Avernus

Soldier's Peak – Main Building, 9:30, Haring 8th Midday

Mikhail rested a hand on Levi's shoulder and looked down on the corpse that once had been Sophia Dryden. "We have to clear the castle but afterwards she'll get a funeral. She deserves it. I'm sure whatever she did, that she only wanted to help the people of Ferelden. Hold her in your memory that way: a brave woman trying her best."

Levi nodded not holding back his tears. "I really hoped that I would find another explanation. But now I have to look forward. At least she'll find peace now."

Not long after leaving Sophia's room the companions stumbled over a large double-door shielded with a force field. "Now that's looks interesting. Avernus, we're coming. "After a nod of Mikhail Natasha began to analyze the field. Morrigan and Wynne settled back, waiting for the mages results as she had way more knowledge about this type of magic.

"It is very strong. Avernus prepared the door to hold this field far longer than normally wanted. I would suppose that he is able to bypass it somehow. If I open it he'll surely know, so be prepared."

Weaving gesture after gesture with her hands Natasha looked concentrated at the field. It went paler by the moment as the mage unraveled layer after layer, finally breaking it. As they opened the door they looked into a large room, some kind of laboratory. Tables with flasks and potions, books laying around on shelves and the ground, a rack with dozens of scrolls. A disgusting smell permeated the room, a mix of blood and burned flesh. At the right side stood a large cage, now empty.

Pointing Sten to watch the only exit Natasha began to inspect the scrolls and books, leaving it to Morrigan to search the potions and flasks for information. To their surprise no one showed up and the mages had enough time to examine all. "They are dead, the prisoners I mean." Natasha looked up from the scrolls with a stony face. She pointed at the scrolls. "One scroll for every prisoner. He made experiments with them, making exact notes of them, how they fared, what result the experiment had been and how they died. "

Mikhail paled visibly, estimating the number of scrolls. "That must be hundreds of them. How is this possible?" Natasha shrugged. "The writing is the same since the beginning. He had more than a century. As it seems this band was not the first to have a contract with him." Morrigan added: "From these potions I would assume he tried to find new ways to use the blood of darkspawn." Natasha agreed. "Yes, he describes in his scrolls how he tried to enhance the body powers of his 'subjects' and give them new abilities." At last Mikhail stated with a coarse voice. "I understand the reasoning. We wardens use a type of blood power to feel darkspawn. But how could he sacrifice so many humans to … we must stop him."

Exiting the room they didn't need to search for long before they walked into another laboratory this time not empty. A lonely figure stood bowed over a table and scribbled into a book. He seemed old and frail, nearly unable to stand without help, his hair long gone, the robe old and tattered, filthy and smelling. His voice crackled as he addressed the group:

"Visitors I see. You've killed the demon I suppose, the demon which once had been Sophia. And you destroyed my ward, and that was bad. It shielded me from them. You know that there are other demons lingering around? They wait for a chance to leave the castle. Only my wards held them in check. Without me they would go rampant."

With Natasha showing the urgent need to kill Avernus on the spot, it fell on Mikhail to step forward and speak with him. "You're Avernus, I assume. I'm Grey Warden Mikhail. We're here to find out what happened at soldier's peak so long ago. And to drive out the demons from this place so that it can be used again by our order. Are you willing to help us with these cases?"

"Surely I am. Even now I am a grey warden myself. All my studies had only been to help our order, to help in our battles. They will show us new ways to use the blood of darkspawn, to increase our abilities. And about the demons … alone I couldn't stand against them, but together it would be possible to drive them out and strengthen the fade again in this place."

Looking around Mikhail got an uneasy nod from Alistair while Natasha kept silent. "Good, than we are together for this." Remembering something he addressed Avernus: "By the way, as you surely know more about these things: I heard that a grey warden is needed to slay an Archdemon. But I never heard why this is so. Can you explain?" Natasha snapped up now interested in the discussion.

Avernus nodded. "Sure I know. You must understand that an Archdemon is the combination of two things: his bodily form and his soul. Everyone could kill the body. It is tough but nothing speaks against it killing with a sword. But in the moment of its death the soul of the Archdemon gets free, searches for a new body. It will enter the body of a darkspawn nearby and the killing would be for naught. But with a grey warden doing the killing blow, it would be forced to enter the body of this warden. In contrary to a darkspawn body, the warden encloses the soul and both souls – the one of the warden and the Archdemon – get destroying, killing the Archdemon permanently."

"So a warden has to die to kill the Archdemon?" Mikhail asked while Natasha and Alistair changed looks with pale faces.

"Yes, that's the deal."

Soldier's Peak – Main Building, 9:30, Haring 8th Afternoon

In spite of their reservations Avernus had been very helpful in destroying the demons and closing the fade. His knowledge was astounding as was his inability to comprehend questions of morality. More than once he looked puzzled when Mikhail and the others rejected his ideas of using darkspawn blood.

"But it would make you stronger, faster and more endurable. You're already tainted; why not use these powers for full advantage?"

Mikhail shook his head desperately. "You'll never understand, I fear. Our points of view are way too much apart. But I thank you for your help in cleaning this castle. Hopefully we can start to use it after the blight, building a strong point for the warden's order again."

Natasha interjected: "That leaves us with the question of your fate, Avernus."

Avernus nodded: "Yes, the alliance is over, I fear. And what happens with me? I only want to research further. Can't you simply leave me alone?"

Mikhail sighed deeply. "Would it only be research we could think about it, but … you killed. You killed hundreds of humans which did nothing to deserve such a fate. And you showed more than once in the last hours that you don't really understand why this was false. I am sorry, but we really can't take the chance to let you alone. The blood of anyone you kill in the future would be on our hands. "

Alistair interjected: "Perhaps we could send him to Orlais, to the wardens there. With them watching …"

"No, bad idea, very bad," Natasha growled. "They're Orlesians and can't be trusted." She shot a smile a Leliana. "Attendants excluded." Leliana bowed curtly. "They would use his studies and I would expect them to present him with further … bodies. And no one, not even sentenced criminals, deserves such a fate. "

Mikhail agreed. "I fear you're right. Avernus …"

The warrior watched as Avernus interrupted the discussion with raising his hand, a red glow forming around them. Before he could end his spell a gurgle escaped his mouth. Trembling he collapsed to the floor, Zevran showed behind him, a bloody dagger in his hand. "I suppose the conversation was over?"