Upon entering the tower Ezra saw two templars speaking to one another. He was only able to catch the end of their conversation though.
"...and I want two men stationed within sight of the doors at all times. Do not open the doors without my express consent. Is that clear?" the Templar, most likely the one in charge, said.
"The doors are barred. Are they keeping people out? Or in?" Alistair said quietly.
"Now we wait, and pray," the lead Templar said.
"What's going on here?" Ezra asked glancing around. It seemed like the templars had been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.
"We are dealing with a very delicate situation. You must leave, for your own safety."
"We cannot. The mages have an obligation to help the Grey Wardens fight in the Blight."
"I am weary of the Grey Wardens' ceaseless need for men to fight the darkspwan, but it is their right." The Templar sighed. "You'll find no allies here. The templars can spare no men, and the mages are...indisposed. I shall speak plainly: The tower is no longer under our control."
"What do you mean?" Alistair asked.
"Abominations and demons stalk the tower's halls. The Circle is lost. The tower has fallen."
"Sounds like the templars haven't been doing their jobs," Morrigan teased.
"My men did what they could, but it wasn't enough. They took us by surprise. We were prepared for one or two abominations-not the horde that fell upon us." The templar shook his head.
"Why haven't you rallied your men and killed them all?" Ezra questioned.
"I would destroy the tower, raze it to the ground, but I cannot risk more of my men. The doors remain shut and they will protect us for now."
"And you shut everyone in there? Including innocent mages?" Leliana asked disapproving of the decision.
"Not just mages, but my templars also. I had no choice. The abominations must be contained at all costs," the templar said his voice filled with regret. "We do not mean for the doors to stay closed forever. Everything in the tower must be eliminated. I have sent word to Denerim, calling for reinforcements and the Right of Annulment."
"What does that mean?" Ezra asked. All this Circle stuff was new to him, back in his clan mages were trained by other mages. There was no need for templars or towers.
"The mages are probably already dead. Any abominations remaining in there must be dealt with no matter what," Alistair explained.
"This situation is dire. There is no alternative-everything in the tower must be destroyed so it can be made safe again!" The templar did not seem to mind killing everything and everyone but Ezra did.
"The mages are not defenseless. Some must still live though," Ezra said to the templar.
"If any are still alive, the Maker Himself has shielded them." The templar paused. "No one could have survived those monstrous creatures. It is too painful to hope for survivors and find...nothing."
"I'll look for survivors," Ezra stated.
"I assure you, an abomination is a force to be reckoned with, and you will face more than one," the templar told him.
"I'm confident in my abilities."
"If you succeed, I would owe you much, enough that I would pledge my templars to your cause. Without word from Denerim, I must determine our course. Surely destroying darkspawn is a worth goal." This is what Ezra wanted to hear from the templar leader and was very glad about it.
"So we have an agreement then?"
"A word of caution...once you cross that threshold, there is no turning back. The great doors must remain barred. I will open them for no one until I have proof that it is safe," the templar warned them. "I will only believe it is over if the first enchanter stands before me and tells me it is so. If Irving has fallen...then the Circle is lost, and must be destroyed. May Andraste lend you her courage, whatever you decide."
Ezra turned to face his party now.
"Well, what do you three think?" he asked.
"We should help them. We have already faced abominations have we not? We may be the only ones who can help," Leliana said.
"And what if we can't? What if we die in the process? Shall we just leave all of Thedas to the mercy of the Blight?" Alistair reasoned.
"Just because some of us aren't confident in our abilities doesn't mean the rest of are. I say we do what we can," Morrigan said not missing a chance to take a jab at Alistair. Everyone stared at her for a moment with shock. "What are you all staring at?"
"You," Ezra said. "I thought you'd be the last one willing to help the Circle of Magi."
"Why because I am an apostate?"
"No, because you're you. Most of the time you don't seem to keen on helping people," Alistair told her.
"Everyone is full of surprises." And with that Morrigan walked towards the heavy doors. The rest of the party looked at each other as if to say 'I guess we're helping then' and followed suit.
The four of them walked through the doors and once on the other side the doors were shut and barred behind them. Now they were on their own.