Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this project. Neither franchise, Dragon Age nor Fallout, is responsible for this nonsense.

Author's note: Hey! I'm not dead! This chapter took years (last published 2017, yikes) due to The Struggle ™, though it had been planned since I started chapter 1. Rewrote the first half of this chapter a LOT. I was hesitant to publish this chapter for a while because it ends on a cliffhanger, but hey, I have a pituitary tumor and I'm feeling sassy. As always, thanks for the new follows and favs! Meditating on this fic and writing when I could, though it took a lifetime, kept me going through some tough times.

Dorian's POV to start, kickin' it all off.

Chapter 7: Falling into Fallout

"I cannot believe," Cullen said, his voice getting louder as he charged through the lecture, "that you performed deadly experiments out in the main courtyard, around soldiers and civilians, without any sort of warning—"

"It wasn't an experiment, Cullen," Dayo argued, cutting him off. "I've done this a million times before. Well, not shooting exploding bolts, but I've been handling gunpowder since I was eight. We made sure people backed it up. There wasn't enough powder to hurt more than the dummy. Trust me."

"You scared the tar out of half my soldiers and you think to just walk away with an up-five?"

"Cullen, they're called high-fives, you may recall that nobody left me hanging, and it all worked out. I am sorry I jostled you into spilling that ink, really."

"Those were important documents! They will take hours to rescribe. I'm shocked and appalled that Vivienne would allow such immaturity, not to mention announce to the world that the Inquisition has blackpowder to spare." Dorian smirked as he watched Vivienne and Hawke beating a hasty retreat to their quarters.

"Lighten up, Curly," Varric said, assuming a rational tone. "That's a hiccup in the plot; secrets spoil fast in war, and such a grand show of force will give our enemies pause."

"It wasn't a grand show! You blew up one dummy!"

"That's what I'm saying!" Dayo insisted.

Dorian leaned up against the wall outside the War Room as he eavesdropped. Varric had apparently tried to keep a lid on the Champion's arrival, but then Dayo happened. A gathering crowd had attracted his curiosity from the library and he'd been just in time to see Dayo absolutely demolish a target with a blue-fletched crossbow bolt.

"Varric, you knew where Hawke was the whole time, and you didn't tell us?" Cassandra's voice cut through the conversation like an ice-cold dagger. Dorian felt sympathy for the poor dwarf standing beside Dayo, having to face down Cass when she was angry.

"Of course I didn't tell you," Varric snapped tersely. "I told you everything I thought was relevant. If I had helped you find her, she would have ended up dead, just like everybody else at the Conclave."

"How do you know Hawke could not have saved the Divine? Haven may never have had to happen. And what does that say for me, that I believed you?" Cassandra said.

"Speaker, that's not fair."

"I trusted you when you said you didn't know where she was. We needed her, Varric. For a long time, we've needed her." Dorian heard Cassandra sigh. "I should have been more thorough."

"I wrote to her right after the Conclave," Varric said, his voice dipping lower. Maybe he, too, had regrets. "When it went beyond than the war. I was meeting with a mutual friend to courier my message the day the group left to meet the Iron Bull. I hadn't entirely lied when I said she was keeping a low profile, and it took time to make contact, Seeker."

"She did eventually come," Cassandra said slowly, weighing her words. "This is not water under the bridge, Varric. You are not forgiven. But in a sense, your actions led the Maker to send us the Herald."

Dayo groaned. "Oh god, Cass, cringe! I was summoned by Corypheus. You know that Herald stuff makes me itchy."

"You were what we needed, when we needed it. The Maker works in mysterious ways. I shouldn't obsess about the Champion of Kirkwall when I have our own champion right here, however hasty she may be on occasion." Dorian was tempted to peek to see how red Dayo had become, but he didn't want to risk putting his own neck on the line.

"Well. If I'm all that and a can of crisps, I guess I could be less dramatic. I'm sorry, Cullen. I'll orchestrate fewer explosion-based casual gatherings," Dayo conceded. Was Cassandra learning how to manipulate the Inquisitor through compliments? It was genius.

"I would appreciate it if you would orchestrate zero. Good day." Dorian smirked at Cullen's curt dismissal. Varric walked out with Dayo hot on his heels, escaping ahead of the tension in the room.

Dayo swerved towards Dorian once she spotted him. "Nobody back home would've cared if I blew stuff up for fun," she complained, linking their arms together. The two fell into step easily; she may not have learned how to dance, but they'd developed a sort of cooperative coordination regardless. He went along, amused by the entire situation, especially that she was inexplicably dressed in her outfit from Halamshiral. Dorian was glad Vivienne had encouraged such behavior. Dayo seemed in much better spirits.

"What a reckless girl. Such a show was common now, was it?" he asked.

"Going ham on a test dummy was just Tuesday in the Commonwealth, my dude. Come with me for a moment, yeah?" She headed to the blacksmithing room with Dorian on tow.

"Oye, Harritt!" she called to the blacksmith upon their entrance, going to release Dorian and jump down the stairs with one big leap. "You have a chance to look over that schematic? You said it'd be done after Harm Lasharm!"

"Halamshiral? I did, I did," Harritt said, standing at his workstation. "Been shined since yesterday."

