I do not own the characters, ideas, and/or places from either Mass Effect or Dragon Age. They are both owned by Bioware. Any original characters in the story belong to me. Any comparisons to other fan fiction or series characters are entirely coincidental and not intentional.
This is the first true chapter of my new crossover and it is looking like it is going to be a long ride. If you want to imagine what Shepard looks like just take the standard female version from Mass Effect 3 and there you go. Most of the characters from the Mass Effect universe will make an appearance in some way or form in this story alongside many of the dragon age characters as well. Do keep in mind that this story takes place 17 years before the start of Dragon Age: Origins so any of the wardens from Origins and Hawke are still very young and not important to the story as of the moment. So with all that said sit back and enjoy the ride. Read and review and all that.
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Mass Effect: Crusades
Chapter 1: The Graduation in the Rain
9:13 Dragon - Val Royeaux, Orlais
It was the sixth day of Molioris, or Bloomingtide as most people knew it, and it was raining in Val Royeaux. While Orlais may not receive the fierce and dangerous summer storms of Rivain or the freezing winter blizzards that plague Ferelden and the Dales it had its fair share of weather and it consisted of constant rain during the spring.
Despite these miserable conditions several dozen figures could be seen standing at attention in the courtyard of the Grand Cathedral. The Grand Cathedral was the massive and opulent capital and center of the Chantry in Thedas as well as its appointed leader, the Divine. Usually it would be filled to the capacity with both pilgrims and worshippers singing the Chant of Light but on this day the entire courtyard was bare save for the armored figures.
Each man and woman wore identical armor consisting of worn leather pauldrons that extended from their shoulders down their arms, a silverite cuirass emblazoned with a downward pointing burning sword, an ankle-length purple and red battle skirt for maximum mobility and a helm that hid their entire face from view. These people might have been cold and freezing in the rain but they were all there for a reason. After years of training and studying they could finally be called templars.
Standing just off center in the third row was Jeanne Shepard. Shivering from the mixture of rain and wind, her face twitched slightly as a droplet of water cascaded down her red hair and onto the bridge of her nose. As she shook her head to dislodge the annoying liquid her thoughts drifted to the past.
Her name had been a source of much amusement and ridicule from her fellow Orlesians ever since her childhood. It wasn't like she purposefully hid the fact that her name was Ferelden, on the contrary she was quite proud of it. Before Orlais her parents had owned a small plot of land near Highever in Ferelden and made various commodities for the local garrisons during the later years of the occupation by the Orlesians. When Maric started the rebellion in 8.99 Blessed with the help of Dalish arms, her parents feared for their lives when Meghren became more and more obsessed with pacifying the rebelling populous.
As luck would have it she had an uncle in Orlais that happened to work for one of the more powerful noblemen. A quick letter from her parents and her uncle managed to book her family passage on the next available ship to Val Royeaux on the condition that they swear allegiance to the emperor and never return to Ferelden.
Needless to say her parents took up the offer without a second thought and ten days later Jeanne Shepard was a twelve-year old Orlesian.
It wasn't as if she had a problem with Orlais. Sure she knew her parents' stories of the atrocities the Orlesians committed during the occupation and subsequent rebellion but she herself had no personal attachment to any of the places or people her parents mentioned. Of the few memories that have not yet faded with the passage of time, the most vivid consist of huddling inside her house during the harsh, cold winters as snow and ice fell from the sky for days at a time. She could still remember the phrase her father would say whenever the first true frost of the year arrived.
"Winter is coming indeed. I still don't know how he could tell in the middle of Frumentum."
Her life in Orlais was pretty ordinary until six years ago when she decided to become a chevalier after seeing one of their parades passing through the streets. Little did she know the persecution she would face by those also training to be chevaliers. As soon as her name became known, she was immediately ostracized by her fellow chevaliers in training simply for being born in a back-woods barbarian nation.
For some of the noblemen simply ignoring and mocking her wasn't enough. Several of them came from prominent noble families well versed in playing the stupid "Game" that all Orlesians are proud of. They thought that her mere presence was an insult to them and decided to do the best thing for everyone and remove her.
