They soon entered the Blackmarsh, and Ragnar could see where it got its name. It was more like a swamp than anything else, and in the distance, he could see the ruins of what he assumed was a small town or village.

Nathaniel looked around at the surroundings with great interest. "They say this marsh was once inhabited until the day everyone disappeared."

"The darkspawn have been here. You can already smell them," said Ragnar, looking around.

"Well, you two are just full of doom and gloom, aren't you?" Anders said.

Nathaniel shook his head. "My father used to tell me stories about the Blackmarsh when I was young. He said evil magic killed everyone here. This was just before the rebellion—a great mystery at the time."

"Did he tell you anything else about this place?" Ragnar asked.

"They never found out what happened here. Once the monsters appeared, the marsh was abandoned." Nathaniel chuckled. "I used to dream of coming to the Blackmarsh and setting things right. Little boy dreams."

"You're doing it now, aren't you?"

He laughed. "So I am." He shrugged. "If someone had told me I'd end up here, I would have laughed at them. But times change. When I was in Kirkwall, I thought I would return to Midgard to take command of my father's garrison. Now here I am, a Grey Warden and fighting both darkspawn and demons. Interesting."

Ragnar shrugged. "Stick around. This happens all the time."

"And the fun never ends, I suppose? Good to know." He nodded. "Anyway, the haunted marsh awaits."

"Maker, can we go back to the doom and gloom? The cheerful is a little creepy," Anders said.

They found the first dead darkspawn only a little way into the swamp. It had been dead a while, perhaps as long as a couple weeks. Several others were scattered nearby.

"Dead. Kristoff's doing, maybe?"

Anders nodded. "That answers that I suppose. The darkspawn are definitely here."

Something entered the edge of Nathaniel's senses. "Commander… ghouls?"

"No." Ragnar sighed. "I'm afraid it's a bit worse than that."

Then coming round the corner were blight infested werewolves charged. They look even more vicious than the ones he saw Brecilian Forest because they didn't exactly stop to talk.

"I thought you all had fixed that werewolf problem," Warthiog said as he pulled out his axe.

"It appears the effect was more limited than we thought," said Ragnar slicing one in half with his sword.

"What are you two talking about?" Anders asked as he sent a fireball setting one of the werewolves on fire.

"Well, it's not the first time we've seen a werewolf," said Ragnar as he tried to fend one-off.

"Is it always like this?" Nathaniel asked as he fired an arrow from his bow.

Ragnar shrugged. "Pretty much."

Wartihog swung his battle-axe, cutting off the werewolf's head freeing Ragnar. Ragnar didn't waste any time and immediately launched himself at the nearest werewolf plunging his sword through its chest.

The remaining werewolves seeing that the tide had turned, immediately ran off.

"And don't come back!" Wartihog yelled after them.

"Come on, we better search the area," said Ragnar.

They wandered through the marsh until finally, they came to a campsite that had been empty long enough for mushrooms to be growing in the shelter of the tent. Ragnar had been fairly certain Kristoff was dead when the man had not reported in, but he'd held a slight hope. An abandoned camp surrounded by more of those 'children' made it fairly clear what had happened.

They were disgusting looking things; they looked like worms with legs, and Ragnar wasn't even sure if they were actually true darkspawn, but that wasn't the most disturbing thing. They found Kristoff all right or his rotting corpse.

"He's been dead for a while," said Ragnar examining the body.

Then out of nowhere, they were soon surrounded by darkspawn. An orc in sturdy armour moved towards them. It was disturbing seeing a gloating expression on such a face. "Yes, that is your Grey Warden. The Mother told it to me that if he was lured to this place, and slain, that in time you would come." It laughed a sickeningly wet sound. "And the Mother, she was right. The Mother is always right."

Ragnar narrowed his eyes at the orc. "Who is this 'mother'?"

"The Mother is the one that sent me, she that wished you to come. To here, this place." He then laid in closer. "I… here before you is the First, and I am bringing you a message. The Mother, she is not permitting you to further his plan, whether this you know or not. So she is sending you a gift." It held out its hand and crushed a silvery-green orb. Light burst forth.

