4016succeeded in whittling them down to only two: Gwaren in the south, 
4017Highever in the north. These teyrns still hold the oaths of banns and arls 
4018who they may call upon in the event of war or disaster, and similarly, the 
4019teyrns still hold responsibility for defending those sworn to them.
4020
4021The arls were established by the teyrns, given command of strategic 
4022fortresses that could not be overseen by the teyrns themselves. Unlike the 
4023teyrns, the arls have no banns sworn to them, and are simply somewhat 
4024more prestigious banns.
4025
4026The king is, in essence, the most powerful of the teyrns. Although 
4027Denerim was originally the teyrnir of the king, it has since been reduced 
4028to an arling, as the king's domain is now all of Ferelden. But even the 
4029king's power must come from the banns.
4030
4031Nowhere is this more evident than during the Landsmeet, an annual 
4032council for which all the nobles of Ferelden gather, held for almost three 
4033thousand years except odd interruptions during Blights and invasions. 
4034The sight of a king asking for--and working to win--the support of "lesser"
4035men is a source of constant wonder to foreign ambassadors.
4036
4037--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4038
4039The Frostback Mountains
4040A story of the Frostback Mountains.
4041
4042Even mountains had a heart, once. When the world was young, Korth the 
4043Mountain-Father kept his throne at the peak of Belenas, the mountain that 
4044lies at the center of the world, from which he could see all the corners of 
4045earth and sky. And he saw strong men become weak, brave men grow 
4046cowardly, and wise men turn foolish for love.  
4047
4048Korth devised a plan that he might never be betrayed by his own heart, by
4049taking it out and hiding it where no soul would ever dare search for it. He 
4050sealed it inside a golden cask, buried it in the earth, and raised around it 
4051the fiercest mountains the world had ever seen, the Frostbacks, to guard it.
4052
4053But without his heart, the Mountain-Father grew cruel. His chest was 
4054filled with bitter mountain winds that shrieked and howled like lost souls.
4055Food lost its flavor, music had no sweetness, and he lost all joy in deeds of
4056valor. He sent avalanches and earthquakes to torment the tribes of men. 
4057Gods and men rose against him, calling him a tyrant, but with no heart, 
4058Korth could not be slain. Soon there were no heroes left, either among 
4059men or gods, who would dare challenge Korth. 
4060
4061The Lady of the Skies sent the best of her children--the swiftest, the 
4062cleverest, and strongest fliers--to scour the mountains for the missing 
4063heart, and for a year and a day they searched. But sparrow and raven, 
4064vulture and eagle, swift and albatross returned to her with nothing. 
4065
4066Then the ptarmigan spoke up, and offered to find the god-chief's heart. 
4067The other birds laughed, for the ptarmigan is a tiny bird, too humble to 
4068soar, which spends half its time hopping along the ground. The Lady 
4069would not give the little creature her blessing, for the mountains were too 
4070fierce even for eagles, but the ptarmigan set out anyway.  
4071
4072The little bird traveled deep into the Frostbacks. When she could not fly, 
4073she crawled. She hugged the ground and weathered the worst mountain 
4074winds, and so made her lonely way to the valley where the heart beat. 
4075With all the god's terrible deeds, the heart was far too heavy for the tiny 
4076bird to carry, so she rolled it, little by little, out of the valley and down a 
4077cliff, and when the golden cask struck the earth, it shattered. The heart 
4078was full almost to bursting, and the pain of it roused the mountain god to 
4079come see what had happened. 
4080
4081When Korth neared his heart, it leapt back into his chest and he was 
4082whole again. Then Hakkon Wintersbreath bound Korth's chest with three 
4083bands of iron and three bands of ice, so it could never again escape. And 
4084all the remaining gods named the ptarmigan honored above even the 
4085loftiest eagles.  
4086
4087--"The Ptarmigan: An Avvar Tale," from Ferelden: Folklore and History, by 
4088Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4089
4090Gwaren
4091On the Teyrnir of Gwaren.
4092
4093The human settlement of Gwaren is built directly on top of a dwarven 
4094outpost by the same name. Prior to the first Blight, in a time when 
4095Ferelden was not yet a nation and was still carved up into barbarian 
4096tribes, the outpost served as a source of salt and a means by which the 
4097dwarves could reach the sea-lanes of the Amaranthine Ocean. Unwilling 
4098to come to the surface, the dwarves made an agreement with the local 
4099teyrn to build a port and relied on the humans to ferry goods between the 
4100ships and the underground outpost. This made Gwaren a prosperous 
4101place and extraordinarily wealthy for a time.
4102
4103When, in the Divine Age, the dwarven kingdoms fell to the darkspawn 
4104and the Deep Roads were closed off, so too did the dwarves disappear 
4105from Gwaren. The human settlement, the envy of surrounding barbarian 
4106tribes, was assaulted and sacked, its wealth stolen.
4107
4108The town remained, however, and despite its remote location continued to
4109find value as a source of fish and timber. As the first settlement liberated 
4110by King Maric and Loghain during the Fereldan Rebellion, Gwaren was 
4111eventually granted to Loghain when he became teyrn in 9:11 Dragon.
4112
4113--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4114
4115Highever
4116On the Teyrnir of Highever.
4117
4118Castle Highever has stood since the Divine Age, when it was not an 
4119independent bannorn, but merely an outpost of the growing Bannorn of 
4120Amaranthine, in the days before Amaranthine became an arling itself. The
4121outpost of Highever was originally held by the Elstan family, cousins of 
4122the Howes. In the Age of Towers, however, Bann Conobar Elstan was 
4123
4124murdered by his wife, Flemeth, thus ending the bloodline. Conobar's 
4125captain of the guard, Sarim Cousland, took the lands and title.
4126
4127The Couslands declared their independence from Amaranthine, starting a 
4128war that lasted 30 years. When the dust settled, Highever was on its own, 
4129and in possession of half the land that had once been southwestern 
4130Amaranthine.
4131
4132Highever became a teyrnir during the Black Age, when Haelia Cousland 
4133gathered the lords together under her banner to drive the werewolves out 
4134of their lands, earning herself the title of teyrna almost as an afterthought.
4135
4136Today, Highever is one of only two remaining teyrnirs, making the 
4137Cousland family second in rank only to the king.
4138
4139[Human Noble origin only]
4140The Cousland family, however, was all but wiped out in an unexpected 
4141attack by Arl Howe of Amaranthine, and the fate of the teyrnir is now in 
4142question.
4143
4144[All other origins]
4145Arl Howe of Amaranthine was named the new Teyrn of Highever under 
4146somewhat questionable circumstances, and the fate of the Cousland 
4147family is now uncertain.
4148
4149--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4150
4151ake Calenhad
4152egends of Lake Calenhad.
4153
4154The waters of Lake Calenhad are steeped in legends. The Avvar people 
4155say that it was once the site of Belenas, the mountain which stood at the 
4156center of the world, from which Korth the Mountain Father surveyed the 
4157earth and sky. But it was destroyed in the battle between Korth and the 
4158serpent Nathramar, leaving only a vast crater behind. When the Lady of 
4159the Skies saw that Belenas was gone, she wept, and her tears filled the 
4160crater, making the lake.
4161
4162The Tevinters believed that the waters of Lake Calenhad were blessed by 
4163Razikale, god of mysteries, and that those who drank from them were 
4164granted special insights. This was why they built the great tower on an 
4165island in the middle of the lake, hoping the powers of the lake would aid 
4166their magical research.
4167
4168But most of us know the legend of King Calenhad, which gives the place 
4169its name. It is said that Calenhad Theirin spent a year and a day in the 
4170Tower of the Magi. Each day, he drew a single cup full of water from the 
4171lake and carried it to the Formari at the top of the tower. By magic, each 
4172cup of water was forged into a single ring of the mail armor the Circle 
4173gave to Calenhad. In that armor, made from the lifeblood of the land itself,
4174no blade could strike him, no arrow pierce him, so long as he stood on 
4175Fereldan soil.
4176
4177--From Thedas: Myths and Legends, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4178
4179othering
4180On the village of Lothering.
4181
4182In ancient times, Lothering was little more than a trading post that served 
4183the fortress of Ostagar to the south. Nowadays, it is larger, serving 
4184Redcliffe and the community of merchants and surface dwarves near 
4185Orzammar. Its location on the North Road gives it strategic value, so 
4186control of Lothering has historically been a matter of contention between 
4187the Southern Bannorn and the South Reach Arling. King Calenhad himself
4188stepped in and awarded the town to South Reach in the Exalted Age, 
4189which has largely ended the feud, or at least the appearance of it.
4190
4191--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
4192Brother Genitivi.
4193
4194King Maric Theirin
4195On King Maric Theirin.
4196
4197It is difficult to separate the man from the myth. The last survivor of the 
4198bloodline of King Calenhad, the silver knight, Maric drove the Orlesian 
4199forces from Ferelden's borders, reclaimed the throne, and freed our people
4200from foreign tyranny. All true, and all larger than life.
4201
4202He was born in hiding near Cathal's Crossing to the Rebel Queen Moira 
4203and grew up in the rebel camps, an outlaw in his own country. When the 
4204rebel queen died, Maric inherited her homeless nobles, malcontents, and 
4205displaced freeholders, and with the aid of his friend Loghain Mac Tir, 
4206built them into an army.
4207
4208After the pivotal battle of River Dane, Maric took the throne. He married 
4209Rowan, daughter of Rendorn Guerrin, arl of Redcliffe, and began the long,
4210slow process of rebuilding everything Orlais had demolished during 70 
4211years of occupation.
4212
4213--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4214
4215Nevarra
4216An account of a trip to Nevarra.
4217
4218The fourth time I attempted to cross the border into Nevarra from Orlais 
4219and was turned back by Chevaliers, I decided to take the more 
4220roundabout path: A ship back to Ferelden, and then another to Nevarra. 
4221The outcome was more than worth the trouble.
4222
4223The whole country is filled with artistry, from the statues of heroes that 
4224litter the streets in even the meanest villages to the glittering golden 
4225College of Magi in Cumberland. Perhaps nowhere is more astonishing 
4226than the vast necropolis outside Nevarra City. Unlike most other followers
4227of Andraste, the Nevarrans do not burn their dead. Instead, they carefully 
4228preserve the bodies and seal them in elaborate tombs. Some of the 
4229wealthiest Nevarrans begin construction of their own tombs while quite 
4230young, and these become incredible palaces, complete with gardens, 
4231bathhouses, and ballrooms, utterly silent, kept only for the dead.
4232
4233--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
4234Brother Genitivi.
4235
4236The Noble Families of Ferelden
4237On Ferelden nobility.
4238
4239The occupation left empty castles in its wake. Whole families were 
4240butchered in the initial invasion, and all those who couldn't or wouldn't 
4241bend knee to the Emperor's puppet king were declared traitors and 
4242hunted. Many bloodlines ended on Chevaliers' blades at dusty crossroads,
4243in forest clearings, or in freeholds.
4244
4245And then there were the turncoats.
4246
4247To curry favor with their new masters, some nobles took up arms against 
4248their brothers. They betrayed and murdered the Rebel Queen, an act that 
4249created even more vacant titles and lands, once King Maric exacted justice.
4250
4251That Ferelden did not fall apart after the Orlesians left is a testament to the
4252strength of King Maric. The old families still held grudges against those 
4253who had sided with the emperor, and those new families that had been 
4254granted titles were viewed as interlopers. The Landsmeets that followed 
4255Maric's coronation were tense, to say the least.  
4256
4257--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4258
4259The Old Gods
4260On the Old Gods.
4261
4262Dumat, the Dragon of Silence.
4263Zazikel, the Dragon of Chaos.
4264Toth, the Dragon of Fire.
4265Andoral, the Dragon of Slaves.
4266Urthemiel, the Dragon of Beauty.
4267Razikale, the Dragon of Mystery.
4268usacan, the Dragon of Night.
4269
4270There were seven Old Gods, great winged dragons that were said to rule 
4271over the ancient world. The Chantry maintains that they are responsible 
4272for the original sin, that they turned humanity away from its true creator 
4273through deceit. Humanity’s faith faltered, and thus the Maker turned 
4274away from the world--but not before trapping the Old Gods in eternal 
4275prisons beneath the earth as punishment.
4276
4277Scholars assume that the Old Gods must indeed have been real at one 
4278point, but most agree that they were likely actual dragons--ancient high 
4279dragons of a magnitude not known today, and impressive enough to 
4280frighten ancient peoples into worshipping them. Some even claim that 
4281these dragons slumber as a form of hibernation, not as a result of the 
4282Maker's wrath.
4283
4284Regardless of the truth, legend maintains that even from their 
4285underground prisons, the Old Gods were able to whisper into the minds 
4286of men. The Archon Thalsian, first of the Magisters, who claimed to have 
4287contacted the Old God Dumat, used the blood magic Dumat taught to him
4288to attain incredible power in Tevinter and declare himself the ruler of an 
4289Empire. In return, he established the first temples worshipping the Old 
4290Gods, and the dragons became equated everywhere with imperial power.
4291
4292To date, four of the Old Gods are said to have risen as corrupted 
4293archdemons: Dumat, the first and most powerful, was slain at the Battle of
4294Silent Fields. Zazikel fell at the Battle of Starkhaven, Toth died at the 
4295Battle of Hunter Fell, and Andoral was felled by Garahel, the legendary 
4296Grey Warden, at the Battle of Ayesleigh. The archdemons have been 
4297identified only after years of argument among scholars, and to this day it 
4298is unclear whether the archdemons were truly Old Gods and not simply 
4299dragons. All that is known is that the darkspawn hunt for them deep 
4300underground. If they are truly the Old Gods, as many scholars believe, 
4301then we have only three Blights remaining. When all the Old Gods have 
4302risen and been slain, however, what will happen? Will the Blights end 
4303forever, and humanity earn forgiveness from the Maker at last? We shall 
4304see.
4305
4306--From The Old Gods Rise Again by Sister Mary, Chantry scholar, 8:50 
4307Blessed.
4308
4309The Orlesian Empire 
4310On the Orlesian Empire.
4311
4312There are many lords and ladies in Val Royeaux.
4313
4314And I mean this literally. Once, the system of noble titles in Orlais was 
4315labyrinthine: There were barons and baronnes and baronets and sur-
4316barons and a horde of others, each with its own origins and its own 
4317nuances of comparison. The Orlesian aristocracy is ancient and much 
4318given to competition. All the nobility play the Grand Game, as it is 
4319known, whether they wish to or not. It is a game of reputation and 
4320patronage, where moves are made with rumors and scandal is the chief 
4321weapon. No gentle game, this. More blood has been drawn as a result of 
4322the Grand Game than any war the Orlesians have fought. Of this, I am 
4323assured by almost every gentleman here.
4324
4325As far as titles went, everything changed with the coming of Emperor 
4326Drakon, who established the Orlesian Empire as it exists now, and who 
4327created the Chantry. There is no more venerated figure in Orlais; in Val 
4328Royeaux, the statue of Drakon stands as tall as the statue of Andraste. 
4329Drakon determined that the Grand Game was tearing Orlais apart, so he 
4330abolished all titles besides his own, and lord, and lady.
4331
4332I am told, with some twittering amusement, that this action did not end 
4333the Grand Game as Drakon had intended. Now the lords and ladies 
4334collected unofficial titles rather than official ones, such as "the exalted 
4335patron of Tassus Klay" or "uncle to the champion of Tremmes." It is a 
4336headache to remember such titles, and one winces to think of the poor 
4337doormen at the balls who must rattle them off as each guest enters the 
4338room.
4339
4340The aristocracy is different from Ferelden in other ways, as well. The 
4341Orlesians' right to rule stems directly from the Maker. There exists neither 
4342the concept of rule by merit nor the slightest notion of rebellion. If one is 
4343not noble, one aspires to be--or at the least aspires to be in the good graces 
4344of a noble, and is ever watching for a way to enter the patronage of those 
4345better placed in the Grand Game.
4346
4347And then there are the masks. And the cosmetics: I have not seen so much 
4348paint since the kennels at Highever. But that is another story.
4349
4350--From Beyond the Frostbacks, by Bann Teoric of West Hill, 9:20 Dragon.
4351
4352The Casteless
4353An explanation of the casteless.
4354
4355The caste system in Orzammar includes many groups of privilege--the 
4356nobility and the warriors above all others, but to a lesser degree the 
4357merchants and the smiths and the miners. Tradition establishes a clear 
4358hierarchy. But as in any culture with an upper class, there is also a clear 
4359underclass. These unfortunates, the so-called "casteless," are believed to be
4360descendants of criminals and other undesirables. They have been looked 
4361down upon since Orzammar's foundation. They have taken up residence 
4362in a place called "Dust Town," a crumbling ruin on the fringe of 
4363Orzammar's common areas.
4364
4365Orzammar society considers these casteless lower than even the Servant 
4366Caste (indeed, the casteless are not allowed to become servants, as it is too
4367honorable a position). They are seen as little better than animals, their 
4368faces branded at birth to mark them as the bastard children of the 
4369kingdom. Their home district, little more than a slum, is a haven for crime,
4370organized and otherwise. Orzammar's guards seemingly cannot be 
4371bothered to patrol its streets. The best that most casteless dwarves can 
4372hope for is a life at the whim of a local crime lord, ended abruptly by 
4373violence or an overabundance of toxic lichen ale.
4374
4375Even so, there is some hope for the casteless, a dangling rope that offers a 
4376way up into greater Orzammar society. Since a dwarf's caste is 
4377determined by the parent of the same sex, the male child of a nobleman is 
4378part of that noble's house and caste. Strangely, it is acceptable for casteless 
4379women to train in the arts of courtly romance to woo nobles and warriors; 
4380they are known as "noble hunters." Any male born from such a union is 
4381considered a joyous event, considering the low rate of dwarven fertility. 
4382The mother and entire family are then taken in by the father's house, 
4383although they retain their caste.
4384
4385The dwarves we know on the surface are also considered casteless once 
4386they leave Orzammar, although this is only relevant to those who return--
4387if they are allowed to return at all. Dwarves who leave for the surface (the 
4388"sun-touched," as they're often called behind their backs) lose their 
4389connection to the Stone and the favor of the ancestors, and thus are 
4390worthy of little more than pity, for upon dying they are said to be lost to 
4391the Stone forever. Put that way, it seems a sad existence indeed.
4392
4393--From Stone Halls of the Dwarves by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar.
4394
4395The Castes
4396An explanation of the dwarven caste system.
4397
4398Visitors to Orzammar should keep in mind that the hierarchies of 
4399dwarven society are much more complex than our own. It is easy to 
4400gravely insult a man simply by mistaking his position. Since this can lead 
4401to unnecessary loss of life and limbs, I will attempt to mitigate the danger 
4402for my fellow travelers.
4403
4404The society of Orzammar is divided into nobles, warriors, smiths, artisans,
4405miners, merchants, and servants. Now, you are undoubtedly saying to 
4406yourself, "We have all those divisions among our own people." This is a 
4407dangerous misconception. Certainly, we do have nobility, artisans, 
4408merchants, and these positions are largely inherited from our parents. 
4409However, the younger children of noblemen often choose to be artisans or
4410soldiers. The sons of merchants may join the army, or become servants, or 
4411apprentice themselves to a craftsman. This is all freely chosen. Limited, 
4412perhaps, by the circumstances of birth, but still chosen. 
4413
4414What is a matter of choice for most human folk is dictated entirely by birth
4415for dwarves. No one may become a smith who was not born to Smith 
4416Caste parents. A servant who marries a noblewoman will never be a noble
4417himself, and although his daughters would be nobles, his sons would be 
4418servants, for daughters inherit the caste of their mother, while sons inherit
4419the caste of their father.
4420
4421--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
4422Brother Genitivi.
4423
4424Life in Orzammar
4425On the culture of the dwarves of Orzammar.
4426
4427The dwarves of Orzammar are quite unlike those found in most human 
4428cities. Although Orzammar derives its vast wealth from trade with human
4429kingdoms, all dwarves who come to the surface to trade are stripped of 
4430their position in society. Dwarven merchants are so ubiquitous in human 
4431cities that many people labor under the impression that all dwarves are 
4432merchants, or that their whole race worships coin and trade. But these 
4433surface dwarves are atypical creatures, the ones willing to give up all ties 
4434to their kin and sacrifice their rank in order to conduct business.
4435
4436Below ground, the dwarves are a people obsessed with honor--their own, 
4437and that of their family. Most nobles incorporate chainmail even into 
4438formal gowns, because slights and insults often turn deadly.
4439
4440They are a people who revere excellence and strive to achieve it in all 
4441things. Even members of the Servant Caste have been elevated to 
4442Paragons, usually posthumously, in recognition of remarkable service. 
4443
4444--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
4445Brother Genitivi.
4446
4447Deep Roads
4448On the Deep Roads.
4449
4450There isn't a dwarf alive who remembers the Deep Roads as they once 
4451were. They were the network of tunnels that joined the thaigs together. To
4452be honest, it isn't even right to give them such a simple term as "tunnels": 
4453They are works of art, with centuries of planning demonstrated in the 
4454geometry of their walls, with the statues of the Paragons that watch over 
4455travelers, with the flow of lava that keeps the Deep Roads lit and warm. 
4456The cloudgazers up on the surface talk of the Imperial Highway built by 
4457the magisters of old, a raised walkway that crossed thousands of miles, 
4458something that could only have been built by magic. Perhaps it is 
4459comparable to the Deep Roads, although we dwarves didn't need magic.
4460
4461I suppose it doesn't matter any more. The darkspawn rule the Deep Roads
4462now. When Orzammar sealed off the entrances to the Deep Roads, 
4463abandoning everything that lay out there, we handed over the kingdom-
4464that-was to those black bastards forever. To think that there are genlocks 
4465crawling over Bownammar now, tearing down our statues and defiling 
4466our greatest works! Corruption covers everything we built out there. 
4467Every dwarf who goes out and comes back says that it gets worse with 
4468each passing year, the foulness spread a little further.
4469
4470And the cloudgazers think the darkspawn are gone just because they 
4471aren't spilling out onto the surface? Huh. One day, when Orzammar is 
4472gone for good, they'll find out differently. Those darkspawn won't have 
4473anywhere else to go but up, and they'll do it. The surface folk will have 
4474themselves a Blight that will never end.
4475
4476--Transcript of a conversation with a member of the dwarven Mining Caste, 8:90 
4477Blessed.
4478
4479The City of Orzammar
4480On the layout of the city of Orzammar.
4481
4482The dwarves are lauded for their craftsmanship, and the city of 
4483Orzammar is one of their finest works. Orzammar lies at the heart of the 
4484Frostback Mountains, deep underground. The city arcs outward from the 
4485royal palace, which is built around a natural lava vent, continually 
4486fountaining liquid rock, which both lights and heats the entire cavern.
4487
4488The topmost tier of Orzammar is home to the noble caste, with their 
4489palaces fanning out in both directions from the court of the king, as well 
4490as the Shaperate, which serves as a repository for all dwarven knowledge.
4491
4492The lower tier is the Commons, where the merchant caste holds sway and 
4493where the finest works of Orzammar's craftsman are for sale. In the center 
4494of the river of lava, connected to the Commons by a causeway, are the 
4495Proving Grounds, a sacred arena where the dwarves, by ancient tradition, 
4496settle their disputes.
4497
4498On one side of the fiery river are the ruins of old dwarven palaces, fallen 
4499into disrepair, which the locals call Dust Town, now home to the city's 
4500casteless. On the other side of the river are the Deep Roads, which once 
4501joined the sprawling dwarven empire together, but now, after centuries of
4502darkspawn incursions, are largely sealed off. Nearly all knowledge of this 
4503network of underground passages has been lost, even to its builders.
4504
4505--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
4506Brother Genitivi.
4507
4508Cut to Kal Sharok
4509On the loss of Kal Sharok from the dwarven empire.
4510
45111155 of the Tevinter Imperium will be known as a year of painful 
4512decisions, but we cannot waver. The threat we face is the greatest we have
4513known. If we are overrun, all trace of the ancestors' glory will be undone. 
4514Orzammar must stand, and it must stand alone. Hormak, Kal Sharok, 
4515Gundaar: We have lost contact, and must assume they are lost to the 
4516horde. We must seal the weakest link in our defense, the Deep Roads that 
4517lead to our fallen brethren. I have ordered our finest demolitionists to 
4518place the charges. I ask that each of you think of those we have lost. They 
4519served as the warning that spurred us to action, and I know the Stone will 
4520embrace them. They are the foundation of our survival, and they will not 
4521be forgotten."
4522
4523--From a proclamation by High King Threestone.
4524
4525200 years! Kal Sharok lives, you Stone-forsaken deep lords. There is no 
4526greater hatred than a brother at your throat!
4527
4528--Graffiti, author unknown.
4529
4530Legion of the Dead
4531An explanation of the Legion of the Dead.
4532
4533"Yes, Stone's greetings friend
4534You will fight ceaselessly in
4535The Legion of the Dead."
4536--Motto of the Legion of the Dead.
4537
4538The Legion accepts all.
4539
4540So I was told by one of the Legionnaires himself, a dwarf who waited 
4541quietly at the entrance to the Deep Roads for the rest of his unit to 
4542assemble. They gathered slowly, each equipped with heavy armor and 
4543fine weapons, each painted with grim tattoos applied at their funerals the 
4544night previous.
4545
4546For that is the nature of the Legion. They are all dead. Any dwarf may join
4547the Legion, so long as he is willing to give up everything he has. The 
4548funeral rites are somber: a final goodbye is said to family and loved ones, 
4549any material goods are dispersed to heirs and last words are said, and 
4550then it is done. The new Legionnaire marches out into the Deep Roads, 
4551never to return. The Legion fights against the darkspawn to the last, 
4552striking one final blow against the monsters that have claimed so much of 
4553their homeland.
4554
4555Many join the Legion to clear the slate. Criminals join to avoid 
4556punishment. The dishonored join so that their houses and families need 
4557not suffer on their behalf. The bankrupted join so their debts might be 
4558forgiven. A very few join for a last chance at glory, but the Legion takes 
4559them too.
4560
4561This group hopes to reach the fabled fortress of Bownammar, once the 
4562egion's home, associated with the greatest of their Paragons. 
4563Bownammar is a holy place, its loss the last great blow against the 
4564dwarven kingdoms, and its recapture would be a glorious signal to all of 
4565Orzammar. But capture it or no, all of these warriors will die in the Deep 
4566Roads. It is a sobering thought, and I now know why the dwarves say the 
4567egion's charge is the battlefield's most frightening sight. They have 
4568nothing left to lose.
4569
4570--From Stone Halls of the Dwarves, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar.
4571
4572House Aeducan, Shield of Orzammar
4573On House Aeducan.
4574
4575The Assembly has never named a Paragon with so little disagreement as 
4576there was for Paragon Aeducan. No naysayers, only a single abstention. 
4577His worthiness was unquestionable, his favor with the Ancestors clear.
4578
4579But family rumor says that the man himself was deeply troubled. Prone to
4580fits of melancholy and self-doubt, never satisfied with his great 
4581achievement in protecting Orzammar, he died cursing that he had not 
4582managed to save the outlying thaigs. 
4583
4584Before he rose to Paragon, he was of little note. The Memories tell us that 
4585he never entered a single Proving, never sought to elevate his place 
4586among the Warrior Caste. He spent most of his years prior to the first 
4587Blight fighting skirmishes in the Deep Roads, keeping them free from 
4588surface bandits, content to live quietly with his wife and daughters.
4589
4590When the Blight began, it caught Orzammar in the midst of a vicious 
4591inter-house war. Most of the Warrior Caste was caught up in the feuding, 
4592for as word of attacks poured in, each great house demanded that the 
4593army be sent to defend their thaig, and no house would agree to sacrifice 
4594their own holdings for the safety of any others. The Assembly was so 
4595utterly tied up with the infighting that the darkspawn spread, unchecked, 
4596to the gates of Orzammar herself.
4597
4598In the chaos, Aeducan grudgingly took command of the armies. He 
4599enlisted the aid of the Mining Caste to collapse overrun passages, called 
4600upon the Smith Caste to supply them with arms, and bypassed the 
4601Assembly and the nobles entirely. With his leadership, Orzammar was 
4602saved from annihilation. For his insubordination, he was made Paragon.
4603
4604Yet he always considered it a defeat.
4605
4606--From A History of Aeducan: Paragon, King, Peacemaker, by Scholar 
4607Gertek.
4608
4609The Paragons
4610An explanation of the Paragons.
4611
4612As I studied among the dwarves, I became aware that their social system 
4613was as rigid as the stone that surrounded them. From the lowest servant 
4614to the king of Orzammar, each dwarf has a caste, a rigid social standing, 
4615which dictates what he may do and how he may do it. What fascinated me
4616then was that the dwarves, stubborn and proud as they may be, have built
4617in a way for even the lowliest dwarf to bypass the caste system and reach 
4618prominence. Any dwarf who has made an achievement of significance can
4619be named Paragon, elevating that dwarf above all others.
4620
4621To become a Paragon is to be recognized as, essentially, a living ancestor. 
4622Your words are considered ineffable, and the dwarves liken you unto a 
4623god. Your family, those you choose to ascend with you, become the 
4624founders of a new line of nobility. Indeed, every existing noble house 
4625among the dwarves traces its line back to a founding Paragon. It is a rare 
4626thing, however. In my visit, I learned that only one Paragon has been 
4627elected in generations: The smith Branka, exalted for her discovery of 
4628smokeless coal.
4629
4630I met the Paragon Branka only once during my stay, and I consider it an 
4631odd occasion indeed. Surrounded by those of her house, this ill-tempered 
4632woman was draped in the finest clothing and jewelry, and was obviously 
4633revered even above the highest nobles--perhaps above even the king--yet 
4634she seemed to enjoy none of it. The burden of being a living legend is 
4635great, it appears.
4636
4637Statues of the Paragons are found throughout Orzammar, though 
4638nowhere so prominently than in the Hall of Heroes through which one 
4639passes on entering from the surface. It is a breathtaking sight to behold, 
4640great works of stone all seeming to hold up the ceiling above. It is meant 
4641to impress upon visitors to Orzammar of all who have gone before, I 
4642think. It is also meant to remind dwarves going to the surface--and thus 
4643abandoning their brethren forever--of all they are leaving behind.
4644
4645--From Stone Halls of the Dwarves by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar.
4646
4647Orzammar Politics
4648On the political structure of Orzammar.
4649
4650As dangerous as it is to mistake a dwarf's caste, it is far more deadly to 
4651mistake his alliances among the noble houses of Orzammar. Everyone in 
4652the city is allied with someone, whether by blood or by word. The nobles 
4653do not engage directly in commerce themselves, as that is the domain of 
4654the Merchant Caste, but they do serve as patrons. They invest in shops or 
4655in artisans' work, and in turn reap a share of the profits as well as a 
4656measure of the credit. Merchants and warriors alike benefit from the 
4657service of a prestigious patron.
4658
4659The relative power of each house is ever-changing. It is usually safe to 
4660assume that whichever noble house holds the throne is at the top of the 
4661heap, but below that, things grow into a tangled mess. Houses ally with 
4662one another by marriage. They earn rank and prestige when combatants 
4663loyal to them, or from their own bloodlines, win Provings. They earn it 
4664when artisans they patronize become sought-after or well regarded, or 
4665when the merchants they invest in become successful. The degrees of 
4666power that these achievements confer is so murky, even to the dwarves, 
4667that it isn't unusual for nobles to challenge each another to Provings over 
4668whose smith forges better belt buckles, or whose servants have the best 
4669manners. Nor is it out of the ordinary to find two merchants arguing over 
4670whose noble patron has won the most acclaim, for the rank of the patron 
4671is the rank of the client.
4672
4673Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Assembly, where the deshyrs, 
4674representatives of each noble house, meet. Although the king technically 
4675rules Orzammar, kings are elected by the Assembly, and so each king 
4676must work constantly to maintain the support of the deshyrs. Kings who 
4677prove unpopular find their heirs deemed unacceptable to inherit the 
4678throne. Power then passes to another house.
4679
4680--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
4681Brother Genitivi.
4682
4683The Proving
4684A story of the Provings.
4685
4686Valos atredum. In the 23rd year of the reign of King Ragnan Aeducan, an 
4687old man of the Servant Caste was accused of stealing a sapphire ring from 
4688his employer, Lord Dace. The servant was stripped of his position, he and 
4689his family thrown to the streets, and soon after, the servant died.
4690
4691The son of the disgraced servant challenged Lord Dace to a Proving, 
4692declaring that his father had been the victim of a cruel injustice and the 
4693ancestors would bear him witness. Lord Dace had no choice but to accept.
4694
4695On the sacred stone of the Proving Ground, the nobleman faced the 
4696servant boy. Lord Dace carried a sword crafted for his own hand and was 
4697clad in his great-grandfather's armor. The servant boy had neither armor 
4698nor weapon. When the battle began, the boy fought like a whole pack of 
4699angry deepstalkers, flinging himself upon the startled lord, wrenching the 
4700sword from his hand, and prying at his armor with bare fingers. The boy 
4701knocked Lord Dace to the ground and beat him until the lord begged for 
4702mercy.
4703
4704The boy and his family were reinstated to their place in the Dace 
4705household, and the virtue of the boy's father was not questioned again. 
4706The ancestors had spoken, and no one would question their word.  
4707
4708--As told by Shaper Vortag.
4709
4710Dwarven Faith
4711On dwarven religion.
4712
4713[Dwarf origins only]
4714We are the Children of the Stone. She supports us, shelters us, offers us 
4715the most priceless gifts of the earth. The worthy return to her embrace in 
4716death, becoming Ancestors. The unworthy are cast out, unable to rest, that
4717their failings may not weaken the Stone. 
4718
4719So it has been since the earliest memories. We live by the Stone, guided by
4720the Ancestors, who speak with the voice of the Provings, and whose 
4721memories the Shaperate keeps forever in lyrium.
4722
4723We do not accept the empty promises of heaven as the wild elves do, or 
4724vie for the favor of absent gods. Instead, we follow in the footsteps of our 
4725Paragons--the greatest of our ancestors, warriors, craftsmen, leaders, the 
4726greatest examples of lives spent in service to our fellow dwarves. Our 
4727Paragons joined with the Stone in life, and now stand watch at our gate, 
4728ushering in those surfacers privileged to visit our city. We know there is 
4729no greater honor to hope for, no better reward for an exceptional life.
4730
4731--As told by Shaper Czibor.
4732
4733[All other origins]
4734The Chant of Light is almost never heard in the halls of Orzammar. This is
4735hardly surprising, for, unlike the elves, who were literally abandoned by 
4736their gods, or the Tevinters, who worshipped dragons, the dwarves have 
4737no gods at all.
4738
4739Even the concept of worship is foreign in Orzammar. Instead, the dwarves
4740seem to venerate "the Stone," a name they give to the earth itself. This 
4741seems practical for a people living underground, if perhaps a bit 
4742unimaginative.
4743
4744For guidance in spiritual matters, they turn to their ancestors. These 
4745ancestors, who are said to have returned to the Stone, communicate their 
4746wishes to the living via brutal trials-by-combat called Provings. The 
4747ancestors' collective wisdom is maintained by the Shaperate, which can 
4748apparently store records in lyrium itself.
4749
4750Set above the ancestors, above even kings, are the Paragons--dwarves who
4751have achieved such greatness that they are elevated almost to godhood. 
4752These are the great figures holding up the hallway that leads from the 
4753surface, the first glimpse of Orzammar that outsiders see.
4754
4755--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
4756Brother Genitivi.
4757
4758Stalata Negat
4759On the dwarves' unknown burden.
4760
47619:13 Dragon--The Blight is building, though it is years from being named 
4762by the surface. But the Memories know the signs. The Legion has lost 
4763Bownammar, though in truth, it was lost to the living long ago. The 
4764spawn are moving freely and have numbers even the Memories haven't 
4765seen. They will surge, release. We will fortify and follow. That is the way, 
4766and will always be so. Until we fall, and the surface wonders what has 
4767changed.
4768
4769--From chapter 49 of Stalata Negat: The Stone Unheld: A Commentary on 
4770the Roll of Years, by Shaper Erden.
4771
47727:0 Storm--The wars continue in the depths and the border thaigs are lost. 
4773Orzammar fortifies and holds, but the lost ground is not regained and 
4774remains dead space, where darkspawn multiply. It was a surge, but the 
4775surface was not breached, there was no great archdemon behind them. No
4776Blight was declared, no rallying cry was given. The Wardens slumbered.
4777
4778After centuries of constant skirmishes, a trend becomes clear. The first line
4779of defense, unacknowledged for centuries, weakens.
4780
4781--From chapter 40 of Stalata Negat: The Stone Unheld: A Commentary on 
4782the Roll of Years, by Shaper Erden.
4783
47845:12 Exalted--The surface declares the fourth Blight, a number that means 
4785nothing to the Stone. In the depths, the events are inverted, our Blight 
4786spanning the interim years. Seven generations of shifting lines and 
4787darkness. Our Ancestors are the reason the surface kingdoms don't know 
4788a darkspawn by sight, why even their eldest have never heard an 
4789accounting first-hand. They believe the Blights are defeated by a gathering
4790of allies with singular focus. Eventually, they will be lost by attrition in the
4791depths.
4792
4793The spawn surges and releases. We fortify and follow, although doubts 
4794are raised.
4795
4796--From chapter 27 of Stalata Negat: The Stone Unheld: A Commentary on 
4797the Roll of Years, by Shaper Erden.
4798 
47993:10 Towers--They name it a Blight, the third by their reckoning. It was 
4800just "the fight" to our ancestors, continued even though it shifts setting. 
4801The hordes that press their border surge and release, spilling across the 
4802surface. They fortify and follow. It was not their way to let the enemy rest.
4803
48043:25 Towers--The surface kingdoms declare victory. The horde is crushed, 
4805the push halted, and celebrations begin as humans thank the skies and 
4806their Maker. Beneath their gaze and their feet, the darkspawn retreat to 
4807the steps of our thaigs. New front lines are drawn across old. They settle 
4808in to breed, the Memories say, as happened twice before, and likely in the 
4809darkness before that.
4810
4811--From chapters 14 and 17 of Stalata Negat: The Stone Unheld: A 
4812Commentary on the Roll of Years, by Shaper Erden.
4813
4814Orzammar History: Chapter One
4815On early dwarven history.
4816
4817The Memories tell us that our kingdom once reached far beneath the 
4818mountains, and that the thaigs were almost beyond counting. Kal Sharok 
4819was the capital then, home to all the noble houses, and Orzammar was 
4820simply the home of the Miner and Smith castes. 
4821
4822It was with the Tevinter Imperium that things changed. Paragon Garal 
4823moved the seat of power to Orzammar to more closely oversee the trade 
4824that began with the surface. It seemed that our people were entering a 
4825new age of prosperity.