"Neato," Dayo said, skipping the last bit of staircase to land near Harritt. "Oh, nice. It's a lot smoother than I would have imagined."

"I think I worked out any avoid imbalance issues." Dorian finally caught up, going to peer at what they were fiddling with. It was made of copper, whatever it was, with a sphere was perfectly round. "Interesting concept here, Dayo. What do you call it?"

"A guy I knew used to make them, and he called it a simple steam engine. He taught me for fun using scrap."

"Hmm." Harritt considered the contraption before going to get a small crate. Into it went the parts, two hollow bits and some pipes. "You mind if I keep your drawing?" he asked, picking up the crate and handing it over to Dayo.

"Knock yourself out, it's the least I could do. Alright, Dorian, next errand."

She headed out, Dorian following behind, bemused. "Are we to pick up your laundry after, or did you need to waste my time for something important eventually?"

"You're vital for this one. Then we'll playtest this guy, and you'll like it whether you like it or not," Dayo said with a grin while hoisting her crate slightly for emphasis. Her walk led them towards the gardens, which were green and peaceful. Dorian liked to sit and relax with a book on one of the benches, deep in research, so he knew it and its regulars fairly well. Thanks to that, the newcomer stood out like a sore thumb. She looked vaguely familiar, but he would remember that outfit. The woman looked up, smoky eyes assessing their approach.

"Dorian, this is Morrigan," Dayo said, putting her crate on the dais besides the witch. "Dorian is a mage from Tevinter. Morrigan helped me out behind the scenes, gave me some tasty info and keys and stuff in Ham-Spiral."

"Halamshiral?" Morrigan corrected.

"Sure. How's Skyhold treating you so far?"

Morrigan looked Dorian over, who was doing the same. "I am finding Skyhold well, Inquisitor. But if you're here for my requested meeting, I offered information under the assumption I would only deliver it to you."

"You're going to be talking to me about magic, right?"

A pause, then she nodded.

"He knows magic. So think of him like my magic consultant. He's cool, and I trust him. I don't know a lot about magic—we didn't have it where I'm from."

Morrigan shook her head, expression difficult to read. "I have heard rumors that you were pulled from the Fade. If that's true… it opens up many possibilities beyond a world without magic."

"My world had tech that sure came closer. If you're looking for details on how I got here…" Dayo shrugged. "Most of that was wiped blank in the explosion. I don't really think I'm from the Fade originally, but I'm damn sure I'm not from around here."

Morrigan smiled. "Who knows? The Fade shapes itself to your whim. Maybe the place you came from was one of its many versions."

"No thank you."

"If you insist." Morrigan looked at Dayo, eagle-eyed and full of questions, though she stayed her tongue. "As Empress Celene's liaison to the Inquisition, I called this meeting to share information and ask questions. Is the Inquisition aware that Corypheus is seeking to get into the Fade?"

"Yeah. It's why I'm here." Dayo held up her hand, the mark across her palm glowing with its green energy. "I got this anchor from a ritual he was doing to get into that big celestial throne room upstairs vis a vis the Fade."

"You interacted with Corypheus?"

"I wouldn't call them conversations, or anything. So far it always ends with me shooting him in the head."

"My investigations show me that he could be searching for another entry point. Come, follow me." Dayo left her things behind, following Morrigan to a heavy-set door without hesitation. "I want to show you something."

"Is it a way in?" Dorian asked, close behind. Morrigan simply produced a key. The unlocked door stuck a little, and she pushed against it with her shoulder. The door shuddered a half-inch. Dorian reaching forward and helped, the door groaning open into what appeared to be a long closet.

"Strong boy," she chuckled. Dorian's moustache twitched with the casual condescension. Morrigan stepped past him and headed towards the far wall, upon which rested a long, flat structure covered by a sheet. With a flourish, Morrigan pulled the sheet off.

Dorian could appreciate her flair even as he was flabbergasted at the sight of the elegant mirror in front of them. Its surface softly glowed and swirled with a green-blue light, like a view into the Fade itself. "Holy shit," Dayo breathed, immediately moving to the mirror.

"Don't touch-"

Dorian's warning came too late as Dayo pressed her hand flat to the swirling glass. Nothing happened. "Why did you even bring me along," Dorian muttered, approaching the mirror behind her to inspect the churning light as well.

"I have not been able to open this door yet," Morrigan said, sounding amused. "It should be safe to observe."

That was all he really needed. Touching it felt just like touching glass, except for a tingling electric discharge. "A door?" Dorian asked, looking back at her. "To where?"

"Not quite to the Fade, but close. I am still investigating." Something in that statement was less than convincing.

"If this is a door, are there more of them out there?" Dayo asked.

"Possibly, but I am not in the habit of sharing unconfirmed information," Morrigan replied smoothly. "Once I open the door, I will be glad to tell you more." A sort of dismissal in her tone, which Dorian wasn't in love with.

To his surprise, Dayo took Dorian's wrist, heading to the exit. "Then, keep us updated. See you later, Morrigan!"

Dorian kept his mouth shut until they reached the garden. "Please tell me you're not a moron and know she's hiding something from you?"

"I know! I'm so curious it burns. Bet you ten caps she knows exactly where there are more."

Dorian glanced down at her with a raised brow. "You don't seem mad about the duplicity." His statement almost came out as a question.

