Dragon Age: Origins – Circle Mage
Forbidden Love and Magic

The Harrowing

It is said that little can be remembered from a transition into the Fade. For mages, the realm of dreams is the realm of dreams as it is to normal humans but there is a difference; they are aware. In the Fade, laws of nature do not necessarily exist. They would only exist if you willed them to exist, in here a mage could unleash all of their power for there is no limit to the possibilities, as long as your willpower is strong enough you could become akin to a God. Unfortunately, such pride was what caused the Mages of the Tevinter Imperium, an ancient peoples, downfall. It was caused the Maker of the world to cast out these Mages and bring upon what were known as Darkspawn. It is this pride that destroyed the mage's chance of a normal life and caused them all to be bound in a tower, to which they would forever be subjugated to.

Upon arrival, Sabrina stood in a desolate plane. Faint ruins of some sort of building surrounded her, the same object that brought her here stood in front of her, minus the glowing lyrium, and in the corner was an odd looking statue. She took a deep breath and began her journey forwards, keeping her eye out for danger. There.
A first test; could she kill a Wisp? A Wisp, is not a particularly powerful creature and was taken down by a frosty spell that Sabrina instantly casted. This technique she used along with an arcane bolt whenever she encountered the annoying little things. She was however, soon stopped by a squeaking rat beneath her feet. 'I'll just set it on fire…' she thought, why not? Had it not been simple enough when she was a child… but no, something was different about this creature. That much became apparent when it spoke.

"You're a talking rat," she stated bluntly "I should have expected as much." The rat suddenly transformed into a human, one that wore robes akin to an apprentice in the tower of Magi.
"Allow me to welcome you to the Fade. You can call me, well, Mouse."
"Not your real name, I take it?"
"No… I don't remember anything from… before." His shoulders slumped and he looked downwards.
"What are you doing here?"
"Me? I was once like you… it isn't right that they do this, the Templars, not to me, not to you, not to anyone."
"You were an apprentice then, at the circle? Taking your Harrowing?"
"I was. You see, the Templars don't give you much time… if you take too long they think you're compromised and slay you, not wanting to risk an abomination getting out."
Sabrina gulped. She had not thought of this as a possibility. Surely… they had chosen Him to do the killing, he would not act just because they felt she had taken too long? But what if they did? After all, he was a Templar first and foremost.
"Then how are you still here?" She asked, shaking away her uncertainty.
"I'm trapped here, in the Fade. I've no body to go back to."
"Are there others like you?"
"Yes, there must be, but it is not an easy life here in the Fade. You wander, aimlessly, no point to life… there are some corners where the shadows go on forever. It is easier to hide and be forgotten, be insignificant."
'What a terrible life – if you can even call it that.' Sabrina thought.
"Do you want… to die?" She asked nervously, how horrible could this place be?
"I… I… don't know… I think you should finish your Harrowing, before it's too late."

To that, Mouse had a point. If what he said he was true, then she must continue quickly. Besides, the less time in this place, the better. Even if it was a place you could unleash your true power, she didn't want to do so in the company of demons lurking in every corner. It seemed Mouse was following her, back in his rat form. She thought he looked far more like a rat than a mouse – mice aren't that big. Following the desolate path Sabrina encountered some more wisps; they were defeated just as easily, falling prey to the same spells.
Then she came across a strange site, something with the presence of power but it wasn't a demon, or was it? It glowed an eerie white but there was a sense of serenity at the same time, something also told Sabrina that whatever this creature was, good or evil, it was to be respected.

"Another mortal thrown into the flames I see. Your mages have devised a cowardly test. Better you were pitted against each other to prove your mettle with skill, than to be sent unarmed against a demon."
"I agree, but I didn't have a choice." Sabrina sighed. Nobody had a choice, not unless you wanted to be branded with lyrium on your forehead and made Tranquil – ripped of all emotions and anything human. No, it was better to take the chance of living than be practically dead. The spirit prattled on, he seemed somewhat fulfilled with honour about battle, and the question Sabrina asked seemed pointless as she already knew the answer but she went along with her curiosity anyway.
"What kind of spirit are you?"
"I am Valour, a warrior spirit. I hone my weapons in the search of a perfect expression of combat."
"Did you create all these weapons?" She asked, staring at the floating objects around the spirit, different types of swords, staves and axes.
"These weapons are brought into being by my will…" he began, spinning a comment on how non magical mortals must lead such hollow and empty lives. He would not understand mortals, as mortals would not understand him.
"Would one of these weapons affect the demon?"
"Without a doubt! Everything brought into this world is an expression of a thought. Do you truly desire one of my weapons? I will give one to you… if you agree to duel me, first. Valour shall test your mettle as it should be tested." The spirit spoke, straightening his posture with determination.