4826
4827The Memories hold no explanations for the coming of the darkspawn, 
4828only questions. At first, they were rumors, noises in the Deep Roads, a lost
4829traveler here and there. The Warrior Caste sent men to patrol the road, 
4830and thought the matter settled. We did not know that while we searched 
4831for them, they were engaged in a search of their own.
4832
4833Sleeping deep in the Stone itself was the archdemon. They found him, and
4834awakened him, and the Blight began.
4835
4836The darkspawn poured out of the Deep Roads like smoke, then, and the 
4837Warrior Caste struggled to hold them back. Countless thaigs were lost in 
4838that first Blight. But, as ever, in the worst moments of our need, a Paragon 
4839arose.  Paragon Aeducan led the defenses of Orzammar, and the dark 
4840horde was beaten back.  
4841
4842The cost of victory, however, was great. Much of the Deep Roads were 
4843sealed to hold back the darkspawn, cutting off thaigs and even whole 
4844cities forever.  
4845
4846--"Orzammar as a Kingdom," as told by Shaper Czibor.
4847
4848Orzammar History: Chapter Two
4849On golems.
4850
4851We were losing the war against the darkspawn. Slowly. A few men at a 
4852time, but losing all the same. The Warrior Caste was dwindling with each 
4853generation as more able-bodied men perished in their prime without 
4854fathering sons. With each generation, more of the Deep Road had to be 
4855sealed, more thaigs lost forever. The kings of Orzammar watched, and 
4856wondered how long it would be until nothing remained of our people but 
4857the Memories.
4858
4859And then Paragon Caridin arose from the Smith Caste with a new 
4860weapon: Golems. Giant soldiers of living stone and metal, each one was 
4861an army. With the Paragon's golems, we began to retake the lands we had 
4862lost. For a while, there was hope that victory, final victory, was coming.
4863
4864But at the height of the war, Paragon Caridin disappeared, and with him, 
4865the means to make golems. Several forays were made into the Deep Roads
4866to search for the Paragon, but nothing was ever found. Over time, the 
4867golems we had were damaged beyond repair, and we began our slide, 
4868once again, toward extinction.
4869
4870--"Orzammar as a Kingdom," as told by Shaper Czibor.
4871
4872Ostagar
4873On the ruined fortress of Ostagar.
4874
4875Representing the furthest point of encroachment by the ancient Tevinter 
4876Imperium into the barbarian lands of the southeast, the fortress of Ostagar
4877was once one of the most important defensive holdings south of the 
4878Waking Sea. It stood at the edge of the Korcari Wilds watching for any 
4879signs of invasion by the barbarians known today as the Chasind wilders. 
4880Straddling a narrow pass in the hills, the fortress needed to be by-passed 
4881to reach the fertile lowlands to the north and proved to be exceedingly 
4882difficult for the wilders to attack because of its naturally defensible 
4883position.
4884
4885ike most imperial holdings in the south, Ostagar was abandoned after 
4886Tevinter's collapse during the first Blight. It was successfully sacked by 
4887the Chasind wilders and then, as the Chasind threat dwindled following 
4888the creation of the modern Ferelden nation, fell to ruin completely.
4889
4890It has remained unmanned for four centuries, though most of the walls 
4891still stand--as does the tall Tower of Ishal, named after the great archon 
4892that ordered its construction. Ostagar remains a testament to the magical 
4893power of the Imperium that created it.
4894
4895--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4896
4897Par Vollen: The Occupied North
4898An account of the qunari conquest of Par Vollen.
4899
4900In the 30th year of the Steel Age, the first qunari ships were sighted off the
4901coast of Par Vollen in the far north, marking the beginning of a new age of
4902warfare.
4903
4904History calls this the First Qunari War, but it was mostly a one-sided 
4905bloodbath, with the qunari advancing far into the mainland. Qunari 
4906warriors in glittering steel armor carved through armies with ease. Their 
4907cannons, the likes of which our ancestors had never seen, reduced city 
4908walls to rubble in a matter of seconds.
4909
4910Stories of qunari occupation vary greatly. It is said they dismantled 
4911families and sent captives to "learning camps" for indoctrination into their 
4912religion. Those who refused to cooperate disappeared to mines or 
4913construction camps.
4914
4915For every tale of suffering, however, there is another of enlightenment 
4916deriving from something called the "Qun." This is either a philosophical 
4917code or a written text that governs all aspects of qunari life, perhaps both. 
4918One converted Seheran reported pity for those who refused to embrace 
4919the Qun, as if the conquerors had led him to a sort of self-discovery. "For 
4920all my life, I followed the Maker wherever his path led me," he wrote, "but
4921in the Qun I have found the means to travel my own path."
4922
4923It has been said that the most complete way to wipe out a people is not 
4924with blades but with books. Thankfully, a world that had repelled four 
4925Blights would not easily bow to a foreign aggressor. And so the Exalted 
4926Marches began.
4927
4928The greatest advantage of the Chantry-led forces was the Circle of Magi. 
4929For all their technology, the qunari appeared to harbor great hatred for 
4930magic. Faced with cannons, the Chantry responded with lightning and 
4931balls of fire.
4932
4933The qunari armies lacked the sheer numbers of humanity. So many were 
4934slain at Marnas Pell, on both sides, that the Veil is said to be permanently 
4935sundered, the ruins still plagued by restless corpses. But each year, the 
4936Chantry pushed further and further into the qunari lines, although local 
4937converts to the Qun proved difficult to return to Andraste's teachings.
4938
4939By the end of the Storm Age, the qunari were truly pushed back. Rivain 
4940was the only human land that retained the qunari religion after being 
4941freed, and its rulers attempted to barter a peace. Most human lands signed
4942the Llomerryn Accord, excepting the Tevinter Imperium. It is a shaky 
4943peace that has lasted to this day.
4944
4945--From The Exalted Marches: An Examination of Chantry Warfare, by 
4946Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
4947
4948The Qunari
4949An account of the qunari.
4950
4951Anyone who travels far enough to the north will eventually encounter the 
4952qunari: White-haired, bronze-skinned giants, a head again taller than a 
4953man, with frighteningly calm demeanors and a sort of sparkling fire 
4954behind their eyes. 
4955
4956For quite a long time, people believed that all qunari were male, or that 
4957their men and women were simply indistinguishable. It was not until the 
4958Blessed Age that diplomats from Rivain were allowed, however briefly, to
4959visit Par Vollen, and there they discovered that qunari females do exist in 
4960abundance, and are quite easily recognized. The Rivaini say that qunari 
4961have a certain kindness to them, or at least a conspicuous lack of cruelty, 
4962although I did not observe the creatures closely enough to evaluate their 
4963character.
4964
4965--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by 
4966Brother Genitivi.
4967
4968Redcliffe
4969An account of Redcliffe.
4970
4971King Calenhad Theirin once famously declared, "The fate of Redcliffe is 
4972the fate of all Ferelden." Certainly, the castle is the first and last defense for
4973the sole land route into Ferelden, and the country has never fallen to any 
4974force that did not first capture Redcliffe.
4975
4976The castle, which despite being three times captured is popularly 
4977described as "unassailable," also guards one of the largest and most 
4978prosperous towns in Ferelden. Redcliffe village is well situated near the 
4979mountain pass to Orzammar and the Orlesian border, and so serves as a 
4980center of foreign trade. For these reasons, Redcliffe is accounted an arling 
4981despite the smallness of the domain.
4982
4983The inhabitants of Redcliffe village are primarily fishermen or merchants 
4984who ship dwarven goods through the pass from Orlais to Denerim. When 
4985the entire village smells of smoked fish on certain late autumn mornings, 
4986
4987the merchants in their finery do their utmost to pretend otherwise.  
4988
4989--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
4990Brother Genitivi.
4991
4992Rivain
4993An account of the nation of Rivain.
4994
4995Nowhere in my travels, not in the heart of the Imperium nor the streets of 
4996Orzammar, have I felt so much an outsider as in Rivain.
4997
4998The Chant of Light never truly reached the ears of these people. The years 
4999they spent under the thumb of the qunari left most of the country zealous 
5000followers of the Qun. But resistance to the Chant goes deeper than the 
5001Qunari War. The Rivaini refuse to be parted from their seers, wise women 
5002who are in fact hedge mages, communicating with spirits and actually 
5003allowing themselves to become possessed. The Chantry prohibition 
5004against such magical practices violates millennia of local tradition.
5005
5006--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
5007Brother Genitivi.
5008
5009The Tevinter Imperium
5010On the Tevinter Imperium.
5011
5012The Imperium is little more than a dilapidated old slattern, crouching in 
5013the far north of Thedas, drunkenly cursing at passersby to recall her faded
5014beauty.
5015
5016One can see that Minrathous was once the center of the world. The 
5017vestiges of her power and artistry yet stand. But they are buried in the 
5018layers of filth that the Imperium's decadence has accumulated over the 
5019ages. The magocracy live in elegant stone towers, literally elevated above 
5020the stench of the slaves and peasants below. The outskirts of Minrathous 
5021are awash in a sea of refugees turned destitute by the never-ending war 
5022between the Imperium and the qunari.
5023
5024And yet the Imperium survives. Whether with sword or magic, Tevinter 
5025remains a force to be reckoned with. Minrathous has been besieged by 
5026men, by qunari, by Andraste herself, and never fallen.   
5027
5028--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
5029Brother Genitivi.
5030
5031egend of the Juggernaut
5032A legend of the Juggernaut armor.
5033
5034The arm of the Imperium is long.
5035
5036Once it reached even this forest, in a time when the barbarian tribes of the 
5037Clayne still ruled the land. The Tevinter magisters fought to take it from 
5038them--inch by inch, if need be, using terrible magic. The Magister Harach 
5039brought an army to this forest, led by Alaric, his friend and general. For 
5040Alaric, Harach fashioned a suit of the finest armor, infused it with lyrium 
5041and his own blood magic, and named it "Juggernaut" after the 
5042unstoppable giant golems guarding the gates of Minrathous. Thus armed 
5043did Alaric win many victories against the Clayne.
5044
5045When defeat came, it came from within. Alaric's own lieutenants rose up 
5046against him, jealous of the favor he had curried with the magisters and 
5047eager to take the Juggernaut armor from him. Alaric was slain, and as 
5048each successor gained the armor, the other lieutenants turned against him 
5049in stead. The Tevinter outpost fell to vicious infighting. In a fury, Magister
5050Harach voyaged to the outpost and slew the last three lieutenants.
5051
5052The Clayne, however, were already approaching the outpost in force. The 
5053barbarian chieftain of the Clayne desired the fabled armor himself, and 
5054even with all his power, Harach could not hope to stand against them all. 
5055Instead, Harach used the last of his own life force to cast a spell of blood 
5056magic that bound demons to the bodies of the three dead lieutenants as 
5057well as Harach's own lifeless corpse. These bound revenants hid the pieces
5058of the Juggernaut armor, and although the barbarians sacked the outpost, 
5059the chieftain found neither the armor nor the revenants. 
5060
5061The Juggernaut armor's legend lives on, and more than one brave soul has
5062ventured into the depths of the Brecilian Forest in search, never to return.
5063
5064--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
5065
5066Geography of Thedas
5067On the continent of Thedas.
5068
5069Thedas is bounded to the east by the Amaranthine Ocean, to the west by 
5070Tirashan Forest and the Hunterhorn Mountains, to the south by the snowy
5071wastes that lie beyond the Orkney Mountains, and to the north by Donark 
5072Forest. 
5073
5074The word "Thedas" is Tevinter in origin, originally used to refer to lands 
5075that bordered the Imperium. As the Imperium lost its stranglehold on 
5076conquered nations, more and more lands became Thedas, until finally 
5077people applied the name to the entire continent.
5078
5079The northern part of Thedas is divided amongst the Anderfels, the 
5080Tevinter Imperium, Antiva, and Rivain, with the islands held by the 
5081qunari just off the coast. Central Thedas consists of the Free Marches, 
5082Nevarra, and Orlais, with Ferelden to the south.
5083
5084What lies beyond the snowy wastes is a mystery. The freezing 
5085temperatures and barren land have kept even the most intrepid 
5086cartographers at bay. Similarly, the western reaches of the Anderfels have 
5087never been fully explored, even by the Anders themselves. We do not 
5088know if the dry steppes are shadowed by mountains, or if they extend all 
5089the way to a nameless sea.
5090
5091There must be other lands, continents or islands, perhaps across the 
5092Amaranthine or north of Par Vollen, for the qunari arrived in Thedas from
5093somewhere, but beyond that deduction, we know nothing. 
5094
5095--From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of A Chantry Scholar, by 
5096Brother Genitivi.
5097
5098Vhenadahl: The Tree of the People
5099An explanation of the great tree in the alienage.
5100
5101Mostly the old ways are gone. Each generation forgets a little more of the 
5102old tongue, a little more of the traditions. And the few things we keep 
5103become simple habits, the meaning long since faded.
5104
5105So it is with the vhenadahl, the tree of the people. Every alienage has one, 
5106I'm told. Or they used to. When I was a little girl, my mother told me the 
5107tree was a symbol of Arlathan, but not even she knew more. Keeping the 
5108vhenadahl is just a habit, now. Many cities have let theirs wither and die, 
5109then chopped them up for firewood. No great loss.
5110
5111--Sarethia, hahren of the Highever Alienage.
5112
5113The Grey Wardens
5114A history of the Grey Wardens.
5115
5116The first Blight had already raged for 90 years. The world was in chaos. A 
5117god had risen, twisted and corrupted. The remaining gods of Tevinter 
5118were silent, withdrawn. What writing we have recovered from those times
5119is filled with despair, for everyone believed, from the greatest archons to 
5120the lowliest slaves, that the world was coming to an end.
5121
5122At Weisshaupt fortress in the desolate Anderfels, a meeting transpired. 
5123Soldiers of the Imperium, seasoned veterans who had known nothing 
5124their entire lifetimes except hopeless war, came together. When they left 
5125Weisshaupt, they had renounced their oaths to the Imperium. They were 
5126soldiers no longer: They were the Grey Wardens.
5127
5128The Wardens began an aggressive campaign against the Blight, striking 
5129back against the darkspawn, reclaiming lands given up for lost. The Blight
5130was far from over, but their victories brought notice, and soon they 
5131received aid from every nation in Thedas.
5132
5133They grew in number as well as reputation. Finally, in the year 992 of the 
5134Tevinter Imperium, upon the Silent Plains, they met the archdemon 
5135Dumat in battle. A third of all the armies of northern Thedas were lost to 
5136
5137the fighting, but Dumat fell and the darkspawn fled back underground.   
5138
5139Even that was not the end.
5140
5141The Imperium once revered seven gods: Dumat, Zazikel, Toth, Andoral, 
5142Razikale, Lusacan, and Urthemiel. Four have risen as archdemons. The 
5143Grey Wardens have kept watch through the ages, well aware that peace is 
5144fleeting, and that their war continues until the last of the dragon-gods is 
5145gone.
5146
5147--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
5148
5149The Korcari Wilds
5150On the Chasind and the Korcari Wilds.
5151
5152It is said that in the midst of the Black Age, when werewolves stalked the 
5153lands of Ferelden in numbers that kept every farmholder indoors and a 
5154hound on every doorstep, a powerful arl of the Alamarri peoples stood 
5155and declared that he would put an end to the threat. His arling stood on 
5156the border of the dark forest on the southern border of the Ferelden 
5157Valley, and he claimed that the werewolves used the forest to launch their 
5158midnight assaults on humanity.
5159
5160For 20 years, this arl led an army of warriors and hounds deep into the 
5161forest. In his hunt for the werewolves, he slew not only every wolf he 
5162came upon, but also every member of the Chasind wilder folk. Any one of
5163them, he said, could harbor a demon inside and thus be a werewolf in 
5164disguise. For 20 years, the forest rang with screams and the rivers ran red.
5165
5166The tales say that an old Chasind woman found her sons all dead at the 
5167arl’s blades. She pulled one of those very blades from one son’s heart and 
5168plunged it into her own chest, cursing the arl’s name as she did so. Where 
5169her blood touched the ground, a mist began to rise. It spread and spread 
5170until it was everywhere in the forest. The arl’s army became lost, and it is 
5171said that they died there. Others say they wander still. The ruins of his 
5172arling stand to this day, filled with the ghosts of women waiting eternally 
5173for their husbands to return.
5174
5175The forest of the legend is, of course, the Korcari Wilds. There are as many
5176legends about the great southern forest as there are shadows, or so the 
5177saying goes. The Chasind wilder folk have made their home there since 
5178mankind first came to these lands, and the wildlands spread as far into the
5179south as anyone has ventured. Beyond the mists are vast tracts of snow, 
5180white-capped mountains, and entire fields of ice. It is a land too cold for 
5181mankind to survive, yet the Chasind eke out an existence even there, and 
5182they tell of horrors beyond the Wilds that the lowland folk could not begin
5183to comprehend.
5184
5185To most, Ferelden simply ends with the Korcari Wilds: There is nothing 
5186beyond. The Wilds is a land of great trees, wet marshes and dangerous 
5187monsters. What more need be said?
5188
5189--From Land of the Wilders, by Mother Ailis, Chantry scholar, 9:18 Dragon.
5190
5191Darkspawn
5192On the origins of darkspawn.
5193
5194[Dwarf origins only]
5195The surfacers claim that the first darkspawn fell from heaven. They spin 
5196tales of magic and sin. But the Children of the Stone know better. The 
5197darkspawn rose up out of the earth. For it was in the Deep Roads they 
5198first appeared. Creatures in our own likeness, armed and armored, but 
5199with no more intelligence than tezpadam, bestial and savage.
5200
5201At first they were few, easily hunted and slain by our warriors. But in the 
5202recesses of the Deep Roads, they grew in numbers and in courage. Our 
5203distant thaigs came under attack, and now it was the army, not a few 
5204warriors, being sent to deal with the creatures. Victories still came easily, 
5205though, and we thought the threat would soon be over.
5206
5207We were wrong. 
5208
5209--As told by Shaper Czibor.
5210
5211[All other origins]
5212Those who had sought to claim 
5213Heaven by violence destroyed it. What was 
5214Golden and pure turned black. 
5215Those who had once been mage-lords, 
5216The brightest of their age,
5217Were no longer men, but monsters.
5218--Threnodies 12:1.
5219
5220Sin was the midwife that ushered the darkspawn into this world.  The 
5221magisters fell from the Golden City, and their fate encompassed all our 
5222world's. For they were not alone.
5223
5224No one knows where the darkspawn come from. A dark mockery of men, 
5225in the darkest places they thrive, growing in numbers as a plague of 
5226locusts will. In raids, they will often take captives, dragging their victims 
5227alive into the Deep Roads, but most evidence suggests that these are eaten.
5228ike spiders, it seems darkspawn prefer their food still breathing. Perhaps 
5229they are simply spawned by the darkness. Certainly, we know that evil 
5230has no trouble perpetuating itself.
5231
5232The last Blight was in the Age of Towers, striking once again at the heart 
5233of Tevinter, spreading south into Orlais and east into the Free Marches. 
5234The plagues spread as far as Ferelden, but the withering and twisting of 
5235the land stopped well beyond our borders. Here, darkspawn have never 
5236been more than the stuff of legends. In the northern lands, however, 
5237particularly Tevinter and the Anderfels, they say darkspawn haunt the 
5238hinterlands, preying on outlying farmers and isolated villages, a constant 
5239threat.
5240
5241--From Ferelden: Folklore and History, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar.
5242
5243The Blights
5244A letter from Paragon Aeducan to his wife.
5245
5246My dear Anika,
5247
5248I would not worry about the Assembly: Let the nobles sit together and 
5249argue over whose house owns the grandest thaig. It keeps them from 
5250panicking, which they would surely do otherwise, and prevents them 
5251from making a greater nuisance of themselves. War is the business of 
5252warriors.
5253
5254I would say that the enemy's strategy seems to be changing, but they 
5255never appeared to have a strategy before, beyond destroying everything 
5256in their path. For weeks, their numbers appeared to be dwindling. There 
5257was talk that perhaps we were getting close to wiping them out. We could
5258not have been more wrong. For today we came upon the body of their 
5259main force. I cannot give words to it, Anika. I have never before seen so 
5260much death in one place. There were darkspawn beyond counting, and at 
5261the heart of the throng a great beast, as tall as the palace of Orzammar, 
5262with breath of fire. A Paragon of darkspawn, perhaps, for they seemed to 
5263pay it deference.
5264
5265They were leaving. Marching toward the mine shafts which lead to the 
5266surface. But I knew when I beheld them that once they have devoured 
5267what lies above us, they will be back.
5268 
5269--From The Letters of Paragon Aeducan.
5270
5271Codex: Culture and History (Awakening)
5272
5273The First Warden
5274The First Warden.
5275
5276The nominal leader of our order is the First Warden, but you can expect 
5277little assistance or guidance so far from the Anderfels. Even those close to 
5278Weisshaupt learn to suffer alone. The murmurs are true--the First Warden 
5279is often embroiled in the politics of the Anderfels and has little 
5280opportunity to consider worldly matters. I would like to believe it is a 
5281matter of survival, not of political self-interest.
5282
5283Know that your mission is vital. You carry the hopes of our order. If the 
5284highest among us holds noble titles outside of the Anderfels, perhaps we 
5285will be better situated when the next Blight comes, as we all know it must.
5286
5287--A confidential report for the Warden-Commander
5288
5289The Vigil
5290On Vigil's Keep.
5291
5292Vigil's Keep is one of the oldest settlements in Ferelden, older than 
5293Denerim and Gwaren. The barbarians who battled the Tevinter Imperium 
5294chose this location for a fortress so that their warning fires would be 
5295visible at great distance, when Tevinter ships neared the coast. 
5296
5297The Vigil has seen battle in every major invasion of Ferelden. Tevinters, 
5298rival barbarian clans, and Orlesians have all held her battlements. The 
5299Vigil was the first fortress to fall to the Orlesians and the last to be freed. 
5300
5301The cellar beneath Vigil's Keep retains traces of the Avvar barbarians. To 
5302the Avvars, the Vigil was both a fortress and a holy site. The cellars bear 
5303monuments to their gods, heroes, and their rare military victories. 
5304
5305The Vigil's cellars connect to the Deep Roads far below. Evidence suggests
5306the Avvars and dwarves traded in secret, a breach of promises made to 
5307the Tevinter Imperium in the days before the darkspawn. 
5308
5309The Howes of Amaranthine
5310The history of the Howe family.
5311
5312The Howes of Amaranthine are one of the oldest noble families in 
5313Ferelden. Their lineage traces to the time of Calenhad, when Elias Howe 
5314was one of the first freeholders to follow Calenhad.
5315
5316During the occupation, Arl Tarleton Howe, Rendon Howe's father, threw 
5317his lot in with the Orlesians. After several bitter battles with rebels, the 
5318town of Harper's Ford--an outpost governed by Tarleton Howe--fell to the
5319Couslands of Highever. Tarleton hanged. 
5320
5321Rendon brought the Howe family over to the side of Maric Theirin and 
5322oghain Mac Tir's rebellion. Rendon's bravery at the battle of White River,
5323fighting alongside Bryce Cousland, earned back his family's honor. When 
5324King Maric took the throne in free Ferelden, Rendon Howe was decorated 
5325for his service.
5326
5327--From Annals of Northern Ferelden, by Brother Bedine, Chantry scholar
5328
5329The Port City of Amaranthine
5330On the city of Amaranthine.
5331
5332Outside of Ferelden, the city of Amaranthine is now synonymous with the
5333arling herself, but before the Orlesian invasion, it was only a modest 
5334fishing village despite a deep port well-suited to commerce. At that time, 
5335few other kingdoms had any need to trade with the Ferelden "barbarians."
5336
5337The city changed rapidly when the Orlesians came. They built temporary 
5338docks to accommodate ships packed with chevaliers, and for a time, 
5339Amaranthine was the capital of occupied Ferelden. The bann of 
5340Amaranthine became one of the wealthiest nobles in the kingdom, as 
5341goods like wool were leeched from the city's swollen ports.
5342
5343During the liberation, the fleeing Orlesians looted the city but left it 
5344otherwise unscarred. She recovered quickly. Ironically, Amaranthine's 
5345current prosperity is the legacy of Orlesian occupation. Do not share that 
5346opinion with the locals, mind.
5347
5348--From Annals of Northern Ferelden, by Brother Bedine, Chantry scholar
5349
5350The Crown and Lion
5351Tales of the Crown and Lion.
5352
5353One Satinalia long ago, a bevy of bards met in Amaranthine to determine 
5354whose songs best stirred emotion and whose stomachs best digested foul 
5355brew.
5356
5357The first bard fell, mid-ballad, into his barley soup, the second into the lap
5358of a lass most fair. (Some say forfeiture was worth the price.) The next 
5359could not keep his innards inside. One-by-one, they succumbed to fatigue,
5360boredom, or insobriety.
5361
5362At the end, no man was left standing. There was only I, the lovely and fair
5363Rosalyn, master and mistress of the Crown and Lion, who proved that no 
5364man is mightier than the slightest of lasses.
5365
5366--From The War of Lions, by the bard Rosalyn
5367
5368Surfacer Dwarves
5369On surfacer dwarves.
5370
5371Cloudgazer, stone-blind, skyer--these are how dwarves describe their 
5372surfacer cousins. It's traditional to snort these words with disdain. A 
5373dwarf who goes "topside" forfeits his caste, his house, and the favor of his 
5374ancestors. Once he sets foot on the surface, he is no longer welcome in 
5375Orzammar.
5376
5377Still, in recent years a great many dwarves have moved to the surface. 
5378Some are casteless and have nothing to lose. Others believe they have 
5379something to gain. Some think it's only a matter of time before Orzammar 
5380falls to the darkspawn. 
5381
5382Then there are the merchant caste dwarves with their frightful flair for 
5383business. I met one who nearly talked me into buying my own hat. I 
5384
5385daresay most merchants don't give a nugget about losing their caste or the
5386favor of their ancestors--not the way they're compensated!
5387
5388--From Tales from Beneath the Earth, by Brother Genitivi
5389
5390The Great Strife
5391On the Avvars who lived here.
5392
5393Worn inscriptions deep in the bowels of Vigil's Keep tell of the Avvar clan that 
5394settled here:
5395
5396...with our warriors, unmatched in skill and strength. And here we settled,
5397in the caves carved by the hand of Korth the Mountain-Father...
5398
5399Ruadan, shaman of the people, turned from the gods who had ever 
5400sheltered him. In his grief, he destroyed the gifts of the Mountain-Father 
5401and brought us low.
5402
5403...and Ruadan pursued her. She fled into the earth and prayed to Korth to 
5404preserve her. He sent deliverance. They called themselves the dwarves, 
5405and they protected Kaelah.
5406
5407The darkness drove him to madness but also gave him power. He turned 
5408our warriors against us. Kiveal sought out the dwarves, and together they 
5409bound Ruadan in this place.
5410
5411...remember Kiveal. May Ruadan forever be bound here.
5412
5413Vassals and their Liege
5414Of vassals and their liege.
5415
5416Some kingdoms ridigly define the rights of vassals and their duty to their 
5417liege. In Ferelden, a relatively new kingdom, the arls and arlessas 
5418theoretically command their arlings' banns and lords. In practice, those 
5419lessers often zealously maintain their independence.
5420
5421Some Fereldan vassals must be goaded instead of ordered--swayed, not 
5422
5423ruled. Vassals owe military obligations to their liege, yet often deny even 
5424sworn oaths and signed contracts. In contrast, the vassals expect their 
5425liege's protection despite provocation otherwise. A successful Fereldan 
5426liege applies force, persuasion, and duplicity in equal measure.
5427
5428--From A Guide to Statecraft, published anonymously
5429
5430The Fortress of Kal'Hirol
5431On Kal'Hirol.
5432
5433The fortress of Kal'Hirol was established by Paragon Hirol and became 
5434known as a center of learning for smiths. Its workshops are where 
5435Paragon Hirol conceived his famous improvements to golem resilience 
5436and power, and where Hirol's favorite student developed a method for 
5437storing refined lyrium that is still used today. 
5438
5439These breakthroughs brought Kal'Hirol great prosperity, its passageways 
5440glittering with gold and silver. For decades, the thaig was the favored 
5441home of apprentice smiths. Unfortunately, as time wore on, only the 
5442richest could afford to train there.
5443
5444When the darkspawn came, Kal'Hirol was among the first of the great 
5445thaigs to fall. Our people still mourn the loss.
5446
5447--From the writings of Shaper Ezerain
5448
5449The Paragon Hirol
5450The Paragon Hirol
5451
5452Paragon Hirol was born a warrior. He excelled at arms and strategy, but 
5453was not content. Hirol believed he was born outside the caste system, able
5454to be anything he chose--a warrior, a smith, even a noble. He would not 
5455rest until he'd mastered the art of war, the art of smithing, and the art of 
5456rule. 
5457
5458He was eccentric, maybe even mad. Some said he'd taken too many blows 
5459to the head in the Provings. Yet Hirol accomplished what he set out to do. 
5460
5461He trained under the greatest smiths and the greatest warriors, and his 
5462achievements in both fields were so great that the Assembly could not 
5463help but make him a Paragon. Thus noble House Hirol was born.
5464
5465--From the writings of Shaper Ezerain
5466
5467The Blackmarsh
5468
5469The Blackmarsh is a dreary place, so damp you can feel the chill in your 
5470bones. Leave your clothes out to dry for a week, and they'll still be cold 
5471and wet when you put them on.
5472
5473I called Martan daft when he suggested we move there. "An awful place," 
5474he said, "but also a place where one can make a great deal of money 
5475collecting peat." By the Maker's soggy underclothes, he was right! 
5476
5477--From the journal of Vera, a seamstress 
5478
5479Drake's Fall
5480On Drake's Fall.
5481
5482egends speak of a place where dragons go to die. In the far south, in the 
5483lands of the barbarian tribes, it is said that a dragon at the end of her days 
5484lies down and allows the bitter cold to take her.
5485
5486It is not just a legend! I have seen Drake's Fall with my own eyes, the 
5487ancient bones of these grand beasts piled atop one another. I felt the 
5488power that suffused this place and knew the Imperium would claim it.
5489
5490We built a city on the bones. We delved deep into the earth, collecting 
5491what remained of the primordial dragons who were so like our Old Gods. 
5492With these bones we created staves for our magisters, armor for our 
5493warriors, and crowns for our archons. We fashioned phylacteries to hold 
5494our blood and sarcophagi to hold our bodies, and prayed they would 
5495make us immortal.
5496
5497--From the writings of Archon Melos
5498
5499Codex: Culture and History (Witch Hunt)
5500
5501etters from the Past
5502
5503Commander Regnar of House Cadash, 
5504You were wise to send the relic you uncovered. The Shaperate has 
5505compared the carvings on it to various records, and believe them to be of 
5506elven origin, possibly thousands of years old. I would advise that you 
5507cease repair work on the warrior training grounds immediately and 
5508continue investigation. A team will be dispatched from Kal-Sharok as 
5509soon as possible. 
5510--Shaper Warrek 
5511
5512The excavations are going well. I think Shaper Warrek secretly hopes that 
5513the artifacts will lead him to the lost city of Arlathan, despite Tevinter 
5514records that insist on its complete obliteration. Even if he found the site of 
5515the city, there would be little remaining of any worth. As for the artifacts, 
5516they must have come to this area by trade. Cadash Thaig is old, built upon
5517an ancient settlement called Cad'halash. Lots of junk can accumulate over 
5518that much time, even elven junk. 
5519--From Shaper Assistant Shalla's journal 
5520
5521Dyer, 
5522Got the carvings. These two depict elves forming an alliance with the 
5523Cad'halash dwarves, after the destruction of Arlathan. Scholars say it's 
5524proof that they took refuge here to escape the Imperium. Should get a 
5525great price for this from collectors and historians. 
5526And I almost got caught running these things to your man. They'll hang 
5527me if they find out. I want a bigger cut.. fifty or we're done. 
5528--A letter from an excavation worker 
5529
5530We thought the Imperium found the elves hidden in Cad'halash, and 
5531destroyed them, but it doesn't add up. The thaig was destroyed with 
5532conventional dwarven weaponry, not magical forces. No supernatural 
5533means melted the stone and no immense forces pulverized the pillars. 
5534We uncovered shields (among other things) bearing the heraldry of old 
5535Kal Sharok houses. We destroyed Cad'halash--our own people. The only 
5536remaining conclusion is that Kal Sharok learned that they were sheltering 
5537elves and, knowing it would jeopardize their alliance with the Tevinter 
5538Imperium, took steps to cover it up. 
5539Thus far, there has been no evidence to contradict this theory, but it has 
5540split the Shaperate. Some wish to enter it into the Memories, while others 
5541demand that it lies forgotten in the dark halls of the Roads. 
5542--From the notes of Shaper Warrek 
5543
5544Codex: Characters (Origins)
5545
5546Alistair
5547On Alistair.
5548
5549"You know, one good thing about the Blight is how it brings people 
5550together."
5551
5552Alistair was a novice templar when Duncan recruited him into the Grey 
5553Wardens--or rescued him, as Alistair would say.
5554
5555His mother was a serving girl, who died when Alistair was very young. 
5556He was raised by Eamon Guerrin, arl of Redcliffe for a time.
5557
5558The arl's wife, Isolde, suspected the reason her husband took an interest in
5559the welfare of a servant's child was that Alistair was Eamon's son. She 
5560insisted that the boy be sent away to the Chantry.
5561
5562Isolde's suspicions were unfounded, however. Alistair was not Eamon's 
5563son, but King Maric's. Eamon sheltered the boy to hide his existence from 
5564Queen Rowan, Eamon's sister.
5565
5566[If Alistair's approval reaches 20] 
5567Alistair is fascinated by magic, even as his life is defined by fighting its 
5568darker manifestations. He has a fondness for strange runestones and 
5569figural studies of arcane creatures.
5570
5571[If Alistair is made king] 
5572With a great deal of assistance, Alistair was recognized by the Landsmeet 
5573as Maric's son and granted his father's throne.
5574
5575[If Loghain is recruited and Alistair is not king] 
5576Unable to accept the decision to spare Loghain's life, Alistair left--and has 
5577not been seen since.
5578
5579[If Anora is made queen and Alistair is executed] 
5580To prevent further civil war, he was executed at the Landsmeet on the 
5581orders of Queen Anora, ending the Theirin line.
5582
5583[If Alistair kills the Archdemon]
5584 In the battle against the archdemon in Denerim, Alistair gave his life to 
5585save his friends and end the Blight.
5586
5587Anora
5588On Queen Anora of Ferelden.
5589
5590"We have been given the gift of freedom by our forbearers. Let us not 
5591squander it."
5592
5593The only child of the war hero Loghain Mac Tir, Anora has never been one
5594to stay quietly in the background. It is common knowledge that in the five
5595years Anora and Cailan held the throne together, she was the one 
5596wielding the power. She is held in much higher esteem than her husband 
5597by the people of Ferelden, nobility and commoners alike, and commands 
5598the respect even of foreign nations, having once inspired Empress Celene 
5599of Orlais to declare, "Anora of Ferelden is a solitary rose among brambles."
5600
5601She sent her maid, Erlina, to Arl Eamon's estate to ask for the Warden's 
5602help in escaping from Arl Howe, but as they fled Howe's estate, Anora in 
5603disguise, they were ambushed by Ser Cauthrien, there to arrest Howe's 
5604murderer.
5605
5606[If the Warden tells Cauthrien they were rescuing Anora] 
5607When the Warden tried to protest the charge on the grounds of defending 
5608Anora, the queen declared that she was being kidnapped and called to 
5609Cauthrien for help.
5610
5611[If the Warden surrenders to Cauthrien] 
5612The Warden surrendered to permit Anora's escape.
5613
5614[If the Warden fights Cauthrien] 
5615A fight ensued, and Anora fled in the confusion.
5616
5617She made her way to Eamon's Denerim estate and there offered her aid in 
5618defeating her father at the Landsmeet.
5619
5620[If Anora supports the Warden at the Landsmeet] 
5621With her help, Loghain's support was eroded.
5622
5623[If Anora betrays the Warden at the Landsmeet] However, when the hour 
5624came, she publicly supported her father, decrying the Wardens as 
5625slanderers and regicides.
5626
5627[If the Warden loses the Landsmeet] 
5628Her efforts, however, were not enough to erode Loghain's support.
5629
5630[If the Warden wins the Landsmeet] 
5631The banns fell in line behind Eamon and the Warden. Loghain, however, 
5632would not accept defeat easily. He filled the room with troops and 
5633attempted a coup. Fighting erupted, breaking the long tradition of the 
5634andsmeet, which was ultimately settled with a duel.
5635
5636[If the Warden loses the Landsmeet] 
5637The banns fell in line behind Loghain, and he called for the Wardens' 
5638execution. Fighting erupted, breaking the long tradition of the Landsmeet,
5639which was ultimately settled with a duel.
5640
5641[If Alistair rules alone or with the Warden] 
5642In the end, Anora was deposed, and Alistair was given the throne.
5643
5644[If Anora rules alone and Alistair is executed] 
5645In the end, Anora was granted the throne and Alistair was taken away to 
5646be executed.
5647
5648[If Anora rules with the Warden and Alistair is executed] 
5649In the end, Anora kept her throne, with the Warden now her king-consort,
5650and Alistair was taken away to be executed.
5651
5652[If Anora rules with the Warden and both Loghain and Alistair live] 
5653In the end, Anora kept her throne, with the Warden now her king-consort,
5654and Alistair walked out of the Landsmeet Chamber never to be seen 
5655again.
5656
5657[If Anora rules with the Warden, Loghain is killed at the Landsmeet and Alistair 
5658remains a Grey Warden] 
5659In the end, Anora kept her throne, with the Warden now her king-consort.
5660
5661[If Anora rules alone and Alistair remains a Grey Warden] 
5662In the end, Anora was granted the throne, freeing Alistair from the burden
5663of a responsibility he never wanted anyway.
5664
5665[If Anora rules alone and both Loghain and Alistair live] 
5666In the end, Anora was granted the throne, and Alistair walked out of the 
5667andsmeet Chamber never to be seen again.
5668
5669[If Anora and Alistair rule together and Loghain is killed at the Landsmeet]  
5670In the end, Anora and Alistair agreed to marry and rule jointly, though 
5671Alistair postponed taking the throne until the Blight was ended.
5672
5673[If Anora and Alistair rule together and Loghain is recruited] 
5674In the end, Anora and Alistair agreed to marry and rule jointly, with 
5675Alistair giving up his place among the Grey Wardens to take the throne.
5676
5677Bhelen Aeducan
5678On Prince Bhelen Aeducan.
5679
5680[Dwarf Noble origin] 
5681"Time is something you may not have much left of."
5682
5683Third of King Endrin's children, Bhelen has always been considered the 
5684last and least of his family. Trian was the undisputed heir apparent from 
5685the moment of his birth, and the Warden was not only the most 
5686accomplished, but also their father's clear favorite. Bhelen's most notable 
5687trait was his ability to stay out of trouble.