"Why? I don't think she stands to gain anything from hiding information if it hurts the Inquisition. She seems like the type to keep a work in progress under wraps until she has the straight scoop. I'm sure when she gets that sci-fi reject running she'll let us know. I doubt there's anything we can do right now, anyway."

"You have a lot of confidence in that Orlesian woman."

"I have a lot of confidence in you, my top Tevinter companion."

"Point taken."

"Besides, it was a good idea to introduce you. You two could be friends. You're both theatrical, on the edgy side of sarcastic, and your outfits are equal parts ridiculous." Dayo snickered and picked up her crate of copper parts as Dorian huffed indignantly. "But that mirror, though! Is that cool? I mean, is it maybe bad?"

"Ignoring the 'messing with the Fade' aspect for a moment, doors are always dangerous when you're not sure what's waiting on the other side," Dorian said.

"Wise as fuck. So we tread carefully. Come on, I want to show you my side project." As they walked to her quarters, he considered the mirror. The design sparked some mote of recognition in him, but he couldn't quite place it. Maybe with a bit of research... "Sit down wherever, I have to put it together."

She moved to put the crate down by the fireplace, which had some warm logs still crackling. "This is the main part," she said, holding up what looked like a hollow box. Dorian sat on her bed to watch as she filled it with water, and then added tubes and bits until she had a rather strange contraption on her desk. "If I heat up the water, steam will go up these pipes," she said, following them to where they led to either side of a copper sphere. "And the steam goes out the pipes on the sides of the ball, which will spin. Just watch." Dayo set the whole thing down on top of the glowing wood.

Dorian stared as the copper heated up. He heard the telltale sound of boiling water. Then, slowly at first, the hollow sphere up top began to rotate, speeding up some as they watched.

"Hell yeah!" Dayo cheered at the success. "Pound it!" She held her fist out to Dorian, who stared at her blankly. "Just… take your fist, and hit it against mine," she added.

Dorian raised a brow, but bumped their fists together. "Boom," she said happily, getting a smile out of him.

"It's propelled by steam," Dorian said. "Fascinating. What was the purpose?"

"Just fun. I think it's kinda cute." Dayo grinned, resting her elbows on her knees as she watched it spin. It didn't get too fast, making whistling noises as it went. "I used to know guy named Felix. He was the closest thing to a wizard I knew, even without magic. He could do anything with scrap. Tinker Tom thought it was childish, but he's more of an electrical engineer." Dayo watched it spin, turning almost imperceptibly towards Dorian. "Do you miss your home?"

"Tevinter? Like a bad relationship."

"Be honest."

"Are you asking because you miss your home? Was this all for a therapy session?"

Dayo was silent. "Maybe," she said, finally. "Yes. I want to hear your take."

"I suppose I'll give my best attempt at sincerity and empathy. Only for you." Dayo just grinned, letting him choose his words carefully. This was new territory for him; back home, being vulnerable was dangerous. Dayo wasn't another Tevinter native for him to worry about; they were both outsiders here. "In some ways, yes, I miss Tevinter. The place is flawed, but there were good people there. My people. The thought of turning my back on it forever is distasteful. Eventually, I want to return."

Dayo straightened. "You're also planning on leaving Ferelden?"

"It's just a thought right now, but I owe it to them to try and be an ambassador of sorts. There's so much to Tevinter that would improve the world, with people on the side of good. I haven't told anyone. Don't say a word." He didn't know what he was to Iron Bull, so talking about plans for the future… well.

"But doesn't it suck? If we plan on going home, that would mean everything here has a planned obsolescence." She wrinkled her nose. "Like any relationships made here. Our friendship."

Dorian was quiet for a long pause, contemplating the parallels in their situations. A rough way to view her time here, but she made a point that he'd been wrestling with himself. "Yes… I would say it sucks, but the sucky part is what makes this time more special. You are a dear friend, who I sometimes feel as though I've known for years. Our time is limited, like the snow. Its value isn't diminished by the fact that it will melt in the spring."

"You're spitting poetry here, my man."

"Your turn of phrases are always so endearing. What did Hawke have to say?"

Dayo clapped him on the shoulder. "There are dark times on the horizon, so hold onto your butt. We leave in the morning."


They left early, heading out to the Western Approach the very next morning. The Inquisition had made Grey Warden contact through Hawke, and finally had word of Warden activity. This stank strongly of Corypheus, and they needed to move fast.

Hawke and their Grey Warden contact, Stroud, had left early to scout. They stood upon the horizon, ruins dotting the landscape, watching their approach. Dayo pulled her horse, Yao Guai, up short beside the two and looked over the ridge. "They're doing some kind of ritual," Hawke said, motioning with her staff towards the horizon. Their hill descended before sloping off into a ravine, across which stood a large building, a temple emerging from the desert dunes. There was the flickering green hint of a Rift and small pinpricks of activity visible from this distance.

"Let's make tracks. Hyah!" Dayo shouted, kicking her horse into gear. The group charged across the sands; not even attempting stealth in such open terrain. The activity upon the ruins became clear as their hooves pounded closer.

