Neria Surana is woken in the middle of the night by one of the senior enchanters of the Circle of Magi and told to head to the Harrowing chamber. The Harrowing Chamber? It's time for my Harrowing, then. She gets up and walks up several flights of stairs until she reaches the chamber, which is located at the very top of the Tower of Magi. She looks around and sees Templar guards all around the perimeter and a small pedestal, with a substance that brightly glows blue on it, in the center. Lyrium.
"Come forth, Apprentice Neria," First Enchanter Irving says, beckoning her.
She walks toward him and sees Knight-Commander Greagoir standing near him. She never really liked Greagoir. He always seemed a little hostile towards her and her best friend, Solona Amell. Even more-so to Jowan, who had been an apprentice longer than either of them.
First Enchanter Irving explains what is to happen and how Neria is to succeed with her Harrowing. "Do not worry, child," he says. "I have faith in you." He gives her a wink, which not only calms her down, but bolsters her confidence.
"Irving, quit stalling," Greagoir commands. "She needs to focus."
Neria gives Greagoir a quick glare before slowly approaching the pedestal. When she reaches it, she stops and touches the lyrium with her finger tips, which launches her into the Fade.
Solona Amell is woken in the middle of the night by a senior enchanter, who tells her to head to the Harrowing chamber.
"But, it's the middle of the night…" she responds, yawning.
"I know," he responds. "But, you must wake up. You do want to become a mage, don't you?"
"Of course… I do," she says, still yawning.
"Then get up and head to the Harrowing chamber. Must I carry you?"
"No, no. I'm going."
She gets up and walks up a few floors and arrives at the chamber. She sees one of the Templar guards carrying Neria away from a pedestal in the middle of the room and she almost rushes out to the guard. Irving walks up to her and places a comforting hand on her shoulder. He always was nice to us. He's almost like a grandfather to me.
"Is she…?" Solona asks, worried about her best friend.
"She is fine, Solona," Irving responds. "The guard is simply taking her to her bed so she can rest."
"Good. She's like a sister to me you know."
"I can see that," Irving responds with a chuckle. "I'm sure she feels the same way."
"We haven't got all night, Irving," Greagoir states. "Let's get started already."
Solona glares at Greagoir while Irving explains the Harrowing, emphasizing the dangers because he knows that Solona can be careless at times.
"Are you ready?" he asks her.
"Yes. I am," she responds.
"Then approach the pedestal."
Solona slowly approaches the pedestal. She reaches it and, hesitatingly, dips her fingers into the lyrium, throwing her into the Fade.
The next morning, Neria wakes up to Jowan sitting next to her bed.
"Hey, Neria. Good morning," he greets.
"Didn't I tell you not to watch me when I'm sleeping?"
"Sorry, but I heard that you and Solona had your Harrowings last night and I wanted to ask you about it."
"Why me? Why not Solona?"
"Are you joking? You know what she's like in the morning. Besides, I wasn't sure she would even tell me about it."
"Sorry, but you know I can't talk about it either."
"And here I thought we were friends…"
"We are. I just can't tell you about my Harrowing."
"Ugh, this is so frustrating. I've been here longer than either of you and I'm still an apprentice."
"Don't worry. Besides, I'm sure that me and Solona will get a bunch of duties today, so just enjoy your time being an apprentice."
"I don't enjoy it, though. I hate it."
"Just make the most of it."
"Easy for you to say. You're a mage now."
"That doesn't mean that you won't be. Who knows? Your Harrowing might be tonight, for all we know."
"I… guess that's true. Thanks, I guess."
"You're welcome. Anything else you wanted to talk about?"
"Uh… oh, right. The first enchanter wants to see you and Solona in his quarters."
"Why?"
"I don't know. He didn't tell me. I saw Greagoir walking in as I was leaving. I think he glared at me as I passed him."
"I wouldn't be surprised. He doesn't seem to like mages much."
"Me even less-so."
"That might just be in your head. I guess I should go find Solona."
"Sure. Goodbye Neria."
Jowan leaves and Neria goes to find Solona. She finds her in her bed, fast asleep. Neria walks up to the bed and starts shaking Solona awake.
"Ugh… What now?" Solona asks with a yawn, annoyed.
"Irving wants to see us," Neria informs.
"Can't he wait? I'm tired…"
"Why are you always so difficult in the morning?