They were still in the swamp. Boats seemed to float in the air, and the trees occasionally shifted and changed. The Fade. Wartihog and Nathaniel were looking about curiously. Anders looked about, ready to wet himself. Like him, he realised that they were in the Fade.

"No!" The darkspawn howled. "We have come to the Fade as well? It cannot be this!"

Ragnar turned on him. "What have you done? I want answers!"

"As do I!" the First roared. "This was not as she said; I am betrayed!"

"I never could trust my mother either," Wartihog said sympathetically.

"Now I am being trapped in the Fade with you! Ah, I am the fool!"

Ragnar raised his sword at the First. "We'll deal with you first and the Mother later."

The First glared at them. "I am thinking the Mother, she cares not what happens to the First so long as the Grey Wardens are defeated." It gestured at the other darkspawn. "I will be leaving you to the Children. I will be finding my own path back into the world! Back to the Mother!"

It fled as the other darkspawn attacked.

Their attack wasn't the most impressive, but the Children were quite disturbing. Whenever they got close enough, they latched onto them and began biting down on them, and they had razor-sharp teeth.

Wartihog smashed the last of the creatures to the ground with his axe. Then he looked around. His eyes went to a floating boat and widened. "Wait, what did that snarly bastard say? The Fade? We're in the Fade? That's where humans dream, isn't it?"

"And elves," Ragnar added.

"Dwarves shouldn't be here. We don't dream. We sleep like the Stone!"

"Maybe you've been on the surface too long," he suggested

Wartihog glared. "Explaining why bad things happen doesn't help. Bad things happen; you want them to stop." He gestured. "And what happens to my body while I'm here? Someone could outrage my modesty! What little's left of it!" He hit the dead darkspawn again. "Sod."

"I can't say I'm happy about the notion that I'm lying face down in the mud somewhere," Anders said.

"The Fade? We are actually in the Fade?" Nathaniel shook his head. "I thought only mages could enter the Fade?"

"That's not entirely true," said Ragnar. "When the mage tower was overrun by abominations, my friends and I were dragged into the Fade by a demon."

"I heard about that," said Anders. "However, I'm afraid it's not can be as easy this time."

"You believe that was easy?" said Ragnar raising an eyebrow.

"All I'm saying is the last time you were in the Fade, or you have to do was kill the demon responsible. This time that's not going to work; I still don't understand how the darkspawn acquired the magic to drag us all here."

"Looks like we're doing a bit of exploring," said Ragnar.

They began exploring the area try and find some kind of clue to get back to the waking world. On their travels, they encountered a large amount of demons and even resorted to activating some runestones, but none of these things brought them back.

Slowly, they made their way towards the village. Sadly they could not enter as the gates were firmly sealed.

"Let's head around, see if we can find a way through."

Memories faded in and out as they walked through the manifestation of the swamp. Conversations that had taken place decades ago played out for them again.

They soon came across a woman at some sort of grave. It looked like she was digging or maybe burying something, but she stopped when she saw them approach.

"You… you're not a spirit like everyone else. How did you get here?"

"I could ask you the same question."

"This is where my grandfather's ashes are buried. I come to visit him often." She gestured at the cairn. "He was the last person to stay in Blackmarsh. Once he passed, there was nobody left in the village who remembered."

Ragnar frowned. "You know this is the Fade, right?"

"This? Of course, I know that. This isn't—" She ducked. "Oh no! They've come back again! Quick, come hide in the crypt!" She fled through a door.

They turned to see some walking corpses. It took them only a minute to dispatch the creatures, and when they approached the door.

"So," said Ragnar, slowly looking back at the others. "Demon?"

"Demon," Nathaniel nodded.

"Definitely a demon," Oghren said, touching his axe.

"She could be a legitimate damsel in…" Anders started to say and then sighed. "Demon."

"Shall we?"

"And so you came. Fell into my little trap." She turned around. "Such wonderful creatures, you mortals. So full of yearnings. So full of hunger."