There were mages and demons milling around, Grey Warden uniforms obvious in the light of day. Many emotionless magi stood along the sides, near shades and flame demons, forming a semi-circle around a cowering Grey Warden soldier and a terrified fellow mage. A Rift above them all hummed loudly, casting a green hue on anybody nearby. Dayo reached the ruin and jumped off Yao Guai to sprint up the stairs moments too late; the trembling Warden mage took his sword and ran the soldier through as she got to the top step. A flurry of red erupted from the wound and surrounded them both as the Rift pummeled the ground with angry bolts of green energy. The last furious strike left a molten fire demon standing next to the murderer, and the mage's shaking ceased.

Dayo stopped her mad dash, Dorian to her right a moment later. The clicks coming from her wrist underlined the Rift in staccato. "What the fuck is going on?" she said, mostly to herself.

"Oh no," Cole breathed, from Dayo's left. "The energy here is all broken. It's like breathing red lyrium."

"That's blood magic," Hawke said, bristling, gripping her staff as she slowed. "A sacrifice, to summon and bind a demon. That's… they killed one of their own." Stroud's face was set into a grimace, one grim but not very surprised.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dayo demanded, pointing at the man up on the elevated platform at the end.

A man stepped forward from the shadows, a sneer smeared across his face. "Lord Livius Erimond of Vyrantium, at your service," he said.

"A 'Vint," Bull said. Dorian's chest hurt. Tevinter Imperial, just like him.

"Your name could be Benjamin-fucking-Franklin for all I care," Dayo snapped. "Are you behind all of this?"

"Don't neglect giving these Grey Wardens their due. My master simply planted the idea into their heads," Erimond snickered. "When they came searching for help with the Calling, the Venatori in Tevinter had our bit prepared. But all we did was… suggest. They did the rest themselves."

Dayo groaned. "Oh my god, you're like an actual comic book villain."

"You're the Inquisitor, yes? Ah… can I see it?" Erimond asked. Dayo opened her mouth in confusion to speak when he lifted his hand. His palm flared with unnaturally red flame, and Dayo's marked hand lit up with a flash of electric noise. She let out a choked noise as she crouched over it, her face twisted in pain. Her PipBoy was going mad.

"The fuck," she was able to spit out before he made a fist, and Dayo dropped to her knees with a cry. The mages stepped forward towards them, and so did their demons, and Bull readied his weapon.

"The Anchor," Erimond purred. "It belongs to my Master. The Elder One. It wasn't supposed to go to you. Without it, he's had to search for other ways to enter the Fade. Does it hurt? He taught me how to do this to you, you know. In case you came around poking your nose where you didn't belong. You were a mistake, and when I bring him your head-"

Dayo cried out, but less in pain this time as she stood and raised the Anchor. Her roar was frustration, and rage, and she unleashed it all on the rift, twisting hard. The rift pulsed energy out as it was sealed, scattering foes. Dayo stood unsteadily, hand clenched around the Anchor, watching them intently, panting hard.

"Like fuck you will."

"Kill them!" Erimond cried as he clamored to his feet. "Kill them all!"

The demons began lurching upwards, and so did the Grey Wardens, their eyes glowing red as they looked towards the group. Erimond limped away, using their sacrifice as cover for his escape. Dayo reached over her shoulder and grabbed her crossbow. Dorian noted her choice of bolt, and stepped back, readying his staff.

"This'll be fun."


"That was not fun."

Dayo winced as she moved a bit too fast, pulling on the freshly-healed muscle in her arm. Recalibrating, she attempted another slower bite of meat on a stick. "No. That was a lot of evil bad guys. I had very little fun."

"Two seconds of fun when you fired the first exploding arrow," Bull said. "Just for the looks on their faces as they recolored their pants brown."

Dayo grinned and held up her fist, Iron Bull indulgently meeting it with his own. She was training them well. "Yeah, boom. I have a question though, Boss. Humor me. Why do you never use your gun?" It was still an unfamiliar word to Dorian, alongside 'pistol.' What Qunari blackpowder could become, given time.

Dayo shook her head. "It's strictly for emergencies. Still can't make bullets here, even with the gunpowder."

"Bullets?"

"The ammo to my pistol. Like arrows." She pulled out her gun and aimed it at a tree, finger off the trigger. "I have 8 left out of twelve. Need to make them count."

"You've used four?"

"Yeah. Dorian, you were there for two. I put one in your former teacher's knee, and the other is in that dragon skull. One, bam, for a kiss to Corypheus' face that time in Haven, and another..." She mimicked a punch with the hand not waving the gun around. "...that I don't even remember, from the Conclave. Wish that I could, though. How does he keep surviving being shot in the face?"

"I didn't know there was a limit. And if you run out?" Dorian asked, taking another bite of dinner.

"I dunno, throw the gun? Maybe one day I can make more bullets, but for right now I just don't have all the things I need. No explosive tips, or manufactured casings. If the bullets are crooked, they could break my gun or blow my hand off. I'm reinventing the wheel with those exploding bolts." She put away her gun as the sounds of an argument reached them.

"I've told you, Hawke. I didn't know the Wardens were doing this. I had not hoped for the best," Stroud intoned a few yards from the campsite. The two had been talking in circles for hours now, since before they'd stopped for camp.

"They are confused," Cole murmured. "Loyalties pull them in every direction. It is hard to focus when you are in pain."