It had happened late one night near the waning days of Frumentum. As the autumn winds chilled the lands and the skies became increasingly overcast, the trainees quickly moved inside to escape from the elements. This gave her much needed space to practice in the now-empty training fields. She was practicing her swordsmanship when four of her fellow chevaliers-in-training walked towards her. Upon first glace she knew immediately they came from the upper noble class and were the type of people to always get what they wanted. As the approached her she saw they had smug and superior looks on their faces.
They might have had a more noble birth but she had a sword. They did not.
When they finally got within talking distance they told her, with no lack of superiority, that a Ferelden, and a woman no less, had no place in being a chevalier and they were there to help her understand her rightful place in society. They must have thought she would cower and beg for mercy because they stupidly came at her unarmed.
Perhaps it was the screams of pain that drew the attention of the instructors. Not even five minutes later several of her instructors ran out onto the field and stared wide-eyed and mouth agape at what had transpired. Three of the boys were on the ground unconscious with severe lacerations and wounds on their arms and legs while the forth was gripping his broken legs and screaming at her about revenge or something. She really didn't care about his threats at that point. It was getting cold and she wanted to get cleaned up.
It was fortunate for her that she didn't get in trouble for disabling her fellow trainees. The next day, while being reprimanded for her uncouth actions, she was told that two of the boys could no longer be chevaliers due to the injuries she inflicted. She really wanted to say that she was hoping all four would be injured that badly but she was already in enough trouble and let it drop.
Several months later, in the early days of spring, she stood proudly as she was knighted a chevalier with distinctions in swordsmanship. Her skills must have impressed someone important because before she had even left the hall where she was knighted several people claiming to be representatives of various noblemen approached her and offered her the chance to pledge fealty to someone of great importance. She was quite tired from the events of the day and politely told them to give her a few days to think about it.
A couple of days later, just as she was about to decide on who to serve, she was approached by the knight-commander of Val Royeaux, Martel. Initially confused at his presence, she found that the knight-commander was there to offer her the rare opportunity to become a templar. He went on to say, to placate her suspicion perhaps, that while templars are usually trained since childhood by the chantry her overall skills would be a great benefit to the order and she would not have to bow down to the nobles of Orlais.
She was grateful that the knight-commander gave her a few days to think about her answer because, truth be told, she wasn't so sure what she wanted to do. Jeanne had always considered herself one of the more moderate Andrastians on Thedas and for someone living in the heartland of the chantry that was saying something. Sure she knew the more popular verses of the Chant of Light and contributed a part of the quarterly stipend to the chantry orphanages but she did not adhere every aspect of her life to Andraste like a lot of people did.
All those reasons made her a potentially bad templar. From what she knew templars were usually picked from chantry orphanages and raised well versed in everything about Andraste including the distrust of magic. It was no surprise that most of them grew up with a severe dislike or even hatred of magic and those who wield it. She did not know what the knight-commander had in mind when he gave her the opportunity to be a templar but she would rather become one that serve as a chevalier to a pompous and immoral nobleman.
A fork of lightning arched across the sky into the Waking Sea to the south and snapped Jeanne out of her memories. Shaking her head to gather her thoughts she took a look around at her fellow templars. As has been the tradition for hundreds of years the majority of them were human. What was interesting was the mixture of elves, quarians and drell scattered throughout, with each race had different reasons for become templars
The elves may not have trusted the humans after the failed Exalted March against them but they did have an understanding of magic. They have had magic for far longer than even the Tevinter Imperium to the north and knew more about the inherent dangers of magic and the signs of blood magic. It was no surprise that all the templars in the sole dalish circle of mages were elves themselves. From what she heard it was the most liberal and free circle in all of Thedas with the mages free to leave and come back whenever they want.
Jeanne always found quarians interesting to talk to and travel with. They never removed their ceremonial outfits or face masks and thus one of the biggest challenges was to successfully convince a quarian to show you their face. Much like the dwarves they were unable to wield magic or enter the Fade and that made them perfect to become templars because there was no risk of being possessed and becoming an abomination.