Ragnar very much doubted that this hunger demon ruled under this domain, but of course, that didn't mean that she was a threat.

"Do you truly think you can defeat me?" Ragnar challenged

She looked them over. "Hmmm… You do outnumber me now, it's true. Clearly, you mortals are not frail." She started walking backwards. "Very well. Let the Baroness have you. I shall feed on whatever remains." She fled.

Ragnar turned to his companions and raised an eyebrow at Nathaniel. "Baroness?"

"Blackmarsh was ruled by an Asgardian baroness when it vanished," Nathaniel said. "I'm afraid I don't know any more than that. She disappeared as well."

"Why do I get the feeling that she's behind the disappearance of the village," said Ragnar folding his arms.

"Because she probably is," said Anders. "I'm still a little surprised that you were able to scare off a hunger demon.

Once they got out, they came across a guard guarding the front gates, and he looked at them rather wary.

"Halt!" said the guard pointing a shaky sword at them. "Who enters the Blackmarsh?"

Ragnar frowned; he was still fairly certain they were in the Fade. "This isn't still the Blackmarsh, is it?"

"This is—I don't know where this is," he said, lowering his sword. "We've been here for so long, at her mercy. I almost forgot what it was like, before. There is a spirit that's come to free us. Perhaps you could help him? If only that were possible…"

"I make no promises, but I promise that we are not here to hurt you or anyone else trapped here," said Ragnar sincerely.

"Right ahead, you can find the spirit in front of the gates of the mansion."

It was quite easy finding the spirit since he was working up an entire crowd at the gates of a mansion.

"The mansion will not protect you, fiend! Come out and face your crime!" The spirit appeared to be an armoured knight, armed with a shield and sword.

A crowd surrounded him. "We aren't afraid of you any longer!" "The witch hides! Break down the door!"

The spirit held up a hand to forestall them. "Be cautious, my friends. The Baroness has the power within her lair, and she well knows it. We rush in at our peril." The spirit turned and saw them. "And who comes now? More minions of the Baroness? Or yet more helpless souls she has ensnared?"

Ragnar took a step forward. "We are Grey Wardens, brought here against our will."

The spirit was white, vaguely transparent. He made for a strange and vaguely disturbing effect. Maybe he was just used to the other one. "I cannot say what a 'Grey Warden' is, but clearly, you are a stranger. Perhaps it is a sign." The spirit's eyes glowed just slightly behind the slit in the helmet. "I am Justice. I have watched the place and seethed at the wrongs visited on these poor folk, and now I seek to aid them."

One of the villagers stepped forward. "Once, we lived in the real world, and the Baroness ruled over us. She took our children and used their blood to work dark and evil magic."

Another stepped up behind her. "And when we burned down her mansion, she cast one final spell that brought our spirits here. We have been trapped ever since, still under her rule."

"This spirit knows the Fade," said Nathaniel. "If we help him, he might help us in turn."

Anders shook his head. "I think that since the baroness trapped these people here, that she's our best chance of getting out."

Ragnar found it very difficult to trust anyone who used forbidden magic and sacrificed children. If nothing else, killing her might be the key to returning them to the waking world.

"Tell me, stranger, will you help us in this righteous task?" the spirit asked. "Being a Grey Warden appears to make you an able sort, and thus your aid will be most welcome."

Ragnar at the spirit and said, "I would gladly help you."

"Then we have the numbers to challenge the baroness directly."

Wartihog smashed a fist into his palm. "Ooh, a direct challenge. I like the sound of that. Less talk, more killing!"

Anders looked frightened. "They just said she was an evil, powerful witch! Do we really want to antagonise her?"

Ragnar looked at him. "We could defeat her and make her use her magic to help us."

"Hmm. Now there's a thought… all right. You've convinced me."

"My intention is to storm the gate," Justice said. "Are you ready?"

"We are."

"Good people, we take the battle directly to the witch!" Justice raised his fists triumphantly. "For too long have her crimes gone unpunished! Now is the time to reclaim your freedom!" He turned and kicked the gate off its hinges.