"In a worst-case scenario, did you imagine blood magic? Because that's what I saw, and it was the stupidest-"

"I'm not disagreeing!" Stroud shouted. "But they are my people!"

"Your people are broken! Blood magic kills. Blood magic twists people."

"I am sorry about what happened to your mother, but-"

"Don't you dare talk to me about my mother!"

Dayo pinched the bridge of her nose and took another bite, obviously trying to ignore them. "So Corypheus may have Grey Warden and demon matching sets along with Red Templars, and is trying to build up an army to conquer Orlais. Now we gotta go have fisticuffs, right?"

"Stroud said they were holing up in Adamant Fortress, in Orlais. It's an old Grey Warden place." Bull put an arm around Dorian's shoulder. Dorian leaned in and wondered how Bull knew he was cold, and if he knew what this did to Dorian. He really did need to talk with Bull. For now, Dorian was pleased with whatever public affection he could get, after a life in Tevinter.

Oof, that sounded much more desperate when he put it to words like that. Dorian counted himself lucky that Bull wasn't psychic.

"Makes sense. Anybody here storm a fortress before?" Dayo said. "I've stormed one place, but it was nothing like this, I'll tell you that." She pulled the last of her dinner off the stick and got to chewing.

"Nothing quite this big on our own, but the Chargers have been hired to help with the general process," Bull said. "Some main talking points are to knock down their defenses, or defeat them from the inside."

"What can we do with our numbers?"

"If it were me, Boss, I'd do both. Batter the walls, have forces protecting and supporting the rams. Send in a few small groups to clear whatever breaches you do make."

"Sting group, like little bees," Cole said.

"Yeah. Maybe get some guys up on the walls. The main thing is to get through the wall. Then it'll be a bloodbath, but a winnable one." Bull shrugged. "Talk with Cass and Curly. They have training for something this big."

Dayo frowned, hunching up a little more. "A lot of good people are going to die," she murmured. "I guess we're getting down to it. The real war."

"It's messy. It's dark. It's complicated. People will get hurt," Iron Bull said. "They already have. If we don't act, there is far more suffering on the horizon."

"Yeah, I know about war. You against the world."

She glanced over to where Hawke and Stroud were angrily muttering at each other, and her expression got tired. Dayo tossed her stick into the fire.

"War never changes."


It turns out that planning invasions was a whole thing. Upon their return, they had some downtime as preparations were made. When he wasn't researching the binding of demons to mages, he harangued Solas about magical theories. Solas was a font of knowledge, and goading Solas through debate was a good way to pass time. Kept him sharp.

Dorian was outside for some fresh air, leaning against some steps when he saw Dayo heading in his general direction. He stood up when it was obvious she was heading straight to him once more.

"Dorian, hold this," Dayo said, extending her closed fist. He held out his hand obediently, and so Dayo entwined her fingers with his. Dorian went along with it as he was pulled along, squeezing Dayo's hand hard when he realized where they were headed.

"Morrigan summoned me," was all she said as she hurried them towards the garden.

"I have to ask… do you drag me around on purpose?"

"What?" Dayo asked, releasing his hand.

"I never see you doing it to the others."

Dayo looked at him with a frown. "But you're always down with shenanigans."

Dorian laughed and looped an arm around her shoulders. "I suppose I'm not complaining."

Morrigan seemed excited upon their arrival, more than Dorian had thought her capable of. If she was this interested in magic, maybe Dayo was right, and they could potentially get along. "I've figured it out," Morrigan said with a sweep of her staff. "The Eluvian. I've opened it."

Dayo grinned. "It's Eluvian now, huh? Fancy."

"They're elven artifacts, and that is their proper name." Morrigan led them once more to the closet, pushing the door open and making no comment on Dorian's help, locking up behind them. The mirror at the end of the hall seemed more active.

Morrigan walked towards the mirror, reaching to touch its swirling, cloudy glass. Her fingers passed seamlessly through the mirror and she continued forward. She turned around to the both of them, leaning on her staff and cocking her head at them, halfway through the mirror. "Well? Aren't you coming?"

Dramatic. Ugh, he was liking her despite himself.

After watching Morrigan go through with no signs of suffering, Dayo pressed her hands against the glass and was through in a moment. Dorian stepped forward and reached out hesitantly. This was a door to somewhere, and as far as he knew it was the only door back here—which they were leaving unguarded. He should stay back and keep watch, to be safe.

The glass felt cool and solid against his skin for a fraction of a second before he was through. Cat, curiosity, and all that.

He stepped out into a dim open space, misty and thick with fog. Dorian could see mirrors dotting the landscape far in every direction, dark and still.

"The Crossroads. Where these mirrors join."

"Oh, like a teleporter! That's nifty. Would cut down on walking. But does it work?" Dayo pointed to a nearby mirror. "Looks dead."

"Most of the mirrors have been destroyed with time." Morrigan walked around, eyes on them. "I brought you here because the Crossroads are in a space just adjacent to the Fade, if one is strong enough to break through the barrier. A good shortcut. And a way for Corypheus to get there without your mark."

"He'd want one of these bad boys, then," Dayo said. "He's really jonesing hard for that Fade."

"Once he gets inside, he'll be able to get to the Black City," Dorian said. "And who knows? He could end up declaring himself a god. Honestly, this whole thing just reeks of the end of the world." Dayo chuckled at his nonchalant tone.