The two drell she did not know personally. In fact she never even talked to them since they tended to keep to themselves or their studies. From what she was able to find from rumors was that the drell willingly give up their children to the circles when magic is found. Apparently it has something to do with their view of the community over personal attachments.
When a whisper of excitement raced through the initiates Jeanne looked and saw two people walking towards them from the Grand Cathedral. She easily recognized the man as knight-commander Martel but through her helm and the rain she could barely make out his graying features. The woman at his side, looking miserable in the rain despite holding an umbrella to keep her dry was the grand cleric. She had to admit, the grand cleric had managed to age gracefully despite being almost forty years old.
"How many women in Orlais would kill to look that well at her age? I bet a sovereign that some of them would even consort with demons." She mentally chuckled at that last thought. It would give her the perfect excuse to use her templar powers on some of the more…vache girls.
As the voice of the grand cleric reached her ears despite the torrential downpour muffling most sounds Jeanne could tell that she was just as miserable, perhaps even more so, then the templars she was approaching.
"Do you truly require my presence here today knight-commander? You have done this speech for at least a decade now, I believe you are old enough to do so on your own."
"You know as well as I do that it is tradition in Orlais for the grand cleric to give the final words to all the new templars at the end of the commencement," Martel retorted, "Have you merely forgotten or do you simply not want to be outside on such a lovely day?"
The grand cleric glared at Martel, "Very well then. Let us proceed before we all catch a cold."
When the knight-commander stopped several meters away from the initiates Jeanne snapped to attention, her previous fatigue forgotten. Martel paced up and down the rows of templars inspecting each and every one of them.
"I find myself grateful that so many of you have decided to join the templar order in order to curb the influence of magic in the world. For too long has magic and those who wield it been allowed to free range without restrictions. Let us not forget that it was the magisters of Tevinter that corrupted the golden city and brought the darkspawn and blights upon us all."
"We templars stand before that which cannot be seen. Blood mages and apostates walk among us disguised as ordinary people in order to conceal their unholy rituals. You will need to be vigilant and keep both your eyes and ears open for any rumor, any small piece of information that can lead to the arrest of a maleficar."
As he continued with his speech Jeanne couldn't help but be impressed. It was almost as if he memorized it before coming outside.
"While it is true that most of you will be sent to the various circles scattered throughout Thedas your task is no less important. Magic is a gift from the Maker that can and is squandered in the hands of those unworthy or untrained. You will be required to find children showing the gift of magic and escort them to your circle in order for them to train their powers in a safe and secure environment where they will eventually take their harrowing."
Once he finished his speech Martel turned to the grand cleric and motioned forward with his hand, "If you will please do the honors and recite from the Chant of Light."
Nodding briefly, the grand cleric coughed to clear her throat before starting.
Magic exists to serve man, and never to rule over him.
Foul and corrupt are they
Who have taken His gift
And turned it against His children.
They shall be named Maleficar, accursed ones.
They shall find no rest in this world
Or beyond.
Martel waited until the grand cleric finished before speaking again, "While most of you will be sent to the circles to perform your duties there are several among you who have shown the required dedication, skill and devotion to the order to be given special assignments by the knight-divine himself. Please step forward when I announce your name. Renaud Vichiers!"
As the knight-commander went down the list Jeanne rolled her eyes. She knew who each of the names called were. They were all zealous men and women who would rather kill a mage then protect or arrest them, making them perfect for hunting down apostates and blood mages. If that wasn't bad enough several of them had rumors circulating concerning several deaths of people who crossed them in one way or another. The knight-commander wasn't picking these people for their skill; he was picking them for their brutality and utter lack of morals.
"Why did I become a templar again? I certainly didn't do it for the lyrium addiction. Perhaps I will ask to be sent to the Ferelden circle at Lake Calenhad. It might give me the chance to stop by my family's old farm and look for a memento or two. Dad would say let it rest but mom would have really appreciated the gesture."
"Jeanne Shepard!"
The first time her name was called she thought she was just hearing things. When the knight-commander called her name a second time, in conjunction with an initiate to her left elbowing her ribs, she snapped out of her shock and stepped forward. Each step she took was filled with confusion. For what reason was her name called?
