Origins of Amell:

The Imperial city was the capital of Divina. The city was located on an Island in the middle of Divina's large lake known as Lake Rumare. The city was built way back during the founding of Divina and some said that the city may have been captured by elves who once settled the land but those records have been lost to History. The city itself was very large and was a circle shape with 6 districts that surround the Palace district known as the Green Emperor Way, the Palace District was home to a large graveyard where the dead are buried and small tombs and also to the Imperial Palace, the home of the royal family and the council known as the Elder Council and the Upper parts of the Tower were home to a very secretive part of the Empire, the Moth Priests who guarded the Elder Scrolls of the Empire. The Elder Scrolls were artifacts of Ancient Knowledge who told the Past, Present and Future, only moth priests could read them and even then it took years of preparing.

The 6 main districts surrounded the Palace District, there was the Market District which was what the name suggested the market of the Imperial City where traders from all over Divina would open shops and stores and people would buy good. The Markey District shop keepers slept in their shops which were also houses and stall owners would sleep in rented apartments. Then there was the Elven Gardens district, a pleasant Residential complex with fine gardens but this was not the richest part of the city that was the Talos Plaza District which was home to mansions where the nobility had homes or estates if they were from outside the city and also to the expensive Tiber Septim Hotel and a statue of the Divine Akatosh in his Dragon Avatar. Then there was the Temple District, home to the Imperial City's Temple of the One which was founded by Saint Alessia, the sister of Andraste and where many of the city's residents would go any prey. Then there was the grand gardens known as the Arboretum which had no one living but was instead a grand garden filled with trees, flowers and the statues of each of Divina's nine Divines. The Arboretum was where residents would go to take a stroll. The final District in the main City was the Arena District which was home to the Imperial City Arena, a gladiator arena where people would come and fight and gamblers would come to gamble on who would win. This was a favourite place for Grey Wardens of Divina to come and find recruits. There were three more Districts in the Imperial City but they were outside the main walls. There was the Imperial City Prison which was a dark Prison complex and also the headquarters of the Imperial Legion, the army of Divina. The Prison was located North East of the main city. Then there was the Waterfront located South West of the city, this was the poorest part of the city and was full of cutthroats and beggars but it was home to a small harbour. Lake Rumare had a small river which connected to the Waking Sea at the small port town of Bravil and there were warehouses for shipping companies. Then the final district was the Arcane University, the headquarters of the Mages Guild of Divina and where our story begins, located South East of the main city.

The Arcane University was the home of the Mages Guild. The University had smaller walls around the complex and had several buildings as well as a large tower, small than the Imperial City's large White Gold Tower but still quite tall. This small tower was the home of the Mage Council which were Mages elected to help guide Divina and the study of magic as well as decide of what types of Magic were banned.

Outside the tower were several small buildings which held the study rooms for the Mages of the University. The first small building was the Praxographical Centre which held the alters of Spellmaking and was where Mages would help create their own spells. Then there was the Mystic Archives which was the library of the University. This library held many ancient tomes which date back to before the Chantry and these tomes would be destroyed if the Chantry got their hands of them. The next building was the Mage Quaters which was nothing special, it was the area where many of the Mages who were lower rank would sleep and spend time to themselves. There was an Imperial Watchtower in the University which only Imperial Battlemages on the Legion could visit. Then there was the practice rooms where Mages would practise their different types of Magic. The Enchantment building was one of the most commonly used rooms as they enchanted weapons to use in the army and was better known as the Chironasium. The last building was known as the Lustratorium which was where alchemists would practise making medicine and potions as well as research the different uses of plants and ingredients. There were also rare ingredients that were stored in the rooms but you had to have permission to use them. There was a garden outside the Lustratorium where common plants were grown for ingredients. Mages would have lectures in the gardens and would learn all they could until they became a registered mage and then they would go onto a range of different roles. Some Mages would go on to become Battlemages, Healer, enchanters and some would become Scholars and help learn things about the past.

