-1-
T'was morning, and the bold heroic band
Saw Phoebus flaming on the Frostback height,
Against all darkness ready for to stand.
Grey Warden Wolfram, first a mage of might,
Whose duty now is all the Darkspawn Blight;
With Morrigan, fair Witch of Southern Wild;
And Alistair, once trained a Templar Knight;
Last Leliana, lithe and wilful child;
Together sought a temple by black rites defiled.
-2-
Therein they hoped to find the sacred urn
Which did the ashes of Andraste hold:
Great Prophetess, from whom all hearts will learn
The might of their one Maker. Out she told
His star-exceeding splendour, which of old
Shone forth freely on the eyes of men
From his high seat and citadel of gold
Now emptied by our treason. Black since then,
But by Andraste's teaching may be bright again
-3-
Should Elf and Man and mighty Tal-Vashoth
From dwarven depth to foremost mountain height
Proclaim the Maker's glory, and his wrath
At his corrupted creatures, which yet spite
The hand that hewed them from the rock of night
And offer not the worship which they owe
Till every tongue confess the Chant of Light.
Religion which Andraste first did show
But nourished from her fatal ashes soon did grow
-4-
Since Maferath her husband turned aside
From justice, and his blessed wife betrayed
Who in the fires of her foemen died.
In heart of black Tevinter logs were laid,
Which once in righteous vengeance she did raid.
Archon Hessarian beheld her burn
Till he perceived the error he had made
And pierced her heart with sword. So sharp his turn
He let the faithful seal her remnants in rich urn.
-5-
Her ashes with such virtue were endowed
That any sickness howsoever grave
It would dispell, as wind drives out the cloud.
So sick at heart was Redcliffe's Lord, the brave
Arl Eamon, whom our heroes sought to save
That he the Traitor-Regent might oppose
And stand against the rank upswelling tide
Of Darkspawn from the deeps of earth. Such foes
To fight, no better friend than Eamon Wolfram knows.
-6-
To Haven village had their quest now led
High upraised in mountains, lone and drear,
With streets unpeopled and with altars red
From griesly sacrifice. Controlling fear,
They onwards pressed upon the pathways sheer
Through snow and savage ambush, till at last
They saw the great stone gateway standing near.
Full firmly was the portal sealed and fast,
Nor strength nor spell could move that mountain-door so vast.