Thanks for deciding to spend some of your precious time reading ACTD...I hope you find it worth it!
Update
04October2010 - made a companion collection that focuses more on Devona and her experiences in the ACTD world called Always Comes the Spring
What ACTD is: An AU of the Blight Timeline, simply put. You'll recognize the characters, the places, even some of the goals...but you *will not* recognize the results. A lofty goal, I know...and I hope I'll be able to succeed! *crosses fingers* Basically, by the time this story ends I want to have a completely different...mm...political structure in Ferelden, but to have done so in a way that makes sense. :) As an aside, I will be trying to include all the origins characters in this story as well...just gotta hope they can make it without Duncan rescuing them...And I think thats about it.
Oh, as an AU of the Blight timeline, do not read this if you do not want spoilers of DA:O. I also make references to information found in the books by DG and some of the DLC and Awakening (I might include more if I can ever finish it...) So basically, if you don't like spoilers of any kind, please take a step away, absorb yourself in the DA universe, then come back and enjoy the crazy castles I've build in BW's fantastic DA sandbox.
So, this story is getting kinda long, so I thought I would make it easier for anyone new who comes along and doesn't want to read maker-knows-how-many-words-this-is-by-the-time-you-read-it. What follows is a chapter summary of ACTD. Thus it is CHOCK FULL OF STORY SPOILERS. Reader beware!
Some of what I wrote, especially Chapters 2-4 are really close to canon, though reading them is still encouraged for character interaction. However, I know there are different strokes for different folks, so feel free to use this page to find the chapters that sound interesting to yourself. Oh, and leaving reviews is always *strongly* encouraged. Feel free to tell me what you don't like about this story. Or what you like about it. Reviews of any kind make me happy. :) And yes, anon reviews are on.
If you find the idea of a chapter summary useful, I'd appreciate you letting me know because it will help give me the motivation to ensure I update it regularly with my chapter updates...
~V~
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
~V~
B
E
L
O
W
~V~
Prologue Part 1
Details how Artalise, or rather Cyrion Tabris her father found out his daughter was a mage. Tears ensue as Darrian and Cyrion watch their beloved sister and daughter leave the Knight Commander Greagoir. Also, Artalise meets Jowan at Denerim Chantry
Prologue Part 2:
Jowan and Artalise arrive at the Tower, meeting Irving for the first time. Artalise realizes she gets to become a Surana (explanation in chapter) and gets her face inked and hears about a new boy named Anders.
Prologue Part 3:
Artalise enjoys some time with Anders (after enduring a nasty potion he made). Anders eventually makes his first escape from Tower, leaving a broken Artalise behind…but leaving an opening for Cullen.
Chapter 1: Quality Time with Duncan
Artalise has mega shoe trouble and talks with Duncan about why he was in the Tower at the time of her Harrowing. After slicing through a couple Darkspawn he also says something about an elven mage Grey Warden he once knew….
Chapter 2: Old Friends and New
Artalise and Duncan arrive at Ostagar and reunions with friends (mages) takes place. She meets the two other recruits and has an unfortunate run in with a "failed" templar-recruit who mistakes her for an apostate….
Chapter 3: Tension, Trust, and Treaties
Artalise et al go after the treaties and vials of blood. Guess who they meet in the Wilds?
Chapter 4: Ritual and Return
Joining ritual occurs (guess which two recruits die?) and Artalise and Alistair find themselves back at da hut. Too bad the treaties are at Ostagar….
Chapter 5: On Shapeshifting
Plan to get treaties requires Artalise learning to shapeshift. Consider this chapter a treatise on the art of shapeshifting, at least in the ACTD world.
Chapter 6: Return to Ostagar
Morrigan and Artalise return to Ostagar…and they get the treaties though they bring more "friends" back to the camp than Alistair had hoped for.
Chapter 7: Trail to Lothering
Artalise gives Alistair the key to Duncan's chest. The mabari she saved previously shows up. Now there are four.
Chapter 8: Village of Lothering
Group arrives at Lothering…picks up Leliana and lets Sten out of his cage just in time to deal with a group of soldiers loyal to Loghain. Trip in Lothering is very very short. Thank the Maker!
Chapter 9: Desperate Times:
The party meets everyone's favorite father and adopted son merchant duo, whom they save from a darkspawn attack. Much gossip ensues and they realize that there is trouble in Redcliffe….
Chapter 10: Call For:
Group arrives at Redcliffe, and instead of waiting for sunset to fall so they can be attacked, group goes into castle via secret passage to try to stop the attack from taking place. Artalise is surprised to meet Jowan.
Chapter 11: Desperate Measures
They arrive in Redcliffe Castle proper and realize the nature of the threat facing them. They decide to use blood magic – Jowan teaching Morrigan what he knows. Unfortunately for Jowan, he ends up as the sacrifice.
Chapter 12: Darkest Desires
Artalise deals with her choice to sacrifice her bestest friend Jowan and then has to come to terms with her secretest of desires. Knowledge.