"So I can open a portal into the Fade from here, yeah?" Dayo said, flexing the marked hand. "What's to stop me from becoming a god instead?"

"Theoretically the Anchor could allow it, but I'd doubt you'd be able to," Morrigan said airily. "No offense meant, of course. But Corypheus had many years of hard work behind his efforts, and even then it blew up in his face."

"Oof, word choice."

"It would take an enormously strong effort of will on your part to have any meaningful control over the Anchor. But if you were to use it to open into the Fade, this would be the place to try."

"Thanks for showing it to us. Guess it's good we have it, and not him." Dayo wandered up to a dead mirror, running her hand along its surface and leaving a streak in the dust. Nothing but blackness was behind the layer of grime. "Any idea if there are more that work?"

"I'll let you know as soon as I do," Morrigan said. "There are rumors that Corypheus is searching for something, sending out thin tendrils all over Ferelden and Orlais. Even in Tevinter, he hunts." She turned around at that. "That is the extent of my information. You know the way out."

"Usually, civilized people say 'goodbye' in an attempt to be pleasant," Dorian said even as Dayo snagged him in her walk towards the exit.

"Goodbye. I hope the Inquisition doesn't royally blunder and kill us all," Morrigan called out after them. Not better.

After exiting, Dayo went to sit down on a bench in the gardens, Dorian close behind. Nobody was nearby, and Morrigan did not follow them out. The pair sat in companionable silence.

"I agreed to help for the plants, you know," she said, voice wistful as her gaze climbed a nearby tree. "It was rare if I saw this much green in one place and it wasn't paint. You take it for granted, but I need to save it." She looked down at her hand. "I want to keep this world from becoming like mine. But I do think about home a lot."

"What's bringing this up?" Dorian asked, sensing something was going unsaid. Especially after their last similar talk.

"I just… if the Anchor is a tool to open doors in the Veil, and enter the Fade… I'm still learning about this, but doesn't that mean I could use it to go home?"

Dorian froze, eyes wide. "I… I mean…" Yes. If she got here through the Fade, the reverse could get her back. "It may end up being the key to doing that exact thing. Would you go back?"

The pause lasted a long while. Dayo reached out slowly, running her fingertips along the leaves of a nearby bush. "Not yet," she finally murmured. "But I miss them. I keep wondering if the crew back home is doing okay, I never… I never got to say goodbye. They probably think I'm dead." She sucked in a huge breath and let it all out in one big huff. "Flip side, you all need me. And I like this place. The people. And so I'm either abandoning my home, or abandoning Thedas. It sucks all the way around, my dude."

Dorian reached out and pulled her into a sideways hug. "I relate."

He felt Dayo sigh against his side. "I'm glad we're in this together."

"I find that at about four months away from home is when the homesickness reaches its peak, personally. It'll get better. But keep in mind, it's okay to build a home here." Dorian squeezed her shoulder and released her. Could be good to take his own advice, eventually.

Dayo nodded. "Yeah. Maybe it's about time. Thanks." Dayo gave him a fond look, and then held up her fist.

Dorian responded with his own smile, tapping his knuckles to her's.

"Boom."


The thunderous sounds of rock collapsing and the adrenaline of war nearly deafened Dorian. He saw more than heard Cullen's command to move, and as a unit they ran through the breach. It had been a hard battle even to get this close, rocks and arrows still raining down. Soldiers worked with them to cut a path through the mage and demon pairs fighting to the death to block their path. Iron Bull charged into the thick of it, the team falling into step.

The calamity was overwhelming. He could handle himself in a fight, but this was proving more intense than he'd anticipated. Nothing in his usual scuffles matched the destruction of true war.

"We need to secure the battlements!" Cullen yelled, pointing towards the stairs. Dayo nodded, and the four bolted towards the stairs.

"What are battlements?" Dayo called out as they ran, Cassandra taking point after that question. Dorian felt the smoke and blood around them soak into his senses as they cut their way up to the walls. There was a Rift open on one battlement, and nearby raged a small fight between a group of Wardens, mage against warrior.

Dayo didn't hesitate, rushing towards the fight to lift her hand and form a connection with the Rift, ripping it open and knocking the fire demons prone and vulnerable with a wave of energy.

In unison the two groups focused their energy on defeating the blood mages and their demons, who didn't seem to have a preference for who they attacked.

Dayo ran to get a good angle closer to the Rift, elevated to get better shots, finding herself the focus of three fire demons, abandoning their mages to attack. Dayo was backing up when the Rift thrummed and pulsed out two large shades, cutting off her exit. "Shit, to the Inquisitor!" Dorian called out, raising up his staff only to find he didn't quite have the energy needed to cast a barrier. "Get out of there!"

That really wasn't an option. It was five-on-one with her in the middle, and until she got backup it wouldn't be pretty. He saw a familiar dent form between her eyebrows before Dayo jammed her hand into her pouch and drew out a small red tube. She raised it to her mouth and took a deep breath. And then, she exploded.

Dorian was seeing Dayo move at a speed he'd never seen from anybody human. She moved into the first shade like flowing water, dodging its attack and taking out one of her daggers at the same time she emptied her crossbow into its head. While it dissolved, she dropped the crossbow and spun, taking out another dagger and a demon at her back with swipes to the throat. She crouched and moved to avoid the second shade's lunge, springing up and cutting it down.