When she stopped a couple of feet away from the knight-commander he looked over the gathered templars and spoke, "Jeanne Shepard, your morals and code of honor have led you to make several difficult decisions that many of your peers would most likely not be able to do. What is probably your greatest asset is your innate ability to inspire those around you to follow you to the fade and beyond. Assigning you to a circle would be a gross misuse of your talents; talents that would be bettered served in the pursuit of those that would threaten both the chantry and all of Thedas. I hereby give you the rank of knight-lieutenant and everything that the rank carries. It is my hope that you use your templar powers to protect the people from the curse of magic. Dismissed!"
Jeanne didn't move as she stared at the ground. So perplexed by what had just transpired that she didn't even feel the cold rain seeping down the separation between her helm and cuirass and onto her back. She couldn't piece together the knight-commander's reasoning for giving her such an honor. Such distinctions were usually given to the templars most likely to not show pity on any apostates or blood mages they catch.
"Well, aren't you going to talk to him?"
She looked up at the heavy accented voice. Standing right behind her was a quarian with the only part of his body visible being the slightly glowing white eyes behind his facemask.
"What are you talking about?"
The quarian, Kal'Reeger if she remembered his name, shook his head, "It is obvious to anyone with half a brain that you were not expecting the knight-commander to call your name. Instead of worrying and wondering why don't you go and talk to the bosh'tet."
"You believe he'll answer a question from a new templar?"
Kal'Reeger shrugged, "He found you interesting enough before. I don't see what could have changed in ten minutes."
Jeanne nervously clenched her hands as she considered her options. She knew Kal'Reeger had a point. Talking to the knight-commander would most likely get her the answers to her questions but she wasn't certain he would talk to her. It was either talk to him or hope she found the answer on her own time. After about a minute she sighed and turned to the quarian, "You win. I'll go talk to the knight-commander."
She could literally feel his smirk through her back as she reached the massive steps leading up to the cathedral. Nodding in respect to the two templars standing watch just outside she quickly gave a prayer to Andraste before walking through the grand entrance and inside. Once inside she removed her helm and ran a hand through her hair to loosen the water still clinging to it. Putting her helm under an arm she looked around for the knight-commander and found him sitting on a bench next to one of the many statues of Andraste adorning the cathedral.
He turned his head as she approached, "I see you have followed me in here Shepard. Is there anything you need?"
"I think you know why I am here sir."
Martel turned and looked at the statue of Andraste looming over him, "I suppose you are here to ask me why I called out your name for promotion earlier? As you are most likely aware, I find the Seekers of Truth to be a redundant and worthless part of the Chantry. While the idea of people making sure we templars don't falter is admirable in reality we don't need an outside group watching our every move as if were a rabid dog about to bite its master."
"I don't see how I fit into this."
"Of course you don't," he scoffed while shaking his head, "After I finish speaking you will understand everything. In the early days of the order, before the chantry was even formed, the seekers and templars were part of a larger organization called the Inquisition. It was created in the aftermath of the First Blight to hunt down heretics and mages abusing their power. The branch of the inquisition that would become the templars hunted down the targets and the part that became the seekers of truth followed and minimized collateral damage to civilians."
"This was all fine and good back in the early days. I will be the first to admit the inquisition was a terrible and abusive group. They didn't take mages to the circles for protection and learning like the templars do now. They killed them - brutally and violently most of the time. The seekers did what they could to minimize the killing but they were outnumbered by the fears of mages after the horrible and long blight. When the inquisition joined the chantry and became the templars and seekers, they reformed their ways from killing mages to protecting them. We might have changed our ways but the seekers they never forgot."
Jeanne shrugged, "What does all that have to do with me?"
The knight-commander glared at her before letting out a breath, "What it has to do with you is quite simple. The main way the seekers keep their power is that when the rare templar has his mind addled and goes insane they blow it out of proportion to the Divine. They claim that all templars are loose cannons that could go off at any second despite the good we do. What we need is a templar who does so much good without sacrificing their mind that the seekers are pushed away from the limelight."