Chapter 13: Blood and Flowers
Artalise starts writing with her own blood on the walls (making deals with demons can backfire…) in a strange language that Morrigan dutifully copies down. Teagan gives Alistair some kind advice about how Artalise is pretty and if he doesn't make a move soon, someone else will. Artalise wakes up and is freaked out by her scars and is told by Morrigan what happened. Alistair left her flowers on desk.
Chapter 14: An Army of Asses
Alistair and Artalise exchange stories of how they were recruited by Duncan on their way to the Circle by boat to get a healer for the unconscious Eamon/get help via treaty. They meet up with Wynne who insists on coming with them. Oak gets left behind to protect children.
Chapter 15: Broken Circle, Broken Heart
Artalise is shocked to meet up with Anders (who is grieving over the death of Mr. Wiggums) in the Circle prison. She lets him go. When they reach FE Irvings office, Wynne gets her panties all up in a bunch when Artalise searches it for a grimoire Morrigan mentioned might be there. Artalise shuts her down with help from Alistair. Then she meets up with the very same desire demon she convinced to leave Connor…so she lets demon go with possessed templar. Then she comes up with a lie to party members as to how demon knew who she was…and what deal was struck. Ends with Uldred dead in harrowing chamber and a crazed templar running straight at Artalise muttering Chantry verses.
Chapter 16: Realization
Cullen gets shut down by Leliana and Alistair. Artalise wakes up and meets with both FE Irving and old friend Leorah. Realizes that the script she had written in her own blood was Elvish…
Chapter 17: Priorities
Leorah and Circle elves present Artalise with book on how to read Elvish (for dummies) and also present her with Archon robes, which Artalise's mentor, Enchanter Iona, had been waiting to wear for the time when she could finally meet the Dalish. Terrance, Circle elf, questions Artalise's decision to go after Urn when there is a blight still happening. Artalise returns to Redcliffe, only to undergo metamorphosis into Morrigan elven servant as the GW party decides to go undercover to Denerim as merchants, and they get to bring along some migrants as well! Artalise realizes how sucky it is to be an elf, but then meets up with Kaitlyn. Yes, that Kaitlyn.
Chapter 18: Darkspawn and Decisions
Darkspawn attack camp. Artalise tells Kaitlyn and Bevin to go off into woods with Oak protecting them. After making sure rest of migrants A-OK, Artalise goes to find K&B to find them under attack by 2 genlocks. After killing one via fire Oak kills the other. Her disguise as a simple elven servant is now broken, but Bevin thinks her being a mage is, simply put, awesome.
Chapter 19: Failed Deceptions
Artalise says goodbye to K&B and promises to visit them at some point. Artalise gets drunk and completely misses the blonde tattooed elf totally checking her out. Next day they go to Brother Genitivi's house and realize that going after the Urn might not be as simple as it seems…especially if there is a strange cult involved. And a dragon. Mustn't forget about the dragon.
Chapter 20: Duty and Loyalty
Artalise and Alistair have a complete falling out over going to the Urn or not. Artalise, Morrigan, Sten, Oak against, Alistair and Leliana for…and Wynne will join their side too. Zevran chats it up with Master Ignacio over the ethics of taking out GWs when there is a Blight going on…
Chapter 21: Damsels in Distress
Artalise wakes up in a part of town that she doesn't recognize, with a blonde haired elf she doesn't recognize either! Thankfully, Oak is waiting outside for her and leads her back to the Gnawed Noble Tavern, where Artalise has to put up with Morrigan's disapproval. Kaitlyn shows up and takes Artalise to meet her uncle, Alec, who is leader of the Highever resistance movement. Based on what Kaitlyn has told him, he thinks Artalise can help him rescue the Teyrn Cousland's daughter...but she has to inform him that with only 4 members of her party...that isn't going to happen. He does drop the name of Gorim as someone who can help her in regards to Orzammar. Artalise and crew then set out to find said merchant...Sten finds him first and is most upset that he has Sten's helmet. When Artalise tells him that she is a Grey Warden and is looking to go to Orzammar for a treaty, he seems way too excited and mentions something about saving some woman...
Chapter 22: Gaining Trust
Gorim tells Artalise the tale of Ilda Aeducan and tries to convince her that she should go save her. She is not totally convinced, but basically promises to think about it. Outside of Denerim, a woman runs up and asks for their help. Detecting trouble, they decline...but they realize that something is probably up. So they ambush the ambushers. Now...what to do with Zev?
Chapter 22A: Two Mistakes
Short chapter from Zev's view on the missing scene from the previous chapter - basically his view of the "interrogation" that the Grey Wardens give him after they ambush him and kill his men...and are deciding what to do with him...
Chapter 23: The Resue
Zev and Artalise sneak up to the now empty estate of the Arl of Denerim (due to a staged revolt by some of Alec's men). Zev finds and rescues Devona Cousland (whom, he was shocked to see, has had her eyes burnt out), and brings her back the the surface. Artalise calls Sten to help lift her up quickly, and they run to the cart where Alec and Morrigan wait. Alec is upset to see what they have done to Devona...but eventually she pledges her support to the GWs