"Argh… fine."
Solona gets out of her bed and punches Neria in the arm.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Waking me up. Let's go talk to Irving."
Neria and Solona head up one floor and go to First Enchanter Irving's quarters, where they see Irving, Greagoir, and another older man standing. The man looks heavily armed.
"Ah. There they are," Irving announces.
"So these are the two young women who completed their Harrowings last night," says the armed man. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Duncan of the Grey Wardens."
"A Grey Warden?" Neria asks. "Why are you here?"
"Duncan is here asking for mages to bring with him to Ostagar," Irving explains. "There is a horde of darkspawn in the Korcari Wilds that might be large enough to attack Ferelden, if left unchecked."
"And we are not sending any more mages there!" Greagoir states. "You don't need them, Duncan.
"Yes we do, Greagoir," Duncan responds. "We were only given seven mages. We need at least one mage per contingent to fight the darkspawn."
"And what happens if they decide that they don't want to go back?"
"Greagoir, Duncan is right," Irving responds. "I will hand-pick the mages we send to Ostagar, if it will make you feel better."
"Argh, fine."
Greagoir turns and storms out of the room, almost knocking Neria and Solona out of the way.
"He could have said 'Excuse me,'" Solona snorts.
"I doubt he wouldn't do the same to any other mage," Neria responds. "You wanted to see us, First Enchanter?"
"Yes," Irving responds. "I wanted to congratulate the both of you on passing your Harrowings."
"Thank you, First Enchanter."
"I also wanted to give you two these." Irving holds out two sets of robes and two staffs, one of each for Neria and Solona.
"Wow! My first staff!" Solona squeals with delight, taking one of the staffs.
"And look at the robes! They're so soft!" Neria chimes in excitedly, taking one of the sets of robes.
"My, my. Aren't we excited?" Irving says, chuckling. He hands Solona her robes and Neria her staff. "I expect that you will both be working hard from now on?"
"Yes, First Enchanter," Neria responds.
"Huh…? Oh! Yes, First Enchanter," Solona responds hurriedly, fascinated by her staff.
"Uh, First Enchanter?" Neria asks. "May I ask Duncan a question?"
"Go ahead," Duncan responds. "I'd be happy to answer any questions you have."
"Ok, well, are you, uh, recruiting?"
"Well, my main purpose here is to bring more mages to Ostagar, but the Grey Wardens of Ferelden could always use another member. Especially a mage."
"How would someone be recruited?"
"I would have to see their skills for myself. The Grey Wardens are made up of a variety of backgrounds: From commoner to king. Dwarf, human, or Elf. Sometimes even criminals become Grey Wardens."
"So anyone who is skilled enough can join? Hmm…"
"Neria, you better not be thinking what I think you're thinking," Solona warns.
"Don't worry."
"I wasn't, but now I am."
"I can see you two have much to talk about," Irving chuckles. "You may do so after you take Duncan to his room."
"Do you know where it is Duncan?" Neria asks.
"It has been quite some time since I have been in the Tower. I'm afraid that I do not remember," Duncan replies.
"It is on this floor, past the library. Once you have taken Duncan to his room, the day is yours," Irving explains.
"Really?" Solona asks.
"Yes, Solona."
"What are we waiting for?"
Solona and Neria slip their Mage robes over their Apprentice robes and exit Irving's quarters. They walk down the hall until they get to Duncan's room. They enter the room and see a young man sitting in the corner. The young man, clad in chainmail armor with a sword and shield on his back, stands up quickly.
"Welcome back, Duncan," he greets. "And who are these two lovely young women that are with you?"
"Hello Aedan. This is Neria Surana and Solona Amell," Duncan responds, gesturing to Neria and Solona in turn. "They are the two newest mages in the Circle of Magi."
"Hello Neria and Solona. I am Aedan Cousland. Son of Bryce Cousland, the teyrn of Highever," Aedan introduces, with a bow.
"Oh! My lord Cousland!" Solona responds hurriedly, bowing in respect.
"Hello, ser Aedan," Neria responds, nodding her head politely. "I have heard about you from Solona, though now I see that she may have exaggerated your likeness quite a bit."
"How so?" Aedan asks.
"As I recall, she said that you were over six feet in height."
"Ah, she must have been thinking of my brother. What else did she exaggerate?"