5688
5689[all other origins] 
5690"This is a time for action, not cultured debate."
5691
5692Third of King Endrin's children, Bhelen has always been considered the 
5693last and least of his family. Not the heir, nor the favorite, and not as 
5694accomplished as either sibling, Bhelen's most notable trait was his ability 
5695to stay out of trouble.
5696
5697[if Aeducan Warden killed Trian] 
5698He tricked the Warden into slaying their brother Trian, eliminating both 
5699his rivals for the throne in one stroke.
5700
5701[if Aeducan Warden was framed] 
5702He murdered Trian and framed the Warden, eliminating both his rivals in 
5703one stroke.
5704
5705[all origins, if Bhelen is made king] 
5706His efforts paid off: He was named king of Orzammar by the Assembly.
5707
5708[all origins, if Harrowmont is made king] 
5709His efforts were for nothing, though. The Assembly named Pyral 
5710Harrowmont king of Orzammar, and the coup he tried to stage in revenge
5711was cut down almost before it began.
5712
5713King Cailan Theirin
5714On King Cailan of Ferelden.
5715
5716"I'd hoped for a war like in the tales! A king riding with the fabled Grey 
5717Wardens against a tainted god!"
5718
5719Son of the legendary King Maric Theirin, Cailan was the first Fereldan 
5720king born into a land free from foreign rule in two generations. Since his 
5721father's death, he's held the throne alongside his queen, Anora.
5722
5723He fell in battle alongside Duncan at Ostagar.
5724
5725Ser Cauthrien
5726On Ser Cauthrien.
5727
5728"Some of us know what honor and loyalty are."
5729
5730Cauthrien came to Loghain's service the hard way--she belonged to a poor
5731family and was out doing work on the farm when she saw a man on 
5732horseback being attacked by several bandits. She rushed to his assistance, 
5733and found out belatedly that the man she "saved" was none other than the 
5734
5735great hero Loghain. Though she was hardly more than a child, he took her
5736in, offering her a position with his soldiers, and she climbed through the 
5737ranks through sheer determination. Becoming the commander of Maric's 
5738Shield, Loghain's elite soldiers, was the proudest moment of her life.
5739
5740[if Cauthrien dies during Rescue the Queen] 
5741She was slain while trying to arrest the Warden for the murder of Arl 
5742Howe.
5743
5744[if Cauthrien dies later] 
5745She was slain while trying to stop the Warden from entering the 
5746andsmeet.
5747
5748Connor Guerrin
5749On Arl Eamon's son, Connor
5750
5751"I feel like I'm sleeping, but I guess I'm not."
5752
5753While most of the banns and arls of Ferelden cart their children with them
5754to the Landsmeet in the interest of eventually marrying them off, Connor 
5755has spent his entire life at Redcliffe. And it's hardly surprising: the child 
5756possessed the gift of magic. By law, he should have been taken to the 
5757Circle of Magi at the first sign, abdicating his claim to Redcliffe. Instead, 
5758the boy was kept out of public view and his magic hushed up... with 
5759disastrous results.
5760
5761All mages are beacons that attract the attention of Fade spirits. Because of 
5762this, they are trained and tested by the Circle to ensure that they can 
5763withstand attacks from malevolent Fade creatures that seek entry into the 
5764waking world. Untrained Connor drew the attention of a powerful demon
5765that tore the Veil asunder.
5766
5767[if Connor is killed] 
5768To stop the demon's rampage, Connor was slain.
5769
5770[if Isolde sacrifices herself]
5771He was freed from the demon's power at a terrible price: the cost of his 
5772mother's life. Connor himself will be sent to the Circle where he will no 
5773
5774longer endanger innocent people.
5775
5776[if both Connor and Isolde live] 
5777With aid from the Circle, he was freed from the demon's power. Connor 
5778will be sent to the Circle Tower where he will no longer pose a danger to 
5779the innocent.
5780
5781Dog
5782On the mabari warhound.
5783
5784"The mabari is clever enough to speak, and wise enough to know not to."
5785
5786--Fereldan proverb.
5787
5788[Human Noble origin] 
5789The Warden's warhound has a pedigree older than Highever, and a 
5790penchant for driving cooks to distraction.
5791
5792[all other origins] 
5793The Warden found this mabari in the camp at Ostagar. His master was 
5794killed in the Wilds, and Dog fell ill from biting the darkspawn in battle. 
5795Dog seems to have chosen the Warden as his new master now, seeking the
5796Warden out after the battle at Ostagar and warning of an impending 
5797darkspawn attack.
5798
5799Duncan
5800On the Grey Warden, Duncan.
5801
5802"Men and women from every race, warriors and mages, barbarians and 
5803kings... the Grey Wardens sacrificed everything to stem the tide of 
5804darkness... and prevailed."
5805
5806ike many others, Duncan gave up his family name when he joined the 
5807ranks of the Wardens: a symbolic gesture of cutting ties. He might say this
5808was a convenience in his case, however. His mother was from the 
5809Anderfels, his father from Tevinter, his childhood was spent in the Free 
5810
5811Marches and Orlais. His people were everywhere and his homeland was 
5812nowhere.
5813
5814He was given the almost impossible task of leading the Wardens in 
5815Ferelden--a kingdom that had thrown the order out two hundred years 
5816earlier.  Facing local suspicion and hostility, he set about finding recruits.
5817
5818He was killed in battle against overwhelming numbers of darkspawn at 
5819Ostagar, alongside King Cailan.
5820
5821Arl Eamon Guerrin
5822On Arl Eamon Guerrin of Redcliffe.
5823
5824"Nobility does not exist without obligation. We owe all we have, even our 
5825lives, to our land and our people."
5826
5827As the maternal uncle of King Cailan, Arl Eamon is one of the king's most 
5828trusted advisors. Redcliffe, while not a large or especially wealthy part of 
5829Ferelden, is a critical strategic location: The fortress guards the western 
5830pass that leads to Orlais, as well as the major trade route with Orzammar. 
5831A well-respected man, though not the most charismatic, King Cailan once 
5832said of him, "My Uncle Eamon is a man everyone thinks well of--when 
5833they remember to think of him at all."
5834
5835He fell ill with a mysterious condition that even magic could not treat.
5836
5837It was no common ailment. Eamon was poisoned by a blood mage, Jowan,
5838who claimed to be working for Teyrn Loghain. The arl's life was saved 
5839only by the most extraordinary measures: finding the Urn of Sacred 
5840Ashes, the remains of Andraste herself.
5841
5842His health restored, Eamon called a Landsmeet with the goal of wresting 
5843power from Loghain and placing Alistair on the throne.
5844
5845With the question of the succession settled, Eamon returned to Redcliffe to
5846prepare the castle's defenses for the encroaching Blight.
5847
5848King Endrin Aeducan
5849On King Endrin Aeducan of Orzammar.
5850
5851"Denial of the traditions of our people does not qualify as a political 
5852technicality."
5853
5854Endrin of House Aeducan traces his ancestry back to the Paragon 
5855Aeducan, the greatest warrior of Orzammar's history, who beat back the 
5856darkspawn hordes in the First Blight. The second son of King Ansgar 
5857Aeducan, he became heir after his elder brother died in a Proving.
5858
5859The most respected king in four generations, he restored contact with Kal 
5860Sharok, the only other remaining city of the once-vast Dwarven Empire, 
5861which had been lost during the first Blight.
5862
5863Flemeth
5864On Flemeth.
5865
5866"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe."
5867
5868Ages ago, legend says Bann Conobar took to wife a beautiful young 
5869woman who harbored a secret talent for magic: Flemeth of Highever. And 
5870for a time they lived happily, until the arrival of a young poet, Osen, who 
5871captured the lady's heart with his verse.
5872
5873They turned to the Chasind tribes for help and hid from Conobar's wrath 
5874in the Wilds, until word came to them that Conobar lay dying: His last 
5875wish was to see Flemeth's face one final time.
5876
5877The lovers returned, but it was a trap. Conobar killed Osen, and 
5878imprisoned Flemeth in the highest tower of the castle. In grief and rage, 
5879Flemeth worked a spell to summon a spirit into this world to wreak 
5880vengeance upon her husband. Vengeance, she received, but not as she 
5881planned. The spirit took possession of her, turning Flemeth into an 
5882abomination. A twisted, maddened creature, she slaughtered Conobar 
5883and all his men, and fled back into the Wilds. 
5884
5885For a hundred years, Flemeth plotted, stealing men from the Chasind to 
5886sire monstrous daughters: Horrific things that could kill a man with fear. 
5887These Korcari witches led an army of Chasind from the Wilds to strike at 
5888the Alamarri tribes. They were defeated by the hero Cormac, and all the 
5889witches burned, so they say, but even now the Wilders whisper that 
5890Flemeth lives on in the marsh, and she and her daughters steal those men 
5891who come too near.
5892
5893Morrigan's mother saved the last Grey Wardens from death at the top of 
5894the Tower of Ishal, but just who, or what, Flemeth truly is, is a mystery.
5895
5896[if Flemeth is killed] 
5897She was slain at Morrigan's behest. At least apparently...
5898
5899Brother Ferdinand Genitivi
5900On Brother Ferdinand Genitivi.
5901
5902"As it is the duty of all true sons of the Chantry to make the Chant heard 
5903from every corner of the world, I made it my mission to find as many 
5904corners of the world as possible. The Maker can hardly expect us to do 
5905one without the other."
5906
5907--Excerpt from In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar 
5908by Brother Genitivi
5909
5910Brother Genitivi is one of the Chantry's most well-known scholars, 
5911primarily on the basis of the stories he has published (which many of his 
5912contemporaries dismiss as fanciful) of his travels across the length and 
5913breadth of Thedas.
5914
5915His travels, and rather too-curious nature, led him to a study of folklore, 
5916which gave him the notion that he could track down that most-debated of 
5917all artifacts: the Urn of Sacred Ashes. He announced that he had found 
5918what appeared to be the trail of the Urn, left in the legends of the regions 
5919through which it had passed from Minrathous on its way into hiding.
5920
5921[if Genitivi dies] 
5922He never returned from his venture into the mountains, and no one 
5923knows if he found the Ashes or not.
5924
5925[if Genitivi lives] 
5926And he appears to have been right. The final resting place of Andraste lay 
5927at the summit of a remote mountain.
5928
5929[if Warden tells Genitivi urn was destroyed] 
5930He returned to Denerim with wild tales about dragons and heretics, 
5931which nobody believed. It will no doubt make for another interesting 
5932travel book, however.
5933
5934[if Genitivi returns to Denerim] 
5935He returned to Denerim a little worse for wear, and was granted funds 
5936and manpower to mount an expedition to study the temple in which the 
5937Urn is kept.
5938
5939Knight-Commander Greagoir
5940On Knight-Commander Greagoir.
5941
5942[Magi origins] 
5943"Your magic is a gift, but it's also a curse. The Circle of Magi has trained 
5944you, and we templars of the Chantry stand vigil to ensure that training is 
5945adequate."
5946
5947[other origins] 
5948"It is the innocent folk of Ferelden who matter. I would lay down my life, 
5949and the life of any mage, to protect them."
5950
5951Grim and taciturn, Greagoir has been knight-commander of the templar 
5952forces stationed at the Circle Tower for so many years that hardly anyone 
5953except the first enchanter recalls that he is not simply part of the tower 
5954itself.
5955
5956[if Circle is annulled] 
5957With the destruction of the Circle, it's hard to imagine where Greagoir will
5958go next.
5959
5960[if Greagoir dies] 
5961He was killed following Uldred's uprising.
5962
5963ord Pyral Harrowmont
5964On Lord Pyral Harrowmont.
5965
5966"No one is born with rights to the throne. The sitting king may 
5967recommend a successor, but the Assembly ultimately decides who will 
5968rule."
5969
5970House Harrowmont is one of the oldest noble houses, as old as Orzammar
5971itself. Endrin's most trusted advisor, Harrowmont is well-known for being
5972an able administrator, and the author of many compromises in the ever-
5973warring Assembly.
5974
5975[if Harrowmont is king] 
5976His promise to King Endrin to keep Bhelen off the throne was upheld by 
5977the intervention of one Paragon and The Grey Warden. Harrowmont was 
5978named king by the Assembly, ending the internal strife in Orzammar.
5979
5980[if Bhelen is king] 
5981His opposition of Prince Bhelen's bid for the throne ended badly. The 
5982Assembly named the prince king of Orzammar, and Bhelen's first act was 
5983to call for Harrowmont's execution.
5984
5985Arl Rendon Howe
5986On Arl Rendon Howe of Amaranthine.
5987
5988[Human Noble origin] 
5989"It will be good to ride into battle once more, won't it, old friend?"
5990
5991[all other origins] 
5992"It appears it will be civil war after all, despite the darkspawn. Pity."
5993
5994The arling of Amaranthine winds along the sinuous northeastern coast of 
5995Ferelden. The Waking Sea is known for its temper, and the storms that 
5996
5997sweep in from the warmer northern waters are sudden and brutal. These 
5998are the lands of Rendon Howe.
5999
6000He was born during the occupation, and like many of the nobles at the 
6001time, joined Prince Maric's rebels. He fought alongside young Bryce 
6002Cousland, future teyrn of Highever, and Leonas Bryland, future arl of 
6003South Reach, at the bloody battle of White River. It was the most 
6004catastrophic defeat of the entire occupation, from which only fifty rebel 
6005soldiers escaped alive.
6006
6007Although he was decorated for valor by King Maric, Howe's abrasive 
6008manners have earned him almost universal dislike among his peers.
6009
6010[Human Noble origin only] 
6011When Bryce sent his men to support the king at Ostagar, Howe took it as 
6012an opportunity to attack Highever, slaughtering the people there and 
6013claiming the lands and title as his own. Of all the inhabitants of Castle 
6014Cousland, only the Warden survived.
6015
6016Howe died at the hands of the Warden in Denerim.
6017
6018First Enchanter Irving
6019On First Enchanter Irving.
6020
6021 [Magi origin] 
6022"If you want to survive, you must learn the rules and realize that 
6023sometimes, sacrifices are necessary."
6024
6025[all other origins] 
6026"The Circle will go on, and we will learn from this tragedy, and be 
6027strengthened by it."
6028
6029There is no higher office in a Circle Tower than that of first enchanter. The 
6030one who holds this title must not only be an able administrator, but also a 
6031mentor, leader, and surrogate parent to all the mages of the tower.
6032
6033Irving has proven himself to be all these things with an added dose of 
6034cunning. Most apprentices know that little goes on in the tower that Irving
6035
6036does not know. He can soothe templars angered by some childish magical 
6037prank at the same time that he lauds the pranksters, and everyone walks 
6038away satisfied.
6039
6040[if mages are saved] 
6041Although much of the Circle was destroyed by Uldred's abominations, 
6042Irving survived and plans to rebuild what he can.
6043
6044[if Irving dies]  
6045He died when the tower became overrun by demons. The fate of 
6046Ferelden's Circle is now in question.
6047
6048Arlessa Isolde
6049On Arlessa Isolde of Redcliffe.
6050
6051"For the one who delivers the Sacred Ashes of Our Lady will have the 
6052esteem of Redcliffe, and all the riches it is in my power to grant."
6053
6054The arling of Redcliffe was a source of constant trouble for Emperor 
6055Reville during the occupation; it was rumored that since each new report 
6056sent the emperor into a fit of violent rage, his court had taken to poisoning
6057messengers before they could deliver their accounts. Isolde's family was 
6058the tenth to be given the difficult task of governing Redcliffe, and since 
6059most of the previous arls had either been murdered by their banns or 
6060beheaded by the emperor, they did not approach the job with a great deal 
6061of enthusiasm.
6062
6063Isolde met Eamon, not realizing he was the rightful heir to her father's 
6064domain, and quickly became smitten with him for being part of the 
6065resistance--never mind that it was her family he was resisting. Perhaps a 
6066bit too romantic for her own good, she insisted upon staying behind with 
6067Eamon when the rest of her family was driven out.
6068
6069When her only son began to show signs of possessing magic, Isolde tried 
6070to cover it up, knowing that he would be taken from her by the Circle if 
6071found out. She hired an apostate mage to tutor him in secret, little 
6072knowing that her tutor was being paid to poison her husband. Eamon fell 
6073
6074ill, and Connor, desperate, tried to use magic to save his father--magic that
6075attracted the attention of a demon.
6076
6077[if Isolde dies] 
6078She gave her life to free Connor from demonic influence.
6079
6080[if Isolde kills Connor] 
6081Unable to free him, Isolde took Connor's life to stop the demon.
6082
6083[if both Isolde and Connor live] 
6084The Circle of Magi were finally called in, almost too late, and Connor was 
6085freed from the demon's power, though the damage to Redcliffe was 
6086severe.
6087
6088[if the Warden kills Connor] 
6089Unable to stop the demon, Connor was slain by the Warden.
6090
6091eliana
6092On Leliana.
6093
6094"In the cloister, away from the fuss and the flurry of the cities, I found 
6095peace. And in that stillness, I could hear the Maker."
6096
6097[if Leliana is at Adore] 
6098"Here, with you... knowing the freedom of the road and the uncertainty of 
6099tomorrow... I feel alive again."
6100
6101A lay sister of the Chantry who can beat the stuffing out of trained 
6102mercenaries would be notable enough, but one who also claims to have 
6103been sent to fight the darkspawn by the Maker Himself is... unusual to say
6104the least.
6105
6106[if not recruited in tavern] 
6107She asked to join the Grey Wardens in their endeavors... sort of, but was 
6108turned away.
6109
6110[if recruited in tavern] 
6111She joined Alistair and the Warden in Lothering, insisting that she would 
6112prove useful.
6113
6114[if recruited at Lothering exit] 
6115Her persistence, however, paid off. She made them relent and allow her to
6116join in their travels.
6117
6118There's more to Leliana than had even been apparent at Lothering, 
6119however. She spent much of her life as a bard in Orlais: a minstrel, 
6120assassin, and spy employed by the nobles of Val Royeaux in their 
6121elaborate games of intrigue.
6122
6123Her decision to join the Chantry was not merely the product of her 
6124disenchantment with the life of a bard; Leliana was framed by her bard-
6125master, and fled to escape execution as a traitor.
6126
6127[if Leliana attacks Warden for defiling urn] 
6128When the Warden corrupted and destroyed the Sacred Ashes of Andraste,
6129eliana drew her weapon and was killed alongside the guardian.
6130
6131[if Leliana is told to leave] 
6132She eventually was driven away, and has not been seen since.
6133
6134[if Approval reaches 20] 
6135eliana takes care to honor the Lothering cloister that took her in, and 
6136keeps symbols of Andraste's blessings close to her heart.
6137
6138oghain Mac Tir
6139On Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir.
6140
6141"It takes more than legends to win a battle."
6142
6143[after Loghin returns to Denerim] 
6144"Understand this: I will brook no threat to this nation... from you or 
6145anyone."
6146
6147[if Loghain dies at Landsmeet] 
6148"War is cruel. Every soul who fought alongside Maric knows this. And in 
6149it, there are no such things as innocents, only the living and the dead, and 
6150the degrees of guilt both bear."
6151
6152[if Loghain recruited] 
6153"I passed your test. Fate has a twisted sense of humor, it seems."
6154
6155oghain was born a farmer during a time when his country was under 
6156foreign occupation. When he was still a boy, he joined the resistance, 
6157where his considerable tactical genius quickly became apparent. He 
6158became close friends with Prince Maric, the last true heir to the Ferelden 
6159throne, and together they led the rebels to drive out the forces of the 
6160Orlesian Empire. Maric raised his friend to the nobility, and Loghain is 
6161now more of a symbol than a man: He represents the Fereldan ideals of 
6162hard work and independence.
6163
6164During the battle at Ostagar, he fled the field, leaving King Cailan and the 
6165Grey Wardens to die.
6166
6167He then returned to Denerim and declared himself the regent to his 
6168daughter, Queen Anora, demanding that Ferelden follow him against the 
6169darkspawn--upsetting a great many of the banns.
6170
6171His actions sparked a civil war. Loghain's supporters found themselves 
6172fighting their neighbors who blamed Loghain for the death of the king, as 
6173well as those who simply wished to take advantage of the power vacuum.
6174
6175[if Loghain dies at Landsmeet] 
6176He was defeated in single combat at the Landsmeet and summarily 
6177executed.
6178
6179[if Loghain recruited] 
6180He was defeated in single combat at the Landsmeet, and sentenced to 
6181undertake the Joining ritual. He survived, and rejoined the fight for 
6182Ferelden as a Grey Warden.
6183
6184[if Loghain dies killing Archdemon] 
6185He struck the killing blow against the archdemon, sacrificing himself to 
6186end the Blight and save his country.
6187
6188[if Approval reaches 20] 
6189oghain has defined himself by the borders he seeks to maintain and 
6190expand. He is ever the tactician, and likes pouring over maps both ancient 
6191and modern.
6192
6193Morrigan
6194On Morrigan.
6195
6196"Witch of the Wilds? Such idle fancies, those legends. Have you no minds 
6197of your own?"
6198
6199Of herself, Morrigan says little. She does not deny being a witch of the 
6200Wilds, but beyond that, everything about her is in question.
6201
6202Her mother claims to be Flemeth. If that's true, the Morrigan might well 
6203be a very powerful witch, for the tales of the daughters of Flemeth tell of 
6204twisted, monstrous women who can kill a man with fear. She was made to
6205accompany the surviving Grey Wardens: The payment, Flemeth said, for 
6206saving their lives at the Tower of Ishal.
6207
6208[if Approval reaches 20] 
6209Morrigan's critical eye is not reserved solely for others. Knowing or not, 
6210she has a simple fondness for jewelry and is very particular about her 
6211appearance.
6212
6213[if Morrigan leaves party before Climax] 
6214Whatever Flemeth's purpose was, however, will probably never be 
6215known.
6216
6217On the eve of battle with the archdemon, she made an offer to the 
6218Wardens: Sire a child with her, and she could use it to capture the 
6219archdemon's soul at the moment of death, saving the Warden who struck 
6220the killing blow.
6221
6222[ritual offer refused] 
6223When this bargain was turned down, Morrigan disappeared.
6224
6225[ritual offer accepted] 
6226After the battle, Morrigan disappeared.
6227
6228Oghren
6229On Oghren.
6230
6231"I'm not saying I should be your first pick for a dance partner at the 
6232inaugural ball, but in the Deep Roads, I'm your man."
6233
6234Oghren of House Kondrat was once a promising member of the Warrior 
6235Caste. His house was not especially high-ranked, but many of its 
6236members, Oghren included, had won notable victories in the Provings and
6237were considered to be rising in prestige. When a Smith Caste family with 
6238plenty of money but no political connections offered their daughter in 
6239marriage, his family accepted the match.  And then everything changed.
6240
6241His wife, Branka, was named a Paragon for her achievements. All of 
6242House Kondrat joined her newly-made noble House Branka... and 
6243vanished with her into the Deep Roads.
6244
6245As time passed and it became more and more clear that Oghren had been 
6246abandoned, he became the butt of jokes throughout Orzammar. He took to
6247drink, which didn't especially help. Drunk and humiliated, he challenged 
6248another warrior to a Proving over an insult and killed him. The match was
6249meant to be fought to first-blood. As a punishment, he was stripped of his 
6250house and barred from bearing arms: The only fate worse for a warrior 
6251than exile.
6252
6253The Grey Warden mounted a search for Branka and found her--and the 
6254Anvil of the Void for which she led her house to their deaths.
6255
6256[if Oghren is recruited] 
6257Afterwards, having apparently nothing better to do, Oghren offered his 
6258services to the Grey Warden and left Orzammar to help end the Blight.
6259
6260[if Oghren is told to leave] 
6261He left some time later for parts unknown.
6262
6263[if Oghren is killed by the Warden] 
6264He was killed in a dispute with the Warden.
6265
6266[if Approval reaches 20] Oghren enjoys challenging his palate with alcohols 
6267of ever increasing rarity, potency, and outright lethality. This has afforded
6268him no benefit whatsoever.
6269
6270Shale
6271On Shale.
6272
6273"What can I say? I have a heart of stone."
6274
6275The golems of Orzammar once made up the vanguard of the dwarven 
6276army, holding back the tides of darkspawn that flooded out of the Deep 
6277Roads. But the art of making them was lost, and many of them succumbed
6278to wear and damage in battle.
6279
6280Shale has no memories either of the time spent fighting in the Deep Roads,
6281or of coming to Honnleath, only a few spotty (and bitter) recollections of 
6282its last master.
6283
6284[if Shale is recruited] The Warden unearthed Shale's control rod and 
6285awakened it, promptly releasing a bitter and malfunctioning golem to 
6286wander loose in the world.
6287
6288[if Warden sides with Branka and Shale is in party] Shale was destroyed while 
6289fighting the Warden.
6290
6291[if personal quest completed] Three hundred years earlier, she had been 
6292Shayle of House Cadash, warrior of King Valtor, and a volunteer who 
6293chose to dedicate her life for all time to the defense of Orzammar.
6294
6295Sten
6296On Sten.
6297
6298"Either you have an enviable memory, or a pitiable life, to know nothing 
6299of regret."
6300
6301The northern islands are remote: lush jungles that harbor cities rumored to
6302be the most extraordinary ever built. These are the lands of the qunari--
6303lands that no foreign eyes ever see. Only the stories of the three Exalted 
6304Marches waged against the giants have reached the south... until the 
6305arrival of Sten.
6306
6307The stoic giant in the cage was surely the strangest thing the people of 
6308othering had ever seen, until the Blight struck.
6309
6310[if left in cage] 
6311He remained in his cage to await death, and most likely found it.
6312
6313[if tells Warden why imprisoned] 
6314He was sent with a small group of qunari soldiers to investigate the Blight
6315and report back. Outside Lothering, they were ambushed by darkspawn.  
6316They fought off the attack, but only Sten survived. Farmers found him 
6317dying and took him in, but when he awoke, alone and unarmed, he 
6318panicked, killing the entire family. Realizing he had sacrificed his honor, 
6319Sten waited for the villagers to come, and surrendered, expecting death.
6320
6321[if personal quest completed] 
6322His sword and his honor restored, Sten chose to continue with the 
6323Warden and take the battle to the archdemon.
6324
6325[if told to leave] 
6326He left, intending to seek out the archdemon alone.
6327
6328[if Approval reaches 20] 
6329Sten has an eye for paintings, an appreciation that might seem out of 
6330character, but is actually an extension of qunari discipline. He respects an 
6331artist for careful composition, a skill that is as much about where the 
6332brushstroke stops as where it begins.
6333
6334Bann Teagan Guerrin
6335On Bann Teagan Guerrin.
6336
6337"The Bannorn will not bow to you simply because you demand it!"
6338
6339Younger brother to Arl Eamon of Redcliffe, and uncle to King Cailan, 
6340Teagan holds the bannorn of Rainesfere, a tiny province of Redcliffe's 
6341squeezed between the Frostback Mountains and Lake Calenhad. Bann 
6342Teagan avoids the Denerim court except to go hunting with his nephew, 
6343and rarely makes himself heard at the Landsmeet, preferring to leave 
6344politics to his brother.
6345
6346Valendrian
6347On Valendrian.
6348
6349"Remember that our strength lies in commitment to tradition and to each 
6350other."
6351
6352Every alienage has a hahren, an elder. It falls to the hahren to arrange 
6353marriages for those without family, to negotiate with the guards when 
6354there's trouble, and to act as a sort of mayor and surrogate uncle to the 
6355people of the alienage.
6356
6357The title, like so many things, is a holdover from the time of Arlathan, for 
6358hahrens are not necessarily the oldest person in their community, or even 
6359all that old. Tradition gives the role to the oldest soul, the wisest, 
6360cleverest, and the most level-headed. Valendrian has been hahren of the 
6361Denerim Alienage since he was in his thirties.
6362
6363[City Elf origin] 
6364He was taken across the sea by Tevinter slavers. His whereabouts are now
6365unknown.
6366
6367[all other orgins] 
6368He was nearly shipped to Tevinter by slavers, but was returned to the 
6369Alienage by the Warden.
6370
6371Wynne
6372On Wynne.
6373
6374"I will not lie motionless in a bed, with coverlets up to my chin, waiting 
6375for death to claim me."
6376
6377[when Approval is Warm] 
6378"It's perfectly all right to think about the many indignities you plan to 
6379inflict on your enemies, but to talk about it... well, that would be 
6380unladylike."
6381
6382Wynne's talent became apparent early on, particularly her skill at healing 
6383magic. She was well-liked by all her mentors, and was recognized as an 
6384exceptionally gifted student. Even the templars who watched her could 
6385not deny that she represented the best the Circle had to offer. She was an 
6386intelligent young woman who possessed a quiet confidence and maturity 
6387beyond her years.
6388
6389She spent many years mentoring apprentices within the Circle, and her 
6390peers thought so highly of her that she was asked to be First Enchanter 
6391Irving's successor, but she refused, saying that she had no desire to work 
6392in the upper echelons. When word reached the tower of King Cailan's call 
6393to arms, Wynne volunteered to go to Ostagar.
6394
6395[if alive after Broken Circle] 
6396She escaped the battle with her life, and stayed to search for survivors and
6397tend the wounded. When she returned home, she found that Uldred had 
6398gone on ahead of her, spreading the lie that the Wardens had betrayed 
6399Cailan and urging the Circle to support Loghain.
6400
6401Wynne immediately spoke with Irving and told him the truth. Irving then 
6402confronted Uldred about his falsehoods--prompting Uldred to use terrible
6403measures to take over the tower.
6404
6405[if killed during Broken Circle] 
6406While trying to save what was left of the Circle, Wynne was cut down by 
6407the Warden.
6408
6409[if recruited] 
6410After dealing with Uldred and his abominations, Wynne joined the 
6411Warden  in the quest to end the Blight.
6412
6413[if Wynne attacks Warden for defiling urn] 
6414She was killed fighting alongside the guardian when Andraste's Ashes 
6415were corrupted and destroyed.
6416
6417[if Approval reaches 20] 
6418For Wynne, the printed word is a window to true understanding. A 
6419scholar by heart, she feels that what a people commit to the page is sacred 
6420by definition.
6421
6422Keeper Zathrian
6423On Keeper Zathrian.
6424
6425"Even with all our magic and skill, we only delay the inevitable."
6426
6427[Dalish origin] 
6428In Arlathvhen, it is common for all the hahren to hold a private council 
6429while their respective clans are still settling in. These meetings inevitably 
6430last well into the next day and end with furious shouting, such that many 
6431say that the true reason the clans all go their separate ways is that no two 
6432hahren can stand each other.
6433
6434Zathrian is nothing at all like Keeper Marethari, but this is to be expected. 
6435He is older, more severe, and his clan is facing a much more terrible 
6436enemy than the usual shemlen that plague other clans.
6437
6438[all other origins] 
6439It is said the elves lived in Ferelden long before any others set foot there, 
6440and though most of their knowledge has been lost, it falls to the keeper of 
6441each clan to preserve what they have.
6442
6443Zathrian is an old, severe elf with little love for outsiders, but his clan is 
6444facing a more trying enemy than most.
6445
6446ong ago, in retribution for an attack against his clan, he unleashed a 
6447
6448terrible curse: He summoned a spirit into this world, and set it upon the 
6449humans who had wronged him. The spirit did not simply slaughter 
6450Zathrian's enemies; it transformed them into monstrous beasts.
6451
6452In time, however, the werewolves he had created regained their minds, 
6453and they sought out the one responsible for their suffering, turning the 
6454curse upon Zathrian's own people.
6455
6456[if Warden kills elves] 
6457He was killed along with the rest of his clan.
6458
6459[if Warden kills werewolves] 
6460The Warden slew the werewolves, including Witherfang, ending the 
6461conflict.
6462
6463[if Zathrian ends curse] 
6464At the urging of the Lady of the Forest, the Warden persuaded Zathrian to
6465give up his own life, returning the werewolves to their human forms and 
6466saving the elves who had been inflicted with the curse.
6467
6468Zevran Arainai
6469On Zevran Arainai.
6470
6471"The Crows send their regards."
6472
6473[if Approval reaches Friendly] 
6474"I intend to see this through to the end with you. After all... someone must
6475take responsibility for preventing your untimely death."
6476
6477Between the Tevinter Imperium, Rivain, and the Free Marches sits the 
6478nation of Antiva. Although it possesses few resources of its own, Antiva's 
6479location makes it a center for trade in the north, and the capital, Antiva 
6480City, is the wealthiest in the world. Antiva has virtually no army--the 
6481monarchy is too weak to support one. Most Antivans would be hard-
6482pressed even to name the current king--as the true power lies in the hands
6483of a dozen merchant princes, each with a personal army, and each locked 
6484in a constant struggle for power against all the others.
6485
6486Anyone would think, then, that Antiva would be a ripe target for invasion
6487by one of her neighbors, but even the qunari leave Antiva alone for one 
6488very good reason: the House of Crows.
6489
6490The most efficient, most feared, and most expensive guild of assassins in 
6491the world calls Antiva their home, and their reputation alone defends the 
6492borders.
6493
6494Zevran was the Crow contracted by Loghain to assassinate Alistair and 
6495the Warden. One failed attempt later, however, he found himself at the 
6496mercy of his would-be victims.
6497
6498[if Zevran is killed and not recruited] 
6499He was killed, which likely has ruined the Crows' otherwise perfect 
6500record of successes.
6501
6502[if Zevran is released and not recruited] 
6503They showed somewhat dubious mercy by letting him go, and what's 
6504become of him is anyone's guess.
6505
6506[if Zevran is recruited] 
6507They showed him unexpected mercy, and in return he swore to aid the 
6508Wardens on their quest to end the Blight.
6509
6510[if recruited and told to leave] 
6511They parted ways, however, and Zevran has not been seen since.
6512
6513[if killed by Warden other than Taliesin encounter] 
6514Things don't always work out as expected, however, and Zevran was 
6515killed in a disagreement with the Warden.
6516
6517[if Zevran betrays Warden in Taliesin encounter] 
6518The word of a Crow, however, is little more than noise. Crows ambushed 
6519the Warden, and Zevran joined them. He was killed alongside his Antivan
6520brothers.
6521
6522[if Approval reaches 20] 
6523Zevran shows an affinity for the finer things in life -- hardly surprising for
6524an Antivan Crow--but his appreciation can be more poetic than he lets on. 
6525
6526A simple bar of refined silver or gold, uncomplicated by a craftsman’s 
6527hammer, is elegantly valuable.
6528
6529Witherfang
6530On Witherfang.
6531
6532Witherfang is, according to the Keeper Zathrian, a wolf. He is no ordinary 
6533wolf, however. He is a wolf possessed by a powerful spirit and the source 
6534of the werewolf curse that plagues the Brecilian Forest. While Witherfang 
6535is hundreds of years old and very powerful in his own right, the only way 
6536to end his curse is to cut out his heart and bring it to Zathrian.
6537
6538It appears that Witherfang has two sides, as nature does. One is the wolf, 
6539savage and male... but the other is the Lady of the Forest, gentle and 
6540female. Witherfang is both beast and beauty, terrible and peace-loving. 
6541The Lady has guided the werewolves of the Brecilian Forest to come to 
6542peace with their nature... as she has.
6543
6544Sophia Dryden
6545On Sophia Dryden.
6546
6547"Sophia Dryden is Ferelden's light and her most brilliant jewel; nothing on
6548this earth can ever quench her fire."
6549
6550Arlessa Sophia Dryden was the young Arland's rival for the throne of 
6551Ferelden. Dryden was a strong and charismatic leader with much support 
6552from the Bannorn. When Arland finally won the crown, Dryden refused to
6553relent. She pushed her claim, was caught, and accused of treason. Her 
6554sympathizers continued to support her, however. In order to appease 
6555them, Dryden was spared execution, and forced to join the Grey Wardens 
6556instead.
6557
6558Dryden survived the Joining and dazzled the Grey Wardens at Soldier's 
6559Peak with her leadership skills and charm. She eventually rose through 
6560the ranks to become the Warden-Commander of Ferelden. Before 
6561Commander Dryden, the Grey Wardens were seen as a relic of an older 
6562time and an unnecessary drain on the nobles' coffers. Dryden, though, 
6563
6564with her political connections, reinvigorated the Wardens and rapidly 
6565increased their numbers.
6566
6567In the meantime, King Arland proved himself a devious king, willing to 
6568go to brutal lengths to silence his opponents. Arland's reign of terror grew
6569worse with each passing year, and some of the banns approached 
6570Commander Dryden in desperation, begging her to intercede. She agreed, 
6571and thus was the rebellion against King Arland born. 
6572
6573Arland learned of the rebellion and took steps to end it. He publicly 
6574suspended all tithing to the Grey Wardens and declared that they were no
6575longer welcome in Ferelden. Some of the Wardens, mindful that they were
6576supposed to remain politically neutral, felt disgraced by Dryden's 
6577involvement in Fereldan politics and left her side even as the king's forces 
6578lay siege to Soldier's Peak. The siege took months and ended with the 
6579death of Sophia Dryden.
6580
6581--From the personal files of Levi Dryden, merchant.
6582
6583[Once Sophia found in Soldier's Peak] 
6584Addendum: King Arland had driven the Grey Wardens from Ferelden, 
6585and after the siege of Soldier's Peak, the base was abandoned. When 
6586Soldier's Peak was finally entered again for the first time in centuries, it 
6587was discovered that Sophia Dryden had been possessed by a demon.
6588
6589Codex: Characters (Awakening)
6590
6591Anders
6592
6593“Most people enjoy being kicked in the head to be woken each morning. Me, I'm just so 
6594picky." 
6595
6596Anders is an apostate mage. He was arrested by templars who intended to cart him 
6597back to the Circle Tower; Vigil's Keep was to have been a short stop on the long 
6598journey. Unfortunately, the keep was attacked just after the group arrived, and Anders 
6599was found standing over the bodies of his captors. He insists they were killed by 
6600darkspawn. 
6601
6602Regardless, Anders joined the Warden-Commander to defeat the darkspawn in Vigil's 
6603Keep. 
6604
6605[if he undergoes the Joining]
6606Afterwards, Anders was recruited into the Grey Wardens. He survived the Joining.
6607
6608[if he is taken by the templars and given leniency] 
6609Although Anders fought alongside the Warden-Commander at Vigil's Keep, the 
6610Warden-Commander returned the mage to the templars' custody after the battle—with 
6611a request that the templars be lenient, given what Anders had done to help the Grey 
6612Wardens.
6613
6614[if given a kitten] 
6615The Warden-Commander gave Anders a kitten as a gift. Anders stowed the kitten, Ser 
6616Pounce-a-lot, in the folds of his robe.
6617
6618[at the start of the Freedom for Anders quest] 
6619Anders' old friend Namaya revealed that the templars had moved the phylacteries for 
6620most mages in Ferelden--including Anders--to the City of Amaranthine.
