Redcliff wasn't nearly as bad as I had been dreading. I had hoped that the red came from blood. Cliffs dripping blood would be an excellent idea, but unfortunately it was the colour of the local mud. On our approach the baby templar told me what I already knew, he was the dead king's bastard brother. We then had a chat with his uncle, who was very attractive and quite assertive. Bann Teabag told us his squalid little village had been under attack by undead.

I retired to our camp for the night to mull things over. One of the peasants had insisted that they would likely all be killed if we left them alone. I saw this as being unduly optimistic. Mud people are unreasonably hardy. Happily, the churl was accurate. When we returned, everyone was dead. That simplified things immeasurably. The Circle taught us that undead are vulnerable to fire spells. I don't use my fire spells too much, cold suits me better, so I needed the practice. Killing them all was childishly simple.

Even better the bann showed a great deal of vitriol. He is just adorable. I want him very badly for my harem.

The only shock was encountering Jowls in the castle dungeon. I killed him of course. He had always been too weepy and he knew too much about me. Embrace your choices. Regret is for lesser beings.

As expected the arl's boy was possessed. I entered the Fade by using the arl's wife's blood (I love blood magic) and had an interesting and profitable discussion with the demon possessing the boy. It's very refreshing to have a rational discussion for once. The lyrium dust cured the Arl and off we go to Denerim. If Queen Anora is as good as everyone says, perhaps we can end all this foolishness with some personal negotiations.

Bann Tegrin had been controlled as well. He's cute and susceptible to blood magic. He just gets more and more delicious.

One side note that I haven't mentioned. Back in the forest we ran into trees that had been possessed by demons or spirits or what have you. So what you say? I know, I know, it doesn't seem very promising until you realize that they look like other trees. A fortress surrounded by groves of possessed apple trees? Whats not to like? What matters is whether or not their fruit is poisonous. One can only hope.

Allstar had a moment of backbone in the camp afterwards. He didn't much like how things went in Redcliffe. Which puts me in a ticklish spot. If I marry the baby bastard I could be Queen and rule directly. Anora would have to be handled, but that's easy enough. I have a pet bard and a pet assassin after all. That's why I keep them around. Loghead would also have to be dealt with, but if Bannister duels him, have to love primitive customs, it's pretty much a win win. If the templar wins, then he kills him. If the geezer wins, then he dies later on that night by the hands of either an Artesian or an Anticipation. Either way, Olay gets blamed.

My ideal situation would be to have the king's bastard brother marry Anora. Then I control them both. Not sure how that can work though, yet.