A frown spread across Sabrina's forehead, followed by a pout. She was deep in thought. It would be unwise to insult to the spirit, it seemed he would prefer to kill her himself, he was certainly capable.
However, if she failed in this duel she would die, or goodness knows what, perhaps end up like Mouse? Maybe that was what really happened to him. Then again… if she couldn't defeat something that was based upon morals and would undoubtedly let her proceed if she won, she certainly couldn't defeat a demon.
"I agree to your duel, Valour."
"As you wish, mortal. Our duel begins now, fight with valour!" he screamed and pulled out his willed swords. Sabrina possessed no such weapon, nor did she have any armour to protect her. She was uncertain if willing his creations to be harmless would allow no pain to come to her, nor was this the time to test it. Quickly, she froze him with frost and then cast an arcane bolt. Not much else was left to do; in a frantic fury she pounded at the frozen sculpture, in an attempt to crack it, just bloodying her knuckles in the process. Unfortunately, the spell wore off – the spirit swung his sword towards her torso yet she dodged, but this put her at a bad place to hit back and his next attack snagged her ribs. She cried out in pain but cast another arcane bolt at him just as he put another deep gash into her arm.

"Enough. Your strength is sufficient to the task. The staff is yours."
"Thank you…" she panted and held her uninjured arm over her wounds, casting a quick healing spell. She hoped no scars would be present then she remembered; in the real world she must have just twitched, if that. A sudden thought swelled up inside of her uncomfortably – what if He saw her in pain? Would he be able to stand like a rigid statue? 'No, now is not the time to be concerned for His well being. Concentrate on your test.'
"May you find glory in all your achievements, mortal." The spirit bowed and handed her a beautifully carved stave with the necks of dragons twisting and holding a sphere of gold between their mouths. She felt the power within it and slid it on a strap on the back of her robes. Bowing to the spirit she continued on. This would not be enough.
"Be cautious, there is another spirit here…" Mouse squeaked.
True to his word, before Sabrina laid a fat, blood covered and spiked bear. This… was surely a demon.

"So… you are the one being hunted. And what about the small one… is he to be… a snack, for me?" The giant bear rose up from its slumber and bore its beady red eyes into the Mage.
"I don't like this, he's not going to help us… we should go." Mouse cowered behind Sabrina in his human form. The demon sniffed.
"No matter; the demon will get you eventually and perhaps… there will even be scraps left."
"Are you… here to help me?" Sabrina asked hesitantly, then frowned at herself and stood up tall.
"Help you?" The demon giggled a vicious sound out, "Nothing… can help you. Begone! Surely you have better things to do than bother Sloth, mortal. I tire of you already."
"I need help defeating a demon." Sabrina stammered. The demon was not an immediate threat to her but it still possessed a presence, one which she strangely respected despite it was a demon of sloth; laziness.
"You… have, a very nice, staff… go, use your weapons if you must. You after all "earned" it… go," the demon yawned, "be valorous."
"He looks powerful… perhaps he could teach you to be like him." Mouse said, behind Sabrina's shoulder.
"Teach the mortal… to be like me? Why? Most mortals are too attached to their own forms… you on the other hand, little one, might be… a better student." The bear yawned again, stretching on the ground.
"I… don't think I'd make a very good bear. How would I hide?" he said, cowering behind Sabrina's shoulder again. She covered her face with her palm, Mouse was such a coward.
"You could help me fight the demon." She said hopefully.
"True… I am very powerful in this form, when I wish to be…" the demon grumbled. After much mumbling, Mouse finally agreed to be taught how to turn into the sloth demon's form, sadly the sloth demon took after its name. "That's… very nice, however teaching is so… tiresome." He yawned and tried to go back to sleep.
"I told you he wasn't going to help us." Mouse sighed. Sabrina took a deep breath and held her head high, summoning all her courage she spat out the only thing she could.
"Mouse wants to learn. Teach him." She demanded and stared into the demons eyes, her own filled with fear but she held her ground.
"You wish to learn my form, little one? Very well, then… I have a… challenge, for your friend. Answer three riddles correctly and I will teach you. Fail, and I will devour you both. The decision is yours." The sloth demon looked up cheekily to Sabrina. She gulped. This was the Harrowing after all, it required Valour and now logic and bravery. She supposed the last test would be willpower and skill – that would be the fighting of the demon. She was no use to the world if she couldn't answer mere riddles. 'Bring it on.' She thought.