A demon slid towards her readying to slash at her. She rolled out of the way of razor-sharp claws and threw one blade into its back. She turned to see the last demon move to try and cut her in two like a tree. Dayo dropped flat, the claws flying fruitlessly over her before she threw her last blade into its chest.

She stood as the group got to her, five dead demons around her. It had only been seconds, but she'd moved like a ghost. Dayo grimaced, then coughed. "Fuck, forgot how much Jet smells like Brahmin shit," Dayo wheezed, pulling a face and pounding her chest vigorously. "Saying I lost my tolerance is an understatement…"

"Your pupils are the signs of coins," Bull said.

"This is not a fun time to be high, believe you me," Dayo panted.

Cassandra turned to the remaining Wardens, who were staring at them hesitantly, swords drawn but sane. "We don't have to fight. We're not here to defeat Wardens, per se. We are after Corypheus."

One older dwarf in the group grunted. "Ain't that the prisoner? How the hell…"

"What was wrong with those guys?" one Warden stammered, interrupting. "Thomas would have never tried to hurt me."

"No. But Lex, that weren't Thomas," the older man said. He looked from the soldier to Dayo, resolution firm on his face. "I think I knew that for a while."

"Corypheus is no longer in his prison," Hawke said, stepping forward. "I was there when he was released." As the soldiers tensed, she held her chin high. "I am Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall. Corypheus has been using you. Brainwashing the mages, and causing the call you all hear. If I were you, I would get out."

At first they were all frozen, but when even one Warden shifted backwards, it was like a dam broke. Lex, the one still pale as a ghost, glanced back as the group hurried back along ramparts towards… freedom? A better chance at living than what was here.

"Some can be reasoned with," Cassandra said, watching their retreat. "That is good news."

"I see a crowd," Stroud said, looking through the gate they stood in front of.

"Shotgun any potions you need now." Dayo quickly chugged her last potion and ran forward, swinging the gate open.

They were just in time to see a figure on stage skewer a waiting Grey Warden through the midsection with a glowing Rift pulsing above them, silent for now. "No!" Dayo screamed and bolted forward, glistening blood swirling in the air around the killer. With her charge, the spell was interrupted, and it all fell to the ground at once.

"Clarel! What have you done?" Stroud shouted at the blood-stained woman, who dropped her knife and picked up her staff. Dorian noted her hands were shaking.

"You all can't really believe this!" Dayo pleadingly spoke with the Grey Wardens. "There's no call. It's Corypheus doing it-that's who Erimond answers to."

"Corypheus?" Clarel turned to Erimond, eyes narrowing. "The ancient one? He was imprisoned."

"He escaped," Hawke said. "I saw it. I am—"

"That's the Champion of Kirkwall!" one of the Wardens interrupted.

"There has to be some way to settle this without fighting all of you. We just want to help!" Dayo pointed at Erimond, who was sweating as the Wardens looked. "You know that blood magic is dangerous. You know that the fact you're all hearing the Call at once is weird. And anybody not under the effects of rad poisoning can see how sketchy this guy is."

"I've trained half of you," Stroud added, stepping forward. "I have always said that being afraid is normal, but you should never let it stop you from doing the right thing."

"All nonsense! This is the only way to end the Blight. These people speak lies, Clarel," Erimond insisted.

"You've come so far, and it seems a waste to turn back now, I know," Dayo pleaded, stepping forward, hands outspread even covered in the grime of battle. "But don't cling to a mistake just because you've invested time into it. Make it right."

"The… the mages," one young man choked after only a moment's pause. "They haven't been right, not since all this." He looked at a mage by his side. The mage looked back, at the same time as his bonded demon. "That's not my friend."

"Like, no shit, Silver Shroud," Dayo muttered besides a very tense Dorian. And just like that, there were murmurs in the crowd. Clarel turned to Erimond, frowning.

He looked between her and the Inquisition. As if sensing an end to his charade, his entire demeanor dropped into a sneer. "Good help is so hard to find," Erimond growled, turning to Dayo. "Corypheus said you might do this. So he loaned me his backup plan." He took his staff and knocked against the ground twice, the ringing sound soon followed by a roar shrieking across the sky. Corypheus' dragon soared over the courtyard, high above them, before making a lazy loop and heading down.

With a further swipe of his hand, Erimond tore open the Rift. A Pride demon fell out, electricity cackling around its fists.

"The dragon!" That was all the warning they got to scramble out of the way before its demonic red attack slammed, crackling, into the ground. Erimond fled, and it took Clarel but a moment to make up her mind. "Aid the Inquisition!" she shouted before herself chasing off after Erimond.

It was chaos.

The courtyard was quickly reduced to a bloody, chaotic, shouting mess, where Dorian's world was full of nothing but the sound of battle cries, sizzling magic, and the thunk of steel into flesh. The turned Mages, their bonds, the Pride demon, all eventually fell. Before the last enemy hit the ground, Dayo was already sprinting up a set of stairs to follow after Clarel and Erimond.