6621
6622[side with Anders during Freedom for Anders quest]  
6623But the warehouse where the phylacteries were supposedly stored was actually a 
6624templar trap. The Warden-Commander stood with Anders against the templars, for 
6625which the mage was grateful. 
6626
6627[side with Templars during Freedom for Anders quest]  
6628But the warehouse where the phylacteries were supposedly stored was actually a 
6629templar trap. In order to avoid trouble, the Warden-Commander released Anders into 
6630the templars' custody.
6631
6632[conditional on Approval?] 
6633Anders takes great pride in his appearance and enjoys fine things. 
6634
6635[if the City of Amaranthine saved, and Anders is left to defend Vigil's Keep] 
6636Anders died when darkspawn sacked Vigil's Keep a second time.
6637
6638[conditional on ????] 
6639But Anders grew weary of working with the Grey Wardens and departed shortly after 
6640joining them.
6641
6642The Warden-Commander allowed Anders to escape.
6643
6644But Anders did not leave, returning instead to help defeat the darkspawn.
6645
6646The Architect
6647
6648The Architect is a powerful darkspawn possessed of an intelligence seldom seen in his 
6649kind--and obsessed with Grey Wardens. He seemed to be conducting strange 
6650experiments in the old silverite mines near the Wending Wood, although their purpose 
6651was impossible to discern. 
6652
6653The Architect is often seen with a dwarven woman at his side. He treats her with great 
6654respect, even affection. No one knows her name nor has heard her speak. 
6655
6656The Architect and the Mother seem to be at odds. She is undermining his plan, 
6657whatever it is. 
6658
6659The Architect finally revealed his plan as the Warden-Commander was preparing to kill
6660the Mother. The Architect was born with a mind of his own, able to ignore the call of the
6661Old Gods. He dreams of freeing all darkspawn from their urge to seek out the Old 
6662Gods, thereby ending the threat of future Blights. 
6663
6664To awaken other darkspawn, however, he employs a modified version of the Joining 
6665using the blood of a Grey Warden. He sent the disciple known as the Withered to Vigil's
6666Keep to propose an alliance, but the Wardens misunterstood the Withered's intentions 
6667and attacked. 
6668
6669[Architect lives] 
6670The Warden-Commander and the Architect agreed that preventing future Blights is a 
6671noble goal. The Warden-Commander pledged that the Architect's work could continue 
6672after they killed the Mother together.
6673
6674[Architect killed] 
6675The Architect wished to ally with the Grey Wardens to destroy the Mother, but the 
6676Warden-Commander refused to deal with darkspawn and killed the Architect.
6677
6678Justice
6679
6680"I have no name, only a virtue to which I aspire."
6681
6682A spirit of justice fought on behalf of the villagers that the baroness trapped in the Fade.
6683When the Warden-Commander escaped through a tear in the Veil, Justice was dragged 
6684along and deposited in the corpse of the Grey Warden Kristoff.
6685
6686[if recruited] 
6687The baroness's defeat left Justice trapped in the mortal world. Believing Kristoff's 
6688mission to be worthy, he agreed to travel with the Warden-Commander.
6689
6690[begin Justice for Kristoff]  
6691Kristoff's wife, Aura, arrived at Vigil's Keep. Upon realizing what had become of her 
6692husband, she accused Justice of desecrating Kristoff's body. This distressed Justice, who 
6693insisted on finding a way to ease Aura's pain.
6694
6695[complete Justice for Kristoff] 
6696Justice visited Aura again later, promising to avenge her husband's death. This pact 
6697gave both a measure of peace.
6698
6699[approval is over 25] 
6700Justice likes tokens that remind him of the Fade as well as items that provide insight 
6701into Kristoff's life.
6702
6703[if the City of Amaranthine saved, and Justice is left to defend Vigil's Keep] 
6704Justice likely died in the second siege on Vigil's Keep.
6705
6706Mhairi
6707
6708"Allow me to say: I'm very proud to serve under your command."
6709
6710Mhairi was a knight in Ferelden's army until agreeing to join the Grey Wardens. She 
6711can think of no greater honor, nor better way to serve the nation, and is eager to 
6712undertake the Joining.
6713
6714Sadly, Mhairi's enthusiasm did not save her. She perished in the Joining like so many 
6715others before her and was laid to rest as a Grey Warden.
6716
6717Nathaniel
6718
6719"The Howes are pariahs now, those of us left."
6720
6721Nathaniel Howe is the son of the disgraced Arl Rendon Howe and among the last 
6722scions of the once-great family. He blames the Grey Wardens for his father's death and 
6723had intended to assassinate the Warden-Commander. Upon seeing Vigil's Keep, 
6724however--his childhood home--Nathaniel decided to simply reclaim some family 
6725treasures. The Wardens caught Nathaniel breaking in.
6726
6727[if conscripted]
6728The Warden-Commander, impressed to hear that it took four Wardens to capture 
6729Nathaniel, invoked the Right of Conscription, making the young Howe a Warden 
6730recruit.
6731
6732[if hanged]
6733The Warden-Commander ordered Nathaniel executed.
6734
6735[if released]
6736The Warden-Commander released Nathaniel.
6737
6738[if released alt]
6739The Warden-Commander released Nathaniel, letting him leave with his family's 
6740possessions.
6741
6742[if released and then conscripted]
6743Such mercy had an odd effect on Nathaniel. He returned, seeking to become a Warden 
6744himself.
6745
6746[after the Joining]
6747Nathaniel undertook the Joining and survived.
6748
6749[when Approval reached 20]
6750Nathaniel is a sensible fellow who values practical gifts over useless trinkets.
6751
6752In a chance encounter with the Howes' old groundskeeper, Nathaniel learned that his 
6753sister, Delilah, had married a shopkeeper in the city. Nathaniel was eager to find her.
6754
6755But Delilah was content with her commoner husband, and revealed that their father 
6756was exactly the tyrant that everyone claimed.
6757
6758In time, Nathaniel came to terms with his sister's choices and his family's legacy.
6759
6760[if the City of Amaranthine saved, and Nathaniel is left to defend Vigil's Keep] 
6761Nathaniel died defending Vigil's Keep from the army of darkspawn.
6762
6763[conditional on ???]
6764
6765But the Warden-Commander grew tired of Nathaniel and killed him.
6766
6767Nathaniel became angry with the Warden-Commander and left for good.
6768
6769Oghren
6770
6771"Now let's go introduce some darkspawn arses to my foot. Only polite thing to do."
6772
6773Oghren was once married to Branka, Orzammar's sole living Paragon, but she left him 
6774to search for the Anvil of the Void. Oghren took to drink, then accidentally killed 
6775another warrior in a drunken Proving match. For this mistake, Oghren was stripped of 
6776his house and barred from bearing weapons--for a warrior, worse than exile.
6777
6778When the Grey Wardens called for aid from the dwarves, Orzammar's throne was 
6779contested and only a Paragon could settle the dispute. Oghren, hoping to find his wife, 
6780offered to guide the party through the Deep Roads.
6781
6782But Branka's obsession with the Anvil of the Void had driven her mad. The Wardens 
6783helped choose a new king, and Oghren, having lost everything, left with the Wardens.
6784
6785When the Blight was ended, Oghren settled down with his old flame Felsi and had a 
6786child. But domestic bliss did not last, and so Oghren traveled to Vigil's Keep in hope of 
6787becoming a Warden himself.
6788
6789[conditional on Approval?]
6790Oghren's passion for strong drink hasn't waned. 
6791
6792[after the Joining]
6793Oghren survived the Joining. His extensive experience drinking bitter swill likely 
6794helped. 
6795
6796[if not recruited]
6797The Warden-Commander denied Oghren's request and sent the dwarf on his way.
6798
6799[if the City of Amaranthine saved, and Oghren is left to defend Vigil's Keep] 
6800Alas, Oghren cannot hold off a hangover, let alone an entire army. He died when the 
6801darkspawn sacked Vigil's Keep again.
6802
6803[conditional on ????] 
6804Felsi arrived at Vigil's Keep demanding to see Oghren. Their conversation ended 
6805poorly.
6806
6807Oghren confided in the Warden-Commander. He admitted to feeling guilt over 
6808abandoning his child and resolved to be a better father.
6809
6810But Oghren and the Warden-Commander had a falling out, and Oghren left for parts 
6811unknown.
6812
6813Sigrun
6814
6815"A wise man once told me never to argue with someone better-armed than the entire 
6816warrior caste on parade."
6817
6818Sigrun is a member of the Legion of the Dead, warriors exiled from Orzammar and sent
6819on suicide missions against the darkspawn. The Warden-Commander found Sigrun 
6820fleeing a darkspawn next in Kal'Hirol, the last survivor of her group. She has broken the
6821egion's oath by not fighting to her death.
6822
6823[if not recruited]
6824Sigrun wished to return to Kal'Hirol to finish what the Legion began, but the Warden-
6825Commander deemed Sigrun's injuries too grave and sent her on way.
6826
6827[if recruited]
6828Sigrun joined the Warden-Commander to destroy the darkspawn nest.
6829
6830[after the Joining]
6831After Kal'Hirol was purged of darkspawn, Sigrun agreed to join the Grey Wardens. She 
6832survived the Joining.
6833
6834[start of Sigrun's Roguish Past]
6835Sigrun bumped into Mischa, an acquaintance from Orzammar. Mischa once took Sigrun
6836in, putting the casteless thief to work, but Sigrun betrayed Mischa in return.
6837
6838Sigrun felt guilty that Mischa was exiled to the surface and became determined to make 
6839up for her mistake.
6840
6841[end of Sigrun's Roguish Past]
6842Sigrun apologized, giving Mischa a ring, her only valuable possession. Mischa said 
6843she'd try to forgive her old friend.
6844
6845[end of Sigrun's Roguish Past alt]
6846Sigrun apologized to Mischa and gave her a ring, her only valuable possession. But the 
6847Warden-Commander recognized that the ring had great sentimental value to Sigrun 
6848and compensated Mischa instead. Mischa said she'd try to forgive her old friend.
6849
6850[conditional on Approval?]
6851Sigrun is fascinated by the surface world. She collects little curios from all over Thedas.
6852
6853[if the City of Amaranthine saved, and Sigrun is left to defend Vigil's Keep] 
6854Sigrun met her end fighting darkspawn at Vigil's Keep, fulfilling her promise to the 
6855egion.
6856
6857[conditional on ???]
6858Eventually, Sigrun became angry with the Warden-Commander and left for good.
6859
6860Sigrun violently objected to the Warden-Commander allying with the Architect. She 
6861died in the ensuing fight.
6862
6863Sigrun wished to return to Kal'Hirol to finish what the Legion began, but the Warden-
6864Commander deemed Sigrun's injuries too grave and sent her on her way.
6865
6866Seneschal Varel
6867
6868Varel has spent his life defending Amaranthine. When Rendon Howe was arl, Varel 
6869briefly became seneschal of Vigil's Keep, but he repeatedly objected to Howe's orders 
6870and was demoted to lower and lower ranks. Nonetheless, he continued to serve with 
6871defiance. When Howe's acts turned more sinister, Varel secretly sheltered those in need 
6872and used what little power he had to counteract the arl's atrocities. Soon, Varel was 
6873languishing in the dungeon awaiting execution. But Howe died first.
6874
6875When the Grey Wardens took over Amaranthine, the order reappointed Varel as 
6876seneschal. Although Varel is not a Warden himself, his position as chief administrator 
6877of the Wardens' lands makes him privy to many secrets of the order, including the 
6878Joining ritual. This rare honor is a testament to his character.
6879
6880[if the City of Amaranthine defended] 
6881Alas, Seneschal Varel was killed in the second darkspawn assault on Vigil's Keep.
6882
6883Velanna
6884
6885"I know a human crime when I see it. I have experienced more than enough of them."
6886
6887Velanna wreaked havoc in the Wending Wood, murdering humans who crossed her 
6888path to terrorize the nearby villages into releasing her sister.
6889
6890However, the Warden-Commander discovered that darkspawn were to blame for 
6891Velanna's sister's disappearance. Hoping to rescue her sister, Velanna offered to help 
6892the Warden-Commander destroy the darkspawn.
6893
6894[if not recruited]
6895The Warden-Commander refused an alliance and killed Velanna, believing her crimes 
6896too great to go unpunished.
6897
6898[after the Joining]
6899Velanna was upset to discover that her sister, Seranni, was working willingly with the 
6900Architect. She pledged herself to the Grey Wardens and survived the Joining.
6901
6902[after Velanna's Exile]
6903An encounter with Velanna's former clanmate Marren revealed that the clan had cast 
6904Velanna out and denounced her anti-human crusade.
6905
6906[if approval falls too low]
6907But Velanna grew impatient with the Warden-Commander and left the Grey Wardens.
6908
6909[if Velanna is in party at Drake's Fall]
6910Seranni reappeared as the Grey Wardens were making their way through the Mother's 
6911lair and explained how the Architect has convinced her of the similarities between the 
6912darkspawn and the Dalish. Seranni's passion may have swayed Velanna's feelings.
6913
6914[conditional on Approval?]
6915Velanna is fond of the color green as well as items that remind her of elven culture and 
6916nature.
6917
6918[if the City of Amaranthine saved, and Velanna is left to defend Vigil's Keep] 
6919Velanna likely perished in the second darkspawn assault on Vigil's Keep.
6920
6921[conditional on ???]
6922Velanna never saw her clan again, but neither did she forsake her Dalish culture--nor 
6923her sharp tongue, nor her quick temper.
6924
6925Codex: Characters (The Golems of Amgarrak)
6926
6927Jerrik Dace
6928On Jerrik Dace.
6929
6930Jerrik Dace is a noble from House Dace and a distant cousin to Lord Anwer Dace. He 
6931was unable to go on the Amgarrak expedition and now feels responsible for his brother 
6932going missing with the rest of the men. However, he does not believe his brother, 
6933Brogan, is dead and has enlisted the help of the Grey Warden to find him.
6934
6935Codex: Characters (Witch Hunt)
6936
6937Flemeth's Demise
6938The Death of Flemeth?
6939
6940[may only appear if the Warden killed Flemeth] 
6941Flemeth saved you during the first stages of the Blight, and her daughter Morrigan 
6942helped nurse you and Alistair back to health. Morrigan later revealed that Flemeth was 
6943an abomination who has sacrified her daughters to preserve her own unnatural life. 
6944You agreed to confront Flemeth before she could sacrifice Morrigan and found the 
6945enigmatic old crone at her hut in the Wilds. After a short exchange, she shapeshifted 
6946into a high dragon, and with difficulty, you killed her. 
6947So much about Flemeth remains a mystery. Standing in front of her deserted home in 
6948the marsh sent a shiver up your spine--like someone walking over a grave. 
6949
6950Codex: Characters (The Golems of Amgarrak & Witch 
6951Hunt)
6952
6953The Grey Warden
6954The Warden-Commander of Ferelden.
6955
6956Your post as Warden-Commander of Ferelden has been filled with challenges and 
6957difficulties. As an Orlesian, the nobility in Amaranthine have given you a frosty 
6958reception. 
6959
6960[in The Golems of Amgarrak] 
6961Eager to find new allies on this hostile soil, your seneschal has urged you to help one of 
6962the powerful noble families of Orzammar: the Daces. Jerrik Dace has sent a missive to 
6963Vigil's Keep requesting your assistance in a sensitive matter 
6964
6965[in Witch Hunt] 
6966Weisshaupt has provided little direct assistance but has recently promised more aid if 
6967you complete one small task. 
6968
6969During the last Blight, the hero of Fereldan worked with a purported witch of the 
6970Korcari Wilds: Morrigan. The role she and her mother, Flemeth, played in the Blight has
6971caused a great deal of concern to the First Warden. Although scace on details, the First 
6972Warden is offering considerable support if you find Morrigan and acquire some 
6973information. What information you need to attain though, is frustratingly vague. 
6974
6975After you sent scouts to track down Morrigan, you discovered that you are not alone in 
6976looking for her. The templars believe that she is a dangerous blood mage and are 
6977offering a high price for her elimination, and the Crown has soldiers looking for her in 
6978southern Ferelden. Morrigan has ignited controversy in your ranks, too. Some believe 
6979she should be found and killed (such as your seneschal, Garevel), while others believe 
6980she should be spared if she cooperates and answers some questions. 
6981
6982Your scouts recently uncovered the location of Flemeth's Hut and report unusual 
6983activity in the area. 
6984
6985The Mabari Hound
6986
6987[in GOA/WH; if the PC is the Warden, or the Warden-Commander] 
6988He has returned to your side after some time spent in the kennels in Denerim. Ferelden 
6989lost many of its war dogs during the Blight and kennel masters selected your prized 
6990
6991hound to strengthen their packs. He has been mated with female hounds from all over 
6992Ferelden and has sired several litters of puppies. 
6993
6994[if the Warden did not recruit a mabari in Origins] 
6995After your defeat of the archdemon, Teyrn Fergus Cousland of Highever presented you 
6996with a prized, purebred mabari hound. He has joined you on your hunt for Morrigan. 
6997
6998[if the PC is the Orlesian Warden-Commander] 
6999After you were appointed as Warden-Commander of Ferelden, Teyrn Fergus Cousland 
7000of Highever presented you with a prized, purebred mabari hound. He has joined you 
7001on your hunt for Morrigan.
7002
7003Codex: Characters (The Darkspawn 
7004Chronicles)
7005
7006Alistair
7007
7008Alistair was the long-secret son of the late King Maric Theirin, and the half
7009brother of King Cailan, who perished on the field at Ostagar. Shortly after 
7010Cailan's death, Arl Eamon Guerrin revealed Alistair's parentage at a 
7011andsmeet. To placate the nobles and rescue Ferelden from the brink of 
7012civil war, Alistair became engaged to his brother's widow, Queen Anora. 
7013However, Alistair was also the last of Ferelden's Grey Wardens, and so 
7014before he could take the throne as the King of Ferelden, he and his allies 
7015set out to defeat the archdemon. 
7016
7017Barkspawn
7018
7019Barkspawn was a mabari hound who was found injured at Ostagar. 
7020Alistair saved the dog's life, and the two have been inseparable ever since. 
7021Why Alistair named the dog Barkspawn is anyone's guess. 
7022
7023eliana
7024
7025eliana was a lay sister of the Chantry. In a vision, the Maker urged her to 
7026leave the cloister and battle the Blight. Her skill at archery, evidence of a 
7027surprising past, brought her to the attention of the Grey Warden named 
7028Alistair. She soon joined him as an ally--and, rumor says, a lover. 
7029
7030Morrigan
7031
7032Morrigan was the daughter of Flemeth, the legendary witch of the Korcari
7033Wilds. Flemeth forced Morrigan to accompany the Grey Warden Alistair 
7034in his battle against the Blight, but Morrigan and Alistair did not get 
7035along. She enjoyed laughing at his every mistake, and followed him only 
7036for the entertainment value. 
7037
7038Oghren
7039
7040Oghren was a decorated and highly respected warrior of the Dwarven city
7041of Orzammar--until his wife, the Paragon Branka, made him into a 
7042cuckold. Oghren turned to drink, then accidentally killed a young noble 
7043while intoxicated. After the dwarves stripped Oghren of his pride and 
7044weapons, he left for the surface. He settled in at the Gnawed Noble Tavern
7045in Denerim, ranting about his glory days to anyone who would listen. 
7046
7047Sten
7048
7049Sten was a soldier of the Beresaad, the vanguard of the Qunari. He was 
7050sent to Ferelden to investigate the threat of the Blight, but Sten and his 
7051brothers-in-arms were ambushed by darkspawn one night. Only Sten 
7052survived. He chose not to return to Par Vollen with his report, but 
7053lingered instead to fight the Blight, and to uncover the secrets of 
7054Ferelden's sweet, crumbly baked goods. 
7055
7056Wynne
7057
7058Wynne was a senior enchanter of Ferelden's Circle of Magi, and one of the
7059few humans who were lucky enough to survive the Battle of Ostagar. 
7060When Alistair called for allies against the Blight, she volunteered to march
7061to Denerim, nagging her templar traveling companions the whole way. 
7062
7063Zevran
7064
7065Zevran was an Antivan Crow who was sent to Ferelden to kill Alistair, a 
7066Grey Warden. Alistair defeated Zevran and spared the would-be 
7067assassin's life, on the condition that Zevran would never show his face 
7068again. Fearing reprisal from the Crows for his failure, Zevran went into 
7069hiding in Denerim's elven alienage. 
7070
7071People of Ferelden
7072
7073Ser Cauthrien 
7074Ser Cauthrien was Teyrn Loghain Mac Tir's trusted second-in-command. 
7075She was always suspicious of Alistair, but put aside her dislike to support 
7076his battle against the Blight. 
7077
7078Bann Ceorlic 
7079Bann Ceorlic was one of many nobles who came to Denerim for the 
7080andsmeet, where he agreed with just about everything that Teyrn 
7081oghain said. 
7082
7083Cullen 
7084Cullen was one of many templars sent to defend Denerim from the 
7085darkspawn attack. His colleagues often whispered that he was mentally 
7086unstable. 
7087
7088Goldanna 
7089Goldanna was a washer-woman who lived in Denerim. Alistair believed 
7090that she was his half-sister. She smelled of sour milk and cabbage. 
7091
7092Gorim 
7093Gorim was once a second to a prince of House Aeducan. When the prince 
7094was framed for fratricide, Gorim was exiled to the surface, where he made
7095a living as a merchant in Denerim. 
7096
7097Knight-Commander Greagoir 
7098Knight-Commander Greagoir was the leader of the templars who watch 
7099over Ferelden's Circle of Magi. When the darkspawn assaulted Denerim, 
7100he brought many of his forces to the city's defence. 
7101
7102Habren 
7103Habren was the spoiled daughter of Arl Bryland of South Reach. She 
7104enjoyed spending her father's coin and once became bored with a dozen 
7105separate puppies in a three-month period. 
7106
7107Herren 
7108Herren was the partner of Master Wade, Denerim's most famous armorer. 
7109Herren managed the finances and day-to-day operations of their shop. He 
7110
7111and Master Wade escaped the massacre in the Denerim market under 
7112mysterious circumstances. 
7113
7114Arl Rendon Howe 
7115Rendon Howe was the hereditary arl of Amaranthine, known as a cagey 
7116ally to Teyrn Loghain. Dark rumors suggest he was behind the destruction
7117of Castle Highever and the annihilation of the Cousland line. 
7118
7119Kardol 
7120Kardol was an experienced member of the Legion of the Dead. He met 
7121Alistair in the Deep Roads and promised to fight the darkspawn along 
7122with him. 
7123
7124Sergeant Kylon 
7125Sergeant Kylon was a member of Denerim's guard tasked with 
7126maintaining order in the market. Because his superiors did not think the 
7127post important, they sent Kylon a progression of ever-more-incompetent 
7128new recruits, usually the bastard sons of minor lords. 
7129
7130Ser Landry 
7131Ser Landry was a knight in the service of King Cailan. He believed that the
7132Grey Wardens were to blame for the king's death, and once challenged 
7133Alistair to a duel. He lost and was humiliated. 
7134
7135Mother Perpetua 
7136Perpetua was the revered mother of the Denerim Chantry. She filled her 
7137days arguing with Sister Theohild over interpretation of the Chant. 
7138
7139Ser Perth 
7140Ser Perth was a knight in the service of Arl Eamon of Redcliffe. He was 
7141sent on a quest for the legendary Urn of Sacred Ashes, but found no 
7142success. 
7143
7144Riordan 
7145Riordan was a Grey Warden from Orlais. While on a diplomatic mission, 
7146he was arrested by Teyrn Loghain, and held in the dungeons of the arl of 
7147Denerim's palace. Alistair freed him, temporarily doubling the number of 
7148living Wardens in Ferelden.
7149
7150Sanga 
7151Sanga was the proprietress of The Pearl, a brothel in Denerim. Her 
7152establishment was renowned for the variety of temptations it offered.
7153
7154Bann Teagan 
7155Teagan Guerrin, the bann of Rainesfere, was the younger brother of Arl 
7156Eamon Guerrin. When Arl Eamon was incapacitated by poison, Teagan 
7157took over his duties. 
7158
7159Sister Theohild 
7160Theohild was a priest in Denerim's chantry. She liked nothing more than 
7161to argue with Mother Perpetua over interpretations of the Chant. 
7162
7163Valendrian 
7164Valendrian was the keeper of the elven alienage in Denerim, with years of 
7165experience in speaking up to defend his people when human guards came
7166to threaten them. 
7167
7168Vaughan 
7169Vaughan Kendells was the son of the late Arl Urien Kendells and the 
7170rightful arl of Denerim. He was captured by Arl Rendon Howe and left to 
7171rot in the dungeons of the arl of Denerim's estate. When Alistair broke 
7172into the estate to rescue Riordan, an Orlesian Grey Warden, he also 
7173released Vaughan. 
7174
7175Master Wade 
7176Wade was a master blacksmith who ran a shop in Denerim with the 
7177assistance of his partner, Herren. He and Herren escaped the massacre in 
7178the Denerim market under mysterious circumstances. 
7179
7180Codex: Books and Songs (Origins)
7181
7182Aveline, Knight of Orlais
7183Aveline, Knight of Orlais.
7184
7185Aveline was born to an Orlesian farmer near the city of Halamshiral in the
7186early half of the Storm Age. She was a large and ugly baby, and her father 
7187had hoped for a boy. Not wanting another mouth to feed, the farmer left 
7188Aveline in the woods to die from exposure. But a traveling band of Dalish 
7189elves came upon the crying child.
7190
7191The elves took her into their clan and raised her as their own. They taught 
7192her archery, dueling and survival skills. When she came of age, she was 
7193larger and stronger than most women, let alone elven women. Her 
7194adoptive parents knew that she was a fine warrior, so they encouraged 
7195her to enter a human tournament in nearby Montsimmard. But women 
7196were not permitted to join the knighthood in Orlais, nor to compete in a 
7197tournament, so Aveline joined the tournament as a man. Her clan forged a
7198suit of armor with a full helm and gave her an ironbark sword of the finest
7199quality.
7200
7201Aveline entered the competition claiming to be a knight of Antiva. She 
7202refused to doff her helmet, even during the archery competition. And sure
7203enough, Aveline bested many other knights until, in the grand melee, she 
7204came upon Kaleva, a knight who served the emperor and was considered 
7205the finest in the land. 
7206
7207Kaleva was determined not to be beaten, and struck swiftly and strongly. 
7208As Aveline matched each of his blows, Kaleva grew ever more frustrated. 
7209Finally, in desperation, he tripped Aveline and threw her to the ground. 
7210The blow knocked her helm from her head, and Kaleva was shamed. He 
7211called to have the competition declared invalid, but the crowd booed and 
7212jeered. In anger, Kaleva turned and slew Aveline as she lay helpless.
7213
7214The son of the emperor, Prince Freyan, was also present at the tourney. He
7215too had been beaten by Aveline, but he recognized her skill and bravery 
7216and was saddened by the injustice of her death. Upon rising to the 
7217emperor’s seat in 7:44 Storm, Freyan abolished the law that disallowed 
7218women from joining the Orlesian knighthood and posthumously knighted
7219
7220Aveline. Although women in the Orlesian knighthood are still a rarity 
7221today, all those who do become knights revere Ser Aveline as their patron.
7222
7223--"Aveline, Knight of Orlais," by Lord Francois Maigny, 8:4 Blessed.
7224
7225Ballad of Ayesleigh
7226From the Ballad of Ayesleigh.
7227
7228the wind that stirs
7229their shallow graves
7230carries their song
7231across the sands
7232
7233heed our words
7234hear our cry
7235the grey are sworn
7236in peace we lie
7237
7238heed our words
7239hear our cry
7240our names recalled
7241we cannot die
7242
7243when darkness comes
7244and swallows light
7245heed our words
7246and we shall rise
7247
7248--From the Ballad of Ayesleigh, said to have been written after the Battle of 
7249Ayesleigh, which ended the Fourth Blight, 5:20 Exalted.
7250
7251Meditations and Odes to Bees
7252A sonnet of bees.
7253
7254Oh, fair damsel of the garden,
7255Arlessa of honeysuckle and rose,
7256I humbly beg your gracious pardon 
7257
7258For the offense that here arose.
7259
7260Surely your work is far too vital
7261To be interrupted by one like me.
7262I am in no way entitled
7263To earn the notice of a honeybee.
7264
7265I was a fool to pluck that flower 
7266For my lady fair. On my honor I
7267Swear to bring you dozens more within the hour
7268If you give me leave to try.
7269
7270isten traveler, if you would walk the garden paths some spring:
7271Mind that you don't trespass, for the gardeners do sting.
7272
7273--Anonymous
7274
7275Adventures of the Black Fox
7276The Adventures of the Black Fox.
7277
7278Born Lord Remi Vascal in 8:63 Blessed, the Black Fox was a dashing thief 
7279and rogue who went on to inspire so many tales of his exploits that it is 
7280nearly impossible to determine today which are true and which are 
7281merely fabricated legend. Despite coming from nobility, he has become 
7282something of a hero of the common people.
7283
7284His initial exploits involved ridiculing the tyrannical and powerful lord of 
7285Val Chevin. Wearing a mask, he would appear in public and disrupt the 
7286lord's plans to the point that the lord angrily put a huge bounty on the life 
7287of "this cunning fox" (the origin of the nickname, which stuck). That the 
7288primary bounty hunter who took the job, Karolis, ended up becoming 
7289Remi's lifelong partner in crime (only after nearly killing him several 
7290times) is one of the most popular tales told in taverns today. The story is 
7291often exaggerated to make Remi appear initially buffoonish, until Karolis 
7292becomes so furious at the Black Fox's inexplicable ability to survive that 
7293the cunning Remi gains the upper hand, which impresses Karolis so much
7294that the bounty hunter joins him.
7295
7296After years of terrorizing the lord's men and foiling his tax collectors (a 
7297favorite pastime of Remi's, according to the Orlesian commoners), Remi 
7298was supposedly betrayed by his lover Servana de Montfort (in some 
7299versions of the tale a mage of the Circle, no less) and captured. After more 
7300than a year of torture, Remi was rescued from prison by his compatriots 
7301(including a repentant Servana), and together they escaped Orlais. In this 
7302period of Remi's adventures, he appears almost everywhere in Thedas: As
7303his legend grew, more innkeepers and merchants were happy to claim 
7304that the Black Fox had visited their village or establishment and 
7305performed some legendary feat. If the tales are to be believed, Remi led 
7306the lord's men on a merry chase. He became embroiled in political intrigue
7307in Nevarra, was hunted by the Crows of Antiva, and then kidnapped by a 
7308powerful mage in Tevinter. In each situation, Remi escaped death at the 
7309last moment, foiled the evil-doer, and improved life for the poor and 
7310downtrodden. Then, inevitably, he rejoined his band of adventurers and 
7311moved on to the next land. His companions Karolis and Servana, the wise 
7312dwarf Bolek, and the tempestuous knight Ser Clementis have each 
7313spawned their own individual legends over the years. 
7314
7315The stories all agree that, at some point, the Black Fox disappeared: He 
7316and his fellow adventurers voyaged into the heart of the Arlathan Forest 
7317seeking the sunken city of the elves and never returned. Many more are 
7318the tales that expand on what ultimately happened to them in that forest, 
7319and postulate on how they could someday be rescued.
7320
7321--From The Adventures of the Black Fox, by Gaston Gerrault, 9:11 Dragon.
7322
7323The Holy Brazier
7324The Holy Brazier.
7325
7326The brazier that stands atop the stairs in the great hall of our temple has 
7327always been something of a mystery to us. This is the brazier that created 
7328the beings we call the ash wraiths. This is where Andraste's followers 
7329immolated themselves and became the eternal guardians of Her temple.
7330
7331I have painstakingly pieced together information from old books and from
7332the tales and half-truths passed down to us by our forefathers. I believe I 
7333now understand the ritual used to create the wraiths. The brazier was lit 
7334
7335with a consecrated taper, its flame taken from the everlasting fire that long
7336ago consumed Andraste Herself. The chosen disciple would fast and pray 
7337for weeks, taking into his body nothing but a sip of water a day. When the
7338disciple was finally ready, he would place in his mouth a flawless black 
7339pearl, and step into the flames. In ancient Tevinter, black pearls were 
7340thought to be magical, able to stop the soul from passing through the Veil 
7341when held in the mouth at the moment of death.
7342
7343Thus, Andraste's disciples consigned themselves to the eternal flame; they 
7344became dust and ashes, and rose again and again to protect the most 
7345Beloved of the Maker.
7346
7347--From the journal of Father Kolgrim.
7348
7349The Legend of Calenhad: Chapter 1
7350On Calenhad's early rise.
7351
7352Prior to the crowning of King Calenhad, Ferelden was little more than a 
7353collection of independent arlings and teyrnirs that warred on each other 
7354constantly over petty matters. 
7355 
7356Calenhad was born in 5:10 Exalted as the third son of a Highever 
7357merchant on hard times. He was eventually sent to a distant cousin, a 
7358poor young knight named Ser Forannan, who made Calenhad his squire 
7359and dog-handler. As the tale goes, Ser Forannan and his squire became 
7360caught up in one of the wars of unity at the time: Arl Myrddin was a 
7361strong but generally disliked man who was making a bid for kingship. 
7362Forannan's own lord, a young fool of an arl named Tenedor no older than 
7363Calenhad, was besieged by Myrddin's forces at his castle, today known as 
7364West Hill. When Myrddin called Tenedor out to parley, the young arl 
7365asked for a volunteer from among the squires, someone who could 
7366masquerade as Tenedor in the parley party. Calenhad kneeled before 
7367Tenedor and asked for the honor.
7368
7369Much to Tenedor's and Ser Forannan's dismay, Calenhad immediately 
7370identified himself to Arl Myrddin. When asked by the arl why he was 
7371here, Calenhad explained that he had been asked to take the place of his 
7372lord. The arl said that he had planned to kill Tenedor--was Calenhad 
7373
7374willing to die in his lord's place, as well? Calenhad impressed Myrddin 
7375and his allies by saying that he was. Myrddin offered Calenhad a place as 
7376his own squire, but Calenhad refused, stating that if Myrddin had 
7377planned on betraying the right of parley, he was no man of honor. 
7378Myrddin's allies laughed at that, and Myrddin himself conceded that 
7379Calenhad had a point. He allowed Calenhad to return to the castle safely 
7380and launched his final assault. 
7381
7382During the assault, both Tenedor and Forannan were killed, but Calenhad 
7383found himself in one-on-one combat with Arl Myrddin. In front of all of 
7384Myrddin's allies, Calenhad defeated the arl and commanded he call off his
7385armies. The arl asked Calenhad who he professed to serve now, if both his
7386knight and his lord were dead, to which Calenhad replied that he would 
7387do as his honor bade him to, for he had nothing else.
7388
7389"You are not a man known for your honor," Calenhad said, "but I believe 
7390you wish to be. You allowed me to live once, and so now I do the same for
7391you. Perhaps if more of our people lived by honor, we would learn to 
7392trust each other long enough to live together." And with that, Calenhad 
7393withdrew his sword.
7394
7395"I am humbled by your words," Arl Myrddin told Calenhad, dropping to 
7396one knee. To his allies he shouted that he now knew he would never be 
7397king, but he knew who should be. With that Myrddin pledged allegiance 
7398to Calenhad, whom he named teyrn and ruler of Tenedor's lands.
7399
7400--From The Legend of Calenhad, by Brother Herren, Chantry scribe, 8:10 
7401Blessed.
7402
7403The Legend of Calenhad: Chapter 2
7404On Calenhad's rise to the throne.
7405
7406With the allegiance of Arl Myrddin, Calenhad began his rise to greatness.
7407
7408Some of Myrddin's allies also pledged allegiance, but most thought him 
7409foolhardy: A boy commoner was to lead them and become king? Over the 
7410years that followed, however, Calenhad would prove himself worthy of 
7411Myrddin's trust. With each victory, he won over more men to his 
7412
7413command and his reputation as a man of honor spread. Eventually, 
7414during his campaign against the lowland bannorn, he met his most 
7415infamous friend and companion, the vaunted warrior Lady Shayna. 
7416Calenhad married the famously beautiful daughter of Myrddin, Mairyn, 
7417and his firm belief in the ways of the Chantry became the staple of his 
7418court. In a time when the Chantry was still new to the lands and courts 
7419following Andraste held the majority of the power in Ferelden, Calenhad 
7420began to solidify the nation as one in line with the other nations around it.
7421This piety eventually won over to Calenhad those faithful in Ferelden who
7422had been waiting for such a leader. 
7423
7424With Lady Shayna at his side, Calenhad was unstoppable, and by 5:42 
7425Exalted, the war for Ferelden had come down to one final battle against 
7426the collected forces of Simeon, Teyrn of Denerim and the most potent 
7427nobleman in the land. Calenhad persuaded the Circle of Magi to come to 
7428his aid, as well as the Ash Warriors, and in the Battle of White Valley, he 
7429famously defeated Teyrn Simeon and united the nation.
7430
7431During the battle, Simeon nearly killed Calenhad, but Lady Shayna 
7432intervened and took the wound for him, slaying Simeon. Calenhad was 
7433crowned king in Denerim that year, with Mairyn his Queen, but he spent 
7434much of the months that followed nursing Lady Shayna back to health.
7435
7436King Calenhad's Ferelden was peaceful for a time, with the Chantry 
7437spreading quickly under the King's guidance. Everywhere the king and 
7438queen went, they were surrounded by cheering crowds. The common folk
7439celebrated Calenhad as one of their own who had achieved the 
7440impossible, and trade opened up with many outside lands for the first 
7441time in Ferelden's existence. But, as with many such golden ages, it was 
7442not to last. 
7443
7444--From The Legend of Calenhad, by Brother Herren, Chantry scribe, 8:10 
7445Blessed.
7446
7447The Legend of Calenhad: Chapter 3
7448On Calenhad's fall.
7449
7450Calenhad's legend tells that Lady Shayna harbored a love for her king that
7451went beyond friendship, a love that she had kept secret out of her sense of
7452duty and honor. When offered a love potion by a witch in disguise--a 
7453witch who would later turn out to be the vengeance-seeking sister of Arl 
7454Simeon--Lady Shayna gave in to temptation. She used the potion on 
7455Calenhad, but Queen Mairyn discovered the two of them together that 
7456night, and, broken-hearted, fled Denerim to return to her father. She told 
7457Myrddin everything, and he angrily threatened to revoke his support of 
7458Calenhad and begin anew the civil war.
7459
7460It is said that Lady Shayna felt remorseful at her manipulation of her best 
7461friend's heart and confessed her use of forbidden magic to the court. 
7462Although her life was forfeit, Calenhad forgave Lady Shayna for what she 
7463had done and refused to have her executed. Myrddin furiously roused the
7464other arls against Calenhad and Lady Shayna, and it was not long before 
7465Ferelden stood on the brink of civil war once again.