There were many Mages at the University and different teachers. There were even elven Mages who had come from the University of Halamshiral, the Elven capital of the Dales and students transferred between the two Universities due to the close alliance. One Mage who studied at the tower was 18 year old Solona Amell. She was the daughter of Aristide Amell, an arcane advisor to the royal family. House Amell had originally been from the Free March States and had been one of the most powerful of the noble families. But when the Chantry started imposing stricter laws when their influence in the Free Marches began to fall, House Amell fled since their blood was full of magic. After years in Divina rebuilding, House Amell became one of the royal magical advisors. Solona Amell was the only daughter of Aristide Amell and she was described as a beautiful woman with long Raven Black hair that went down her back and sparkling sapphire blue eyes. She wore a Yellow Mage's robe since she was a higher ranked apprentice in the University. Solona wasn't someone who spent time with boys though many boys did have a crush on her which most of the time, Solona ignored the stares.

Currently, Solona was in the Mystic Archives where she was reading a book on dragons. Solona's main topic was dragons and the study of them. Even when she was a young girl, Solona had loved dragons and reading about how great they were. She read all about the different species of dragons and how they were adapted to their natural habitat. She was reading when she was interrupted by someone. It was a young man of 17 years old with short black hair and he wore a blue Apprentice robe. Solona recognised him as her friend Jowan. Jowan had barely managed to get a place at the University and he was looked down by some because he was common born but Solona still tried to help him.

"Is everything all right Jowan?" Solona asked

"Everything's fine Sol" Jowan replied "It's just the Council has asked to see you. They say that it's very important."

Solona sighed "All right, I'll go see them" she said and as she stood up from her chair, she noticed a book in Jowan's hands "What's that?"

"Oh this" Jowan said suspiciously "It's just a book I got from the Achieves."

Solona was suspicious at Jowan's tone and so she took the book from Jowan's hands and looked at it before she glared at Jowan "Necromancer's Moon?" she hissed "Jowan this book is from the restricted section, you're not allowed to have this book unless you're a senior Mage. It has forbidden Magic in it. Necromancy is evil and against the laws of this kingdom and the laws of nature."

"I may have dabbed in Necromancy but I thought it would make me a better Mage" Jowan admitted "I thought that it would make me a better mage."

"Arch Mage Traven outlawed Necromancy since it was dark Magic" Solona gasped at him "If anyone from the council found out that you were practicing Necromancy then they would execute you." Jowan widened his eyes at that "You're lucky that we live in Divina, the rest of Thedas is not like our Kingdom, the Chantry rules over many people more than their Kings actually do. Templers watch Mages and many are abusive and don't see Mages as people. Mages are forced into schools which are little better than Prisons, at least here we are allowed to leave the Tower and visit our family. Promise me Jowan, don't dabble in Necromancy again, I may not be able to protect you." Solona then left the Mystic Achieves as Jowan watched on.

Solona soon came to the base of the Tower where the Mage Council was housed. This Tower was shaped like the other Watchtowers of the city which were like miniature versions of the White Gold Tower, only this one had a cone roof. Visitors and the Apprentices were allowed in the ground floor of the Tower. But the upper floors were strictly for the Mage Council or visitors who had been invited by the Mage Council. The top floor which was the arch Mage Quarters was strictly off limits and only the Arch Mage or people with the Arch Mage's permission could enter that room. There was also an orrery in the basement of the Tower was used to study the stars. When Solona entered the Tower, she was greeted by Master Wizard Raminus Polus who was one of the high members of the guild and he would handle meetings with visitors.

"Ah, Solona Amell, I see you have arrived" Raminus greeted

"I was told that the Arch Mage wanted to see me" Solona replied

"He does indeed as so do the rest of the Council" Raminus said "Take the portal to the next floor, Arch Mage Traven is waiting for you with the rest of the council."

The portals were magical transportation which allowed the Mages to travel to each floor of the Tower. Solona quickly stood on the portal and she was taken to the next floor of the Tower where she was able to find the Council Meeting room where the Mage Council was waiting for her. All of the members were sitting along a large table with Arch Mage Traven sitting at the far end. On the long sides, sitting next to Traven were senior Mages Irlac Jarol and Caranya.

