(Author Notes: This is a short continuation/sequelly thing to All Roads Lead to Denerim, but, honestly, you probably don't need to read ARLD to make sense of it... a working knowledge of DAO: Awakening is probably more important. If you haven't read ARLD (it is loooong), it may help to know that the predecessor was an all-origins Origins story.
Note that this is just going to be a quick little thing before I start posting the bigger sequelly projects. So just sit back and have a little fun with this one. :) )
1. Re: Arrival
To: Weisshaupt, Anderfels
First Warden,
The investigation in Amaranthine is well underway. The remaining Wardens of Ferelden have been most cooperative. However, they have been no more able to shed light on the incident than we.
With the help of the Warden-Captain, we have been able to gain access to the Warden-Commander's personal study. The following is the stack of letters addressed to Commander Cousland found within. They are all personal correspondences—kept separate from his business letters—and the stack had apparently been recently upset before the office was locked to all trespassers. Perhaps if the archivists were to study these documents, they might reveal some clues to the nature of Warden-Commander Cousland's sudden, mysterious disappearance.
I remain, as always, your servant.
-Investigator Garton
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From the desk of his royal majesty, Alistair Theirin, King of Ferelden.
To Warden-Commander Percival Cousland, Arl of Amaranthine
Dear Warden-Commander,
We, the Crown of Ferelden, would like to formally congratulate you on your recent acquisition of the Arling of Amaranthine, as a reward for services rendered during the Blight. We would like to apologize for the state of siege Vigil's Keep was under upon your arrival, and ensure you that We will be sending Ferelden's best and brightest to aid in repairs.
We, the Crown, would also like to request that, in the future, you not place Our royal person in a position where We must choose between honoring the Right of Conscription or granting the Templar Order their right to an escaped apostate... particularly if said apostate is standing three feet behind you and making faces at the Templar representative. We also find his subsequent bout of dancing and singing inappropriate, and not the least bit amusing, or so our Lady Queen advises.
We hope this letter finds you and your recruits well. We look forward to hearing about your recruits' progress, and humbly suggest that you make Oghren's Joining brew extra strong. He'll probably enjoy it more that way.
Regards,
King Alistair
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Commander Pretty-boy:
So let me get this straight... the old man's a Warden? One min while I laugh my ass off.
Ok. Trust me, I laughed for a while there. Still going a little, too.
But you know what's even funnier? You're holding the esteemed scrawlings of Orzammar's newest Paragon. Yeah, they fast-tracked it right through the Assembly. Apparently, my little perimeter of traps is just that awesome.
Things are crazy down here. They keep trying to give me an army to lead into the Deep Roads. I keep telling them I don't want no sodding army, but the dumbasses don't believe me. I think Bhelen's egging them on. Blighter never did forgive me for the whole "throw them both into to Proving arena" thing. Don't know why he's complaining... his PR couldn't be better because of it!
Now, onto business, I guess. What's that you wrote about talking darkspawn? Do I wanna know?
I ain't seen anything like that over here, so I got to figure it's localized on you. Should be some Legion groups in your area... might be they've seen something. Ask them if you see them.
I'm heading out into the Deep Roads soon (no sodding army, just a couple skilled specialists!), so don't do anything exciting for a couple weeks, eh?
Garott Brosca, Paragon of Badassness
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To Percival Cousland, Warden-Commander of Ferelden, Vigil's Keep, Amaranthine
From Felicity Amell, Kinloch Hold
Dear Percival,
It was nice to hear from you. How are you faring? How is Oghren taking to the Taint? Or Anders for that matter? I can't imagine either is easy to handle.
As to your question, no, I've never read anything about talking darkspawn. Most curious. How intelligent would you gauge it, approximately? Child-level? Or adult? Or should we perhaps be concerned about hyper-intelligent darkspawn, Maker forbid?
I'm scouring the library here and sending inquiries to Weisshaupt. If there is information to be had on this matter, we will find it. In the meantime, be alert. The lack of song may indicate that there is no active archdemon, but the hive mentality of the darkspawn would indicate that there is likely a powerful one directing them from the shadows. Keep me updated, and I shall do the same.
As to your other question... no, we have not heard anything about her. You should take this as a good thing: the Templars are aware of her existence, but they have been unable to track her whereabouts at all. Wherever she is, she's free, and likely happier for it.
Take care of yourself, Percival. If you do not, I am not above marching up there to correct it. And I doubt that's something any of you want.
Sincerely, Felicity