The Baroness dressed in fancy clothes and spoke with an Asgardian accent. Ragnar didn't have to be a mage the sense the evil coming from her, though the two ash wraiths on either side of her did give it away. "My, my. All that shouting outside, and now you've finally decided to barge in? Without even a proper invitation?"

"Foul sorceress! You will release these poor folk and submit yourself to justice!" he demanded.

"Justice?" The woman actually sounded insulted. "Is that what you are calling it? What of their punishment, burning my home to the ground and me within it?"

"Because you were stealing our children! Using their blood to feed your vanity!"

"As was my due! You lived on my land, I your rightful ruler! Your blood was mine just as your lives are now."

Ragnar took a step forward. "Their lives are not yours any longer!"

"What's this? The pathetic fools have actually managed to recruit yet more sympathisers?"

Justice stepped forward. "We are no longer alone, Baroness! Your reign ends here!"

She smirked. "As it happens, I am no longer alone either."

The First walked up behind her and gazed down at them. "My path back across the Veil lies in victory over you and your new allies. Then the Mother will pay for her treachery!"

Ragnar shook his head. "I figured you'd turn up again sooner or later."

It turned to the Baroness. "We must be ending this! Now! The Grey Warden, it is more dangerous than you know!"

"Oh?" The Baroness gestured. "As you wish, creature. Slay them, and you shall have the reward you requested."

Justice drew his sword. "Enough! The battle is joined!"

The ash wraiths fell before a powerful burst of fire from Anders. Corpses began to rise, and the villagers began to engage them with the aid of Wartihog and Nathaniel. Justice went straight for the Baroness with mace in hand. That left Ragnar with the First. Ragnar had to keep it off balance, preventing it from any chance of casting the spell.

"No! You fool! Why haven't you defeated them?" the Baroness yelled.

"They are too much! It must be sending me back through the Veil! Now, before it is too late!"

"Oh, I will sunder the Veil all right! I'll send them all back! But you—your life is going to provide the power!"

"No! No!" The First wailed as the Baroness's magic wrapped around the creature, ripping its blood out as it screamed.

"Not again," Ragnar moaned as a bright light covered them.

Ragnar awoke and found himself in the waking world again and found the others awoke as well. Aside from being muddy, they appeared none the worse for wear after their brief trip to the Fade.

And then Kristoff's corpse started moving. Nathaniel immediately reached for his bow; at once, Ragnar held up a hand. The corpse stood and looked around in confusion. "What… where am I? What is happening?" It turned around. "No! This is the world of mortals, beyond the Veil! And this…" Its hand touched Kristoff's face. "This is a mortal body of flesh! I am trapped within!"

"This spirit of justice? How did you get here?"

"The witch sundered the Veil in her haste. All of us were drawn through. She has returned to this realm as well. Can you not feel it? The Baroness is nearby."

"We defeated her once we can do it again," said Ragnar

"You misunderstand," the spirit shook Kristoff's head. The effect was disconcerting. "The baroness, she is not a mortal as you are or as were the villagers she kept trapped." He gestured angrily. "There was such a mortal, once, but now? That is a demon of pride. She assumed that role long ago to feed from the mortals she trapped. But here in your world, here she will be quite something else."

Ragnar nodded and looked at the spirit. "What do you propose, then?"

"The Veil is sundered, and the tears must be closed lest they continue to spill demons out into this world." He folded Kristoff's arms, then gestured. "I can alter your weapons for a time, allowing them to drive back the Fade's magic… but if we are to deal with the baroness, we must move swiftly."

It was a bit did disconcerting, attacking what was essentially just a strange shimmer in the air. But their attacks did make contact with something. Then a demon flowed out of it. Anders sent the revenant back by blasting a powerful with a spell, then he then sliced its head off with his sword.

"How many more?" he asked Justice.

"I sense three," he replied. He pointed and then began walking, and like sheep, they followed him.

They found her looking up at the remains of the manor. "So this is the world of mortals. How very dull it seems, so immutable and unchanging." She turned towards them, a triumphant smile on her face. "Yet… I am here! I have crossed the Veil! The spirits will watch in envy as the mortals of this realm bow down before me!"