She was confused by this last statement and was only able to mumble out, "Sir?"
"It took some time but after hearing about what you did to those men back in your chevalier training I realized that you may be just what I need. I know despite how much you try to hide it that you have a moderate view on the chantry's treatment of mages. If you were given the option you would rather kill the mage that subject them to the rite of tranquility, if only to spare them the 'tortured existence,' as you call it."
"I can explain that-"
Martel held up a hand, "There is not need to explain Shepard. You are not the first, and you will not be the last, templar who thinks the rite of tranquility is an abomination. If there were another way to strip a mage's ability to use magic without leaving them an emotionless husk of a person it would be done. It was your morals…your honor that convinced me to make you a templar."
Jeanne could not believe what she was hearing. Of course she had her doubts and suspicions when the knight-commander offered her the chance to become a templar but she would never have imagined it would be because of this, "You wanted me to become a templar simply to be a showpiece? Like some piece of gaudy jewelry on an nobleman's wife?"
Martel turned angrily to her, "Do not put words into my mouth Shepard. When you were training to be a chevalier you demonstrated such superb skill that people were calling you the next Aveline of Orlais. Unlike all those other pompous nobles who think being a chevalier makes them about the rule of law you tempered your skills with self-restraint and a strict moral code. I needed you to become a templar in order to show Thedas that we are not overzealous, mage-hating, lyrium addicts but people simply trying to protect those they love from a very real threat. You are one of the few people I have ever met that has the ability to inspire those around you to such an extent. Do you not recall the apostate you encountered last year?"
It was about a year ago when a mage escaped from the circle tower. Usually the procedure for such an event would be to alert any templars in the areas the mage might have fled to but because of the supposed lack of threat from the mage it was decided by her instructors that it would be a good chance for some of the templar initiates to experience capturing a live mage without substantial risk. Five others beside herself were picked out to go and capture the mage. They were told the mage was barely able to conjure fire and electricity and would be good practice for when they became true templars. What they failed to mention, or didn't know, was that the mage had fled the circle after a templar discovered evidence of blood magic in his quarters. Within moments of finding the mage and catching up to him everything went completely to hell.
The first attack severed the heads of two of her companions and the follow-up caused a third to seize up with convulsions and die in agony on the ground. She was unfazed by the violence and moved quickly enough to put down a Cleanse around herself to block out the blood mage's influence but was unable to do so for her remaining two colleagues before they were enthralled and turned against her by the mage.
While free from any influence from the blood mage while within the aura she was forced to fight against her two companions. After several exchanges between them she realized they were slowly forcing her out of the Cleanse. If they managed to succeed there would be nothing to prevent herself from falling under the blood mage's influence. Desperate and angry she managed to push the two templars back and shouted:
"You dare call yourselves templars? What happened to your honor and dignity? You spent the last two years training to fight against mages and you fall prey to a blood mage within moments? Gather up your courage and release the shackles holding your wills hostage or the Maker will be the least of your concerns!"
What happened next is a blur to her but the next thing she knew the blood mage was dead, a sword through his throat, and her two remaining companions were regaining their senses. When she asked what happened they both claimed her speech roused them from the blood mage's control long enough for one of them to run their sword through him.
Her hand absently traced over the thin scar on her left shoulder, "One does not forget their first encounter with a blood mage."
Martel nodded and motioned for her to follow him before continuing, "A blood mage's enthrallment is almost impossible for a person to break without another mage or veteran templar to cleanse and sever the connection between the caster and the target. The fact that your speech was enough to do so has more then one head in the chantry talking."
They stopped walking and Shepard found herself back at the entrance to the Grand Cathedral, "What we need from you is for you to be yourself whenever you are away on assignment. Whether you are hunting down blood mages, rouge apostates or simply visiting a city, your gift will influence the populous to follow you and hence, the templar order as well."
"I didn't know the templar's were politicians now sir."
"As I mentioned before if we want to pull ourselves out from under the ever watchful eyes of the seekers of truth we need to have the population of Thedas on our side. Your ability to lead and inspire others, combined with your moral code, might just be the thing the templar order needs."