7466
7467Against Calenhad's orders, Lady Shayna went alone to Mairyn to plead 
7468for peace and plead her case, only to be found out by Myrddin and slain. 
7469Angered but also saddened, Calenhad challenged Myrddin to an honor 
7470duel, a fight neither of them wanted but both knew was necessary, and 
7471Myrddin was slain. The death of the king’s greatest ally, an important arl, 
7472was too much for the young kingdom to bear. The other arls would not 
7473back down in their claims against Calenhad. The threat of civil war rose 
7474once again. Calenhad went to his wife one last time then, although none 
7475know what he said to her, and then he simply vanished. He left with 
7476Mairyn a proclamation abdicating his throne in favor of the son his queen 
7477carried in her belly, who eventually ascended to the throne as King 
7478Weylan I, the king credited with establishing the Theirin dynasty lasting 
7479to this day. Calenhad would never reappear.
7480 
7481The legend of Calenhad himself only grew over time, as stories and 
7482sightings multiplied, even long after the point when Calenhad could 
7483possibly still be alive. Some say he disappeared into the Korcari Wilds or 
7484went to live with the dwarves or even became a monk in a reclusive 
7485Chantry order. The Chantry named Calenhad one of the Anointed in 7:88 
7486
7487Storm. Calenhad's sword, Nemetos, was left with Mairyn and became a 
7488symbol of Ferelden kingship over the next century. Rumors of its magical 
7489powers grew, and when it was lost in the ambush that killed King 
7490Venedrin in 8:24 Blessed, it was seen as a great blow to the Theirin line. 
7491Several false swords have appeared since that time, but never has the true 
7492sword resurfaced.
7493
7494--From The Legend of Calenhad, by Brother Herren, Chantry scribe, 8:10 
7495Blessed.
7496
7497Caridin's Journal
7498Caridin's journal.
7499
7500940, 45th day, 5th year of the reign of King Valtor: I have done it. The 
7501vision the ancestors gave me has come to fruition. Today a man sat up 
7502from my forge, a man of living stone and steel. I called him golem, for the 
7503legend of those great statues animated by the dead. They are our future 
7504and our salvation.
7505
7506940, 60th day, 5th year of the reign of King Valtor: It is a horrific process. 
7507Not every man could do such a thing and survive with his mind intact. I 
7508am honored that the ancestors believe I have the strength to bear this 
7509burden and forge Orzammar's defenders.
7510
7511Nothing so great may be achieved without sacrifice. Nor may stone and 
7512steel walk without a spirit to animate them.
7513
7514940, 73rd day, 5th year of the reign of King Valtor: I have asked for 
7515volunteers. Some few answered, men of the Warrior Caste, younger sons 
7516with no property, no chance for marriage. They want to defend 
7517Orzammar from the horrors these humans have unleashed. They want to 
7518live forever in a body stronger than the finest armor. They do not ask to 
7519speak with those who have gone before.
7520
7521I have put off saying this, even in these pages. But I must say it now. My 
7522golems will be powered by their deaths. These brave warriors come to me,
7523naked as they were born. I dress them in a skin of armor, so large it makes
7524the burliest look no more than a babe, the anvil their first and final cradle.
7525
7526We are surrounded by a mile of earth on all sides. No one hears the 
7527screams as I pour molten lyrium through the eyeholes, the mouth, every 
7528joint and chink in the armor. They silence quickly, but the smell lingers, 
7529just a trace of blood in the greater stench of hot metal. I must work fast. 
7530The armor is malleable now, as I shape it with hammer and tongs.
7531
7532It is not long before it moves beneath my hands, writhing and twisting 
7533with every blow. It speaks again now, a low moan, but I have learned to 
7534tune it out. I can afford no error in this craft. There can be no melted slag 
7535blinding the eyes, nor an unhewn bit of granite shackling the leg. They 
7536groan at my work, but would they rather be broken, crippled? Those I 
7537have spoken to tell me of the pain, but could they see themselves, they 
7538would see perfection.
7539
7540--From the journal of Caridin.
7541
7542The History of the Chantry: Chapter 1
7543The Imperium in flames.
7544
7545The first Blight devastated the Tevinter Imperium. Not only had the 
7546darkspawn ravaged the countryside, but Tevinter citizens had to face the 
7547fact that their own gods had turned against them. Dumat, the Old God 
7548once known as the Dragon of Silence, had risen to silence the world, and 
7549despite the frenzied pleas for help, the other Old Gods did nothing. The 
7550people of the Imperium began to question their faith, murdering priests 
7551and burning temples to punish their gods for not returning to help.
7552
7553In those days, even after the devastation of the first Blight, the Imperium 
7554stretched across the known world. Fringed with barbarian tribes, the 
7555Imperium was well prepared for invasions and attacks from without. 
7556Fitting, then, that the story of its downfall begins from within. 
7557
7558The people of the far northern and eastern reaches of the Imperium rose 
7559up against their powerful overlords in rebellion. The Tevinter magisters 
7560summoned demons to put down these small rebellions, leaving corpses to 
7561burn as examples to all who would dare revolt. The Imperium began to 
7562tear itself apart from within, throngs of angry and disillusioned citizens 
7563
7564doing what centuries of opposing armies could not. But the magisters 
7565were confident in their power, and they could not imagine surviving a 
7566Blight only to be destroyed by their own subjects.
7567
7568Even after the Blight, Tevinter commanded an army larger than that of 
7569any other organized nation in Thedas, but that army was scattered and its 
7570morale dwindling. The ruin of Tevinter was such that the Alamarri 
7571barbarians, who had spread their clans and holds over the wilderness of 
7572the Ferelden Valley at the far southeast edge of the Imperium, saw 
7573weakness in their enemy, and, after an age of oppression, embarked on a 
7574campaign not only to free their own lands, but to bring down mighty 
7575Tevinter as well. 
7576
7577The leaders of that blessed campaign were the great barbarian warlord, 
7578Maferath, and his wife, Andraste. Their dreams and ambitions would 
7579change the world forever.
7580
7581--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
7582scholar.
7583
7584The History of the Chantry: Chapter 2
7585A prophet born.
7586
7587When the prophet Andraste and her husband Maferath arrived at the 
7588head of their barbarian horde, southern Tevinter was thrown into chaos. 
7589The Imperium had defended against invasions in the past, but now they 
7590stood without the protection of their gods, with their army in tatters and 
7591their country devastated by the Blight. Many felt that the timing of the 
7592invasion was yet another of the Maker's miracles in Andraste's campaign 
7593to spread His divine word.
7594
7595Andraste was more than simply the wife of a warlord, after all--she was 
7596also the betrothed of the Maker. Enraptured by the melodic sound of her 
7597voice as she sang to the heavens for guidance, the Maker Himself 
7598appeared to Andraste and proposed that she come with Him, leaving 
7599behind the flawed world of humanity. In her wisdom, Andraste pleaded 
7600with the Maker to return to His people and create paradise in the world of
7601men. The Maker agreed, but only if all of the world would turn away from
7602
7603the worship of false gods and accept the Maker's divine commandments.
7604 
7605Armed with the knowledge of the one true god, Andraste began the 
7606Exalted March into the weakened Imperium. One of the Maker's 
7607commandments, that magic should serve man rather than rule over him, 
7608was as honey to the souls of the downtrodden of Tevinter, who lived 
7609under the thumbs of the magisters.
7610
7611Word of Andraste's Exalted March, of her miracles and military successes,
7612spread far and wide. Those in the Imperium who felt the Old Gods had 
7613abandoned them eagerly listened to the words of the Maker. Those 
7614throngs of restless citizens that destroyed temples now did so in the name 
7615of the Maker and His prophet, Andraste. As Maferath's armies conquered 
7616the lands of southern Tevinter, so did Andraste's words conquer hearts.
7617
7618It is said that the Maker smiled on the world at the Battle of Valarian 
7619Fields, in which the forces of Maferath challenged and defeated the 
7620greatest army Tevinter could muster. The southern reaches of the mighty 
7621Imperium now lay at the mercy of barbarians. Faith in the Maker, 
7622bolstered by such miracles, threatened to shake the foundations of the 
7623Imperium apart. 
7624
7625Of course, the human heart is more powerful than the greatest weapon, 
7626and when wounded, it is capable of the blackest of deeds.
7627
7628--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
7629scholar.
7630
7631The History of the Chantry: Chapter 3
7632On the betrayal of Andraste.
7633
7634It is said that at the Battle of Valarian Fields, Maferath stood and looked 
7635out over his armies. He had conquered the southern reaches of the 
7636greatest empire the world had ever known and built splintered barbarian 
7637clans into a force to be feared. With pride in his heart, he turned to 
7638congratulate his men and found that they had turned from him.
7639
7640Maferath fell to the evil of jealousy. After all that he had done, his wife 
7641
7642was the one to receive all the glory. He saw his wife's power and 
7643influence, and tired of his place as second husband, below the Maker. His 
7644heart swelled with fury. If he had conquered just to have his wife wrested 
7645from him by a forgotten god and a legion of faith-hungry rabble, then 
7646perhaps this war was not worth the trouble. 
7647
7648Here, history and the Chant of Light come apart. History tells us that 
7649Maferath looked north into the central Imperium and saw nothing but 
7650more war against a rapidly regrouping army, and he despaired. The 
7651Chant of Light holds that Maferath chafed with jealousy of the Maker, and
7652jealousy of the glory that Andraste received although it was he who led 
7653the armies.
7654
7655Maferath traveled to the Imperial capital of Minrathous to speak with the 
7656Archon Hessarian. There he offered up his wife to the Imperium in return 
7657for a truce that would end hostilities once and for all. The archon, eager to 
7658put down the voice of the prophet that stirred his own people against him,
7659agreed. Maferath led Andraste into an ambush where she was captured 
7660by Imperial agents, putting an end to her Exalted March. 
7661
7662Crowds of loyalists stood in the central square of Minrathous to watch 
7663Andraste's execution. By command of the archon, she was burned at the 
7664stake in what the Imperium believed to be the most painful punishment 
7665imaginable. According to the Chantry, however, Andraste was instead 
7666purified and made whole by the flames, ascending to life at her Maker's 
7667side. By all accounts, there was only silence where they expected screams. 
7668At the sight of the prophet burning, the crowds were filled with a 
7669profound guilt, as if they had participated in a great blasphemy. So 
7670moving was the moment that the archon himself drew his sword and 
7671thrust it into the prophet's heart, ending her torment and leaving those 
7672assembled to consider the weight of what they had seen.
7673
7674Whereas the execution of Andraste was meant to be a symbol of defeat for
7675the faith of the Maker, in truth it all but sealed the fate of the worship of 
7676the Old Gods and paved the way for the spread of the Maker's chant.
7677 
7678--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
7679scholar.
7680
7681The History of the Chantry: Chapter 4
7682On the birth of the Chantry.
7683
7684The crowds present at the death of Andraste were right to feel despair. It 
7685is believed that the prophet's execution angered the Maker, and He turned
7686His back on humanity once more, leaving the people of Thedas to suffer in
7687the dark.
7688
7689In these dark times, mankind scrambled for a light, any light. Some found 
7690comfort in demonic cults that promised power and riches in return for 
7691worship. Others prayed to the Old Gods for forgiveness, begging the great
7692dragons to return to the world. Still others fell so low as to worship the 
7693darkspawn, forming vile cults dedicated to the exaltation of evil in its 
7694purest form. It is said that the world wept as its people begged for a savior
7695who would not come. 
7696
7697Andraste's followers, however, did not abandon her teachings when she 
7698died. The Cult of Andraste rescued her sacred ashes from the courtyard in
7699Minrathous after her execution, stealing them away to a secret temple. The
7700location of that temple has long been lost, but the ashes of Andraste 
7701served as a symbol of the enduring nature of the faith in the Maker, that 
7702humanity could earn the Maker's forgiveness despite its grievous insult to 
7703Him. 
7704
7705With time, the Cult of Andraste spread and grew, and the Chant of Light 
7706took form. Sing this chant in the four corners of Thedas, it was said, and 
7707the world would gain the Maker's attention at last. As the Chant of Light 
7708spread, the Cult of Andraste became known as the Andrastian Chantry. 
7709Those who converted to the Chantry's beliefs found it their mission to 
7710spread Andraste's word.
7711
7712There were many converts, including powerful people in the Imperium 
7713and in the city-states of what is now Orlais. Such was the power of the 
7714Maker's word that the young King Drakon undertook a series of Exalted 
7715Marches meant to unite the city-states and create an empire solely 
7716dedicated to the Maker's will. The Orlesian Empire became the seat of the 
7717Chantry's power, the Grand Cathedral in Val Royeaux the source of the 
7718movement that birthed the organized Chantry as we know it today. 
7719Drakon, by then Emperor Drakon I, created the Circle of Magi, the Order 
7720
7721of Templars and the holy office of the Divine. Many within the Chantry 
7722revere him nearly as equal with Andraste herself.
7723
7724The modern Chantry is a thing of faith and beauty, but it is also a house of
7725necessity, protecting Thedas from powerful forces that would do it harm. 
7726Where the Grey Wardens protect the world from the Blights, the Chantry 
7727protects mankind from itself. Most of all, the Chantry works to earn the 
7728Maker's forgiveness, so that one day He will return and transform the 
7729world into the paradise it was always meant to be.
7730 
7731--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
7732scholar.
7733
7734The Tale of Iloren
7735The Tale of Iloren.
7736
7737In the days after the rising of Zazikel, the dark ones covered every corner 
7738of the land. The archdemon drove all the nations of the world before him, 
7739shemlen and elvhen alike.
7740
7741In the far north, where the hills wander the plains and the earth is 
7742eternally baked beneath the uncaring sun, the lands which the shemlen 
7743call Anderfels, a clan of our people lived, struggling to survive the Blight.
7744
7745Iloren was their keeper. A hunter in his younger days, crafty as any wolf, 
7746he led his people always just ahead of the darkspawn who chased them. 
7747But the old hunter knew that even halla cannot run forever. They must 
7748turn and fight, or be run down.
7749
7750At the foot of the Merdaine, the darkspawn cornered Iloren's clan. That 
7751night, the moon was strangled by clouds, the earth concealed by a dread 
7752mist that rose out of nowhere, so that the elvhen could not tell up from 
7753down.  In the confusion, the darkspawn attacked.
7754
7755But Iloren had prepared for them. All around the camp, the hunters had 
7756strewn dry grass, brush, and brambles. When the sound of rustling 
7757footfalls began, Iloren and the other hahren called upon the old magic. 
7758They struck out with lightning, and though the bolts missed the 
7759
7760darkspawn, they hit their target all the same. The sea of kindling lit, and 
7761not one of the dark creatures made it through the fire to reach Iloren's 
7762clan.
7763
7764--From "The Tale of Iloren," written by Zathrian, as it has been passed down 
7765from keeper to keeper for generations.
7766
7767Dane and the Werewolf
7768Dane and the Werewolf.
7769
7770et me sing of heroes and honor lost and found, 
7771Of monsters and men in all forms,
7772Of Dane, hunter without peer,
7773Feared by the forests of Ferelden,
7774Who one autumn morn spied
7775A hart of pure white in beam of warmest sun,
7776A prize for huntsman's spear.
7777
7778Through the greenwood they ran, hart and hunter 
7779Bringing the stag to spear at last in long-forgotten grove,
7780Heedless that the chase had waked a hunger in the golden wood, 
7781A werewolf, a creature with mind of man, 
7782ured by the hunt and come forth to lay claim
7783To the hart as rightful tribute
7784Drawn by the scent of cooling blood.
7785
7786In the silence the two hunters held.
7787Dane, spear-armed against the wolf with all his brood,
7788Knew with sinking heart he was lost
7789Steeled for the winding roads of the Fade
7790Then the beast spoke, human-like in voice,
7791"You have taken this stag from my woods and my pack
7792But nothing comes without a cost."
7793
7794The wolf pack circled, ever closer, and he
7795Who felled boars and bears with his bright blade
7796Knew fear. They spoke his name in roars 
7797ike gravestones, offering a beast's bargain.
7798
7799"Die here, huntsman, alone
7800And forgotten, or take my place amongst the wolves
7801As I take your place amongst man."
7802
7803Thus was a bargain struck,
7804And Dane the wolf pack served in wolfen form,
7805And the werewolf to his family sped, as Dane,
7806One year and a day all told.
7807But some things cannot be repent,
7808Some coinage cannot be unspent,
7809When hearts are wagered, a fissure rent.
7810
7811--From the saga Dane and the Werewolf, as recorded by the minstrel Uccam, 
78124:85 Black.
7813
7814Death of a Templar
7815Death of a Templar.
7816
7817The dry, dusty earth swallows up salty drops that splatter its surface. A 
7818tiny insect pauses, sensing the vibrations, and scurries off, leaving behind 
7819its invisible enemy. As the drops fall, the dark circles merge together, 
7820expressing a mirror to their creator.
7821 
7822The primal emotions of bloodlust and sorrow blend into a lethal cocktail 
7823that breaks the strongest of men. The jurisdiction of strength must be left 
7824to the spirit, not arm nor chest. Only the wisest turn to His inner sanctuary
7825to partition the mind from an all-consuming madness. Seductive voices 
7826whispering promise of glory waiting down the weaker path of the flesh, 
7827bringing a death far worse than that of hot lead or steel. These blank, 
7828hollow promises will echo the unfathomable eternally.
7829
7830iving comfortably amongst material possessions, it is easy to 
7831misunderstand the true meaning of uncontrollable hate. Failing to 
7832understand the power of fighting against pure, unfaltering beliefs, against 
7833foes that listen only to their soul. Uncontrollable hate. Influenced and thus
7834removed from innocence. The scar is permanent and internal.
7835
7836The rain, now red, feeds the debt owed for actions passed. Seeking further
7837
7838into the earth, as the mind draws slower. What was it that drew him, 
7839himself, to this situation? The mind ebbs and parts to a lingering memory 
7840of true innocence. He entered war as a newborn enters the world, 
7841unknowing of both the horrors and light of the Maker that will save him.
7842
7843The sound of metal sliding along leather comes from above him. From the 
7844second he was born, to his soon-to-be dying breath, his mind was 
7845processing and analyzing knowledge and experiences. It is true that he 
7846thought he could be wise in his own eyes, but only the most humble 
7847recognizes that he knows very little. Bias, speculation and all of false 
7848pretenses make way to the sound of the sweeping steel, and then finally, 
7849his soul, as ready as his eyes dry from this final understanding, enters His 
7850promise of its purist form.
7851
7852--From Death of a Templar, by Ser Andrew, Knight of Andraste and Templar 
7853archivist, 9:4 Dragon.
7854
7855A Very Chewed and Moist Book
7856A very chewed and moist book.
7857
7858(Much of this is illegible.)
7859
7860Day 42: I begin to suspect that we are being manipulated, as if by some 
7861unseen hand far above us. Always, I hear the sound of clicking. Click-
7862click. Click-click.
7863
7864(Several pages are missing, and much of the ink on the remaining page 
7865has run together.)
7866
7867...and then told them I wouldn't take any cheese unless it came directly 
7868from the Revered Mother's hand...
7869
7870(Mud or something similar has soaked into the pages here.)
7871
7872Day 115: My mother told me I was special. I never knew how right she 
7873was...
7874
7875(The ink has smeared horribly.)
7876
7877...it was Yusaris! I swear it! It looked just like the carving in the Arl's 
7878drawing room. I sent it to the Circle to verify, but I haven't heard...
7879
7880--From a very chewed and moist book.
7881
7882The Noladar Anthology of Dwarven Poetry
7883Dwarven poetry.
7884
7885The undead exhumed
7886Borne from the shallowest graves
7887Mined from the living
7888
7889--By the Paragon Lynchcar, 7:44 Storm.
7890
7891Do you like fried mush and nug?
7892
7893I do not like them Mister Klug
7894I do not like fried mush and nug
7895
7896Would you eat them on a rug?
7897If you eat, you’ll get a hug!
7898
7899I would not eat them on a rug
7900From you I would not want a hug
7901
7902Then would you drink them from a jug?
7903Come on, come on, give them a chug!
7904
7905I would not drink them from a jug
7906I’d rather eat a slimy slug
7907
7908Would you eat them with a bug?
7909Would you share them with a thug?
7910
7911I would not share them with a thug
7912I would not eat them with a bug
7913Not for a hug
7914Not on a rug
7915
7916From a jug
7917I will not chug
7918Come on, come on, now mister Klug
7919Are you on some kind of drug?
7920
7921Eat them in this hole I dug
7922Eat them, eat them, don’t just shrug
7923
7924I’ve had it, had it, Mister Klug!
7925Down, into that hole you dug
7926Down with the thug
7927And the slug
7928And the bug
7929
7930--By the Paragon Seuss, 2:12 Glory.
7931
7932Never surrender
7933Dwarvish blood may be lukewarm
7934But vital as ore
7935
7936--By the Paragon Lynchcar, 7:48 Storm.
7937
7938There once was a miner of lyrium,
7939Whose face looked like a perineum,
7940The dead got him too,
7941Not much he could do,
7942With a face like that he was a shoe-in.
7943
7944--By the wordsmith Carlol of House Yonoch, 9:11 Dragon.
7945
7946Feast Day Fish
7947A recipe for fish.
7948
7949Fluffy Mackerel Pudding
7950
79512 stalks celery
79521 green pepper
7953Half a pound of poached mackerel
7954
79551 small onion, finely diced
79562 tsp mustard
79571 tsp salt
7958half tsp ground Antivan pepper
7959eighth tsp ground mace
7960dash ground cardamom seed
79612 eggs, beaten
79622 eggs, boiled and sliced for garnish
7963
7964--This book, found in Arl Eamon's estate, naturally falls open to this page.
7965
7966The First Blight: Chapter 1
7967The Second Sin.
7968
7969Thedas is a land of fierce diversity, from the assassin-princes of Antiva to 
7970the faded griffons of the Anderfels, but in my travels, I have found one 
7971tale that unites the people of this land. It is a story of pride and 
7972damnation, and although the telling differs, the essence of the tale remains
7973the same.
7974 
7975At the height of its power, the Tevinter Imperium stretched over much of 
7976Thedas, uniting the known world under the rule of the tyrannical 
7977magisters. It is said that the Old Gods whom the magisters worshipped 
7978gave them the knowledge of blood magic, and the magisters used this 
7979forbidden power to cement their rule. The blood of elven slaves and 
7980humans alike ran down imperial altars to fuel magister greed, the tales of 
7981their excesses so horrifying that one can only be grateful that blood magic 
7982is prohibited today.
7983
7984But all that stands tall must eventually fall. Perhaps they foresaw their 
7985ruin, or perhaps their pride knew no bounds, but whatever the reason, the
7986magisters dared to open a magical portal into the Golden City at the heart 
7987of the Fade. They sought to usurp the Maker's throne, long left unattended
7988in the Golden City after the Maker turned his back on his creations. They 
7989would storm heaven itself with their power and become as gods. 
7990
7991This is what the Chantry, in its oft-exercised tendency to understate, refers
7992to as the second sin.
7993
7994 
7995According to most versions of the tale, the magisters did indeed reach the 
7996Golden City and walked into the home of the Maker, where no living 
7997being before them had dared, or been able, to tread. But humanity is not 
7998meant to walk in heaven. The magisters were wicked with pride and other
7999sins, and their presence tainted the Golden City. What once was a perfect, 
8000holy citadel became a twisted home of darkness and nightmares. The 
8001magisters were expelled back through their gateway and cursed for their 
8002treachery. As the Golden City had been tainted, so were the magisters 
8003twisted and transformed into things of darkness--the very first of the 
8004darkspawn. The Golden City, once a shining beacon at the heart of the 
8005Fade, became the Black City, a reminder of all that man's pride has cost.
8006  
8007--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
8008scholar.
8009
8010The First Blight: Chapter 2
8011Dumat Rises.
8012
8013People today have little concept of the consequences of the second sin. Oh,
8014believe me when I say that when asked, pious, Chantry-going folk will 
8015curse the use of foul magic, spitting and snapping their fingers--but none 
8016live today who actually remember the horror that was unleashed so very 
8017long ago. Whatever records might have existed regrettably did not survive
8018the chaos and ignorance that was to follow. We have only the tales of 
8019survivors handed down through the murky ages and the dogma of the 
8020Chantry to instruct us, and that is precious little indeed.
8021
8022I believe I am not understating when I say that the second sin unleashed 
8023the bane of all life upon Thedas. The darkspawn are more virulent than 
8024the worst plague, a heartless force of nature that came into our world like 
8025an ill wind. We know from accounts of later Blights (as these darkspawn 
8026invasions came to be called--never has a more appropriate name existed) 
8027that the darkspawn spread disease and famine wherever they tread. The 
8028earth itself is corrupted by their presence, the sky roiling with angry black 
8029clouds. I do not exaggerate, my friends, when I say that a mass gathering 
8030of darkspawn is an omen of dread cataclysm.
8031
8032It is said that those cursed magisters who became the first darkspawn 
8033scratched at the very earth to find solace in the darkness of the dwarven 
8034Deep Roads, and there in the shadows they multiplied. Whether by 
8035intelligent design or by some last vestige of worship in their minds, they 
8036attempted to locate the Old Gods they had once served. They found what 
8037they sought: Dumat, first among the Old Gods, once known as the Dragon
8038of Silence before the Maker imprisoned him and all his brethren beneath 
8039the earth for the first sin: usurping the Maker's place in mankind's heart.
8040 
8041The slumbering dragon awoke, freed from the Maker's prison by his 
8042twisted followers, and became corrupted himself. Dumat was transformed
8043into the first archdemon, his great and terrible power given will by a 
8044rotting, unholy mind. With the darkspawn horde following, Dumat rose 
8045and took wing in the skies once again, bringing ruin to the world the 
8046Maker had created. The Old God had become the eye of a dark storm that 
8047would ravage the entire world.
8048 
8049--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
8050scholar.
8051
8052The First Blight: Chapter 3
8053The Dwarves Fall.
8054
8055The world during the first Blight was different from the world we know 
8056today. Aside from the civilized rule of the Imperium, humans as a race 
8057were largely barbarous and splintered, divided into clans and tribes and 
8058squabbling amongst ourselves for resources. At the same time, deep 
8059beneath Thedas's great mountain ranges spanned a dwarven culture as 
8060organized and advanced as ours was primitive.
8061
8062As the darkspawn bubbled up to the surface from their underground lairs,
8063mankind first buckled and then fought back. The armies of Tevinter 
8064attempted to face down the multitudes of twisted creatures and the horrid
8065rotting of the land around them, but they could not be everywhere at 
8066once. Human history remembers the first Blight as a time of terrible 
8067devastation, and those stories are accurate, but in our arrogance we often 
8068forget the price paid by the dwarves in their isolated mountain kingdoms.
8069
8070The dwarves faced far greater hordes than humanity as the darkspawn 
8071challenged them for control of the underground. Despite the might and 
8072technology the dwarves brought to bear, the savage darkspawn tore 
8073through them, first destroying the more remote thaigs before swallowing 
8074up entire kingdoms. Think of it: An entire civilization lost in the space of 
8075decades. Compared to the near-genocide that the dwarves faced, what we 
8076humans call the first Blight must have seemed a mere skirmish. Against 
8077the darkspawn, the dwarven lands have always borne the brunt of the 
8078fighting and the majority of the sacrifices.
8079
8080Four dwarven kingdoms finally managed to combine their might and 
8081fight back, and that co-operation saved them. But for the rest of their lands
8082it was too late. The darkspawn had taken the Deep Roads, the majestic 
8083underground passages that linked the dwarven lands throughout Thedas. 
8084The darkspawn could now attack anywhere on the surface through these 
8085tunnels.
8086
8087Humanity simply was not prepared for such an onslaught. It was clear 
8088that the warfare we knew would not avail us. We had to find a new way 
8089to fight. 
8090 
8091Thus came our salvation: The Grey Wardens were born.
8092
8093--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
8094scholar.
8095
8096The First Blight: Chapter 4
8097Griffons Take Flight.
8098
8099Founded at Weisshaupt fortress in the Anderfels, the Grey Wardens 
8100offered humanity hope in its darkest hour. Veterans of decades of battles 
8101with the darkspawn came together, and the best amongst them pledged to
8102do whatever was necessary to stem the tide of darkness that swept across 
8103the land. These great humans, elves, and dwarves pooled their knowledge
8104of the enemy and formed a united front to put a stop to the archdemon’s 
8105rampage. 
8106
8107And stop it they did. Ballads are still sung today of the first Grey Warden 
8108
8109charge into the waves of darkspawn at the city of Nordbotten--each 
8110Warden facing 10 or 20 darkspawn at a time. Squadrons of Grey Wardens 
8111mounted on their mighty griffons, soaring through the blackened skies 
8112and battling the terrible archdemon with spear and spell: Oh, what a sight 
8113it must have been!
8114 
8115Incredibly, the Grey Wardens won that first battle. They raised their arms 
8116in victory, and suddenly there was hope. The Grey Wardens led the lands 
8117of men and the last stalwart defenders of the dwarven halls against the 
8118hordes of the archdemon Dumat for the next hundred years, gaining and 
8119losing ground, but never backing away. From all over Thedas, they 
8120recruited whoever possessed the skill and strength to raise the Grey 
8121Wardens' banner, making no distinction between elven slave or human 
8122nobleman, and finally, nearly two centuries after the first Old God rose 
8123from the earth, the Grey Wardens assembled the armies of men and 
8124dwarves at the Battle of Silent Fields. It was then that Dumat finally fell 
8125and the first Blight ended.
8126 
8127The Tevinter Imperium would face a new challenge with the coming of 
8128the prophet Andraste. Thoughts of the Blight grew distant. With Dumat's 
8129defeat, the darkspawn were no longer considered a threat--but with the 
8130wisdom of hindsight, we know that conceit proved foolish indeed. The 
8131task of the Grey Wardens was far from over.
8132 
8133--From Tales of the Destruction of Thedas, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry 
8134scholar.
8135
8136The Maker's First Children
8137The Maker's First Children.
8138
8139The Maker's first creations were the spirits, glorious beings that populated
8140the many spires of the Golden City, and the Chant of Light says that they 
8141revered the Maker with unquestioning devotion. The Maker, however, 
8142was dissatisfied. Although the spirits were like Him in that they could 
8143manipulate the ether and create from it, they did not do so. They had no 
8144urge to create, and even when instructed to do so possessed no 
8145imagination to give their creations ingenuity or life.
8146
8147The Maker realized His own folly: He had created the spirits to resemble 
8148Him in all but the one and most important way: they did not have a spark 
8149of the divine within them. He expelled all the spirits out of the Golden 
8150City and into the Fade and proceeded to His next creation: life.
8151
8152The Maker created the world and the living beings upon it, separated 
8153from the Fade by the Veil. His new children would be unable to shape the 
8154world around them and thus would need to struggle to survive. In return 
8155for their struggle, the Maker gave them the spark of the divine, a soul, and
8156He watched with pleasure as His creations flourished and showed all the 
8157ingenuity that He had hoped for. 
8158
8159The spirits grew jealous of the living and coaxed them into the Fade when 
8160they slept. The spirits wished to know more of life, hoping to find a way 
8161to regain the Maker's favor. Through the eyes of the living, they 
8162experienced new concepts: love, fear, pain, and hope. The spirits re-
8163shaped the Fade to resemble the lives and concepts that they saw, each 
8164spirit desperately trying to bring the most dreamers to their own realm so 
8165they could vicariously possess a spark of the divine through them.
8166
8167As the spirits grew in power, however, some of them became 
8168contemptuous of the living. These were the spirits that saw the darkest 
8169parts of the dreamers. Their lands were places of torment and horror, and 
8170they knew that the living were strongly drawn to places that mirrored 
8171those dark parts of themselves. These spirits questioned the Maker's 
8172wisdom and proclaimed the living inferior. They learned from the 
8173darkness they saw and became the first demons.
8174
8175Rage, hunger, sloth, desire, pride: These are the dark parts of the soul that 
8176give demons their power, the hooks they use to claw their way into the 
8177world of the living. It was demons that whispered into the minds of men, 
8178convincing them to turn from the Maker and worship false gods. They 
8179seek to possess all life as their due, forging kingdoms of nightmare in the 
8180Fade in the hopes of one day storming the walls of heaven itself.
8181
8182And the Maker despaired once again, for He had given the power of 
8183creation to his new children--and in return they had created sin.
8184
8185--From The Maker's First Children, by Bader, Senior Enchanter of Ostwick, 
81868:12 Blessed.
8187
8188The Legion of Steel
8189Concerning the loss of the Legion of Steel.
8190
8191Paragon Caridin vanished in the eleventh year of the reign of King Valtor, 
8192and with the Paragon the entire process for golem manufacture was lost. 
8193Expeditions were sent into the Deep Roads to track him, but the 
8194darkspawn drove them all back.
8195
8196Finally, in the second year of the reign of Queen Getha, one hundred and 
8197twenty six golems, the entire Legion of Steel, were sent to recover the 
8198Paragon.
8199
8200None returned.
8201
8202The Shaper of Golems refused to support any further attempts to find 
8203Caridin, and the Paragon was officially declared dead.
8204
8205The Shaperate never recovered from the loss of an entire legion of golems,
8206and never again allowed an all-golem regiment in the Deep Roads.
8207
8208--From Stone Halls of the Dwarves, by Brother Genitivi, Chantry scholar.
8209
8210In Uthenera
8211An elven song.
8212
8213hahren na melana sahlin
8214emma ir abelas
8215souver'inan isala hamin
8216vhenan him dor'felas
8217in uthenera na revas
8218
8219vir sulahn'nehn
8220vir dirthera
8221vir samahl la numin
8222vir lath sa'vunin
8223
8224Translated from the elven tongue:
8225
8226elder your time is come
8227now I am filled with sorrow
8228weary eyes need resting
8229heart has become grey and slow
8230in waking sleep is freedom
8231
8232we sing, rejoice
8233we tell the tales
8234we laugh and cry
8235we love one more day
8236
8237--From "In Uthenera," traditional elven song of unknown origin.
8238
8239The Legend of Luthias Dwarfson
8240The Legend of Luthias Dwarfson.
8241
8242At an early age, Luthias was smaller than most children of the Alamarri. 
8243At the age of 12, Luthias saved Tutha, the son of the tribal chief, from his 
8244own dog. The dog had gone rabid, and when it attacked Tutha, Luthias 
8245slew it with his bare hands. Tutha's father, Mabene, was impressed with 
8246uthias's strength and bravery, and so took him in as his own son.
8247
8248When Luthias grew to manhood, he became known for his charisma and 
8249bravery. While shorter than his fellow warriors, Luthias was stronger and 
8250doughtier than any warrior in the tribe. When Luthias was still a young 
8251man, Mabene sent him to the dwarven city of Orzammar to negotiate an 
8252alliance. Mabene's tribe had come into conflict with other Alamarri, and 
8253he needed as much help as he could get.
8254
8255uthias was unable to convince the dwarven king to aid his tribe, but fell 
8256in love with the king's daughter, Scaea. Luthias and Scaea fled the 
8257dwarven realm and returned to his tribe. Scaea taught Luthias the art of 
8258fighting without pain, the berserker state known as the "battle wrath," and
8259with it, Luthias became a renowned warrior.
8260
8261uthias led his tribe to many victories, until eventually he replaced his 
8262foster father as chief of his tribe. This peace would not last. During a feast 
8263
8264between the tribal leaders of the Alamarri and the Avvar, the beautiful 
8265and powerful Avvar chieftain, Morrighan'nan, became enamored with 
8266uthias and seduced him. Scaea learned of the tryst and fled the village to 
8267return to Orzammar. When Luthias rebuffed Morrighan'nan's offer of 
8268marriage, she left in great anger, and from that moment on, there was war 
8269between the two tribes. 
8270
8271For 15 years, the Alamarri and Avvar fought. During the Battle of Red 
8272Falls, a powerful young warrior from Morrighan'nan's tribe challenged 
8273uthias to a battle. Luthias was injured grievously, but slew the boy. 
8274Morrighan'nan revealed that the boy was Luthias's son, conceived 15 
8275years ago during their tryst. She cursed Luthias as the murderer of his 
8276own kin, and the Battle of Red Falls turned against Luthias.  
8277
8278Morrighan'nan defeated Luthias in battle after battle, until the Alamarri 
8279were driven to the foothills of the Frostback Mountains. There, Luthias 
8280made a last stand. In the night before Luthias's final battle, Scaea came to 
8281him and offered him a dwarven suit of chain in exchange for a night 
8282together. Luthias agreed and wore the armor the following morning in 
8283battle. The battle was fierce and bloody, and Luthias met Morrighan'nan 
8284in personal combat. In the end, Luthias slew the warrior woman, but not 
8285before receiving a mortal wound to his heart, the chain inexplicably 
8286unable to block her final blow. Luthias died, and after the battle was done 
8287a party of dwarven warriors came down from the mountain and took the 
8288body of Luthias back to Orzammar.
8289
8290--From The Legend of Luthias Dwarfson, author unrecorded, circa -350 
8291Ancient.
8292
8293In Praise of the Humble Nug
8294On delicious nugs.
8295
8296I once served a human some nug and he proclaimed that it was like eating
8297an unholy union of pork and hare. The idea disturbed him so much that 
8298he declined to finish his serving, and made himself content with some 
8299stale bread. 
8300
8301Of course, this only goes to show that surfacers--human or otherwise--
8302have tragically unrefined palates. The nug is surely the most delicious 
8303
8304animal I have ever tasted. Only a dead man would not salivate at the 
8305thought of a tender morsel of roast nug melting in his mouth. The Paragon
8306Varen--although his house has fallen--shall always be remembered for 
8307discovering the wonders of nug flesh. Admittedly, it was discovered only 
8308out of desperation, when he was separated from his legion and lost in the 
8309Deep Roads for a week, but we won't hold that against the good Paragon.
8310
8311While nug pancakes and nug-gets (my own children love these) are the 
8312nug dishes one encounters most often, nug can be prepared in other 
8313interesting and elegant ways. The late King Ansgar Aeducan adored nug--
8314seared on a hot metal plate and finished in the oven--and dressed in a 
8315cream sauce flavored with deep mushrooms. You must be careful when 
8316using the mushrooms from the Deep Roads, because they often grow close
8317to darkspawn bodies. They say that this is what gives them their unique 
8318flavor and intoxicating scent, but it also means that consuming too many 
8319of them may result in curious afflictions of the mind.
8320
8321--From In Praise of the Humble Nug, by Bragan Tolban, honored chef to 
8322House Aeducan.
8323
8324Traditional Dwarven Folk Songs
8325A song about a nug.
8326
8327Nug sits in the mud
8328Nug wiggles his ears
8329You catch the nug, he slips away!
8330Nug gets to live another day!
8331
8332Nug sits in the mud
8333Nug wiggles his toes
8334You hook the nug, he slips away!
8335Now the nug runs off to play!
8336
8337Nug sits in the mud
8338Nug wiggles his nose
8339You tickle the nug, he laughs away!