"That will not happen, demon," said Justice raised his mace.

"Ah. It seems I was not the only one to be drawn here. How very tiresome."

Ragnar shrugged. "Defeating you one more time won't be a problem."

"Is that so? We shall see, won't we?" Her form suddenly rippled and shifted, then began to grow, until before them stood the monstrous form of a pride demon. It snarled, then tore another hole in the veil to release more demons.

They all quickly charged in to engage the Baroness and the demons. Nathaniel hung back and began shooting arrows at any nearby demon while Anders used his magic to keep them at bay. Wartihog then jumped into the mess of demons and began cutting them down with his battle-axe.

This left Ragnar, and just as the deal with the Baroness herself, and they began to flank her from either side. The Baroness turned its attention to the spirit, clearly believing it to be the greater threat.

It was a fatal mistake.

Ragnar quickly moved in and plunged his sword into its back. Seconds later, Nathaniel shot arrows into its eyes, and Wartihog began hacking away at its feet. Then with a combined attack from Justice and himself, they manage to bring down the demon.

Justice stood over the body of the pride demon as it faded away.

Ragnar approached the spirit, and he turned to face him. "For what it is worth, thank you. I have fulfilled my vow. May the victims of that woman's madness rest in peace, wherever they have gone to now."

"What are you going to do now?"

The spirit considered for a moment then shook his head unhappily. "I cannot simply return to the Fade." He lowered the mace. "There are memories within this poor man's mind. They are difficult to see, but…" The dead eyes widened. "He was a Grey Warden? He was… slain by the darkspawn, the one called the First?"

"The darkspawn are who the Grey Wardens fight."

"It seems I am at a loss. I know nothing of this world and have only a few memories of this Grey Warden to draw from. I do not wish to die." The eyes met his. "What shall I do, mortal? You seem to be a creature of good character, and you are of this world. Can you advise me?"

Ragnar had to think for a moment, it was true he was shorthanded, and he could hardly let the spirit wander off aimlessly. Also, he could hardly condemn a spirit that was only trapped because its compassion had led it to try to help others. "Join me. The body you inhabit belonged to a Grey Warden."

"You mean continue this mortal's mission? As a Grey Warden?" He considered. "It was a darkspawn who murdered this mortal most ignobly, and the ones that commanded it yet live. To avenge his death…" He nodded. "Yes, that would be a purpose." He gave a small bow. "Very well. I will join you, Grey Warden, if you will allow it."

"I will. Should I call you Kristoff, then?"

"I do not have a name, only a virtue to which I aspire. If I am to need a name, then use that. I am Justice. And for now, I am pleased to travel at your side, Grey Warden."

"Glad that's sorted," said Daylen as he approached them. "I'll head back to the Tower; they should know what transpired here." He then looked at Justice. "I might even be able to find a way to separate you from Kristoff."

Justice nodded. "I would appreciate it."

Ragnar then folded his arms. "The First mentioned this Mother, it sounds as if she is the source of these new darkspawn."

"And judging from how she treats her offspring, I don't think she's very motherly," said Anders.

"If she is a mother, then that would mean that she is a broodmother," said Wartihog.

"Whatever the case, we should be very wary," said Ragnar gravely. "These new darkspawn are nothing to sneeze about."

Meanwhile, underneath a cavern, a broodmother that had once been a human woman laid there surrounded by Children. An orc slowly approached, cautiously.

"Mother…?" it said.

"It comes with sweet news, I hope?" she said in a half-crazed voice. "Tell the Mother."

The orc looked slightly nervous and backed away slowly. "The First, it is dead. The Grey Wardens are gone from the marsh."

"Wicked, wicked Wardens! They killed the First—killed him, cut out from the Mother's heart…" she sobbed.

The orc looked at her, confused. "But… was it not the Mother who wished him dead?"

She sobbed once again. "Dead… no…" She then laughed maniacally. "Peace! I wished him peace! To find the song again… to hear the sweet call…" She then clenched her fists angrily. "We are all lost. But the day will come when the silence ends, even for me."