"I don't know about this sir. It still feels wrong."
He put a hand on her shoulder, "Why don't you take a few days to think about this. If you truly do not think this is a useful way to use your talents to benefit all of Thedas, including the mages, then you just have to say so and I will have you assigned to the circle of your choice."
Jeanne pushed open the door leading back to the courtyard before putting her helmet back on to keep out the rain. She had a lot to think about and she didn't know if a few days was enough time to do so. As she started down the steps into the courtyard all that her mind could think about was that she should have kept her mouth shut.
...
Martel watched as Shepard walked away into the rain, his hands clasped behind his back. What he told her was the truth but he was unsure as to whether or not she would go and tell someone, intentionally or not, about it. The last thing he needed was for the seekers to find out. If that were to happen he would be replaced faster then he could blink and the new knight-commander would do anything to consolidate their new power – even kill. It had happened before and it would most likely happen again.
"You are playing a very dangerous game knight-commander."
"How the-"
The knight-commander spun around, his hand reaching for the sword at his side, when he saw just who was standing there. Quickly composing himself while moving his hand far enough away from his weapon to not be deemed a threat, he apologized, "I am sorry for my disrespectful reaction. You startled me and I did not now if you were another templar or an intruder."
The figure did not seem to have been offended in the slightest. In a slightly smug tone they replied, "Even after all these years you are still paranoid and jumpy Martel but your mental status is not why I'm here."
"Then why are you here?"
Instead of responding the figure simply smiled. Martel knew from both rumors and experience that the asari standing not five feet from him was one of the first to join the templars hundreds of years ago. As it stood she had over three hundred years of training and experience in addition to however long she had lived before that. Comparing himself to her was like trying to say throwing some water onto the ground was a downpour. Examining a purple hand she bluntly asked, "So what is this I hear about you committing treason against the chantry?"
To his credit he didn't stutter or miss a beat, "I have no idea what you are talking about."
Finished looking at her nails the asari looked at Martel, her blue eyes piercing through to his soul, "Do you think I'm stupid? I didn't get where I am by being deaf knight-commander. I heard each and every word of your little speech. I must say that I didn't think you were this devious and cunning. You practically had Shepard eating out your hand by the end."
"I meant every word of what I told Shepard. I am not blind to the atrocities committed by templars despite my constant public denial. It is because of abusive templars ignoring their oaths to persecute innocent mages that the order has come under increasing scrutiny in the past few years. Even the Divine has suggested a formal inquiry into the individual circles by the seekers."
The asari seemed bored and sat down on a bench. Crossing her legs together she lazily asked, "And why exactly am I supposed to care?"
"I don't care about your personal motives. What I care about is preventing mages from running wild. Even now the dwarves tighten the lyrium being shipped out from Orzammar, drastically reducing the number of templars we can accommodate. If it continues to decrease we will be unable to give the proper amount of lyrium to the templars. Need I remind you of what happens to a templar when they are cut off from lyrium?"
"And what does the Divine know of your little plan?"
"Her Grace knows nothing of this. The seekers answer directly to her. Even on the off chance she were to agree, the seekers would soon find out and they would do anything to prevent the status quo from being shifted."
The asari let out a bark of laughter, "Does that include killing your little protégé?"
"And everyone who knew about the plan."
The asari's laughter cut off abruptly and Martel knew that he was in trouble. From years of experience he knew just how powerful and deadly an angry knight-justicar can be and he had just threatened one of the most powerful ones in Thedas.
"Was that a threat knight-commander?"
"Of course not!" he quickly corrected, "I was just insinuating what might happen if the seekers were to find out."
For a moment it seemed like the knight-justicar wasn't convinced. After a few seconds a sly smile graced her lips and she leaned back against the wall. Picking off dust from her armor, which was identical to his except for its deep red color and golden trim, he said, "I guess I can't be too angry with you knight-commander. You are devoted head over heels to the chantry. That is something I will never understand."
"I'm glad we could come to this arrangement."