8340Now the nug sits on my plate!
8341
8342--"Nug Pancakes," a well-loved dwarven nursery rhyme.
8343
8344The Sermons of Divine Renata I
8345A sermon on integrity.
8346
8347The weakness of mortal will is the great failing of all the Maker’s children.
8348We trade our honor as if it were the cheapest of currency. We do not 
8349understand what integrity is or what it is truly worth. From this 
8350ignorance, original sin was born.
8351
8352At some time, each of us has thought, "What does it matter if I keep hold 
8353of my integrity? I am but one mortal. I am powerless." How blind we all 
8354are! The virtue of a single slave destroyed the Tevinter Imperium. The 
8355dishonor of one man drove the Maker from our sight. I tell you truly, 
8356nothing but the integrity of our hearts will win the love of the Maker back 
8357to us. It is all the power we shall ever possess to change this world for 
8358good or for ill.
8359
8360--From a sermon on integrity.
8361
8362Journal of the Tranquil
8363On the Tranquil.
8364
8365Some laugh at me. I no longer mind. 
8366
8367Once upon a time, I studied as they did. I learned under the tutelage of an 
8368enchanter and attempted to master the art of bending magic to my will, 
8369and while I did well enough, I know that I struggled. I saw the way the 
8370enchanter looked at me, the sidelong glances of worry and 
8371disappointment. While other apprentices were conjuring fire, I could 
8372barely light a candle.
8373
8374I was frightened of magic. When I was a boy, my grandmother regaled me
8375with tales of the terrible Flemeth, the Witch of the Wilds. She told me of 
8376the magisters and how their evil magic infected the world with the 
8377darkspawn. She told me of demons, and how they were drawn to the 
8378dreams of those who possessed magic like moths to a flame. She told me 
8379all these things because, she said, the talent ran in our family's blood.
8380
8381And so it ran in mine. All my young life I had dreaded the thought, 
8382prayed to the Maker that I was not so cursed, but I knew otherwise. Deep 
8383in my heart, I knew. When the templars came to our home, I knew.
8384
8385The mages' tower was terrifying, full of secrets and danger. The templars 
8386glared at me as if I could spring full into an abomination before their very 
8387eyes. My enchanter patiently attempted to teach me to marshal my 
8388willpower, my only defense should a demon attempt to enslave me, but it 
8389was no use. How many nights did I cry myself to sleep in that dark and 
8390lonely place?
8391
8392Then my Harrowing came at last, my final test. Face a demon, they said, 
8393or submit to the Rite of Tranquility. They would sever my connection to 
8394the Fade, and thus I would never dream and no demon could ever touch 
8395me--but I would also be unable to do magic, and I would never feel an 
8396emotion ever again. Facing the demon was certain death, so my choice 
8397was easy.
8398
8399It was not so painful.
8400
8401Now I serve in other ways. We Tranquil manage the archives. We run the 
8402tower, purchase the supplies and maintain the accounts. Our condition 
8403also allows us to use the magical element lyrium without ill effect, and 
8404thus we are the ones who enchant the magical items. We are the 
8405merchants who sell these items to those the Circle permits, and the coin 
8406from those sales provides the Circle's wealth.
8407
8408Thus, we Tranquil are vital. The young and old may stare at me, ill at ease,
8409but they would be worse off without me. They may think me a failure, but
8410there is no horror for me now. I feel no fear of what I am. The shadows are
8411merely shadows, and I am content.
8412
8413--Eddin the Meek, Tranquil of the Circle of Magi of Starkhaven, the Free 
8414Marches.
8415
8416Trian's Journal
8417The journal of Trian Aeducan.
8418
841921 Ferventis: Noticed Gorim running around trying to get pieces of my 
8420sibling's ceremonial armor ready for the feast. Stopped him and asked him
8421how preparations were going. He mentioned that one of the bracers had a 
8422spot of tarnish on it. Was quite impressed at his dedication. He is most 
8423loyal to our family.
8424
842523 Ferventis: Was on way to discuss the treaty with Father when came 
8426across a messenger waiting in the hall. On being asked why he was 
8427loitering about the royal palace, he mumbled something about having a 
8428gift for the "new commander" and asked me (begged, almost) to pass 
8429along some object or other to my sibling. Me! The heir to the throne of 
8430Orzammar does not run errands for a messenger! Must have been new on 
8431the job. Had him thrown out; however, still reeling from the gall of it.
8432
8433earned later that Bhelen had told messenger that quickest way to get 
8434things to our sibling was through me and had made him wait until I came 
8435by. So unseemly for a prince of Orzammar to play such tricks. He needs to
8436grow up and understand that, as royalty, he has responsibilities.
8437
843824 Ferventis: Found Bhelen's little... playmate (again!) lurking about the 
8439corridors outside his bedroom this morning. Must have been trying to 
8440steal something, or already had. Bosom seemed fuller than most decent 
8441ladies. Some jewels hidden in the bodice? Anyway, pretended not to see 
8442her. Would have been awkward otherwise. Wish Bhelen would keep her 
8443confined to his room, if he must have her around. Little brother is too 
8444concerned with fun and pleasure and not serious enough about his duties 
8445as prince. Must talk to him about discipline when have time. 
8446Unfortunately, much too busy with the many tasks Father has laid upon 
8447my shoulders.
8448
844926 Ferventis: Remember to send small token of gratitude to Jaylia Helmi. 
8450Alliance between Helmi and Aeducan must be kept strong. Lady Jaylia 
8451will of course accept proposal of marriage since will be king sooner or 
8452later, but never hurts to be polite and keep the lady happy. Hear that there
8453are some surfacers selling silks. Maybe will send second out for something
8454nice. Jaylia's favorite color: Turquoise.
8455
845628 Ferventis: Heard about there being Provings held in our sibling's 
8457honor. They did not have Provings for me at my first commission, and I 
8458am the heir! What is going on? Must go watch these Provings, make 
8459presence felt. Orzammar must not forget that I am to be her next king.
8460
8461--From the journal of Trian Aeducan.
8462
8463The Journal of Enchanter Wilhelm
8464The journal of Enchanter Wilhelm.
8465
846613 Pluitanis: The interrogation of the demon is going well, and is rather 
8467fascinating--provided that what it is saying is true. I have sent all my 
8468research so far to First Enchanter Arden, and while he is concerned about 
8469my safety he does not think there is a reason to stop just yet. All I hope is 
8470that the templars do not discover what I am doing. How will we ever find 
8471another way to deal with demonic possession if the Chantry does not let 
8472us research it?
8473
847420 Eluviesta: Young Matthias nearly wandered down here again today, 
8475and this time I forgot to leave the barrier up. I believe I will key the 
8476defenses to ignore anyone of my blood. I would rather have the boy 
8477stumble into the laboratory than have him killed by my forgetfulness. 
8478Poor lad, all he wants is to know why his father spends so much time 
8479beneath the tower. I will spend more time with him soon, I swear it.
8480
848128 Eluviesta: Shale is acting strangely. I wonder if I should discontinue my
8482experiments upon it? I am so near a breakthrough, I am certain! Ahhh, 
8483perhaps it is best if I focus on the demon.
8484
84852 Matrinalis: The demon almost managed to get away again. Tricky. I shall
8486have to be more careful. Young Eamon sent a letter asking me to return to 
8487Redcliffe. I shall have to consider it. Soon.
8488
848911 Matrinalis: Could it be? What an intriguing discovery, especially 
8490considering that the demon was attempting to keep me from it at all costs. 
8491Or did it lead me to that information by seeming to deny it from me? I 
8492must discover the truth!
8493
849419 Umbralia: I think it is time to dismiss this demon. It is too dangerous 
8495for me to continue holding it, and I cannot discount the possibility that it 
8496is having some influence over the golem. Or is it my experiments? I will 
8497try to deactivate Shale for the time being and then deal with the demon 
8498once and for all. Let it end here.
8499
8500(There are no further entries.)
8501
8502--From the journal of Enchanter Wilhelm Sulzbacher.
8503
8504Cautionary Tales for the Adventurous
8505A meeting with a wraith.
8506
8507It was then that he realized he wasn't alone. The abandoned camp in front 
8508of him was unbelievably welcoming, like a mirage. The fire felt like a 
8509warm hand grabbing his heart. It reminded him of a previous life, so long 
8510ago, when he was happy. Running on the sunflower fields with his boy, 
8511the sun on his face. Laying next to the fireplace, with his beautiful wife in 
8512his arms. 
8513
8514He felt a sharp pain in his heart. His thoughts shifted to that fateful day 
8515when everything changed. Blood was everywhere. He held the body of 
8516his dead wife in his arms. Around him the ashes of his burned house fell 
8517like snow. The stench was terrible. It smelled like darkspawn. He grabbed 
8518his axe, touched the icy cold hands of his boy, and left. He would kill 
8519them. He would kill them all. The pain in his heart was unbearable. 
8520
8521He opened his eyes and saw the second most terrifying thing he would 
8522see in his life--a shadowy wraith leaning over him, leeching his life away. 
8523Around him, the camp was gone, replaced by something familiar, almost 
8524peaceful: Bones, death and despair. He wondered if all his life had been an
8525illusion, if he'd ever had a family. For a brief moment, he felt relief. You 
8526can't lose something you've never had. But being this close to death 
8527brought clarity. He knew it was real. Everything else was the illusion. You
8528could see a smile on his torn face. He had been waiting for this moment 
8529for a long, long time. He lifted his weak arms, grasped the demon's face, 
8530and kissed it. It felt like kissing a cloud made of sand and dust. Suddenly, 
8531
8532all sorrow left him, and with it, the last bit of life he had. Before his limp 
8533body hit the ground, it was all over. 
8534
8535He was finally free.
8536
8537--From Cautionary Tales for the Adventurous, by Brother Ramos of 
8538Guilherme, 7:94 Storm.
8539
8540Sophia Dryden's Journal
8541Sophia Dryden's journal
8542
854321 Eluviesta:
8544It is done. The nobles have thrown their lot in with Arland--Arland the 
8545snot-nosed man-child, Arland who did not walk till he was in his fifth 
8546year, Arland who had to be pried off his nursemaid's breast not two years 
8547ago. Or so it is whispered. The teyrns and the arls believe him to be a 
8548simpleton, and easily led, but I have seen something in the boy's eye, and 
8549it terrifies me.
8550
855110 Molioris:
8552I watched the Summerday processions from a room high in Fort Drakon. 
8553The regent has me for treason, when my only guilt is of being true to my 
8554country and my heart. My guard's tongue was easily loosened with a gift 
8555of a ruby ring, and I am told that the banns are fighting against my 
8556sentence. I shall pray, but not hope that it will be anything but the gallows
8557for me.
8558
85592 Ferventis:
8560The draught was like bitter fire, but I survived. Weep for me, for I 
8561survived. Would that they had made a clean end for me. I should have 
8562died a lady, the greatest of the Drydens, not lived to become this nothing--
8563this monstrous nothing!
8564
856519 Matrinalis:
8566Enough. I shall waste no more time with wretched, womanish 
8567lamentation. Death would have been easy, but fate saw fit to spare me and
8568I will seize upon this chance. The Grey Wardens are an army, and the old 
8569commander is weak--a wisp of a man. I will inspire the Wardens, and 
8570
8571Arland will rue the day he spared my life.
8572
8573--Select entries from the journals of Warden-Commander Sophia Dryden.
8574
8575Codex: Books and Songs (Awakening)
8576
8577Ancient Vows
8578An inscription in the stone.
8579
8580(There is an inscription in the stone:)
8581
8582And so you are defeated, by Avvar and dwarf,
8583Bound by the blood of your people,
8584May they hold you here forever.
8585
8586(Whatever was imprisoned here scratched a message in the stone:)
8587
8588Kiveal, nothing will hold me. These walls will rot before I expire. When 
8589they do, I shall defame your gods, call your mortal shells to serve me, and 
8590hunt down every last one of your kinsmen, Avvar and dwarf.
8591
8592Kristoff's Note
8593A journal full of scribbled notes.
8594
8595These darkspawn act like no pack I've seen, employing misdirection to 
8596keep their location secret. When an archdemon leads, darkspawn are 
8597predictable, straightforward. Yet these elude even a Grey Warden!
8598
8599I've tracked the pack through the Kolorind Forest to the edge of the 
8600Blackmarsh. The marsh is dangerous, but soon I'll be home, back with 
8601Aura. The Wardens can take me from her bed, but never her from my 
8602heart.
8603
8604Kristoff's Journal
8605Kristoff's journal.
8606
8607Few in town have heard anything about darkspawn stragglers. I doubted 
8608reports myself until a man told me he encountered darkspawn in the 
8609Blackmarsh. Although locals say the marsh is haunted, brave and 
8610desperate souls like this man still risk collecting peat.
8611
8612The man said their leader spoke, but all know darkspawn cannot talk. 
8613More horrifying, he described a monster, a worm with legs. Surely he was 
8614mistaken about it following the darkspawn.
8615
8616I shall leave for the Blackmarsh in the morning.
8617
8618--From the journal of Kristoff, Grey Warden
8619
8620Records of the Blackmarsh
8621How the baroness won her people's hearts.
8622
8623Some years ago, a dragon rampaged through the countryside, gorging 
8624herself on animals and people. Before long, she nested near the village of 
8625Blackmarsh. Fearing she would drag off villagers to feed her young, we 
8626sent men to drive the beast away. The men were never seen again.
8627
8628The new baroness had till then done little for her people. But she emerged 
8629from her manor and told us not to worry--she'd been sent from Orlais not 
8630just to rule, but to protect. She promised the dragon would be gone by 
8631sundown the next day. 
8632
8633She set off in the morning, alone. We were certain she'd gone insane. What
8634chance had one woman against a dragon? At sundown there came a loud 
8635clap, like thunder, so great it shook the earth. Then our baroness returned 
8636to us, triumphant; of the dragon, there was no sign.
8637
8638The baroness, no longer aloof, sang and danced with the lowest of us. 
8639There were dark whispers that the baroness was a witch, but we did not 
8640care. Her magic had saved us, and for that we loved her.
8641
8642--From the records of the village of Blackmarsh
8643
8644The Baroness's Secret 
8645The secret of the stones.
8646
8647The Veil is weak near the stone circle. Perhaps it's my rituals, but I suspect
8648it has always been weak here. I feel traces of old, ancient magic. Maybe 
8649this is what drew me. I think the girls feel it too.
8650
8651As we approached the circle, they sensed something was wrong. With 
8652me? Did they fear me? Something about this place is changing them, 
8653claiming them for its own. 
8654
8655It is conceivable that using their blood to reinvigorate me traps their souls
8656in the Fade. Perhaps they become the same demons, ghosts, spirits who 
8657invade my dreams. I--no, it doesn't matter. They are nothing--peasants!--
8658while I am a baroness of Orlais.
8659
8660--From the journal of the baroness of Blackmarsh
8661
8662The Canticle of Maferath
8663The Canticle of Maferath.
8664
8665(These verses were carved into statues in the Wending Wood. They appear to be 
8666from the Canticle of Maferath, which the Chantry includes among the Dissonant 
8667Verses, unacknowledged in the Chant of Light.)
8668
8669Spite ate away all that was good, kind, and loving till nothing was left but 
8670the spite itself, coiled 'round my heart like a great worm.
8671
8672And in my darkest hour, I turned from Her and vowed that I would 
8673destroy Her.
8674
8675At the moment of Her death I knew what I had done, and I wept.
8676
8677I shall bring the lands of my fathers to Her Word. Therein lies their 
8678salvation and mine.
8679
8680And She came to me in a vision and laid Her hand on my heart.
8681
8682Her touch was like fire that did not burn. And by Her touch, I was made 
8683pure again.
8684
8685Despair not, said She, for your betrayal was Maker-blessed and returned 
8686me to His side.
8687
8688I am forgiven.
8689
8690Dailan's Journal
8691The journal of the warrior Dailan of Kal'Hirol.
8692
86932 Pluitanis: More southern thaigs have fallen. Varen Thaig and Kal'Barosh 
8694are overrun. Four thousand lives lost. The darkspawn are almost at the 
8695gates of Kal'Hirol. The fortress must be evacuated.
8696
86974 Pluitanis: There will be an exodus to Orzammar. Many nobles are 
8698appalled, Orzammar being a trade city so close to the surface. They fear 
8699losing their stone sense to the surface vapors--a ridiculous notion. But 
8700Orzammar is the easiest to defend. 
8701
87027 Pluitanis: Scouts have sighted the horde. It is vast. To outrun the 
8703darkspawn, the commanders say we must leave now with nothing 
8704beyond bare essentials.
8705
87067 Pluitanis (addendum): I have volunteered to remain behind with a 
8707contingent of men. We'll hold off the darkspawn so others can escape. 
8708Ancestors have mercy.
8709
87109 Pluitanis: The casteless are still here, forgotten in the panic. They are 500 
8711strong. If even half can be inspired to fight, they'll make an army. There is 
8712a chance--a small chance--that this will make the difference.
8713
871410 Pluitanis: Two hundred men and women. Ancestors grant that 200 are 
8715enough.
8716
871715 Pluitanis: The darkspawn have pushed us back to the inner keep. Only 
8718a handful of us survive, but we've held them back five days. We could not
8719have done this without the casteless--no, not casteless. To call them 
8720
8721"casteless" would be a mistake. Their sacrifice must not be forgotten.
8722
8723Codex: Books and Songs (The Golems of 
8724Amgarrak)
8725
8726Darion's Journal
8727A page ripped from a journal
8728
8729"... We have learned of an old laboratory, called Amgarrak, where a man 
8730of Orzammar and a mage of Tevinter were attempting to recreate 
8731Caridin's research. Amgarrak was mentioned in Branka's notes, though 
8732why she did not pursue it remains a mystery."
8733
8734"They used not stone or metal, but flesh. Flesh of the dying, the diseased, 
8735the casteless. We found evidence of this -- a putrefying construct of meat 
8736and bone. It looked awkward and headless, and the stench was 
8737unbearable."
8738
8739"The switches divert the lyrium streams, causing unpredictable effects. 
8740Sometimes it seems to alter the environment, changing it to look -- even 
8741feel -- different. It must be magic, but our understanding of such things is 
8742limited."
8743
8744"There is something in here with us."
8745
8746"They called it the Harvester. They knew it was a terrible mistake and 
8747used magic to trap it within these tunnels. Our foolish greed led us here, 
8748and now we are trapped along with it. Our only hope of escape is to 
8749destroy everything: the creature, the research, the magic that sustains this 
8750place. They are all tied together. I must get to the forge, but it is locked. 
8751Only a specific combination of switches will work. I must think more on 
8752this."
8753
8754"It found a body--rotting flesh harvested from the dead. It ripped them all 
8755apart and used them. 
8756
8757Pelted with heads of friends, tripped in their entrails... Ran. Still alive. 
8758Only one alive."
8759
8760"I can still hear it out there. It knows I'm here. I cannot get back to the 
8761
8762forge. 
8763
8764I found a golem control rod. The golems are keeping it away for now. 
8765There's a shaft of light here. I can see my escape but I cannot reach it. The 
8766ground is too damp, the rocks too slick. 
8767
8768I could go out there and make it quick or... stay here. Death is certain, 
8769either way."
8770
8771Codex: Notes (Origins)
8772
8773Berwick's Letter
8774A letter in Berwick's possession.
8775
8776Berwick,
8777
8778We need your eyes and ears in Redcliffe. Stay in the village, keep your 
8779head down, and watch the castle. Report any changes, and you'll be well 
8780paid.
8781
8782--A letter in Berwick's possession.
8783
8784A Letter to Someone in Highever
8785A letter to someone in Highever.
8786
8787Dear Heather,
8788
8789How are you? How are Father and Mother? I don't know why I ask this; it 
8790was made clear so many years ago that I am no child of theirs. You are my
8791only family now and I thank the Maker that you had love and courage 
8792enough to keep calling me sister.
8793
8794I am happy for you and overjoyed to hear of your upcoming nuptials. 
8795Count your blessings; I believe you have snagged yourself a fine lad. So 
8796young, and already the owner of his own freehold! Soon you will start a 
8797family of your own. Oh, Heather, I do envy you.
8798
8799But perhaps I shall envy you for not much longer. We have hoped and 
8800prayed for something, anything, and now I see the prison bars begin to 
8801bend and sag. So much injustice has been done to my kind, and they 
8802cannot have dreamed that the Maker would allow it to continue. There is 
8803a change coming to the tower; I can feel it, and it both excites and terrifies 
8804me.
8805
8806I don't know when I shall write again, dear sister, but do not worry. If all 
8807goes well, perhaps no letters will be necessary, and you shall find me on 
8808your very doorstep!
8809
8810--With much love, Gwynlian.
8811
8812A Letter from King Endrin
8813A note from Endrin Aeducan.
8814
8815[Dwarf Noble origin only] 
8816Perhaps you will burn this letter unread. For that, I would not blame you. 
8817But I would not return to the Stone without saying this to you: I have seen
8818what Bhelen is. And when I saw it, I knew I had been a fool. For only a 
8819fool would cut out his own heart and burn it for the sake of appearances. I
8820never believed in your guilt. I allowed you to be exiled because I feared an
8821inquiry into Trian's murder would taint our house with scandal in the 
8822eyes of the deshyrs and cost our family the throne. 
8823
8824But I have saved nothing by this sacrifice: I sent my only child into an 
8825uncertain exile. Know that whatever you do now, you bear all the honor 
8826and pride of House Aeducan.
8827
8828--A note from the late King Endrin Aeducan.
8829
8830[All other origins]  
8831My Lord Harrowmont,
8832My guilt weighs heavily on me, and I know now that I was a fool. Only a 
8833fool would cut out his own heart and burn it for the sake of appearances. I
8834allowed the Assembly to send my child to exile and death because I feared
8835an inquiry into Trian's murder would taint our house with scandal. You 
8836have been my rock and my shield these long months and for that I thank 
8837you. But I must ask for one thing more. I wish to discover if my child 
8838survived. Even the smallest trace will set my mind at ease. Send your 
8839men, your scouts, anyone who will go!
8840
8841Bhelen thinks I am mad. He says that if word spreads of my wish, our 
8842House will be undone. He doesn't know that Aeducan is already lost. I 
8843destroyed us when I sacrificed what was most precious. Please, Pyral, 
8844help me. I come to you not as a king, but as a father. 
8845
8846--A note from the late King Endrin Aeducan.
8847
8848A Note from the Honnleath Village Council
8849A note from the Honnleath Village Council.
8850
8851Mistress Matilda,
8852
8853The council has unanimously agreed to put you in charge of the 
8854decorations for Honnleath's upcoming harvest festival. We all adored 
8855what you did with the village for the winter solstice. As usual, the statue 
8856must be adorned with items that capture the essence of the season. Iris 
8857kindly offered the use of her wide-brimmed straw hat with the berries and
8858daisies and would love to see it on the the statue. Farmer Goodman will 
8859also donate some of his baby pumpkins. We think a garland of small 
8860pumpkins and ribbons draped about the statue's shoulders would be 
8861lovely.
8862
8863Whatever you decide will be splendid, I'm sure, and we are all looking 
8864forward to it.
8865
8866--Councilman Murray
8867
8868A Note from Ser Henric
8869A knight's note.
8870
8871So many of my fellow knights have been searching for the Urn. Surely one
8872of them must have found Brother Genitivi by now. Still, until I hear that 
8873all is well, I must proceed as planned. Brother Genitivi holds the key to 
8874finding the Urn of Sacred Ashes: We always knew this, but I believe I now
8875know where Brother Genitivi lies. I have been to his home in Denerim and
8876found the trail, and I am amazed that other knights have not done 
8877likewise. Unless they have? No, it is best not to get caught up in thoughts 
8878of conspiracy. Ser Donall awaits my report in Lothering. I must go to him 
8879immediately and report what I have learned. Should anyone find these 
8880ramblings, all I ask is that he be informed of my fate. I pray that he 
8881complete what I cannot.
8882
8883--A note from Ser Henric of Redcliffe.
8884
8885A Letter from Rica
8886A letter to Prince Bhelen.
8887
8888My dearest Prince Bhelen,
8889
8890You are too kind to me. I am a small and insignificant thing and I do not 
8891deserve your attention, but your willingness to tolerate my presence 
8892shows you to be a prince among men! I cannot thank you enough for the 
8893beautiful necklace you presented to me. I will cherish it always and I 
8894promise I will wear it at our next meeting. I know my gratitude means 
8895nothing to you but I must say again: Thank you. I will always be your 
8896humble and devoted servant.
8897
8898--Yours truly, R.
8899
8900A Carved Elven Tablet
8901Four panels from a mural.
8902
8903Four panels reproduced here appear to be part of a much larger mural.
8904
8905The topmost panel shows a jug overflowing with water, standing on an 
8906altar. Three elves in robes are positioned around the altar, while a crowd 
8907of elves in warlike regalia stands just slightly apart from them.
8908
8909Just below is a depiction of all the elves, those in robes and those in armor,
8910prostrating themselves before the altar with worshipful expressions.
8911
8912Third from the top is a carving which shows one of the three robed 
8913figures, a woman with an elaborate tattoo on her face, drinking from the 
8914jug on the altar while the other elves watch.
8915
8916The bottom image shows the tattooed woman standing waist-deep in a 
8917pool of water. She holds the jug with water spilling out of its mouth. The 
8918armored elves bow before her.
8919
8920--Describing a strange tablet.
8921
8922A Tattered Shopping List
8923A shopping list.
8924
8925sugar
8926wheat flour
8927fillet knife
8928ginger (for grandpa's flatulence)
8929ink
8930cod liver oil
8931dried mushrooms
8932rouge (Orlesian)
8933
8934Also remember to ask if more beeswax will be available soon.
8935--A note on crumpled paper.
8936
8937Graffiti in Redcliffe's Tavern
8938A note to diners.
8939
8940Don't eat the cheese.
8941
8942--Scratched into the bar of Redcliffe's tavern.
8943
8944A Decades-Old Letter
8945A decades-old letter.
8946
8947Madam,
8948
8949I can assure you that the Circle of Magi is not a sacrilegious institution and
8950that, indeed, we operate under the supervision of the Chantry. It would 
8951make our investigation of your husband's death much easier if you would 
8952simply co-operate with us. I am disappointed to hear that you sold the 
8953golem's activation rod--I understand both it and your husband were of 
8954invaluable aid to King Maric during the war against Orlais. Without the 
8955rod, we cannot discern whether Wilhelm’s golem was responsible for his 
8956murder. The golem will simply have to remain where it is unless the 
8957villagers can find a means to destroy it. Our condolences to you and your 
8958
8959son for your loss. I imagine it is of little consolation to you, but your 
8960husband is much admired here and will be missed.
8961
8962Maker keep you.
8963
8964--First Enchanter Arlen.
8965
8966A Letter From Bann Mathuin Wulff
8967A message from Bann Mathuin Wulff.
8968
8969Sophia,
8970
8971Arl Ruahn and his entire family have been slaughtered, even the children. 
8972The Ruahn line is no more and the arling belongs to the crown, for now. 
8973Arland believed Ruahn was plotting against him. Ruahn criticized the 
8974king's spending on Wintersend--that is all. It was an idle word, spoken out
8975of turn. The king goes too far. His brain is filled with madness and he 
8976clings to the crown like a drowning man clutches at a straw.
8977
8978Sophia, I beg you, help us. If nothing is done, more will suffer.
8979
8980Your humble servant,
8981--Wulff.
8982
8983Avernus's Notes
8984Tattered notes belonging to the mage Avernus.
8985
8986The taint allows us to sense the darkspawn. The longer we survive with 
8987the taint in our blood, the more potent it becomes. Unfortunately, this 
8988corruption will eventually overwhelm the Warden; over time, it devours 
8989both mind and body, leaving nothing. But what if the spread of the 
8990corruption could be stopped, or contained in some way? What if the 
8991Warden could become more powerful, without having that power kill 
8992him? How great would that power be? Would it be enough to stop the 
8993demons?
8994
8995The Joining ritual is crude. We take into ourself the blood of the 
8996
8997darkspawn in the most obvious way. Most die from the corruption 
8998immediately; it is, after all, poison. There must be some way to refine the 
8999Joining. Isolate the true power that is found in darkspawn blood, and 
9000leave behind the evil that kills us.
9001
9002I can feel the corruption starting to take its toll on my body. I must not 
9003succumb. There is too much work to be done. Through my magic I've 
9004been able to slow its inevitable spread, but not stop it completely. I am 
9005starting to hear things, even while awake: A voice--more beautiful than 
9006any other--that calls to me from the depths. In my dreams, I see the Black 
9007City, and I am drawn towards it. There is something there, an answer to 
9008what this taint is, this taint that we share with the darkspawn...
9009
9010--From the notes of Avernus.
9011
9012A Plea From Commander Athlar
9013A Message from Soldier's Peak.
9014
9015Soldier's Peak is more than we bargained for. There is sinister magic at 
9016work here. The men are seeing things and cannot tell nightmares from 
9017reality. The fallen return to life to attack again and again, and we are 
9018assaulted by dark creatures the likes of which I have never seen. Whoever 
9019is responsible is intent on destroying us all--the king's army and the Grey 
9020Wardens both.
9021
9022Send help! We cannot last much longer.
9023
9024--Commander Athlar.
9025
9026oad Limit Reached
9027A confusing note.
9028
9029"Mass will have an effect," he says.
9030As long as it lifts us out, I figure.
9031Should have specified "within my lifetime."
9032"Gives us time to talk", he says.
9033"How's a dwarf get named Shepard?"
9034
9035Up yer shaft.
9036"No really, because blah, blah, blah."
9037Axe answers, but I still hear him.
9038Drip... ground. 
9039Drip... ground.
9040Worse than his talking.
9041Think I'll drop out for some air.
9042
9043Excerpt: Dwarven Verse in One Volume
9044Selection: Load Limit Reached
9045Anonymous scratching recovered from a cage hoist... eventually.
9046
9047The Black Vials
9048
9049Binding the First Corpse Walker
9050et the dead no longer serve your whim.
9051Bound by your true name, no mortal hand shall reach you.
9052Cale Viazagat, revenant and perversion of an only son. 
9053Death beyond death is no longer your stepping stone through the Veil.
9054Andraste hold you, demon, and bind your rage for eternity.
9055
9056(Six thumbprints in blood mark the end of the text.)
9057
9058*****
9059
9060Binding the Second Corpse Walker
9061Cast from your host, may you find no purchase on mortal ground.
9062Bound by your true name, as we are sworn to do.
9063Nethamas Bigal, revenant and perversion of a fine daughter. 
9064No more will you test the Veil, nor reach the Fade to escape.
9065Andraste hold you, demon, and bind your rage for eternity.
9066
9067(Six thumbprints in blood mark the end of the text.)
9068
9069*****
9070
9071Binding the Third Corpse Walker
9072This realm denies you, abomination, for taking our dearest.
9073
9074We are united against your kind, and bind you by your true name.
9075Argruth Massaad, revenant and perversion of a treasured mother. 
9076No more shall fall; no more shall need to stand.
9077Andraste hold you, demon, and bind your rage for eternity.
9078
9079(Six thumbprints in blood mark the end of the text.)
9080
9081*****
9082
9083Binding the Fourth Corpse Walker
9084You deny our dead their rest, and so you also will be hounded.
9085et the strength of our union bind you by your true name.
9086Quametha Kagat, revenant and perversion of an honored father. 
9087Though no spirit cage will undo what was suffered.
9088Andraste hold you, demon, and bind your rage for eternity.
9089
9090(Six thumbprints in blood mark the end of the text.)
9091
9092*****
9093
9094Binding the Fifth Corpse Walker
9095We condemn both spirit and host for inviting the walker. 
9096With solemn hearts we bind you by your true name.
9097Shamas Goodson, revenant and perversion of a rare friendship. 
9098Regret holds more pain than burying the dead. 
9099Andraste forgive you, brother, and bind your weakness for eternity.
9100
9101(Five thumbprints in blood mark the end of the text.)
9102
9103*****
9104
9105Binding the Sixth Corpse Walker
9106United we purge this realm of your corruption.
9107The smallest among us binds you by your true name.
9108Anton Wither, revenant and perversion of a friend not met. 
9109Your strength and guile denied by innocence. 
9110Andraste hold you, demon, and bind your rage for eternity.
9111
9112(Six thumbprints in blood mark the end of the text. One is small, as though made 
9113by a child.)
9114
9115Correspondence Interruptus
9116
9117A collection of embarrassing personal communications between the 
9118spoiled wealthy and their objects of obsession.
9119
9120*****
9121
9122My darling Reginald,
9123
9124I burn for you. And because of you. Please use the enclosed tincture if our 
9125love is to endure.
9126
9127--Sarie
9128
9129To Wareth Lowstone,
9130
9131*****
9132
9133Age, race, height. I care not for the differences others perceive. But 
9134matching your helmet to my tunic for the amusement of standing in line 
9135with your new "Silent Sisters" invited attention where none was desired. I 
9136will not suffer your company again.
9137
9138--Allison Highover
9139
9140(Scribbled below)
9141Gonna miss knocking heads with those girls.
9142
9143*****
9144
9145A delicate matter,
9146
9147While I am overjoyed at the prospect of having you, an unwelcome guest 
9148requires that you excuse yourself by the postern of my estate to avoid a 
9149mark upon our reputations.
9150
9151--"M"
9152
9153*****
9154
9155Miss Ambrose,
9156
9157A long, slow grind, the motion careful, aided by generous application of 
9158oils. Size is no concern with my equipment, and I am always mindful 
9159when stuffing, not risking a burst before every order is fulfilled. My meat 
9160goes hand in hand with satisfaction.
9161
9162Your interest astounds, but it is not mine to question a customer's choice 
9163in nighttime reading. Three pound sausage again next week? No cheek, of
9164course.
9165
9166Yours,
9167--Biller's Butchers
9168
9169Darling,
9170
9171*****
9172
9173When next we meet, I would find it agreeable for you to leave your hat on.
9174And mayhap your boots as well. And trousers. Shirt too. And I shall 
9175facilitate said clothed status by locking my door and posting a guard. 
9176Duly warned?
9177
9178--"X"
9179
9180My elfroot,
9181
9182*****
9183
9184The herbalist suggested powdered bronto horn. I was very discrete.
9185
9186--Your sunflower
9187
9188Donogan,
9189On pain of death, you are
9190
9191*****
9192
9193Now warned! My father found
9194The letters you previously
9195Sent, and is watching as I write  
9196To tell you our relations are 
9197Over! We must remain chaste.
9198--Patricia
9199
9200*****
9201
9202You are filthy! A beast! Such depravity I have never been forced to suffer! 
9203How words are so laden when they leave your lips is beyond decent 
9204imagining!
9205
9206Madam, I love you.
9207
9208--Ser Augold
9209
9210*****
9211
9212My dearest Virginia Trueroyal,
9213
9214Regarding: Bodice ripped
9215Enclosed are seven silver and my most heartfelt apologies for said bodice. 
9216I would blame the cold ocean spray, the loss of my favorite shirt, the 
9217bucking of the stallion, or perhaps the strain of maintaining all such 
9218elements while sitting for a portrait, but I was certainly not myself. I hope 
9219you will forgive me and not take it upon yourself to find your own 
9220determined way in this world.
9221
9222Yours,
9223--Ser Rival Grouseman
9224
9225Dear Ser Jon,
9226
9227*****
9228
9229Your ministrations, while well intentioned, hold no promise. Do not 
9230despair, for it is not you, it is of me. I require an interval to acquaint 
9231myself with the personage you awakened. I'm certain we can maintain an 
9232amiable accord and that engagements with our mutual associations will 
9233
9234not be awkward.
9235
9236--"Mari"
9237
9238To one's paramour,
9239
9240*****
9241
9242When last we embraced, one noticed the redolence of another's company, 
9243but one was unmindful.
9244
9245--His Most Eminent Ser Fether Hapsmith Osvald III
9246
9247*****
9248
9249My love,
9250
9251I long to dance you beneath the moonlight, our hearts beating like the 
9252paired wings of a dove, in concert with the glory of the Maker and the 
9253beauty of the world that we must shepherd in his absence. Join me in a 
9254purity that will last the ages, when the brothers mark the Chant of Light 
9255anew.
9256
9257With all my soul,
9258--Erec Denolven
9259
9260(Scribbled below in a delicate hand)
9261Otter's pocket! He's earned it tonight!
9262
9263Circles Within Circles
9264On unity within the Circle.
9265
9266Arguments between the various fraternities have become more frequent 
9267and heated. I have alerted the College of Magi in Cumberland that this 
9268needs to be addressed in coming debates, but I fear relations with the 
9269Chantry may distract them. I am confident that I can appease the 
9270Aequitarians and Loyalists, but the Libertarians are proving divisive. Are 
9271the Isolationists even interested in speaking?
9272
9273The threat of Blight has actually served some good in unifying us under a 
9274common cause, but it does not bode well that any given table in the Great 
9275Hall is likely to be ideologically weighted against its neighbor. We can be 
9276such a moody bunch staring over our tea.
9277
9278--Excerpt from First Enchanter Irving's notes on unity
9279
9280Desire and Need
9281A notice of censure.
9282
9283Notice of Censure
9284
9285Templar Drass, your remarks in front of the recruits are only the latest in a
9286series of troubling events. I am beginning to suspect that you may not be 
9287suited to the devotional requirements of training. Perhaps it is time for a 
9288personal evaluation of your career path within the templars. I will 
9289schedule some time after the current deployment to discuss options 
9290elsewhere in the organization.
9291
9292--Attendant Cerand, assistant to Knight-Commander Greagoir
9293
9294(A note is scribbled in the corner.)
9295"Attendant who? Options? Code for dead-end duty on a hedge-mage hunt
9296in the Bannorn."
9297
9298The Notes of Arl Foreshadow
9299A list of books.
9300
9301Books to pursue for future endeavors:
9302
9303ost Countenance: Ferelden to Orlesian Phrase Book
9304- Must not offend the potential landlords
9305
9306Raising Spirits: Offspring and the Fade
9307- Terrible twos indeed!
9308
9309Forest Fall: Truth and Legend in the Search for Arlathan
9310- Survivors? Poppycock!
9311
9312The Origin of Theses: Knowing More than Everyone without Looking Like a 
9313Jackass
9314- Never get the time to read this. Maybe there's a stage play?
9315
9316Irving's Mistake
9317On Irving's mistake.
9318
9319I followed another apprentice through supposed secret maneuvers today, 
9320and exposed her tendency towards blood magic. The environment of the 
9321tower is such that certain modes of thought are encouraged, both for good
9322and ill. The students think we toy with them. The truth is far more 
9323intricate and directed. Deviant traits must be exposed early, or the whole 
9324of the Circle suffers.
9325
9326Uldred has been very helpful in identifying the markers to look for. His 
9327skills at misdirection are admirable. I daresay that the apprentices would 
9328be shocked at his ability to manipulate them. I must organize a retreat 
9329such that the other enchanters can benefit from his skills.
