Shepard flung herself up the hallway ahead of them, following the curve of the tower. She clenched her jaw tightly. She couldn't stop thinking about her crew, about the Fade. Willing her thoughts into order she reached the top of the stairwell, ignoring Alistair's tentative offer of help as she shoved her weight against the door. Her eyes scanned the flesh like structures encircling the room before skirting over to a tall pink barrier shimmering in the center of the space. In its middle a man knelt, rocking back and forth, muttering raggedly under his breath.

"Maker…" Wynne whispered behind her, the old mage surveying the bodies piled around the room with sad eyes before turning to the trapped Templar. "Careful, this could be some new trick from the bloodmages.

Shepard ignored her, turning to approach the man in the barrier. "Hello?" Reaching out she pushed her hand against the cage, the sharp sting of electricity racing up her spine as she did so. She jerked her hand back in annoyance, the subsystems of her suit briefly shorting.

Beside her Leliana pressed up against the barrier, fumbling to reach for her water canteen. "The poor dear. He's been denied food and water, I can tell." Reaching out she pressed the drink against the barrier helplessly. "Rest easy, help is here."

Inside the cage the man jerked, lifting his eyes to bore into theirs. His face was gaunt and pale with fear, his shaking hands reaching to slam against his confinement. "Enough visions! If anything in you is human, kill me now and stop these games! You broke the others but I will stay strong! For my sake, for theirs!" Crumpling to his knees he continued rocking, pleading desperately beneath his breath.

"Makers breath." Alistair came closer, eyes wide. "I've never seen anything like this before."

"He's in bad shape, that's for sure." Shepard agreed. She briefly paced the edge of the barrier before halting before the man. "He's the only Templar left who isn't dead or possessed though. And judging from the sounds coming from that doorway over there, we're going to need all the help we can get." She gestured over her shoulder to the door at the top of the stairs. Screams could briefly be heard dully through the thick wood. "Hello? I'm Com- Shepard." Shaking her head slightly she pressed her fingers against the cage, ignoring the tingle wriggling up her arms. "We're going to get you out of there, okay? Just move back."

Flinching the Templar shied away from her. "What are you…?" His eyes widened as she gestured the others away.

"Stand back Leliana, you too Wynne." Shepard ordered, calling her biotics forward into a barrier. She met the frightened man's gaze with a smile. "Hold tight friend, I'm going to see if we can free you."

Before her he scrambled backwards, mouth gaping as her barrier rippled along her body. "Andraste save me!" He gasped, hands clutching tightly to something in his hand.

Breathing deeply she reached forward, attempting to push her hands through the magic, sweat beading along her brow as it bucked and pulsed in response. Gritting her teeth she focused, funneling her barrier, eyes locked on the tiny separation in the swath of purple.

"Shepard?" Alistair called behind her, worry evident in his voice. She ignored him, gaze locked on the person before her, the fear in his eyes driving her. No one else was going to be tortured today. Not if she could help it. Her head pounded where her amp burned her skin, the buzz of dark energy churning along her body violently. "Shepard?! Shepard stop!" Alistair's voice came as though through a fog, muted and muzzy, until suddenly he was next to her, clutching her arms with his, wrenching her away from the cage.

"What are you doing?" She demanded, whirling to face him, hand still tangled in his. With an abrupt crash they toppled backwards, objects around the room falling to the floor around them. Blinking in surprise she realized she had lifted them.

She flinched as Alistair reached forward, wiping blood from beneath her nose, warm brown eyes staring into hers worriedly. "You were killing yourself." Grasping her arms more firmly in his he shook her slightly. "Are you alright?"

Pulling away from him she scrambled to her feet, ignoring his concerned words. "I'm fine. I know my limits." Brushing off her armor she turned to the man in the cage once more, heaving out a sigh. "Guess you're going to have to stay there a bit longer."

"You… you're real aren't you?" the man asked, standing to press himself closer to them.

Shaking the tingles from her hands she nodded. "I'm sorry I can't free you right now, but I promise, we'll come back and get you." Huffing out a breath at his awed look she shifted her weight, the echo of a scream pressing through the door into the next room making her reach for her gun. One step at a time Shepard. "What's your name Templar?"

"I am Ser Cullen. Are… are you a mage?" Nervously he paced in his confinement, hands clenching and unclenching.

"Cullen." Shepard nodded. "Listen Cullen, I'm not a mage but I need your help. Do you have any idea where the First Enchanter is?"

Flinching he flicked his eyes to the large wooden door. "The Harrowing chamber… the sounds coming from there. Oh, Maker."

Wynne stepped forward, hand reaching to tug Shepard's. "We must hurry. They are in grave danger, I am sure of it."

With a snarl Cullen suddenly pressed closer to the barrier. "You can't save them. You don't know what they've become."

Shepard shifted to watch him, regarding his fevered eyes and shaking hands cautiously. "What do you mean?."

"They have been surrounded b-by blood mages whose wicked fingers snake into your mind and corrupt your thoughts. You have to end it now, before it's too late!"He shouted. Pausing she met his eyes steadily. She really didn't know anything about mages did she? Turning to the others she cocked her head in question.

Sensing her hesitance Alistair spoke up. "His hatred of mages is so intense. The memory of his friends' deaths are still fresh in his mind. I wouldn't be taking him at his word if I were you. Corruption is possible, of course but…." he shrugged. "There is always hope."

Leliana shifted nervously. "As Alistair said there is always hope, but as we have seen in this tower, anyone can fall when pushed hard enough."

Immediately Wynne scowled. "Nonsense. The mages of this tower are some of the strongest in Thedas. I have no doubt we will find those uncorrupted inside."

Glancing at Alistair from the corner of her eyes Shepard murmured softly, "Alistair, you're the ex-Templar here, tell me what I should be doing."

She watched as his brown eyes assessed the room around them, flicking to the large wooden door leading to the Harrowing chamber. After a pause he turned to her, eyebrow quirked. "We can always whack them if they are all evil maleficarum can't we?"

Wynne sputtered in rage as Shepard nodded in return.

Turning she quickly strode towards the door, checking the seal on her gauntlets as she moved. "Rest easy friend," she told the Templar. "It will all be over soon." Climbing the short staircase she glanced at those around her, unclipping her helmet from her waist. "Everyone ready?" At the soft chorus of assent she grasped her shotgun from her back, pressing her hands against the door.

"No one ever listens, not until it's far too late." Cullen muttered ominously behind them, his words sending a chill racing down her spine, as with a heave she shoved the heavy wood aside, and strode into hell.