"I accept your challenge, Sloth." She said bravely and focused her mind.
"Really? This gets… more and more promising, my first riddle is this: I have seas with no water, coasts with no sand, towns without people, mountains without land. What am I?"
"A map?" She said hopefully.
"Hmm… yes… correct, let's… move on. The second riddle: I'm rarely touched, but often held. If you have wit… you'll use me well. What am I?"
"My tongue?"
"Yes, your witty… tongue. Let's try another, shall we? Often will I spin a tale, never will I charge a fee. I'll amuse you an entire eve, but, alas, you won't remember me. What am I?" the Sloth said grumpily.
"A dream." Sabrina, now filled with confidence, beamed as the Sloth nodded his head with annoyance.
"Very well then, I shall teach you… my form. Listen, carefully." He muttered and began instructing Mouse. Eventually Mouse had turned into a giant black bear – not quite as fearsome as the blood and spike covered demon but a bear all the same. "Close, enough…"
"Am I a… bear? It feels… heavy." Mouse blinked.
"Good now, be gone with you. I grow tired of your mortal prattling…" the sloth slumbered down into a deep sleep, intent on ignoring anything else Sabrina and Mouse had to say.
"Onwards then… to the demon." She took a deep breath and with the lumbering bear next to her, began her journey.

Sabrina passed by the spirit of Valour, being interrupted by another pack of ghostly wolves – they were no match for her now though and Mouse in his new form took them down rather quickly too. She grew weary and began to walk towards the platform filled with fire and smoke more carefully, preparing her mind for the worst.
"And there is a spirit of rage…" Mouse growled. A spirit of rage? Surely a demon of rage would be more suitable. The demon was hardly a spirit – it did not posses any benevolent feelings, only rage. Perhaps greed as well, though she could argue all demons possessed greed, wanting to see her world through her eyes. The thought… was a terrifying one. However, this test was to prove her worth and so battle the demon, she must. Mouse's words must have been a slip of the tongue. The monstrosity before her was like liquid flame carved into an ugly form with bony arms and claws.

"And so it comes to me at last! Soon I shall see the land of the living with your eyes, creature. You shall be mine, body and soul." It gargled with flame and cackled with confidence. Strangely, Sabrina found it easier to stand up to this monstrosity, perhaps because the sloth demon was more frightful… because that had at least intelligence. This demon did not contain quite as much.
"If I lose, the Templars will still cut you down." She stated tauntingly.
"They are welcome to try! So Mouse, this is another plaything you have brought to our arrangement…" it hissed. Sabrina frowned and turned to face Mouse with confusion.
"I'm not offering you anything; I don't have to help you anymore!"
"Hahaha! But what about all those wonderful meals we have shared? Suddenly the Mouse has changed the rules?"
"I'm not a mouse anymore; I don't need to bargain with you!"
"We shall see!" growled the angered demon. Sabrina was startled as wisps appeared around her, Mouse turned back into a bear and pounded at the demon. She cast a frosty spell upon it, it was fire surely it would be far less resistant to ice? Then, she decided to be rid of the wisps – they were pesky things in the way. She kept an eye on both of their health states, healing them in times of need and not before long the demon… had perished. That was far easier than getting the means to kill it…

"You did it! You actually did it! When you came, I hoped that maybe you might be able to… but I never really thought any of you were worthy." Mouse beamed at Sabrina who looked at him with cold eyes. He had almost betrayed her. In fact, he had betrayed her, for he had betrayed her kin, other mages, his own kind! Just to survive, in this wretched place, who would do that? The guilt, was it on his mind? It was almost inhuman…
"The ones you betrayed before me. What were their names?" she asked menacingly.
"Wha… they were never really as promising as you. I don't remember their names; I don't even remember my own name. It's the Fade, and the Templars killing me, like they tried with you." Mouse said shakily. He was lying, she could tell. The Fade, the Fade, the Fade. He blamed everything on the Fade and the Templars… what was it he had said? They "tried" with her? They hadn't tried to kill her as of yet, not that she knew of. Also, the demon was dead, why was she still here? It had not been that long surely? She didn't even trust mouse now… perhaps he lied; in fact… he was very suspicious. What if… no, it couldn't be?
"So what is it that you think you can get from me?" she asked quickly.

"You defeated a demon! You passed your test! In time, you will be a master enchanter with no equal… and perhaps there's hope in that for someone as small and forgotten as me, if you want to help. There may be a way for me to leave here, to get a foothold outside. You just need to want to… let me in." Mouse looked hungrily at Sabrina. She had been right… he was not an apprentice. He was a demon. A viciously clever one at that, far more frightening than any sloth creature… oh he knew a lot and no doubt was used over and over again, hoping that one day a mage would be strong enough to take down the Templars awaiting him and all that power for him to have…
"I'm starting to the think the other demon wasn't my test."
"What? What are you…? What else could hope to harm a mage of your potential…" Mouse suddenly changed his expression, "You are a smart one…" he said clearly, in a voice not his own. Suddenly it turned deep and thundering "Simple killing is a warrior's job, in the Fade there are dangers such as careless trust… Pride." Suddenly, Mouse turned into a flash of light and rose to great heights, his form changed in a twisted and menacing manner. Sabrina looked upwards her mouth hanging open in awe and fear.

"Keep your wits about you, mage. True tests… never end."