Also on the table was Senior Mage Irving along with Uldred and Wynne. Solona knew these three better than the other members of the council since they tended to take apprentices from time to time. Irving had taught Solona a few things about magic and he was an old man with greying hair and a bushy beard. Wynne was like a grandmother to many; she was a skilled Healer and knew a good amount of Spirit Magic. She had taken another apprentice known as Colette Marence as her apprentice Healer. Colette was a fast talker and funny at times since she didn't make sense most of the time. Uldred was one of the creepier members of the Council, he was bald and had a sinister reputation and Solona never felt comfortable around him. She felt better around other council members like Tolfdir or Phinis Gestor who were only minor members of the Council. There were two more members of the council; there was the 2nd in command of the Council, Mirabelle Ervine and the Commander of the Battlemages, Commander Greigor.

"Ah Young Solona Amell, I suppose you are wondering why we have asked to see you?" Traven said "Well the reason we called you is because we need your help."

Commander Greigor spoke up "King Calian has called the armies to Ostagar to fight the threat of the Darkspawn and portions of the Battlemages are going. We were hoping that you could convince your brother to go with them. He is one of the best Battlemages we have and he would be a great help to the army. And Irving recommended that you went as well."

"But Arch Mage" Solona protested "I'm not a fighter I'm more of a scholar"

"And your knowledge on dragons might help us defeat the Archdemon which is a dragon god, one of Tevinter's Old Gods. Commander Duncan said that an expert on Dragons might prove useful." Irving said to her.

"I know you can do it child" Wynne said to her "It may be scary but everyone is scared at the Darkest Hour."

"Senior Mages Uldred and Wynne will be going to the Tower along with Colette, Tolfdir and Mirabelle." Traven said "Wynne and Uldred will assist the Healers while Tolfdir and Uldred will help with the soldiers."

"Commander Greigor will be coming with me to help with the Battlemages." Mirabelle said

"I'm leaving Cullen in charge of the Battlemages that are staying here, he is a very skilled Battlemage and I'm sure he is up to this" Greigor replied

Cullen was a Battlemage who came from the Village of Honnleath; he had graduated a few years ago and was now one of the more skilled Battlemages in the order.

Solona sighed "All right, I will come, but I can make no promises on if I can convince my Brother to come with us"

"That's all we ask" Traven said

...

After Solona left the Meeting, she went over to the Imperial city where her family lived. The Amell family had an estate in the Talos Plaza District. This district was named after Tiber Septim, the hero who founded Divina after defeating Alduin the World Eater at the Throat of the World in the Frostback Mountains. Tiber would rise to Godhood under one of the names he used during his wars, General Talos and he would become the God of War and People. The Talos Plaza District was filled will large mansions surround a small statue of the Divine Akatosh in his dragon Avatar. Solona's family had one of the larger mansions of the District and Solona imminently went over and she went inside her house where she was greeted by her brother Daylen. Daylen Amell had the same hair as Solona's only his only went to his shoulders and he had green eyes instead of blue. Daylen was also Solona's twin brother so they looked very similar with their hair and Daylen always swore to protect Solona from danger. They embraced when they saw each other.

"It's good to see you again brother" Solona greeted

"I'm glad to see you too" Daylen smiled and then he released his sister "So what are you doing here, I thought you would be back at the University with your studies"

"I was" Solona replied "But Arch Mage Traven asked me to speak with you. He was hopping I could convince you to go with Greigor and the other Battlemages to Ostagar with the army. Irving said that you're one of the best Battlemages he had seen and thought your help would be valuable."

Daylen looked a little conflicted "I doubt mother is going to be happy, she always swore to protect us."

"She's acting like any mother would" Solona said "She wants us safe from harm."

Daylen sighed "I guess we should go and meet with our parents."

So the two of them walked up to the second floor of the mansion. The Amell family were quite wealthy and they had a lot of silverware and fine furniture. Their father, Aristide Amell along with their mother, Revka Amell, were both located in the Amell study. The study had relics of their ancestors such as robes and staves of previous family members. These Robes were relics to the Amells as many of the Amells had served the Emperor of Divina as arcane advisors and they had a seat on the Elder Council despite the fact that they had no titles but they were good advisors and the Amells were not power hungry like some families. The Amells were also known for their dislike of the Chantry and that was easy to tell since they were a family who had to flee the Chantry.

