Bioware owns…
My thanks to Piceron for this 'enchanting' thought…
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O.O
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"The people you killed didn't want to die either."
She'd been given little choice in the matter. The mages were trapped within a cold, despotic, and inescapable prison with no one but Chantry panderers to turn to. Their only hope for early release came at a price, but one they were all willing to pay. It was better to die fighting for her belief than face a lifetime cringing in fear of the malevolent sentinels.
The discontented mages weren't Tevinter Magisters out to prove their dominance to the world. Nay, they simply believed themselves worthy of freedom.
"But why turn to forbidden magic?"
They lived in constant fear of death or forced tranquility. It was the only way left for them to take matters into their own hands.
She had been approached in secret, of course. Everything was done in the shadows of Kinloch Hold. Notes in tomes and covert nods were passed back and forth under the baleful watch of the Templars. Training had been offered to those with the strongest will. A stealthy rebellion was being planned that whispered of liberation.
Certain fraternities were befriended, while others were overlooked for fear of betrayal. The power-hungry Lucrosians were rather easy to convince. A few Isolationists could be trusted with the keeping of secrets. Loyalists and Aequitarians, however, were avoided. Chantry lovers and pious peacekeepers had no place in their plans.
Uldred had explained everything to them in great detail. Summoning and blood magic training had taken time to perfect, but they were desperate in their defiance. All they could do was hope that the summoned ones were compliant. The fight for emancipation would begin with the return of the mages from Ostagar.
Unconditional support from the Hero of River Dane was guaranteed. No longer would the Chantry control them.
"You know we cannot allow blood mages to live."
As a Spirit Healer, she was trained in the School of Creation. The blood magic was merely a means to an end. Andraste herself was the cause of great bloodshed in the pursuit of liberty. She hoped the spirits she met with in the Fade would understand; she'd be far more useful if she were free.
Unfortunately, all did not go as planned. The Isolationist, Niall, had somehow managed to escape from Uldred, and found the Litany of Adralla. Uldred became mad with rage. He'd called upon the demons to slaughter the Templars and mages alike. Andraste's Warriors had fallen swiftly, except for the ones enthralled – the desire demons liked to play with their food. The mages were caught off-guard, defenseless against the blood magic. A few had barricaded themselves, but Uldred was too powerful to escape from for long.
It wasn't supposed to have ended the way it did. The mages and Templars were to be controlled, held as hostages perhaps, not spraying the walls and floors with their blood. The Pride Demon Uldred consorted with had overcome the Senior Enchanter, demanding the death of all opponents.
By the time she had encountered the Warden, she could think only of escape.
"How will you get out? With blood magic?"
The spirit she had called upon was kinder and gentler than the ones her cohorts partnered with. He had explained the need for blood magic to further their cause, even volunteering to ease the part of her mind that was naturally horrified at the thought. She had trusted the spirit enough to comply.
Oddly, she could not remember all the events of the rebellion. Her mind was not completely hers anymore. One of the side effects of blood magic, she assumed. It was dangerous to steal the life-force of someone else; you lost a little of your own every time you did so.
Penance was her only recourse; prayer her salvation.
"I will spare you. Do not make me regret this decision."
She did remember the Warden allowing her to flee, just didn't remember how she had escaped. Waking up one morning in a wet robe, lying in a small cave beside a blazing fire, she realized that the spirit had taken over for her again.
Planning to find the nearest Chantry for her absolution, she became befuddled and easily lost in the outside world. She couldn't trust her senses in the wilderness. The spirit she communed with was becoming more and more insistent in his wish to guide her.
Somehow it seemed fitting that, having thanked the Warden for her mercy, the spirit she called friend was willing to show mercy as well. The screams haunted her every waking moment, only finding relief when surrendering to the spirit. She prayed that the Maker would find it in His heart to forgive her for her sins.
In the buried recesses of her mind, the Pride Demon smiled. Freedom always came at great cost.
O.O
This is the Blood Mage you choose to release or kill in The Broken Circle quest...
Thank you to: mutive, Shakespira, Eva Galana, Nightsfury, Piceron, ArtemysFayr, ChampionTheWonderSnail, Drakeling, Enaid Aderyn and harpychick.