9330
9331--Excerpt from the journal of First Enchanter Irving
9332
9333Promises of Pride
9334
9335Uldred will show us the way. Finally, recognition within the Circle and 
9336freedom from the scornful eye of the templars. We will not be shunned. Be
9337ready.
9338
9339--Enchanter Gravid, Libertarian
9340
9341*****
9342
9343The time is drawing near. Uldred has brought his intentions to light and a 
9344confrontation is all but inevitable. We will separate or walk with our 
9345brothers, but we will be free. 
9346
9347--Enchanter Boson, Libertarian
9348
9349*****
9350
9351If blood must be shed and used, so be it. I will follow when he calls. The 
9352yoke must be released, whatever the cost.
9353
9354--Enchanter Prist, Libertarian
9355
9356*****
9357
9358I have spoken to him directly. His intentions are that we will demand the 
9359templars withdraw. I don't know that I am willing to follow, but I will be 
9360present to hear his argument.
9361
9362--Enchanter Fonst, Aequitarian
9363
9364*****
9365
9366Madness! I doubt blood will be of use to you if it is flowing down the 
9367tower steps. Step away from this folly, before it consumes us all.
9368
9369--Enchanter Luvan, Loyalist
9370
9371*****
9372
9373The call is made. We will stride out of here with pride in our step, 
9374regardless of the outcome. This is for the good of the Circle. Uldred will 
9375see to it.
9376
9377--Libertarian Rhonus
9378
9379Extracurricular Studies
9380
9381I have the utmost sympathy for what happened to your charge, but it is 
9382beyond the Circle's ability to anticipate every obscure demise that an 
9383
9384apprentice might face, especially involving methods outside the already 
9385extensive realm of magical study. We simply don't have the room for 
9386additional training facilities, and there are concerns about becoming too 
9387inclusive that I will not elaborate on. Your request is denied.
9388
9389--First Enchanter Sinclair
9390
9391*****
9392
9393If space is your excuse, I will surrender my quarters. If it is about money, I
9394will hire the appropriate people. I will not graduate another student 
9395ignorant of weapons that any ditch-digger can shove into his ribs. We 
9396teach them to append ridiculous glamours on parade arms, but they don't 
9397know simple steel. That is criminal.
9398
9399--Enchanter Bergin
9400
9401*****
9402
9403Notice herewith that the exercise area on the fourth floor shall serve as 
9404permanent berthing for the templar garrison stationed at the tower. Since 
9405facilities that accommodate their particular training requirements are 
9406already on hand, they will be assuming an even closer watch over Circle 
9407affairs. Enchanter Bergin’s optional weapons training is canceled until 
9408further notice. Enchanter Bergin has additionally stepped down from 
9409teaching duties.
9410
9411--First Enchanter Sinclair
9412
9413Cailan's Documents - Page 1 of 3
9414A letter bearing the royal seal of Empress Celene I
9415
9416To His Majesty, King Cailan of Ferelden:
9417
9418My Warden-Commander assures me that we face a Blight. This thing 
9419threatens us both, and we must work together to fight it, lest it devour all. 
9420Our two nations have not had a happy history, but that is all it is--history. 
9421It is the future that is at stake now. Let us put aside our fathers' 
9422
9423disagreements so that we may secure the future for both our countries.
9424
9425My chevaliers stand ready and will accompany the Grey Wardens of 
9426Orlais to Ferelden. At your word, the might of Orlais will march to 
9427reinforce the Ferelden forces.
9428
9429Sincerely,
9430Empress Celene I.
9431
9432-- A official letter from Empress Celene I of Orlais to King Cailan of Ferelden
9433
9434Cailan's Documents - Page 2 of 3
9435A letter from Arl Eamon to King Cailan
9436
9437Your Majesty,
9438
9439My men will arrive as soon as possible to bolster your forces. Maker 
9440willing, this Blight will be ended before it has begun.
9441
9442Cailan, I beseech you, as your uncle, not to join the Grey Wardens on the 
9443field. You cannot afford to take this risk. Ferelden cannot afford it. Let me 
9444remind you again that you do not have an heir. Your death--and it pains 
9445me even to think of it--would plunge Ferelden into chaos.
9446
9447And yes, perhaps when this is over you will allow me to bring up the 
9448subject of your heir. While a son from both the Theirin and Mac Tir lines 
9449would unite Ferelden like no other, we must accept that perhaps this can 
9450never be. The queen approaches her thirtieth year and her ability to give 
9451you a child lessens with each passing month. I submit to you again that it 
9452might be time to put Anora aside. We parted harshly the last time I spoke 
9453of this, but it has been a full year since then and nothing has changed.
9454
9455Please, nephew, consider my words, and Andraste's grace be with you.
9456
9457--A letter from Arl Eamon to King Cailan
9458
9459Cailan's Documents - Page 3 of 3
9460A slightly crumpled note
9461
9462(This letter appears to have been crumpled, then carefully smoothed out and 
9463folded again:)
9464
9465Cailan,
9466
9467The visit to Ferelden will be postponed indefinitely, due to the darkspawn
9468problem. You understand, of course?
9469
9470The darkspawn have odd timing, don't they? Let us deal with them first. 
9471Once that is done, we can further discuss a permanent alliance between 
9472Orlais and Ferelden.
9473
9474--A note, written in an uncharacteristically familiar tone, from Empress Celene I 
9475to King Cailan 
9476
9477Codex: Notes (Awakening)
9478
9479etter to Rendon Howe
9480A message for Arl Rendon Howe.
9481
9482My lord Howe,
9483
9484Some of the men are not pleased with your plan. They will incite others 
9485against you. For the plan to succeed, our forces must be united. If word 
9486gets out, if even one of them informs Cousland, it will be your head on a 
9487plate. I say this with all due respect, ser.
9488
9489Your captain, 
9490owan
9491
9492Response from Rendon Howe
9493A response from Rendon Howe.
9494
9495owan,
9496
9497We cannot afford an insurrection. Put any troublemakers in chains. Do 
9498whatever it takes to weed them out. Whatever it takes, Lowan. Do not fail
9499me.
9500
9501--Arl Rendon Howe
9502
9503A Letter from Leliana
9504A letter from Leliana.
9505
9506Dearest,
9507
9508I hope you are well. Alas, I am unable to come to the keep as I promised. I 
9509am so sorry, but the Grand Cleric herself wishes to speak with me. I will 
9510tell you all about it once I have had my audience.
9511
9512Is it true the darkspawn have not retreated? No matter, I'm sure you have 
9513
9514it under control. Wish I could be there, killing darkspawn beside you. 
9515Perhaps you could save some for me?
9516
9517(All right, that was a joke. Do not spare them. That would be silly.)
9518
9519You are always in my thoughts.
9520
9521ove, Leliana
9522
9523P.S. Maybe you could consider growing some roses around your keep? 
9524That would make it so much prettier, don't you think?
9525
9526A Letter From Zevran
9527A letter from Zevran.
9528
9529Greetings from Antiva!
9530
9531I would prefer to be where you are, my sweet. Antiva is so dull without 
9532you to brighten it. Even with the Crows trying to hunt me down, this 
9533place lacks the excitement of being at your side. Ah, well. I expect the 
9534Guildmaster will agree to meet me soon. Or maybe I should kill him! 
9535What do you think?
9536
9537I hear the darkspawn have still not gone away? They are like houseguests 
9538who overstay their welcome, no? I am saddened you have to deal with 
9539such business without me. I must deal with the Crows, but when I return 
9540to you, not even sharp razors will be able to separate us!
9541
9542Until then, you remain in my dreams. Especially the naughty ones.
9543
9544Yours always,
9545Z.
9546
9547A Miner's Letter
9548A letter from one miner to another.
9549
9550Thaddeus, it's too dangerous to work here. Sure, the money's good, but 
9551
9552there's been nothing but trouble since we broke into the ruin--the foreman 
9553down the shaft, the scaffold on poor Horace. He'd heard voices calling his 
9554name. Then the incident with the stew. An eyeball! Something's not right, 
9555Thaddeus.
9556
9557Oh, and that carbuncle on my neck is back! I swear it's a Tevinter curse. 
9558Half the men have left. I'm leaving today with the next lot. We can find 
9559work elsewhere. This isn't the only mine in Ferelden.
9560
9561--Karl
9562
9563Orders to the Militia
9564Orders to the Greenfell militia.
9565
9566Kendall,
9567
9568The caravans can't get through the woods and the village is running low 
9569on supplies. It's that Dalish clan causing trouble again, I know it. I had my
9570man speak to their "keeper" several months back and she (I think it was a 
9571she, you can't tell with these elves) said they'd leave for more remote 
9572parts. It looks as though they're back, likely their stupid landships 
9573blocking the roads. They're a stubborn race and more than a little dense!
9574
9575I must trouble you for a favor. Go to the Wending Wood and order them 
9576to leave.
9577
9578--Mayor Grisby
9579
9580A Letter from Aura
9581A letter from Aura.
9582
9583Dearest Kristoff,
9584
9585My sister and her babe are well. I shall leave Jader as soon as they're 
9586settled. Expect me at Vigil's Keep within the month.
9587
9588Ferelden is cold and wet, so make sure your socks are dry before you put 
9589
9590them on. I know how it is with men. You can slay a thousand darkspawn, 
9591but when it comes to clean clothes and dry socks, you're hopeless!
9592
9593I can't wait to see you.
9594
9595ove, Aura
9596
9597A Letter from the Architect
9598A letter from the Architect to Utha.
9599
9600Utha,
9601
9602I know this has tested your patience. You first gave your blood years ago 
9603to further our common dream. I know at times it seems we're going 
9604nowhere. Trust me, Utha, I echo your frustration. Vigil's Keep was a 
9605setback, yes, but minor. I intend to keep my promise to you.
9606
9607Perhaps you should venture above ground. The greenery and fresh air 
9608would do your spirit good.
9609
9610The Architect's Journal
9611The Architect's journal.
9612
9613The Seeker collected two elves, male and female. The rest died defending 
9614their camp. Unfortunate, but a small price to pay. The male has since 
9615dashed his head on the wall. Odd. Don't all living beings strive for 
9616survival? 
9617
9618The Seeker confessed that he did more than simply collect the elves. He 
9619found the elves and humans at odds, then exacerbated the conflict by 
9620making the humans look responsible for the two elves disappearances. He
9621said he wanted to see how the elf leader would react. Odd again. 
9622
9623The female elf has developed a...bond of sorts with her guard. Many of the
9624other disciples seem drawn to her as well. The Seeker says her name is 
9625Seranni. Perhaps I should speak to her. Maybe she will understand. 
9626
9627The Architect's Notes
9628A series of scribbled notes.
9629
9630(These are scribbles on loose sheets of paper, barely decipherable.) 
9631
9632-What happens if the Old Gods perish? Does the song die with them? 
9633
9634-The blood is the key. The blood is always the key. 
9635
9636-The female elf is accommodating, allowing me to take her blood for my 
9637work. Perhaps she thinks I'll release her if she cooperates. 
9638
9639-My disciples report that another elf is rampaging through the woods, 
9640killing humans. Revenge for what we did to her kind, only she hasn't seen 
9641through the Seeker's ruse. We'll keep this from Seranni. If she is upset, she 
9642may stop cooperating. 
9643
9644-Perhaps I should have killed it while it slept. 
9645
9646A List of Instructions
9647A list of instructions.
9648
9649Irlana, the warriors say we must leave Kal'Hirol for Orzammar. Here are 
9650my things to pack.
9651
96521) I need my gowns. If the trunks can't hold them all, leave the old rose 
9653one with the pearl buttons. And perhaps the midnight blue.
9654
96552) All my jewels. I don't know when we're coming back, so I'd like to have 
9656them with me.
9657
96583) At least a week's worth of food, including ten bottles of wine, ten 
9659bottles of ale, and thirty bottles of water from the spring. Orzammar is a 
9660dirty city teeming with surfacers and casteless--I dread to drink its foul 
9661water.
9662
96634) The children will need all their toys.
9664
96655) And their beds! Make sure they bring the beds.
9666
96676) On second thought, bring ours as well. And at least three changes of 
9668bedclothes. I don't know where they'll house us. I hear Orzammar's 
9669Diamond Quarter is smaller than House Hirol's dining room. Ugh, just 
9670thinking about it makes me ill.
9671
9672A Scout's Report
9673A Kal'Hirol scout's report.
9674
9675The defenses have failed and the golems are lost. The way is clear from 
9676the Pillars of Cadash to Kal'Hirol. The darkspawn are three days from 
9677Kal'Hirol, four at most.
9678
9679Prepare the thaig.
9680
9681Codex: Notes (The Golems of Amgarrak)
9682
9683Seneschal Garevel's Missive
9684
9685A letter from Vigil's Keep
9686Warden-Commander,
9687
9688We recently received a message from one Jerrik Dace of Orzammar. He 
9689requires your aid in locating an expedition lost in a place called 
9690"Amgarrak," somewhere in the Deep Roads. I have enclosed the letter.
9691
9692Your faithful servant, 
9693Seneschal Garevel
9694
9695Ancient Writings
9696
9697Questions about Caridin.
9698A note scribbled on old, moldy parchment
9699"Very little remains of Caridin's writings. The memories say the Paragon 
9700destroyed much of his own research. What madness would drive him to 
9701do such a thing? King Valtor preserved what he could; thanks to him we 
9702have something to work from. Nereda, my mage colleague, believes that 
9703lyrium is the key."
9704
9705Iron and its alternatives.
9706A note scribbled on old, moldy parchment
9707"I have ordered more iron from the Miners Guild. The shaft-rats will deny 
9708this request, citing our "waste" of good iron, but I've prepared for this 
9709eventuality. I've come up with an alternative: the casteless. No one will 
9710miss them, and it is far better for them to die in the service of this great 
9711experiment than to continue living their worthless lives. Nereda seems 
9712reluctant, but she is from the surface and doesn't understand. No matter, 
9713she wants the research to continue as much as I do and will eventually 
9714come around."
9715
9716Golems of flesh and bone.
9717A note scribbled on old, moldy parchment
9718"A breakthrough! Nereda bound a Fade spirit to a construct of flesh and 
9719bone, and it moved! We'll have something concrete to show the nobles 
9720and the Shaperate, once we put it back together. Someone must have 
9721overlooked a missing seam. When the construct came alive, the head tore 
9722itself off the body and... scrambled off. Nereda says it's nothing to worry 
9723about. She is hunting for it right now. In fact, that scratching at my door is 
9724probably her."
9725
9726Codex: Notes (Witch Hunt)
9727
9728Random Recipes
9729
9730Ellie's Exploding Elixirs
9731A good explosion will always spice things up. This volume of knowledge 
9732showed you recipes to make dispel grenades, elemental grenades, and 
9733soulrot bombs. 
9734
9735Franny's Recipes
9736This wise herbalist's collection of information showed you recipes for 
9737making superb health poultices and potent lyrium potions. 
9738
9739Codex: Spell Combinations (Origins)
9740
9741Grease Fire
9742
9743Most forms of grease, magical or otherwise, are highly flammable. When 
9744grease comes into contact with an open flame, it ignites, resulting in a sea 
9745of burning grease that is deadly to any creature passing through it. Once 
9746the grease has burned up, the fire subsides. 
9747
9748Entropic Death
9749
9750Perhaps the victims would say it makes no difference, since those afflicted
9751by a Death Hex already know there is little hope of survival, but they 
9752should avoid a Death Cloud at all costs if they do not wish to hasten the 
9753process: Merely touching the edge of the cloud is enough to set off a 
9754deadly reaction that deals truly massive spirit damage to the subject of the
9755hex. 
9756
9757Paralysis Explosion
9758
9759The magic power of a glyph derives from the purity of its shape. When 
9760two glyphs overlap and their lines become confused, particularly when 
9761the glyph's effects are directly opposed as with Glyph of Paralysis and 
9762Glyph of Repulsion, the magic has no choice but to dissipate instantly and
9763explosively, instantly paralysing all those nearby. 
9764
9765Storm of the Century
9766
9767When two storm systems collide, chaos and destruction inevitably ensue. 
9768A mage who combines the blustering ice and snow of Blizzard with the 
9769whirling lightning storm of Tempest will generate a terrifying Storm of 
9770the Century. Anyone caught within its bounds will suffer spectacular 
9771electric damage. 
9772
9773Flame-Quencher
9774
9775A grease fire is notoriously hard to extinguish, usually burning until it 
9776runs out of fuel. However, a mage can suppress the flames of a grease fire 
9777by lowering the temperature of the surrounding air. The bitterly cold 
9778winter winds of a Blizzard spell will freeze the grease itself, causing the 
9779fire to sputter and die. 
9780
9781Shockwave
9782
9783An adventurer beset from all sides may find solace within the temporary 
9784confines of a Force Field spell, which temporarily protects aganist all 
9785damage. Since the spell also prohibits movement, however, the original 
9786situation will still persist once the spell fails. If a mage casts Crushing 
9787Prison atop the Force Field, the contradictory effects will result in a 
9788spectacular disintegration of both spells, generating a shockwave that 
9789harms all in the area except the original subject standing in the epicenter. 
9790
9791Improved Drain
9792
9793The victim of a Vulnerability Hex must be wary not only of damage from 
9794the elements, but also spellcasters who wish to sap life or mana to restore 
9795their own bodies. The spells Drain Life and Mana Drain are twice as 
9796effective in those circumstances. 
9797
9798Advanced Reanimation
9799
9800A skeleton ally resurrected from the battlefield by means of the spell 
9801Animate Dead still suffers from the trauma of its recent demise, and is 
9802thus not as fearsome a combatant as it might otherwise be. However, 
9803when Animate Dead is cast by a mage whose power has been bolstered by
9804the effects of Spell Might, the skeleton arises with the might and 
9805determination of one who has been dead for centuries. This improved 
9806skeleton ally is stronger and has more abilities. 
9807
9808Nightmare
9809
9810Creatures that are asleep are particularly suggestible, and thus ill-
9811equipped to resist the spine-chilling effect of a Horror spell. The vivid 
9812nightmares that result inflict massive spirit damage, the shock killing 
9813many lesser creatures outright. Those unlucky enough to survive are 
9814certain to emerge from the ordeal in a state of fear. 
9815
9816Shattering
9817
9818A creature frozen or petrified by magic, as from the spells or Petrify or 
9819Cone of Cold, is in a vulnerable state, subject to shattering if excessive 
9820force is applied to just the right spot. A critical hit from any weapon may 
9821suffice, and the spells Stone Fist and Crushing Prison have been known to 
9822achieve the effect as well.
9823
9824Codex: Quest-Related (Origins)
9825
9826A Rolled-Up Note
9827A rolled-up note.
9828
9829I hope whoever finds this can read it. I hate the thought that my last 
9830words might be used as kindling or, Maker forbid, to wipe someone's 
9831bum, but that's happenstance for you, I suppose.
9832
9833My name is Branan. I was born in Rainesfere. I grew apples, once upon a 
9834time. When the Orlesians came to demand I bow to their emperor, I 
9835turned them away. They set fire to my orchards. To my house, too, but I 
9836didn't care. I stood and watched them burn. Trees die eventually. Houses 
9837fall. But my honor can be lost only if I let it.  
9838
9839They came back a week later and demanded that I swear an oath. This 
9840time, when I refused, they clapped me in irons. Now I'm here, and I'll die 
9841in this place. It seems a foolish thing to die for, doesn't it? I could have 
9842said a few words and rebuilt my home, gone on with my life as if nothing 
9843had changed. A hundred generations of my family have lived and died on
9844that land, and I won't be the one to trade our family honor for apples.
9845
9846Whoever you are, whatever they've brought you here for, if you leave this 
9847place, I hope you'll go to Rainesfere. There's no living remnant of us left 
9848there, but you'll find my family all the same. We're stamped onto the 
9849earth. We're in the wind that rustles the trees. Tell my family how I died, 
9850and I promise you, they'll hear.
9851
9852--Branan 
9853
9854Summoning Sciences
9855On the science of summoning.
9856
9857Apprentices are allowed and expected to willfully direct a minor spirit, 
9858provided it is within the protective confines of the library. Placement of 
9859the shelves allows for passive immobilization and the emergency purging 
9860of any rogue entity. 
9861
9862Take care! This exercise is not to be enacted during maintenance or other 
9863disruption of library structure! The danger presented by an incorrect 
9864summoning, particularly Exercise Three, is extreme. 
9865
9866(This book has been torn in half.) 
9867
9868*****
9869
9870(The second half of a torn book.) 
9871
9872The summoning sigil will ignite upon ritual initiation. If the order is 
9873incorrect, the ritual will reset. 
9874
9875Exercise One 
9876-Address the summoning font. 
9877-Select the second passage from the Tome of Spirit Personages, second 
9878shelf. 
9879-Pass open hands through the first summoning flames (select first flames). 
9880
9881Exercise Two 
9882-Address the summoning font. 
9883-Recite the Rodercoms Uncommon Calling, first column support shelves. 
9884-Place one silver coin at the feet of the statue of Magus Gorvish. 
9885-Pass open hands through the seconds summoning flames. 
9886
9887Exercise Three 
9888-Alert senior magi of lesson commencement. 
9889-Address the summoning font. 
9890-Recite the second passage of Elvorn's Grande Bestiary, sealed texts, third 
9891area. 
9892-Trace the chosen sigil on the first area common table. 
9893-Place a lock of hair between the pages of the Spiritorum Etherialis, right 
9894of the sealed texts. 
9895-Perform Callum's Gesture (two fingers) at the statue of Magus Gorvish. 
9896-Breath on the dried hemlock in the Novice Phylactery, second column 
9897support shelves. 
9898-Pass open hands through the third summoning flames. 
9899
9900*****
9901
9902[after the first summoning is completed]
9903Spirit Hog 
9904The equivalent of a Fade bottom-feeder, the gullet of the Spirit Hog can 
9905contain minor gems, presumably coalesced from ethereal elements in the 
9906Fade. Such creatures cannot survive in the mortal realm without 
9907summoner intervention. 
9908
9909[after the second summoning is completed]
9910Trickster Whim 
9911An amoral entity that delights in observing corporeal and emotional 
9912discomfort. A dangerous preference given that such creatures have little 
9913understanding or interest in the fragility of mortal flesh. 
9914
9915[after the third summoning is completed]
9916Fade Rifter 
9917The Rifter is an assembled consciousness given form in the moment of the 
9918ritual. Its appearance is intended to frighten the summoning apprentice, 
9919ensuring they respect the Fade. While essentially a construct, the beast is 
9920nonetheless very real and possessed of a fearsome will to be free. 
9921
9922The Dead Caste
9923On the Legion of the Dead.
9924
9925Friends, we have argued long, but I would propose a different direction. It
9926is not unprecedented that one of our number should end up in the Legion 
9927of the Dead: The Memories attest to some bewildering falls from grace. 
9928Only his choice to volunteer has propelled this beyond mere scandal. The 
9929question we must ask is, "Does this serve us?" The Legion has always 
9930seemed a last hope of redemption. If a noble joins their number--by choice
9931no less--this can only do good things for enrollment. And we sacrifice only
9932one foolish member, the last of a troublesome house. His reforms are 
9933better shouted at the darkspawn than in these halls. I say, let him go. 
9934
9935This is the writ that was passed, Durius. I hope you can live with your 
9936decision, because you're lost to it now.
9937
9938--From Assembly minutes regarding the Legion of the Dead; addendum 
9939unknown.
9940
9941Dearest Gilly,
9942
9943I know things have been difficult since the censure of our house. I had 
9944hoped to bear the cost of my actions alone, but if I had a full 
9945understanding of consequences, I wouldn't have murdered above my 
9946caste in the first place. I did not abandon you lightly, but I knew of no 
9947other way to insulate you against my shame than by joining the Legion. It 
9948is a half-measure that has earned me no right to seek your comfort, but 
9949please, I beg you for one moment of foolish optimism. There is talk of a 
9950new soldier, a noble! The things I have heard, I will not curse them by 
9951voicing them aloud, but it may be a path to respectability for my kin. For 
9952you. If there remains any official line open to our name, can you verify he 
9953is real, that House Ferald is in good stead?
9954
9955--A letter from Maius, unsent.
9956
9957May this report find the proper eyes to affect future tactics. We found an 
9958enclave of the spawn, possibly a breeding lair, but we could make no 
9959approach. There were far more spawn than anticipated, and I divided the 
9960squad to draw the main body of the horde away. I do not expect to 
9961survive, but I have made certain that most of my men will see another 
9962day. I am torn by this, as my petition will go unheard, and that may curse 
9963many more of the Legion than would die here. But I simply cannot 
9964abandon the men I have looked in the eye and called brother. Perhaps 
9965they will not thank me for this, believing themselves already dead, but 
9966where there is life there is hope. I will not be the last to see their worth.
9967 
9968--From a recovered Legion of the Dead field report, by Lord Durius Ferald.
9969
9970Casualty: Durius Ferald, lieutenant. Found dead with his squad. The 
9971corpse was left untouched, suggesting the darkspawn feared his spirit 
9972even in death. His ferocity defending his men was corroborated by 
9973survivors before they succumbed to corruption. It is rare for a soldier's 
9974actual death to exceed the honors given at his enlistment, but Ferald was 
9975an odd one, an agitator. His eccentric promises were disruptive, and I fear 
9976his death may demoralize more of the Legion than actually heard his 
9977fantasies first-hand. He was committed to the Stone with his insignia, as 
9978honorable a burial as we can manage with the spawn at our heels, but 
9979
9980officially he has formed a second front. Better his foolish hopes are diluted
9981by time than killed outright.
9982
9983--From a biweekly casualty report, by Sergeant Unger.
9984
9985By virtue of honored ancestry and great personal sacrifice on the part of 
9986its last descendant, the joining of House Ferald and the Legion of the Dead
9987is recognized as worthy of investigation by the Memories. If the lineage 
9988proves intact and sufficient, relations of the Legion of the Dead may be 
9989acknowledged as minor nobility, albeit with restrictions. This minor house
9990will now undergo the generational process of admittance to the Memories.
9991May honor come to its descendents.
9992
9993-As recorded by the Memories.
9994
9995The Crosscut Drifters
9996On the Crosscut Drifters.
9997
9998Fools and renegades, the lot of them. We accept that there is a time for 
9999ordered and educated treasure-hunting, but not when a foundation 
10000remains to be cut. What fortunes have they made, what houses have they 
10001elevated? The minor veins they have traced have satisfied neither this 
10002Assembly nor their own gambler's thirst. Their actions can only grow 
10003more erratic and undisciplined, and while no incidents have been 
10004reported, they will eventually undermine the stability of a major passage.
10005
10006It is the opinion of this Assembly that prospecting be restricted until we 
10007can be certain of the stability of the Deep Roads. These "Crosscut Drifters" 
10008can find their fortune in a trade. Let animals burrow wherever their nose 
10009points them. Dwarves are meant to excavate by careful degrees.
10010
10011--From an Assembly memorandum.
10012
10013Rogan cut a beautiful line down a minor vein today, twisting his supports 
10014along the footwall like a backbone. He's got a gift for lagging; it's almost 
10015crystalline. I swear I could tap it and hear the Stone sing. "Non-standard" 
10016by any inspector's measure, but that's the sodding point, isn't it? We're 
10017letting the Stone take us where she wants, not gouging out highways so 
10018
10019the palace can have another pantry. I suspect they will revoke our 
10020privileges at the next Assembly sitting. I say good luck to them; they'll 
10021never find us to deliver the writ. They are afraid of the road we travel.
10022
10023We're close to a major strike. The Stone, she's pulling us to something, and
10024to the vents if I'll let dwarves who deny their sense get in the way of it.
10025
10026--From the journal of Brunar, founding fellow, Crosscut Drifters.
10027
10028We can no longer tolerate your flagrant disregard of this Assembly and 
10029published excavation doctrine. The actions of your team have potentially 
10030compromised two future projects, resulting in an expensive redesign of 
10031the Deep Roads. Fortunately, development of the largest shaft will 
10032continue, or you would have faced additional fines. Claims that the Stone 
10033is directing your actions suggest that not only are you ignorant of 
10034preplanning procedure, you and your group may also be in the early 
10035stages of lyrium poisoning. You are in breach of Orzammar mining code 
10036and hereby forfeit all claims made during your unapproved activities. The
10037Assembly expects your response within 30 days or your house, as well as 
10038those of your team, will face additional censure.
10039
10040--Notice of Assembly censure.
10041
10042Here's your response: Take a long breath from a short shaft.
10043
10044B.
10045
10046--Addendum by Brunar, founding fellow, Crosscut Drifters.
10047
10048We found trouble all right. Rogan's lyrium vein led right to the flank of a 
10049darkspawn horde. From the look of their kit, the spawn were a week, 
10050maybe less, from breakthrough into that blasted new highway under 
10051Orzammar, and they'd be well behind any patrols. The Stone knew. She 
10052knew, and she drew her chosen with a promise of ore we could taste in 
10053our bones. If all goes well, losing this cavern will kill the darkspawn's 
10054taste for digging, and Orzammar will never know it was at risk. We'll be a 
10055distant tremor, a ripple in the royal fountain.
10056
10057The charges are laid. We know it will work and we know the cost. The 
10058Stone has shown us the way home.
10059
10060--From the journal of Brunar, founding fellow, Crosscut Drifters.
10061
10062The Gangue Shade
10063On the gangue.
10064
10065The Stone has a will that surrounds and directs; she guides even when we 
10066are willfully blind to her influence. But she is not pure. The Stone bears a 
10067corruption as old as balance. For the dwarves to prosper, the gangue--the 
10068waste and unstable rock--must be cut away. But like the Stone, the gangue
10069also has an influence. Each of us must face this, must carve the worst of 
10070ourselves away, but the Legion of the Dead bears a unique responsibility. 
10071Only the fully adorned of the Legion can face the gangue, can cut into the 
10072darkness that afflicts the raw Stone. She encircles us, and we must protect 
10073her, here where darkness meets light.
10074
10075--A Legion of the Dead inscription, undated
10076
10077The Key to the City
10078On dwarven propriety.
10079
10080While your concerns have merit, the Assembly has made itself clear. Space
10081within the thaig is at a premium, but the intended function of the hall 
10082merits the additional resources committed. The statues of the Paragons 
10083must be the core of the Hall of Heroes. There is no other placement that so 
10084benefits dwarven interests. It is the first glimpse that surface ambassadors 
10085have of Orzammar, an introduction not just to our living ancestors, but 
10086also to the Stone from which we were born. They must see it shaped 
10087before they can understand the complexity of its raw form.
10088
10089The Hall must also serve a second purpose, as a last sight for departing 
10090brethren. Those who choose to leave must do so with the heavy gaze of 
10091their Ancestors at their backs. It is a reminder of duty and of consequence.
10092We will promote all manner of trade, but also reinforce that those who 
10093leave for too long will return as strangers to the Stone.
10094
10095--From an report of the Assembly Zoning Commission. 
10096
10097Pursuant to order 5-1a, no dwarf of indeterminate caste may conduct 
10098business in the Commons. This was subsequently clarified by the 
10099Assembly to mean that the owning and operating of stalls or kiosks is 
10100limited to those of identified and approved house names with traceable 
10101Ancestor lineage of at least three generations. Exceptions include 
10102individual purchases of goods or services from established stalls or kiosks,
10103provided the funds are presented at the opening of the transaction, at the 
10104discretion of the stall or kiosk owner.
10105
10106I'm sure you understand the need to maintain strict quality control over 
10107all goods and services that flow through Orzammar, especially when we 
10108are making a concerted effort to encourage outside investment. The 
10109standards of Dust Town and that of the common brand are simply not 
10110sufficient. Your trade permit is hereby denied.
10111
10112--From a judgment of the Assembly Trade Council, regarding Midal's Reclaimed 
10113Wares. 
10114
10115The restriction of your authority is a temporary consideration, and not a 
10116verdict imposed lightly. The Assembly feels that efforts to maintain the 
10117sanctity of the Proving have faltered. This is a gentlemen's contest where 
10118future generals and respected veterans display their skills. It is intended to
10119be inspiring, and remind the lower castes why their leaders lead. We 
10120acknowledge the usefulness of a forum for the settling of honor debts, and
10121concede that the occasional defeat of a noble can serve as appeasement, 
10122provided it is by a peer and the contest is properly adjudicated. Extending
10123this practice to the lower castes could prove a dangerous and barbaric 
10124precedent. We have already seen the disruption that an unauthorized 
10125fighter can cause (the recent brand incident), and similar incidents should 
10126be discouraged with all possible prejudice.
10127
10128--From an Assembly writ of censure, regarding management of the Provings. 
10129
10130It is agreed that no rules of procedure were explicitly broken, but a five-
10131day filibuster is nonetheless worthy of censure. Division of House 
10132Gorosmote property was deliberated for a full session, and forfeiture of 
10133the southern estate deemed a necessity. Since the birth of young Kaid 
10134necessitates his elevation to noble status, and it is unthinkable for a noble's
10135family to live in the slums, it is the responsibility of the father to 
10136
10137accommodate the placement of his family. It is not possible to simply 
10138generate new space in the Diamond Quarter without compromising thaig 
10139structural integrity.
10140
10141ord Dace's comment that "if Lord Gorosmote didn't want a new heir, he 
10142shouldn't have slummed for a concubine" was indeed inappropriate, but 
10143the proper procedure for resolution through Proving was followed. Both 
10144parties agreed to accept his retraction, and that matter is considered 
10145separate and closed.
10146
10147The decision of the Assembly regarding the placement of the Duncoat clan
10148stands.
10149
10150--From a writ of the Assembly Zoning Council, regarding the placement of the 
10151Duncoat clan. 
10152
10153Your efforts have been exemplary, but these self-proclaimed cartels must 
10154defer to the Assembly and restore order. Exclusion from caste and society 
10155is no excuse. Perhaps suggest that it would be a simple matter to march on
10156the quarter, or simpler still to withdraw infrastructure support. A tunnel 
10157breach would be most unfortunate, but current policy direction prohibits 
10158any deals that would legitimize cartel operations. Downward pressure on 
10159certain elements of our society has proven useful in shoring up the 
10160economy with an excess of affordable labor. It also encourages enlistment 
10161in the Legion of the Dead, the one accepted path to partial redemption 
10162and a vital force on our weakening front lines. This model suffers when 
10163criminals create their own hierarchies with alternative methods of social 
10164advancement. 
10165
10166Every stone has a face that can't be carved, a side that must be earthward. 
10167We need their so-called Dust Town, but it would be inadvisable to include
10168that in your negotiations. We have the utmost faith in you, Capt-- (The rest
10169is obscured by bloodstains.) 
10170
10171--From a confidential Assembly directive, regarding proliferation of cartels. 
10172
10173The Shaper's Life
10174On shapers.
10175
10176The blessing of the Shaperate is given only to those who walk with the 
10177Stone. It is a path that cuts deep and the road is far from secure, but those 
10178who desire to work in memory must first honor it. Document the Stone, 
10179protect her, and present a new history to the Memories. Only then will the
10180blessing of the Shaperate be upon you. 
10181
10182--From The Shaper's Life. 
10183
10184Orzammar has carved a legacy from the Stone, but history is more than 
10185the comings and goings that fill the streets. These caverns are old cuts and 
10186well traveled; the true will of the Stone is revealed far from the halls of 
10187politics and commerce. The Shaper must step away from the familiar, and 
10188seek out revelations from the frontier or buried secrets from paths 
10189abandoned. The shaper must first walk away if he is to return. 
10190
10191--"First Steps," from The Shaper's Life. 
10192
10193Far from abandoned, the Deep Roads are patrolled by those who fight for 
10194Orzammar and the Stone. These defenders have seen great and tragic 
10195events unfold, but they are committed to the moment, not the memory. It 
10196is the shaper's burden to walk this path with a mind to observation. He 
10197will fight if pressed--every dwarf owes that to the Stone--but his purpose 
10198is to record, not create. Although dark and deep, the old paths are alive 
10199with deeds; only the dedication of the shaper can ensure they are not lost 
10200to the Memories. 
10201
10202--"The Old Path," from The Shaper's Life. 
10203
10204Before the darkspawn, the Stone held an empire--dozens of thaigs, each 
10205cavern a shade of dwarven pride, communities separate but united. They 
10206fell by degrees. Ruins crumbled into tombstones, a forgotten glory. But the
10207Stone is a living history, and absence can reveal more than constant 
10208scrutiny does. As the Stone shifts, she chooses what remains buried and 
10209what must see the light. The shapers must return, must walk the lost way, 
10210so the children of the Stone can see what has been surrendered and what 
10211can be gained. 
10212
10213This is the sacrifice of the shaper. 
10214
10215--"The Lost Way," from The Shaper's Life.
10216
10217You have walked the path of the Shaperate and documented the Stone. 
10218The blessing of the Shaperate is yours to wield in the carving of a new 
10219path, one for tomorrow's shaper to follow. 
10220
10221--From The Shaper's Life.
10222
10223Topsider's Honor
10224On topsiders.
10225
10226The fool has been following us for three days, but what can I do? I'm sure 
10227a city guard could lock him up for being a sodding idiot, but there's no 
10228law that says you can't seek your death in the Trenches. There's no law 
10229down here at all. I said to his face that if he puts our patrol at risk I'd split 
10230him myself, but he's quiet, I'll give him that. Topsiders usually assume the
10231end of a Blight erases the darkspawn from the world. Why does this one 
10232care that his victory just drives them back on our doorstep? It's one thing 
10233to face them up in the light; he'll cut his own shaft out of here once he 
10234fights them in the dark where they live. That, or the lyrium will get him. 
10235
10236--From a Legion of the Dead field report, by Lieutenant Gant.
10237
10238I swear, Mortavold, I have never seen the like. This... elf... fought like a 
10239man possessed. His strikes were light and did not echo on the Stone like 
10240those of our greatest, but the precision was that of a shaper carving a 
10241Memory across the darkspawn. Damned if we didn't raise our glasses to 
10242him last eve and share stories of honored family. With a topsider! In the 
10243lyrium glow, he looked no more out of place than any of us. It makes me 
10244think of cousin Bern. I wonder how he fares on the surface. I think if he 
10245sends another letter I will read it. Ties of kin should be stronger than 
10246where we choose to do business. 
10247
10248--From a letter from Corporal Trovid Oreson, date unknown. 
10249
10250The Stone take this topsider as she would welcome her own. He was born 
10251to air and sky, but has served the Deep Roads better than a native son. 
10252Many will see another day because he fought at their side and fell in their 
10253stead. We don't know his rites, and I fear the loss of his family blade may 
10254cause unrest on whatever journey he faces, but we know him as brother in
10255blood and extend that which is sacred to us. Willem Trialmont, if the path 
10256home is dark, the Stone is honored to have you in the foundation. 
10257
10258--Epitaph for Willem Trialmont, 7:5 Storm.