Solona and Daylen found their father, Aristide Amell sitting at his desk with some papers along with their mother Revka Amell. Aristide Amell was a tall man with short black hair that was turning grey and their mother was also middle aged and looked like an older version of Solona though her hair was also greying and was shorter. Aristide Amell had fought in the War against Orlais when he was a young Apprentice and had been a fighter at the Battle of River Dane and a survivor of the Western Hills and had been with Torygg when he had managed to escape and became good friends and after the war's end, he became the arcane advisor and had been against peace with Empress Celene. Aristide was viewed as a Hero by Divina and as a menace by the Chantry, Aristide was well known across Orlais, Neverra and the Free Marches for condemning the Chantry and the Templers and Aristide claimed that the Chantry will never set foot in Divina or the Dales. Aristide had resigned from his position after Torygg's death as like many nobles, he saw Calian as a child.

Despite Aristide's cold attitude to the Chantry, he loved his family and did everything to make sure that his son Daylen was ready to become the next lord of the Amell family. Revka and Aristide also loved each other as they had met during the war, Revka had been a Healer and had saved Aristide after he was badly wounded by an Orlesian Captain during the Battle of River Dane. Both older Amells smiled when they saw their children enter the study.

"Ah Solona, Daylen" Aristide greeted "I did not expect you to come here."

"It's good to see you" Solona greeted as she hugged her mother and then her father as he stood up from his chair.

"What are you doing here Solona?" Revka asked "I know you sometimes visit during your studies at the University but there must be a reason why you came to see us when your father is working."

Solona sighed and she tried to find the right words to explain to her parents "Arch Mage Traven sent me." She admitted "He wants me to convince Daylen to go with the Commander Greigor and the Battlemages to Ostagar claiming that he will be valuable help."

Revka looked horrified "They want my son to fight those monsters who give no mercy!" she gasped "I will not allow my son to risk death."

"Mother!" Daylen snapped "It's alright, I want to go."

"But son, you may be killed!" Revka protested

"I've always dreamt of becoming a Great Battlemage just like father was during the war, if our family is to keep standing then we have to show Divina that we fight for them when we need us. I'm one of the more skilled Battlemages, this is my duty to both my family and my kingdom."

Aristide smiled "You're just like me when I was your age" he said "You can go but I want you to remember, don't act reckless and don't try to be the Hero, when I tried that it almost got me killed at the Battle of River Dane. I would be dead if it wasn't for my dear Revka" Revka smiled at her.

"Well there is more" Solona admitted "Traven wants me to go as well."

"Wait what!" Revka hissed "What for, you're not a fighter."

"Well Irving thinks that my knowledge on Dragons could come in handy if the Archdemon arrives, it is a Old God soul inside a Dragon and they think that my knowledge might help. I will only be an advisor not a fighter."

"So I have to risk you both" Aristide sighed "All right, but you are not going without my help" he then walked over to an old cabinet and took out two staves and two sets of robes. He gave Daylen a large Black staff with a dragon head carved into the tip and a set blue male Mage's robes "This Staff is one that our ancestors used" he explained "It was used to sent a wall of fire at enemies and I used this staff myself during the War, it might come in handy. These robes were ones that have been in our family for generations. They are known as the Reaper's Vestments and it heavily enchanted to protect the user in battle. It will come in handy in you're fighting" Then he handed Solona another Staff that was yellow and also had a dragon head carved on though the shape was different and she was handed a set of red female mage robes which were almost like a dress "This staff and robes are the same and they will help you."

"Thanks dad" Solona said and then she hugged him

"Just remember what I said" Aristide replied "Don't act like a Hero; don't fight for glory but fight for this kingdom and its people."

"And promise that you will come back alive" Revka cried and then she hugged her children and gave them a sad wave as they left the house.

...

During the trip back to the University, Solona decided that she needed to go into one of the small caves that were on the City Island. The island where the Imperial City was on was filled with underground caves that had been made by Giant Rats or Skeevers and also by the savage goblins that hid underground. These Goblins were little green people and were considered savages and vermin by people and while they never really come out of their caves, they are often slaughtered when a new settlement is built near a Goblin cave to avoid raids. Many of these Caves had been cleared of Goblins and sometimes outlaws or thieves would hide in them. This cave that Solona went into was only a small cave but it was still quite big but there was a reason why Solona went into the Cave.