"She said something about you having a-"
"Quiet!" Solona yells at Neria in a near panic.
"Looks like someone has a secret or two," Aedan responds with a chuckle.
"Don't we all?" Neria asks.
"How very true."
"Are you a Grey Warden?"
"Not officially, no. I'm still just a recruit."
"That's more than most can say."
"That's true as well. You are very wise for someone so young."
"Thank you."
"Excuse us ladies, but Aedan and I need to talk in private," Duncan says politely.
"Of course. Farewell."
"It was a pleasure to meet you, my lord," Solona says walking backward into the hall, head bowed.
"The pleasure was mine," Aedan responds. "Farewell."
Neria and Solona exit Duncan's room, closing the door behind them. Solona starts glaring at Neria as soon as the door shuts completely.
"What?" Neria asks.
"You embarrassed me in front of Aedan Cousland!" Solona yells.
"I think you did that on your own. 'Oh! My lord Cousland!'"
"Hey! At least I showed him proper respect."
"By nearly kissing his boots? I think you went a little too far with your 'respect' on him."
"Why you-"
"Psst. Neria. Over here," Jowan says from around the corner.
"Jowan? What is it ?" Neria responds.
"Come here. I need your help."
"Help with what?" Solona asks, almost forgetting her recent argument with Neria.
"I just want Neria to help. No offense, Solona."
"Fine. I'll be in the library if you need me." Solona turns and walks away towards the library while Neria walks toward Jowan, cautiously.
"What's wrong Jowan?" Neria asks.
"Not here. Follow me and I'll tell you."
"Uh… Ok…"
They walk into the Tower's prayer hall and head to a corner with an initiate standing there, waiting.
"Who's that?" Neria asks.
"Do you remember when I told you that I… met someone? This is she," Jowan responds.
"Solona thought you were lying. Good for you."
"Thank you. You remember when I told you that I never wanted to become Tranquil, correct?"
"Yes. Why would you… Oh. I see. How do you know?"
"I saw the documents on Greagoir's desk," Lily explains. "Irving's signature was on them."
"Why would they want to make you Tranquil?"
"There are… rumors, about me being a blood mage," Jowan admits.
"A blood mage? I hate to ask but, are those rumors true?"
"No! Of course not. But it's not safe for me to stay in the Tower anymore."
"So you plan on running away? What about your phylactery?"
"We have to destroy it. Lily can get us in, but there's a problem."
"There is a door that has two locks," Lily explains. "Irving and Greagoir each have one."
"So we have to break it down?" Neria asks. "Don't you think that the door would be protected from magic? It doesn't make sense to lock away something from a mage using a simple key."
"The door itself might be, but the locks themselves may be melted," Jowan states.
"So a rod of fire? I'm not sure if Owain would give me one."
"Why not? You're a full-fledged mage now. Solona too."
"Hmm… Maybe I could convince Solona to help."
"Why? She doesn't like me much. I don't think she would want to help anyway."
"I'll convince her. Besides, she's in the library. Maybe she found something that could help us."
"Alright, alright. Please hurry though."
Neria turns and leaves the prayer hall. After walking down the hall and into the library, she sees Solona talking with Senior Enchanter Leorah. Neria waits until they are finished before walking over to Solona.
"Hey Neria," Solona says. "You done talking to Jowan?"
"Solona. I need your help."
"You too? I just cleared those caves of giant spiders. Maker's breath, I hate those things."
"It's about Jowan. They're going to make him Tranquil."
"Tranquil? Why?"
"People think he might be a blood mage."
"Jowan? A blood mage? I'll believe it when I see it."
"Solona, this is serious. We need to help Jowan escape from the Circle. It's not safe for him anymore."
"You realize that if we help, we'll probably be made Tranquil, right?"
"That's only if we get caught. We need to do this fast."
"Don't you think we could tell Irving? Maybe cancel the Rite of Tranquility?"
"I don't see how that would work considering how he signed for it."
"Blast. Alright, what's the plan?"
"We have to destroy his phylactery before he can escape."
"That means we have to go into the lowest part of the tower."
"Well, we got a way in, but there is a locked door that is likely protected against magic, so we have to get a rod of fire to melt the locks."
"Owain has those in the stockroom, right? We can get one there."
"Good. Let's go."