The dragon hounded them at every turn, but thankfully they were going too fast to make easy targets. It was a spiraling nightmare up the true height of the castle, and they were panting hard by the time they surmounted it with a dragon at their heels. They immediately came upon Clarel and Erimond, engaged in deadly magical battle upon a walkway.

Clarel shot up a barrier just in time to deflect a pointed blast of fire, and another, then swung her staff to conjure up flames from her to Erimond in a wave of heat. "You murdered us! You destroyed us!" she hissed, stalking at him with another attack.

He just barely cast a wind spell to counter this one, skin still blistering. Clarel was kicking his ass. Dayo's sprint turned into a jog as she headed out along the walkway. Dorian was close behind, the two flanked by Iron Bull and Cassandra.

"You could have served a new god!" Erimond yelled.

Clarel responded with a searing attack, knocking him backwards with a meaty thwack. He rolled a few times and was then deadly still. "I would never serve the Blight," she snapped at his limp form.

"Fuck yeah!" Dayo cheered, pumping up her fist.

A screaming roar to their right split the air before the dragon followed, wings missing them by feet and biting down into Clarel's midsection with a sickly chomp.

Dayo screamed in anger as the dragon sailed up with her body before swooping back down. It landed hard on the walkway, stones vibrating even from the group's distance. The dragon gave one hard shake of its head before tossing Clarel forward between them. A rumbling growl built ominously in its throat as it stared at Dayo, and the beast's pupils dilated, stalking forward.

"Oh god," Dayo gasped, drawing her pistol. "How is she still moving?"

The dragon moved quick enough to make Dorian's throat close up. Its teeth were the length of his forearm. Dayo aimed, and her weapon exploded by his head as a section of the dragon's skull was gouged out. It barely noticed the impact, and Dorian remembered what she said. Seven bullets left.

Dorian fired his own spells, but the Archdemon dragon seemed to shrug them off as if they were nothing. Dayo knelt, something she'd never done, messing with her bracer, Pip-Boy, using the new stance to steady herself. She seemed to murmur a prayer to herself. Then she fired.

Six, five, four. It hit the dragon's eye twice, but it just pissed it off. After shaking its head, the dragon charged forward faster, red-black flame licking from its mouth. The rest of the group began backing up.

Three, two. A hit to its mouth, but it didn't stop. One.

Her finger clicked on the trigger uselessly. "Shit," Dayo said.

In front of the dragon, Clarel rolled over onto her back and raised her arm.

The dragon jumped, opening its jaws.

Dayo threw her gun.

The air around Clarel crackled and shone unsustainably bright before exploding. The uncontrolled current of energy slammed up into the dragon, collapsing the walkway underneath. The dragon roared, scrambling over the edge and out of sight.

"Run!" yelled Bull as the stones under their feet shook. The wreckage Clarel caused began to spread and the platform began to collapse, and as one the group ran back away from the bridge. For a brief moment, Dorian thought they'd make it, before the stones came apart under his feet and they were pitched into darkness.

The dragon righted itself, soaring away as the rest of them fell. Dorian heard Dayo cry out a wordless roar of defiance before the entire world around him turned green.

Time hung still. Everything faded to black. Was this death? Is this it?

The group landed hard and kicked up a dust cloud, coughing. Dorian heard Dayo groan to his left as the air lit up with noise. Music. Strange music. Dorian raised his head to see Dayo leap to her feet, spinning around as she eyed her surroundings and struggled to maintain her balance.

"I'll love you all your life, though it might not be that long…"

"Oh my god. Oh my god. Fuck me. That's the highway. Those are cars. The Gunner nest."

Dorian sat up in a daze, looking around. It was unlike anything he'd seen before. There were trees like hollowed sticks that rose up with messy branches devoid of growth. The other plants were unhealthy bushes and dry grass. A river ran nearby, though Dorian's instincts warned him against drinking from it. The remains of a comically huge bridge that used to span the river lay in ruins, stretching off into a road of broken stone. And dotting the landscape a few hundred yards away were buildings, decrepit skeletons that also suggested they were a monument to something great and gone. Abandoned, dead, and sinister.

He heard a big grunt and some shuffling, and then Iron Bull was helping him up. Dorian accepted, turning to face him as the merc smoothed a hand down his arm, looking him over. Fussing? "I'm fine," he murmured, grasping Bull's forearms in reassurance. The corded muscles under his palms softened after a beat. "Where… where is that music coming from?"

"When you hear me callout, baby, kick the wall out!"

"Is this the Fade?" Bull asked.

"This isn't any Fade I've seen before," Dorian replied.

"I was on my way to Sanctuary. I slept here. Here was where my campfire was. This has to be where… there's all my shit!" Dayo said excitedly, rushing to one of the nearby sorry excuses for a bush. Under it, and a pile of long-dead leaves, she pulled a large bag. A pistol was strapped to it. It was similar to the one she'd chucked at the dragon, but at least three times larger.

"Damn," Dayo whispered, just barely heard through the crooning voice of the song. "I really am back."

"Where… are we?" Cassandra demanded, shaking her head and standing.

"Why don't you crawl out through the fallout back to me?"

Dayo unzipped the bag and pulled out a large gun, four times the size of her pistol, and stood. She stared into the middle distance with a somber gaze. "Well, if you believe Corypheus…" She swept out her arm and motioned over the wasteland. "Welcome to hell."