10259
10260There must always be another to take up arms against the darkness. That 
10261is the core of true family beyond kin and the unifying link that will bring 
10262day to night and allow the fallen to rest. 
10263
10264--Restored inscription, Trialmont family blade. 
10265
10266Jammer's Stash
10267On Jammer's stash.
10268
10269Been a profitable season, Kanky. Cutthroat too, so we got to be careful. I'm
10270taking my half topside so I can get a good price. Your half is in my stash 
10271box. It's got one of Pique's locks on it. Standard drill, you need the three 
10272pieces of junk from our common chests to even try to open it. She set them
10273up "high/low" because you've got the best eye for value in this dig.
10274
10275So, yes, I faked some loot. Take only the cheapest looking piece in each 
10276chest, and you'll be able to open the stash box. I wired the expensive-
10277looking stuff as bait. You take the right one, or you don't. And if you 
10278don't, hope you like having a limp.
10279 
10280Good luck, 
10281--Jammer 
10282
10283Letter from the Blackstone Irregulars
10284A letter addressed to you.
10285
10286(A letter, written in careful script, addressed to you.) 
10287
10288To the inimitable Grey Warden,
10289
10290Your deeds have spread since the tragedy of Ostagar, and I find myself in 
10291need of one such as you. I am Raelnor, captain of the venerable Blackstone
10292Irregulars, and I hope to win your trust. 
10293
10294The Irregulars have come on hard times since the war with Orlais, but I 
10295have fought to improve their reputation. Gone are the days of my father's 
10296shady deals with unscrupulous nobles in Denerim! No, I have trained a 
10297guild filled with honorable men ready to fight for Ferelden, and I am 
10298proud to say that I have seen your own Grey Wardens as a sort of model. 
10299
10300We are not perfect; my own son advocates a move back to the more 
10301lucrative way my father ran the guild. But we are steadfast. It is in this 
10302context that I ask for your help, and I promise we will reward you 
10303accordingly.
10304
10305Should you be willing, please find letters in this box and others like it all 
10306over the land, and carry out the request therein. For this matter, consider 
10307requests from my son as if they came from myself.
10308
10309And thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, whether you choose 
10310to assist us or not. You are doing the Maker's work, Warden, and I am 
10311honored to work with you.
10312
10313--Raelnor 
10314
10315(This letter is marked with the seal of the Blackstone Irregulars.) 
10316
10317Blackstone Letter of Conscription
10318A letter of conscription.
10319
10320Dear friend,
10321
10322You are receiving this letter because you or someone else placed your 
10323name on an Article of Conscription, thereby pledging your life to the 
10324Blackstone Irregulars. With war looming on all fronts, the Irregulars must 
10325build their numbers. We are forced to call upon those who have sworn 
10326their assistance to make good on those oaths. 
10327
10328Say farewell to your friends and family. While you may return to them, 
10329you must prepare them for the possibility that this will be your last day 
10330together. 
10331
10332Your sacrifice is appreciated.
10333
10334--Taoran 
10335
10336(This letter is marked with the seal of the Blackstone Irregulars.)
10337
10338Blackstone Letter of Condolences
10339A letter of condolence.
10340
10341My dear lady,
10342
10343It is with great regret that I must inform you of the death of your husband.
10344He died as he lived, with the greatest honor, completing a task of vital 
10345importance to the guild. Rest assured that we will take vengeance on 
10346those responsible for his death.
10347
10348Please accept my condolences for your loss. 
10349
10350--Raelnor Hawkwind 
10351
10352(This letter is marked with the seal of the Blackstone Irregulars.)
10353
10354A Pinch of Ashes
10355On young lovers of legend.
10356
10357(Torn from a book on local myths and legends.)
10358
10359The Korcari Wilds are rife with legends and myths that have amazed and 
10360confounded scholars since the fall of Ostagar in ancient times. 
10361
10362One such mystery lies behind the tale of Astia and Nebbunar, two young 
10363lovers who lived in Ostagar. The legend says that Astia grew up in the 
10364company of Gazarath, a spirit of the earth bound to an overhang on the 
10365bank of a lake in the Korcari Wilds. Gazarath began to fancy her, and they 
10366spent much of their days together, talking and laughing. Over the years, 
10367however, Astia became a woman and began to seek the company of men. 
10368
10369When Astia met Nebbunar, the two fell in love, and Astia hoped to bring 
10370her lover to see her spirit friend. But the spirit, angered and jealous, bade 
10371her begone. Gazarath told her that she would never see it again until she 
10372brought her lover's ashes and sprinkled them over their spot.
10373
10374Astia was horrified, and she fled from the enraged spirit. But she began to 
10375miss Gazarath, and on the day Nebbunar asked her to marry him, she cut 
10376her beloved's throat, burned him, and brought his ashes to Gazarath, 
10377knowing that their marriage would forever sever her ties to her dear spirit
10378friend.
10379
10380There are legends among the Chasind that Gazarath still haunts that lake, 
10381and that those who sprinkle the ashes of the deceased over the right spot 
10382can summon the spirit. In memory of the contract with its beloved Astia, 
10383Gazarath will grant a single wish and then vanish, never to be heard from 
10384again.
10385
10386(A note is scribbled in the margin beneath the page.) 
10387"Markus, I think this is real! If you take the ashes I gave you and scatter 
10388them over a pile of rocks on an overhang overlooking that half-sunken 
10389Tevinter dome, maybe Gazarath will appear and give you a wish! If the 
10390battle takes you there, I think it's worth a try!"
10391
10392Letter to Jogby
10393A letter to Jogby.
10394
10395My dearest son, 
10396
10397It pleases me that you wish to follow in my footsteps and bring the 
10398Maker's word to the unenlightened. I wish you had chosen a less 
10399dangerous place to do so!
10400
10401Apologies for leaving early for the Wilds, son, but I wanted to set up camp
10402and get things started. The Chasind respect one with survival skills in the 
10403Wilds, so I hoped to get a grip on that before you arrived, and maybe 
10404establish an agreement with a local tribe so that we had friends when you 
10405came.
10406
10407When you reach the Wilds, you'll find it difficult to navigate. I've listed 
10408certain landmarks below. If you follow them, they will lead you to a 
10409location I've scouted out, where I've left you some supplies. If you're lost, 
10410try to get back to that spot, and I'll find you.
10411
10412The landmarks are as follows, beginning at the entrance to the Wilds from 
10413Ostagar: 
10414
10415ï‚· Look for a tree leaning on the ruined building 
10416ï‚· Pass under a fallen "bridge" 
10417ï‚· Pass a submerged tower on the right 
10418ï‚· Look between a high, ruined arch and a mossy standing stone 
10419ï‚· Walk along a path of roots and stones 
10420ï‚· Look for two large statues with a chest between them.
10421
10422There you will find our meeting point. 
10423
10424I love you Jogby, my son. I hope to see you soon. 
10425
10426Your father, 
10427--Rigby 
10428
10429Farewell Letter to Jogby
10430A  farewell letter.
10431
10432My dear son, Jogby, 
10433
10434I fear this is the last letter I will write you. I have had difficulty finding the
10435Chasind to bring them the Maker's word. I have, however, seen evidence 
10436of their passing. They appear to have left this area in great haste, possibly 
10437fleeing the so-called "darkspawn" that are rumored to be gathering in the 
10438Wilds in ever greater numbers. 
10439
10440I have left you a weapon and everything else I can spare, my son. I will try
10441to find you once I have found a safe place. I only hope that you will be 
10442safe. With luck, we will meet again. 
10443
10444If you see her, tell your mother that I love her. And take care of our family.
10445
10446Your loving father, 
10447--Rigby
10448
10449Rigby's Last Will and Testament
10450A last will and testament.
10451
10452To whoever finds this note,
10453
10454This is the last will and testament of Rigby the missionary, proud speaker 
10455of the Maker's word. I have come to the Wilds to speak the Chant, but I 
10456fear I will die here at the hands of the darkspawn.
10457
10458I leave all that I came with to my wife, Jetta. Should the reader of this note 
10459feel charitable, I have buried a sealed lockbox in our camp, nestled in a 
10460Tevinter ruin in the western reaches of the Wilds. It is my will that this 
10461lockbox finds my wife in Redcliffe, and that it is still sealed shut when it 
10462reaches her.
10463
10464To my wife and my son, I apologize that my work has taken me from you,
10465but I know that I die in service to the Maker.
10466
10467--Rigby 
10468
10469Signs of the Chasind
10470On Chasind trail markings.
10471
10472The Chasind barbarians are nothing if not clever. They have hidden 
10473markers and signs in the arrangements of stones and rubble along the 
10474paths of the Wilds. In this way, they mark trails, note places of interest, 
10475and even give warnings in a way that outsiders cannot understand. 
10476Interestingly, these markers look indistinguishable from a regular pile of 
10477stones.
10478
10479I have dedicated my time to deciphering these signs, and I believe I am 
10480close to a breakthrough. The trail markers seem to point to a horde or a 
10481location used for secret storage among the Chasind. I have only found a 
10482portion of the message, however. I think that if I could complete the 
10483message, find all of the trail markers, I can find this cache and see what 
10484treasure the Chasind have to hide.
10485
10486I have found one such marker near this camp, under a fallen tree leaning 
10487against the ruins. Each marker seems to point to one or two others.
10488
10489I hear rumors that a darkspawn horde is coming. I hope I can find this 
10490treasure before it's too late!
10491
10492--An excerpt from Rigby's field journal 
10493
10494The Mages' Collective
10495A brief excerpt on the mages' collective.
10496
10497Despite the Loyalists' grasp on the mages' political community, many 
10498ibertarians and Aequitarians have begun to see eye to eye with respect to
10499the Chantry's role in a mage's daily life. A growing number of mages, 
10500particularly those whose magic never strays from the Maker's mandate, 
10501feel that the Chantry's constant oversight is a burden upon their creativity 
10502and their very will, and one that hinders their ability to do their work. 
10503
10504These mages, along with a number of hedge wizards who work their arts 
10505outside the Chantry's influence, have formed a shadow-guild of sorts, a 
10506mages' collective, wherein members can submit requests and have them 
10507seen to without judgment. This collective manages to work in relative 
10508secrecy, their members discreet and their clients anonymous. As of yet, 
10509this collective has seen no sanction from the templars, and there has been 
10510no sign that its members are practicing magic of which the Maker would 
10511not approve.
10512
10513Still, practicing magic outside of the influence of the Chantry is a dream 
10514for some and a dangerous notion for others, and many believe that it is 
10515only a matter of time before the veil of secrecy is lifted and the mages' 
10516collective is brought to swift and brutal justice.
10517
10518--From A Treatise on Magic and Politics, by First Enchanter Josephus. 
10519
10520Asunder
10521
10522The ritual was very specific, as such things probably should be. Torso, 
10523head, and limbs spread amongst the Deep Roads to prevent the creature 
10524from returning. Looks like they died during the cutting, but we can fulfill 
10525the last part in their stead. I'm not familiar with elven ritual--why would I 
10526be--but it seems pretty straight forward.
10527
10528--Shaper Axus 
10529
10530(Scribbled in the corner)
10531Never even saw the thing. Bet a sword would take care of it. 
10532
10533Sod it, and this bag of legs. 
10534
10535*****
10536
10537Might not be elven, maybe human. Doesn't matter, we can still follow 
10538directions. Torso, head, and limbs bagged and dispersed. Simple enough. 
10539This magic stuff doesn't seem that complicated.
10540
10541--Shaper Axus 
10542
10543(Scribbled in the corner)
10544No job for a warrior! First hole gets the bag! 
10545
10546*****
10547
10548(A torn ritual page of indeterminate origin.) 
10549The body rendered to its separate parts, spread wide such that no life is 
10550witnessed, no heartbeat detected. In this way, the beast can remain for an 
10551age, as knowledge passes and pursuers live out their lives.
10552
10553(Scribbled in the corner)
10554I was wrong! Not elven! Hunters didn't kill it. It allowed this?
10555Keep the pieces apart, I guess. Away from the heart.
10556
10557*****
10558
10559The scratchings should be unreadable, but meaning swims in your head, 
10560as though whispered: 
10561
10562The limbs, mere meat.
10563The torso, but a vessel.
10564The head, all but unnecessary.
10565The heart, separate, keeps life.
10566The heart, safe from the blade, can be restored.
10567The heart waits, in the Fade. 
10568
10569--Rough inscription, author unknown 
10570
10571Unbound
10572
10573The riders follow after every town, ever since my lucky break deciphering 
10574the story. I see it now, how they take the locals closest to me, preventing 
10575rest or kinship. I thought this a road to glory, but I am dogged at every 
10576step by his talons. Gaxkang: curse his name and the day I heard it.
10577
10578--Journal excerpt from an unnamed, long dead adventurer 
10579
10580*****
10581
10582You asked, so I'm telling. Don't go. The stories talk of the riches, but never 
10583the names, never where they supposedly spent their wealth. I heard the 
10584same tales as a lad in Denerim, felt the same pull, but it's a lie, son. They 
10585may paint a trail, but once you're on it, does it lead to the beast or back to 
10586you?
10587
10588--Unsigned letter, father to son 
10589
10590*****
10591
10592(Three weathered parchments, with three versions of the same incomplete story.) 
10593
10594Excerpt:
10595And when his kingdom fell, so disappeared the stolen riches of an age. 
10596The beast, the Unbound, dormant until one of true spirit claims his throne.
10597So must hunt the hero of his people, the principled who would search for 
10598ancient evil. This is how they can make a real difference.
10599
10600(Scribbled in the corner in a shaky hand)
10601Three pages, three ages. Same story, updated.
10602Same as the tavern song, but older!
10603Signature torn on purpose, but compare and get "Vilhm Madon."
10604All from him! How?
10605
10606*****
10607
10608[intended update of Codex entry if Gaxkang is killed; may not appear in game]
10609
10610On the Unbound Revenant.
10611
10612The Unbound Revenant
10613A mercifully rare creature, the unbound revenant has had millennia to 
10614acclimatize to the mortal realm. Ages in a succession of physical forms 
10615have given it a semblance of life and almost human desires, though 
10616certainly a very dark variety. Unable to fully halt the decay of the corpse it
10617inhabits, the unbound revenant periodically replaces this form as though 
10618
10619discarding a shell. The criteria for selecting a new body seems very 
10620specific, and may be unique to each example.
10621
10622An abomination by any standard, the unbound revenant even draws the 
10623ire of other Fade spirits that watch enviously from their native realm. It is 
10624capable of subtle manipulation and can, for a time, pass as a living 
10625example of the body it inhabits. When the illusion falls, it becomes a 
10626terrifying and vengeful engine of destruction.
10627
10628Caged in Stone 
10629A well worn inscription.
10630
10631(The inscription is old and worn, overlooked by most as a carving detail.)
10632
10633The beast is foreign, but the need is familiar. Home and hearth suffer 
10634beneath strength and strangeness. These new kin of this Fereldan are 
10635better as friends than strangers, so we resist on their behalf, and work 
10636with their users to bind with the Stone. They no longer fear their skies, 
10637and we further our trade above. 
10638
10639ured from above, cornered and corralled. Three standing in position, a 
10640fourth signals the throne. Stasis for the beast, so long as a king holds the 
10641throne. So long as a king wills it held.
10642
10643--Inscription, circa 5:90 Exalted
10644
10645By Order of Emer Thorogood
10646By order of Emer Thorogood.
10647
10648We know they are out there, and they will move when their fellow vermin
10649call them out. Watch for the sign and slaughter the lot. They will know it 
10650is coming, and probably abandon the poor sap of a messenger, but even in
10651that, our message will be sent with an authority theirs cannot have.
10652
10653--By order of Emer Thorogood
10654
10655The Scrolls of Banastor
10656
10657To align with the power of the Fade is but the first of many steps. Further 
10658is to align the mind to the Fade's rules and find the ties between the realm 
10659of dream and the realm of flesh. This is the true power of blood magic: 
10660The flesh and the mind are inseparable, and therein lies the power to 
10661influence and control minds.
10662
10663(Below the text are indecipherable runes and stains of blood and ink.)
10664
10665*****
10666
10667Others may speak of the sanctity of the mind. To those who know the true
10668power of the blood, this is foolishness. The mind is no more sacred than 
10669the knee, the small toe, or the ear. It is man's organ of reasoning, nothing 
10670more. And true reasoning requires connection to the rhythm of the blood, 
10671the tireless pounding of life. Interrupt this, and even the mind is yours to 
10672control.
10673
10674(Below the text is a diagram of a blood magic ritual in progress, with no notation 
10675or description.)
10676
10677*****
10678
10679In the Fade dwell creatures both foul and fair, but all plague mankind 
10680with lusts and prides incalculable in our waking hours. Our power 
10681attracts them, and for good reason: Our unique bridge between flesh and 
10682dreams is one way they can enter the realm of flesh. To begin the path to 
10683true power, court these poor, terrible creatures and best them. Force them 
10684into servitude or pledge your heart to them. Either way, you gain 
10685immense power and the means with which to tear holes in the world.
10686
10687(Below the text, scribbled in the margin, are arcane symbols drawn with blood.)
10688
10689*****
10690
10691The creatures, these demons, require little in the way of bribery. Their 
10692natural state is one of longing for the world of flesh and blood. This is 
10693what you offer them: respite from their eternal search for true life. Engage 
10694
10695them in a battle of wills, and you will be successful. Should you fail, the 
10696power will be yours, but your body will belong to the demon. Relish this 
10697infernal power while it lasts, for once you are an abomination, your 
10698demon half will soon swallow your mind.
10699
10700(Below is a litany of lines written in an arcane, forgotten language, 
10701indecipherable to all but the most obsessed of linguists.)
10702
10703*****
10704
10705Finally, once you have come to ascend, have tasted the sweet nectar of the 
10706demonic blessing, rise anew, ascended, as a god. Through the connection 
10707between earth and sky, flesh and dream, blood and memory, you have 
10708risen above the petty concerns of the Chantry and her minions, past the 
10709notice of secular nobles and their petty squabbles. Through the rituals 
10710inscribed in these scrolls, you have mastered the minds of others, braved 
10711the temptations of the Fade, and quashed the terrible will of demons. Let 
10712no murder or theft weigh upon your mind, as your will is absolute, and 
10713the world is yours to claim.
10714
10715(Below the text are more arcane glyphs, terrible and dark in their implications.)
10716
10717Friends of Red Jenny
10718A note from the Friends of Red Jenny.
10719
10720The task was never promised to be easy. You said you could enter the 
10721Circle Tower, and you were believed. Find the small painted box in First 
10722Enchanter Irving's office and deliver it to the door marked in Denerim as 
10723agreed, or be prepared to find yourself hunted across Ferelden.
10724
10725--Friends of Red Jenny
10726
10727(There is a sketched map of several doors. It requires the box to be placed on it to 
10728block out false leads.)
10729
10730Five Pages, Four Mages
10731
10732Tome Deus vi Eternus
10733
10734In malefectorum, dragos te' ventim. Solariat ven deos mentoris, pluratic 
10735ven contrivarian. 
10736Spake he the words, and brought life. Speak you the words... ascension. 
10737Answers lie in... (text illegible)
10738
10739(Notes on the page below)
10740Here I begin my study, knowing full well it will change the Circle forever. 
10741et history mark the date that this work began, 9:29 Dragon, so that when 
10742new calendars are put to paper, the date Fonst 0.0 is known with certainty.
10743From the mouths of gods, finally to the people. Through me.
10744
10745--Enchanter Fonst
10746
10747Tome Deus vi Eternus 
10748
10749*****
10750
10751In malefectorum, dragos te' ventim. Solariat ven deos mentoris, pluratic 
10752ven contrivarian. 
10753Spake he the words, and brought life. Speak you the words... ascension. 
10754Answers lie in... (text illegible)
10755
10756(Notes on the page below)
10757479 sovereigns, plus favors.
10758Immortality worth every coin.
10759Words of creation, proof of Maker.
10760No one must know until translations are complete!
10761I will have First Enchanter... the ear of kings... I will own kings!
10762Glory everlasting!
10763
10764--Enchanter Modalt
10765
10766*****
10767
10768Tome Deus vi Eternus 
10769
10770In malefectorum, dragos te' ventim. Solariat ven deos mentoris, pluratic 
10771ven contrivarian. 
10772Spake he the words, and brought life. Speak you the words... ascension. 
10773Answers lie in... (text illegible)
10774
10775(Notes on the page below)
10776Notes on a wondrous discovery:
10777A strange script. Uniform, by steady hand. Yes, one would expect an 
10778agent of the Maker to be steady. In fact, it follows all my expectations of 
10779the words the Maker would bestow. It is perfect, and once translated, I 
10780will have such fun lording this over the Chantry. Worth every bit.
10781
10782--Enchanter Gaius
10783
10784Tome Deus vi Eternus
10785
10786*****
10787
10788In malefectorum, dragos te' ventim. Solariat ven deos mentoris, pluratic 
10789ven contrivarian. 
10790Spake he the words, and brought life. Speak you the words... ascension. 
10791Answers lie in... (text illegible)
10792
10793(Notes on the page below)
10794Maker take the vendor, a copy! A fake! 
10795Why didn't I see? It was obvious! Spake?!
10796aughing stock! 
10797No one must know! 
10798Beyha Joam--I find him; I'll kill him!
10799
10800*****
10801
10802Tome Deus vi Eternus
10803
10804In malefectorum, dragos te' ventim. Solariat ven deos mentoris, pluratic 
10805ven contrivarian. 
10806Spake he the words, and brought life. Speak you the words... ascension. 
10807Answers lie in... (text illegible)
10808
10809(Notes on the page below)
10810The words elude me, but I will defy their obstinateness. Worked by the 
10811Old Gods or the Maker himself, I will wring their secrets into my hands. I 
10812need the essence of the powerful. And the pure. And so begins a bloody 
10813road, but at the end, godhood, the keys to the Black City.
10814
10815--Enchanter Rhonus
10816
10817Watchguard of the Reaching
10818
10819I'm telling you guys, it's a test like the summoning. Why else would 
10820lessons be canceled? And that outburst in the library with Uldred? An 
10821older tome fell to a page on "the Reaching." I copied what I could before 
10822they pushed us out. 
10823
10824Ritual note:
10825A sword lowered, to strike through and ground.
10826
10827You can't tell me I wasn't supposed to see that. It's too convenient. I'm 
10828looking for more, and you'd be smart to help.
10829
10830--Gant
10831
10832*****
10833
10834No, no, no, and stop asking! I'm not getting in trouble because of you 
10835again. I don't care what's in the basement, and neither do the senior magi. 
10836Everything is about Uldred and the upper floors. I don't know what 
10837you're digging up, but those tomes are way older than our lesson texts. An
10838apprentice shouldn't touch them!
10839
10840Ritual Note:
10841The threads burned before a Giant, spear raised. He stands alone, so 
10842whispers are known false.
10843
10844--Nolan
10845
10846(Scribbled in corner)
10847Don't need him. Owain knew "Reaching:"
10848
10849*****
10850
10851First Enchanter Dorval fell suddenly to a disease of the lungs. This 
10852unfortunate disruption in the direct line of descent from tower founding 
10853should be treated as opportunity. The Circle will reform practices to better
10854address the times. Many rituals remain valuable, but some--The Two 
10855Bells, Garnold's Lament, Watchguard of the Reaching, Benford Da--have 
10856little or no meaning in our texts.
10857
10858We will move forward, as Dorval would have wished, and commit these 
10859and other ceremonies to the age we have left. With no plan of estate, his 
10860belongings have been transferred into the common library for the benefit 
10861of all.
10862
10863--Excerpt: Circle of Magi Declaration, Kinloch Hold Transitional, 5:90 
10864Exalted
10865
10866(Scribbled in corner)
10867"Reaching" again! And old! They don't know! Idiots! Wards weaken!
10868
10869*****
10870
10871Today we passed even further, far beyond any reach of man. The inverted 
10872glow of the Black City was always on the horizon of perception, but a path
10873eludes, as always. Untraveled in memory, living or otherwise, there is a 
10874pull, and whispers abound. Something great is there. And away from this,
10875always in peripheral, another mind, untethered. Tomorrow I will reach 
10876out with my full attention, and try to rescue him from his listing. Can 
10877someone else have come this far? The wonders we will share.
10878
10879Ritual note:
10880The vessel in hand, words from another time drip literal power.
10881
10882Documents of the Reaching, estimated second century, Ancient
10883First enchanter appointed Watchguard of the Reaching, to be held in 
10884secret
10885
10886(Scribbled in corner)
10887"Reaching!" Before the Circle! Someone else in the Fade? I want this!
10888
10889*****
10890
10891His silver cord transmuted black. Black! There is no wonder his form 
10892shattered. What returned was not of the mortal, nor native Fade. Does an 
10893afterthought prove the gods when direct action is long missing? There is 
10894no purpose to this beast. Let the strength of the tower wither it and 
10895memory pass. The only legacy to be taught: Stay focused within the Fade. 
10896Whims escape to their own action.
10897
10898Ritual note:
10899A sword raised, to sever connection.
10900
10901Documents of the Reaching, estimated second century, Ancient
10902First enchanter appointed Watchguard of the Reaching, to be held in 
10903secret
10904
10905(Scribbled in corner)
10906Cord? Peasant magic! Must know. Can almost see. Whispers want!
10907
10908*****
10909
10910(Hastily scribbled)
10911
10912Whisper says Great Hall? Hidden above us the whole time!
10913-The vessel in hand, words from another time drip literal power. (Put on 
10914bowl!)
10915-A sword raised, to sever connection. (Cord cut!)
10916-A sword lowered, to strike through and ground. (Bile!)
10917-The threads placed before a warrior, spear raised. Shielded from each 
10918side, so whispers are known false. (Where is this? It whispered order, but 
10919not where! It's in my head!)
10920
10921*****
10922
10923Shah Wyrd
10924A collection of powerful but undirected thoughts coalesced in the Fade. 
10925Such a being is in direct opposition to singular focus and drive. 
10926
10927Distraction made flesh. The mind or minds that loosed this within the 
10928Fade must have been powerful and ancient indeed.
10929
10930Maleficarum Regrets
10931On regrets.
10932
10933I won't go back. Let them hunt, and dread finding me. But you, Melis, 
10934should not live this life. It would please me if you found a life in the Circle
10935Tower. I left a few things there, mostly stolen from the enchanters. Sell 
10936them to fund a new path. The cache is in the study area, middle alcove. 
10937Goodbye.
10938
10939--Bel Gruce
10940
10941Renold's Plea
10942A plea from a mage.
10943
10944Should you find this note, I beg you, please complete my task.
10945
10946I am Renold, master mage and mentor to the misguided fool, Heshir. It 
10947seems that my young apprentice got mixed up in magic unmentionable, 
10948for which I pledged to pursue him to the ends of the world. 
10949
10950If you are reading this, then my apprentice caught up to me and choked 
10951from me my last breath. I beg you to delve into this ancient elven forest 
10952and end the threat of the abomination my beloved apprentice has become.
10953
10954Should you do this, then I beg you, keep the feldspar ring you find on my 
10955apprentice's finger as a token of my thanks. And may you never know 
10956profound failure such as that I feel as I write this.
10957
10958--Renold
10959
10960The Spot
10961On a hiding place.
10962
10963Maker's wind, Daarci, I said I'd wait, but it's not just a disagreement! 
10964Uldred set abominations loose! One was in my mentor's robe! If you make
10965it here, something in "the spot" may help you out. No point in hiding it 
10966from the senior mages now, and don’t worry about Denri's usual fee for 
10967moving his bed. He's dead. 
10968
10969--Apprentice Mand
10970
10971etter of Termination
10972A letter of termination.
10973
10974My dear apprentice,
10975
10976I have sent this courier with this note to officially end your period of 
10977apprenticeship. I harbor you no ill will, for despite your complete 
10978incompetence, you have failed to do lasting harm to myself or my work. 
10979Sadly, I will not have a chance to witness your floundering attempts at 
10980improvement.
10981
10982When you return from your current errand, your apprenticeship will be 
10983over. Now, hurry, I have dire need of the supplies I sent you to procure.
10984
10985Sincerely, 
10986--The mage Terraster
10987
10988Codex: Quest-Related (Awakening)
10989
10990Bonnie's Angry Letter
10991A strongly worded letter.
10992
10993Corin, is our relationship a joke? Am I a joke to you? What am I supposed 
10994to think, waking up to this "love" note:
10995
10996"Follow my trail of love, my darling,
10997You are my hen, the mistress of my flock,
10998You nourish my body, and tend to my... rooster."
10999
11000Really, Corin? I tend to your "rooster?" That's the most disgusting thing 
11001I've heard in my entire life. You said there was a surprise waiting for me. 
11002I'm supposed to follow your trail? Ugh, I despise you! I abhor you, you 
11003petty, ill-made wart!
11004
11005You said last week that everything would be different for us. Well, you 
11006were right! I'm leaving. 
11007
11008With venom and spite, 
11009Bonnie
11010
11011Darran Lyle's Missive
11012An old, discarded letter.
11013
11014Elmor, I've found what we've been looking for. Better, even! Stop digging 
11015and pack up your gear. I'm heading back to camp. Meet me there. We'll go
11016to Amaranthine, find a buyer, and strike it rich!
11017
11018Darran Lyle
11019
11020Karsten Wilde's Last Testament
11021The last testament of Karsten Wilde.
11022
11023They came to me for help, these three maidens of the Blackmarsh. They 
11024were young, beautiful, vital, everything she desires. They gave me gold, 
11025jewels, and family heirlooms. I imagined their mothers and fathers, uncles
11026and brothers pressing those treasures into their hands, enough to ransom 
11027a life promised to their baroness. I agreed to spirit them away from 
11028Blackmarsh.
11029
11030She learned of it. She appeared the night before. Her eyes were like flat, 
11031dull stones; her hair was stringy and streaked with grey. And I saw why 
11032she needed the women.
11033
11034I hid them in my wagon. The youngest embraced me before she crawled 
11035between the bales of hay. She said, "Maker bless and watch over you." I 
11036drove them to the crossroads where the baroness's man waited. He took 
11037the wagon. Their families never knew.
11038
11039The witch, as good as her word, brought me a chest of gold. She twirled 
11040like a little girl, eyes now sparkling. "You've earned every bit, merchant."
11041
11042The gold was no comfort. I saw their faces on each sovereign, heard their 
11043voices in the tinkling of the coins. I couldn't bear it. I buried it all in the 
11044deepest part of the marsh. Still, I found no peace. There will be no peace 
11045for me until I stand before the Maker.
11046
11047--Karsten Wilde
11048
11049(Attached is a map to the cache.)
11050
11051Materials for Working with Dragonbone
11052
11053What a lovely specimen! But dragonbone is so very hard. I need a 
11054diamond--yes, that will do--and a balm of great strength to keep the 
11055sword from burning my hands. The liquid from a fresh dragon's egg will 
11056also come in handy, I should think. Shouldn't be a problem for you. Oh, 
11057and a flame rune--grandmaster caliber. Do hurry!
11058
11059Materials for Working with Golem Shells
11060
11061What a day! First, I'll need some wool padding. Working with golem 
11062shells can chafe, don't you know? Second, a lyrium potion made by a 
11063master, to ensure the soul that once inhabited this armor is washed away 
11064for good. You wouldn't want that golem coming back, would you? Also 
11065some pure iron--pure, mind you. No imperfections at all! And a packet of 
11066ground blood lotus. Maybe some soup? No? No.
11067
11068Materials for Working with Heartwood
11069
11070Those blasted elves didn't write anything down! And the Dalish are 
11071positively unfriendly. I could use some oil to make the wood more 
11072malleable, some catgut to string the bow or to make a handle for the 
11073shield, and a flawless ruby--always handy and certainly pretty. Oh, and I 
11074know: a grandmaster lightning rune.
11075
11076A Scholar's Journal
11077A scholar's journal.
11078
110797 Cloudreach: Ordered roast boar at the inn. Love that stuff! I shared the 
11080meal with a weary old traveler newly arrived via the Pilgrim's Path. Told 
11081me that he stumbled upon an odd structure of stones in the Wending 
11082Wood. He showed me a souvenir he brought back, one of the smaller 
11083stones. It looked familiar somehow.
11084
110859 Cloudreach: I remember where I saw that stone--an old history book in 
11086Denerim's chantry! The Tevinters built structures to harness mystical 
11087energies. Most have been destroyed, the stones used for construction, yet 
11088the traveler claims this one survives.
11089
1109010 Cloudreach: He was at the inn again and sold me the stone. I'm 
11091heading to the Wending Wood as soon as I find a caravan, although 
11092people seem wary of the place.
11093
1109429 Justinian: Finally found a caravan! Nervous lot, though--barely halted 
11095to let me out. Found the structure and spent the day studying it. Burned 
11096myself on the magical fire several times, but I think I've figured it out. 
11097Must make a path of fire that connects all the stones in a single loop. Will 
11098attempt after I drive away whatever creature's making that rustling noise.
11099
11100Codex: Quest-Related (Leliana's Song)
11101
11102Raiding the Collective 
11103
11104I remember... 
11105The note from the Mages' Collective had said there were clues around the 
11106market that would point to a hidden cache. At the time, I didn't care that 
11107someone had earned that money, or that someone else had scrounged to 
11108collect it. Finding the clues would be adventure--distraction. I even looked
11109forward to the inevitable guard. By the signature, Severin was the poor 
11110fellow's name. 
11111
11112The Orlesian Game of Intrigue 
11113
11114I remember... 
11115Marjolaine had given me clippings from a Fereldan book. A social 
11116dissection of Orlais, or some such: 
11117
11118"Orlais presents a veneer of opulence, but the aristocracy are committed to a 
11119system of social one-upmanship they call the game. Sprawling receptions delight
11120friend and foe, while bards strike from shadow with insinuation, larceny, and 
11121assassination, often to the strange delight of their targets. Control of these auteur 
11122agents is yet another layer of the game."
11123
11124"Auteur agent" I liked. The rest could not be more dry. Fereldans truly did
11125not understand my world. And that, of course, was Marjolaine's intent. I 
11126had arranged my favorite associates and followed her to Denerim not for 
11127the promise of money, but for the excitement of toying with fools. I was 
11128her creature. 
11129
11130The Arl's Estate 
11131
11132I remember... 
11133ike many of Marjolaine's little surprises, I was more excited than afraid. 
11134The arl's estate was the typical posturing of a fortress in peacetime, its 
11135ramparts meant to appease nobility, not defend soldiers. It may have been
11136fearsome long before, but at that moment, it was just another prize I 
11137longed to humble for Marjolaine. I would come to learn that in the arl's 
11138absence, the estate had been left in far more troubling hands. 
11139
11140The Hard Line 
11141
11142I remember... 
11143The soldiers called their group the Hard Line, and it was not unearned. 
11144They were freeholders sworn to one Harwen Raleigh, a noble who had 
11145distinguished himself during the Orlais-Ferelden conflict. But they ended 
11146the war in disgrace, and their patron was even denied the return of his 
11147title and land. I knew nothing of this at the time. I would come to regret it 
11148later. 
11149
11150War Journal, Revised 
11151
11152I remember... 
11153Had my younger self cared, I'd have seen that early in the war journal the 
11154Hard Line were highly praised, but after their patron's land was lost, they 
11155were censured by King Maric directly for brutal treatment of prisoners. 
11156Their patron being Harwen Raleigh, whose latest request to forcibly 
11157retrieve his territory had been denied. But they were distant problems, 
11158and not mine to worry about. 
11159
11160Harwen Raleigh's Personal Journal 
11161
11162I remember... 
11163The personal journal of Commander Raleigh was a horrible insight. He 
11164boasted of cruelty far beyond the public accounting. He pined for an 
11165excuse to attack Orlais, to take back his lost land. It was easy to imagine 
11166how clinging to such hatred would poison a man. But I could not know 
11167how this stranger's private war would collide with my love for Marjolaine.
11168
11169Marjolaine 
11170
11171I remember... 
11172Marjolaine commanded fear, respect, and a high price. She was the 
11173Orlesian aristocracy's answer when the next step in a rivalry was to end it.
11174And she was everything I wanted to be. She never spoke of herself, never 
11175gave hints of who she was away from the game, but she always seemed to
11176know how to captivate us. She was a mentor, not a leader. She suggested, 
11177and others grew wealthy in her shadow. 
11178
11179At the time I only casually noted that Marjolaine's satchel held just the 
11180bare essentials for travel. It was barren of anything even remotely 
11181sentimental. 
11182
11183Sketch 
11184
11185I remember... 
11186I met Sketch in Val Royeaux, but he had spent so much of his life hiding 
11187among immigrants and smugglers he lacked the connection, resentment, 
11188and even accent of other city elves. His primary concerns were 
11189persecution as a mage, not an elf. He was not the bardic type, but I 
11190suppose the game was more forgiving than the templars. 
11191
11192I remember his books. Not unexpected for a mage, but most were mere 
11193distraction--the thinnest pulp of history. The only proper "mage tome" 
11194was a volume of Philosophy and Ethics Regarding the Manipulation of 
11195Summoned Creatures, which he owned because it was large. He was slowly 
11196covering every page with little preoccupied scribbles, as though the text 
11197wasn't even there. 
11198
11199Tug 
11200
11201I remember... 
11202Tug. Tug was a dwarf with few words for strangers, and choice words for 
11203friends. He was a strange fit in Orlais, but he never offered a reason for 
11204why he left his home. I had accepted his company and friendship 
11205knowing he would share what he wanted in his own good time. 
11206
11207He laughed when I first asked about the silk kerchiefs. We'd be in some 
11208noble's vault pocketing gems, and Tug would be rummaging the linens. 
11209They were his practical luxury, because "one can never be sure of toiletries
11210while traveling." He once said, far too loudly, that he'd spoiled himself 
11211and "lost his callus," but I suspect that may have been for Sketch's 
11212blanching reaction.
11213
11214 
11215An Introduction 
11216
11217I remember... 
11218A statue of Andraste. There were many, in both Orlais and Ferelden, but I 
11219had never held still long enough to really see one. The Chant of Light 
11220would have put my younger self to sleep, but the beauty and strength of 
11221that figure offered strange comfort. I was too foolish for revelation, but 
11222doubt would bring me back, and there would be no shortage of that.
11223
11224 
11225Silas
11226
11227I remember... 
11228Silas Corthwaite was an odd one. He eagerly fell back into the role of 
11229soldier. At the time I assumed he wanted revenge. I would come to see 
11230that he was trying to be the example that Raleigh had spoiled. I'm not sure
11231Silas even realized he was doing it. Eventually I would feel a sad kinship--
11232Marjolaine had offended my profession in a similar way. 
11233
11234Silas had been stripped of everything, so he had nothing personal to show
11235his nature. But there was something about the way he looked at the 
11236trappings of the Chantry, especially the candles. He was a stranger there, 
11237like me, but as a Fereldan, he was not so far from home. It was important 
11238that everything be "just right," not because he believed, but because 
11239someone believed. I found that charming.