PART 1 - AN INTRODUCTION TO KEY PLAYERS (SOME UNKNOWN)

With any good tale, or historical accounting, there are pivotal figures that move the pieces on the grand board that is our home, Thedas. In this section, we will endeavor to introduce you to several persons that have been previously either glazed over, or entirely forgotten.

What's more, we intend to propose to you, dear audience, that these unknown characters in fact were instrumental in a monumental way to the cause and effect of the latter half of the Dragon age. This accounting of ours can be compared to the startling discovery that the Second Inquisition itself learned of its unknown origins in the form of the first Inquisitor Ameridan, his race, and associated parties, such as the Seekers of Truth.

With this being said, it is traditionally known that the Second Inquisition had its initiation by the hands of now-glorified characters such as the Right Hand of the Divine, Cassandra Pentaghast, and the Left Hand, Leliana Nightingale. It is also commonly known that there was a proclaimed Herald of Andraste that had access to a special siphon of magic, known as the Mark. Said individual was then appointed to the leading role of Inquisitor, and led the effort to bring down the frightful darkspawn magister known as Corypheus.

This information is correct at first glance, but this is where we come in, dear reader, and fill in the gaps that became very glaring during our zealous search for the truth. What began as a late night of boredom reading my ancestor's recently unearthed collective works on his involvement in the organization, soon led to many communiqués with the Genitivi family to correlate and verify oftentimes flowery-of-word, and outright exaggerative accounts by my family patriarch to see if they held to the truth we so desire when compared to that of Brother Genitivi's, a scholar of the same time period.

Scribe Caden Genitivi, a person after his ancestor's own heart, soon took the fore of their efforts to re-discover facts that had gathered dust and uninterest, including the fact that both Varric Tethras, and Brother Genitivi, two completely different people in terms of practicality and terms of accuracy, attested to the fact that there was not one, but five persons endowed with the title Inquisitor.

The senior Brother Genitivi, being the humble laymen he was, went on to inscribe that this fact was likely to be lost to the annals of time due to the heroics of these Inquisitors being subject to whims of politics, underexposure of their actions to the general populace, prejudice, or just entropy (inevitable loss of information due to a number of circumstances). This indeed happened, but we are looking to correct the narrative, with the help of historians of the time, and shed light on these persons of interest.

What is even more interesting and simultaneously startling is what is professed by Genitivi and Ancestor Tethras include compiled eyewitness accounts that all five of these "Inquisitors" had the Mark of magic, and actively used this to close the Breach(es) caused by said Mark, exhibiting that they were all cast in and out of the Fade with its blessing - or curse, dependent on how you perceive it. How Veil-shaking, indeed. Your essential question of why did they have multiple Inquisitors will be expounded upon as the narrative progresses.

Additionally, dear reader, you will begin to see a disturbing trend in events as we spin this tale for you, one in particular even we were startled by. Pay close attention, as the resulting revelation will play a pivotal role in the obscurity of this period in history.

Without further ado, may I introduce never before known characters, but all that received the Herald's Mark:

Inquisitor Aden Trevelyan - the most commonly known of the Inquisitors, considered "the" Inquisitor by historical accounts. Charismatic, if not refined; was well received in the courts of Orlais & Ferelden. From the noble, if not powerful Trevelyan line centered in Ostwick, and sent to represent the family's interests at the Grand Conclave. A well-seasoned archer.

Inquisitor Alessa Trevelyan - A Circle mage of high report. Younger sister to Aden Trevelyan, and youngest Inquisitor at nineteen. A pious Andrastian, and considered a model example of the Circle's success, she was sent as a "junior representative" of the next generation of mages at the Conclave, but is suggested to have been manipulated to a significant degree by her superiors for the Circle's gain and good perception.

Inquisitor Cadash - A dwarf Carta smuggler before she received the Herald's Mark and appeared at the Temple of Sacred Ashes. Her first name for now will remain unsaid for narrative continuity's sake.

Inquisitor Ellana Lavellan - A Dalish elf from the Ostwick area. Sent by her tribe to observe the proceedings at the Temple. Self-proclaimed specialties in espionage, alchemy, and stealth.

Inquisitor Oren Adaar - Possibly the most out-of-place in this narrative to some viewers, because of his Qunari race, and random proximity to events. Part of the Valo-Kas mercenary guild, he was hired to provide protection for a Starkhaven noblewomen, and subsequently stumbles upon the plans of Corypheus. A fire/spirit mage who's parents were Tal-Vasthoth, and sent him off after a freak accident that left two locals killed by his unwitting hand.

There will be plenty more to come in terms of details on these enigmatic persons, known as the Council of Inquisitors, and the supplementary characters of the Inquisition, without a doubt dear reader, but it is our desire for this information to be digested in the most pleasurable of ways, through the lens of an epic tale, so as to increase comprehension and sympathy for this trying time that called for unconventional measures.

These people we will speak on and illustrate herein are just like you and me, only unwillingly elevated to a position that demanded quite literally the world from them, and then were cast aside by history and its figures for a convenient narrative. We cannot let it remain so. I believe that the first notable patriarch of my house said it best: "A good story, you don't really write. It was always there. You just uncover it." I would say his words are quite ironic in this context, but ever so true. With this stirring expression, let us move onward to the story.

Let us state one final time the purpose of this book is to shed light on the unknown, but absolutely essential roles these collective "Inquisitors" played, so some general events may be traversed with little ceremony in order to focus on more vague areas that need the light of day. Also, let me inform you that since this is a narrative, while the truth we've discovered will not be tarnished or led astray, the language we use is like any traditional tale you have heard around a comforting fire with your brethren close, or that of an eloquent bard regaling you with his grand and harrowing adventures.

It may seem at junctures that we are taking liberties with our description of events or even the people - but let me remind you my dears that we are all historians, products of what came before, left using a fine comb to create a tapestry out of ruins. Though the final product may not be entirely complete, 'tis beautiful nonetheless.

NOTE by Scribe Caden Genitivi - What my colleague means to enunciate is that though we have extensively gathered evidence from the four corners of Thedas to collectively create a coherent picture of the Second Inquisition and its people, some minute and nuanced aspects can not be completely fleshed out due to lack of us being present in those times - trivial things such as small talk, and banter in general. While we do have a solid overall picture of our subject, it would be impossible to postulate these things without it being transcribed in some form, as is common with any study on past ages. With this being an anthological narrative, we have taken liberties based off the bigger picture with things such as dialogue, to make it more palatable to the reader. Thank you for your understanding.

Alas, my friends, it is time to begin the narrative. May I suggest several candles or your least draining fire spell.

-Scribe Indra Tethras