Just as he turned away to leave Martel found his body unresponsive. Straining his neck to look down he found himself enveloped in a blue shimmer of magic, the calling sign of a knight-justicar's stasis spell. "Let me just make one thing clear knight-commander," the knight-justicar said from behind him, "I like Shepard. She has the capability of being so much more than a mere templar. If I find out that your plan led to her death you will find out firsthand why you do not fuck with a knight-justicar. Am I clear?"
Released from the spell Martel coughed and replied, "Perfectly."
"What was that?"
Martel growled before answering, "I understand knight-justicar Aria."
"Good," Aria smirked as she watched Martel hurry away to probably vent his frustration on an unfortunate underling. She didn't care about what that insignificant man could do. She had to admit though that his plan was brilliant and, if executed perfectly, would do more then just destroy the seekers of truth. Personally she hated the seekers and had killed, secretly, several of them over the course of her long life that tried to pry into her background.
Leaning back and closing her eyes she said, "I bet Samara doesn't have this much fun. That woman really needs to learn to lighten up."
...
CODEX ENTRY: ASARI
An enigmatic race hailing from the island of Par Vollen, the asari have lived on Thedas for as long as the elves. Their early history is shrouded in mystery but it is known that they engaged in trade with the ancient elves at least as early as the founding of the Tevinter Imperium. When the imperium began expanding the magisters saw the lush and fertile grasslands of Par Vollen as ripe for the taking and the asari as perfect slaves. When they attempted to take the island they were quickly and easily repulsed by the strong magic wielded by the asari. When several invasions of the island failed the tevinter magisters attempted to use the same blood magic ritual they used to sink Arlathan against the asari. What happened next is still debate. What is known is that just as they were finishing the ritual several Asari matriarchs appeared before the magisters and retaliated with enough force to make them retreat to Minrathous in disgrace and terror.
Asari biology is quite bizarre with nothing else on Thedas being quite like them. While at first glance they might appear to have a superficial resemblance to female humans apart from their blue skin and scalp crests, it is their reproductive system that is perhaps the most remarkable aspect about these people. If an Asari wants to have a child they find a willing partner of any race and in a process they refer to as 'melding,' they somehow send a stream of harmless lyrium through their partners in order to take a mental imprint. This process can last from anywhere between fifteen seconds to three minutes. Once it is done the Asari is pregnant and the partner is free to leave. It should be noted that Asari never give birth to other species.
The most concerning feature about the asari is their inherent ability to use magic. Unlike the majority of the races living in Thedas, each and every asari is born with the ability to use magic. While some are better able to use their abilities then others, the simple fact that every asari is a potentially powerful mage has more than one templar concerned. It is said that if it weren't for the inability of demons to possess them the chantry would have called an Exalted March upon them long ago.
Some of the most powerful asari mages, henceforth referred to here as matriarchs, felt the need to join the templar order despite their lack of faith in Andraste. Their reason, when asked, is that someone does not need to be consorting with demons to be a dangerous mage and who better to take on the more powerful apostates and blood mages then an asari. These matriarchs would become the first knight-justicars.
~ The History of the Asari - 5:95 Black
Addendum 1: Some of the knight-commanders close to Par Vollen have started spreading interesting rumors. Apparently several asari matriarchs have shown interest in joining the templars. While I am not averse to increasing our numbers I will admit that the prospect of magic-wielding templars is more than a little disconcerting. Still, I find this intriguing enough to bring up to Divine Faustine I at the earliest convenience. - Knight-Vigilant Renault – 5:19 Black
Addendum 2: Apparently asari can do more than just procreate during their 'melds.' I have seen firsthand asari melding to share and receive memories from their partner in the process. Why aren't we using this on the mages on a regular basis? Who knows how many maleficars we could root out if we had several asari in our employ? - Knight-Captain Meredith Stannard – 9:05 Dragon
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Author's Note: Well, here is my mass effect and dragon age crossover. I have spent a lot of time flushing out the timeline so that the two universes seem to mesh together quite well. I actually have the plots of over 100 chapters done to some extent so I have a lot of story left to do. So stick around and don't forget to review each and every one of the chapters. I live off of reviews and the more people like you review the faster the chapters come out.