Author's Note Hey there, mildly interested person! Thanks for clicking. ^^ The first time I finished DA:I and chose mages, I remember deep fascination with the dark future that was the result of Alexius' backfired magic. And I wished the whole game was like that. Dark and desperate, people fighting against horrible odds. So... There it is. Enjoy and let me know what you think!


Prologue

"Inquisitor, the army of templars are at our gates, we have to act now!" Cullen's voice reached a shrill level of pitch that no living soul had ever heard Commander produce. He gazed upon the dozens and dozens of lights that were crawling down the mountain. Lavellan could swear he saw Cullen's lip quivering in utter desperation. Really, he felt about the same type of panic and thus hardly could judge someome else's behaviour. If he could flee, he would be out of here in no time but people depended on his patience and that dependance was the only thing that kept him grounded right now.

"Cullen, just a little longer. We have to see this through. The Elder One," a whirlwhind made by powerful wings carried the rest of Inquisitor's words away, making both him and Cullen shield their faces against biting snow. A mighty roar shook the air and as the snow settled down, only a lone figure remained. Lavellan never saw such creature before. He made sure to read enough about darkspawn both out of personal interest and as was required of him, being the next in line for the role of the Keeper. But reading was one thing and seeing for yourself... The waves of terror, so thick and yet impalpable emitted from where the Elder One was standing. He was tall, skeletal thin and dressed in what probably used to be an old fashioned mage robe. Long fingers ended in sharp black claws that were about the same length as the fingers, if not more. Lavellan absentmindedly acknowledged that the body of the creature was partly covered in armor, that seemed to be fused with his skin, in places. But that was not the most disturbing part. The eyes... Human eyes on a darkspawn. Sentient and full of disdain they stared right back at him, making The Inquisitor shudder and take a step back. A quick glance towards the trebuchet told Lavellan that Cullen was in position.

"You are the one they call the Herald of Andraste," it was not a question. A statement full of disgust, as if The Elder One was looking at a roach. "Sent by the Maker to save the world from its certain doom. The Maker that had never existed."

"You speak bold words but where is your proof?"Lavellan was fighting against the wish to just turn away and run. The aura of terror the darkspawn was emitting pounded on his subconscious like a fine dwarven hammer on an anvil.

"I am the proof!" the creature barked and the next moment disappeared, just to reappear next to Lavellan and grab him by the hand that had the Anchor on it. Pain shot through his arm, making the elf cringe for a moment. "I've been to your 'Golden City', I've seen the seat of your Maker. The desolation ruled it, dead whispers in the wind."

The Elder One lifted Lavellan in the air, an almost amused expression in his eyes as the small elf struggled to get free. The Anchor seemed to bristle in the presense of the Elder One, sending waves of pain through Lavellan's body, its green sparkles reflecting in the unsettling human eyes of the darkspawn.

"You stole something of mine, thief. Your intervention was costly but I have way around it. You will not live to see your world burn."

Clawed hand clutched his neck tightly, making the Inquisitor gasp for breath.

"Why... are... you... doing this..."

"Because I can."

The world started fading away rapidly, its colours darkening by the second and the sounds of battle floating further and further away.

"No!"

The familiar sound of trebuchet's release mechanism. A furious growl and then a feeling of being tossed into the air. A shriek of some big creature and a sound of mighty wings disappearing in the distance. Cullen's face. Somebody is dragging him away. And then another sound - a deafening roar of the avalanche coming down the mountain, destroying Red Templars, destroying Haven, destroying everything.

So cold...