"Hey Scales" Solona called as she entered the cave with a large torch "Are you here?"

There was a loud screech and something flew towards Solona, when Solona showed the light, it was revealed to be a dragon or a small dragon. When a mother dragons lays its eggs, many eggs are laid and many dragonlings hatch but very few survive as they fight each other for food and very few Dragons will ever reach Adulthood and become the massive High Dragons as they are called. Solona's dragon was small for a dragon but was still much bigger than Solona. The dragon had red scales and was quite friendly towards Solona, she had fought the dragon egg a few years ago and she had always been interested in dragons so she had brought the egg here to raise the baby dragon herself. This wasn't really against the rules of the University since there was no rule saying that she couldn't do this but she preferred to keep it secret. This cave also had a natural spring for water and was filled with large rats for the dragon to eat and Solona sometimes brought back deer or rabbits that she had killed to feed the dragon.

"It's good to see you again" Solona smiled as she rubbed the dragon's head and the dragon cooed and purred as she stroked it "I'm afraid I'm leaving for a while, I have to fight some evil monsters in the South." The dragon looked concerned and rubbed it's head against Solona "I know but I can't bring you along" Solona knew that her dragon was concerned for her "You're too young to fight those monsters and you can barely fly at all." Solona had tried to help the dragon fly but its wings were still developing but they were getting somewhere. But then the dragon began to growl "What is it bud?" she asked and then she heard voices and looked to the cave entrance "Uh oh, looks like we're about to have visitors, quick, hide!" The dragon quickly went and hid on the ceiling of the cave.

Then the figures entered and Solona sighed when she heard the voices of her brother Daylen along with Arch Mage Traven and Irving.

"Why would she come here?" Daylen wondered "And who was she talking to?"

"I think we're about to find out" Irving smiled and he spotted Solona "It's okay Solona you can show us your friend."

"What friend?" Solona spluttered "I was just talking to myself."

Traven laughed "We mean your friend that is hiding on the roof of the cave"

Solona gasped and then there was a rumble as her dragon flew onto the cave floor and began growling at her "It's okay, they're friends" Solona confronted and her dragon stopped growling.

"In all my years I have never seen a dragon react kindly like that" Irving muttered impressed

Solona gave a nervous laugh "I found a Dragon Egg and I decided to raise the dragon as part of my studies to learn about dragons" she confessed as she rubbed the dragon's nose.

"So you break University rules" Daylen chuckled and Solona glared at him

"There were no rules against this" she snorted "And I've been training him so that he doesn't get aggressive, but he is still young."

"So you're leaving him while you go to Ostagar?" Traven questioned

"Well I don't have much choice" Solona admitted "He still can't fly well and I'm not sure on how he does with breathing fire"

The dragon heard her and turned away from Solona before breathing a huge column of fire against the wall away from them though they still took cover because of the heat. When the fire died down, Irving, Traven, Daylen and Solona all looked at the dragon in shock as it turned its head back to Solona and nudged her.

"I think that your dragon friend wants to go" Daylen said

"And I'm sure that your dragon will prove to be useful to you in the battle" Traven confessed "I wonder what King Calian will say about having a dragon to fight alongside him."

Solona looked at them "I guess we will have to wait and see" she said "I guess we should go find Commander Greigor now, he can be very impatient"

"He was quite cross when you didn't turn up" Daylen admitted "He wants the Battlemages to leave now, let's go see him and get to Ostagar before he loses his temper even more.

Solona gave a nervous laugh and then he helped her dragon leave the cave while Irving and Traven watched on.

"Good luck you two" Irving said

"Do you think they will be alright?" Traven asked him

"I just have this feeling that Divina is about to face more than Darkspawn or the Chantry." Irving claimed "I remembered when the Chantry occupied us, it was horrible as their Chantry Priests would order us to convert to the Maker or face punishment. When we refused many were burnt alive and the countryside became a place of slaughter, commoners were rising up and killing the Priests. It's no wonder that most here want the Chantry to crumble. But I have a feeling that Divina is about to face it's darkest threat and I don't think it's the Darkspawn or the Chantry."

Traven looked at him in wonder, as Arch Mage Traven had outlawed the use of Necromancy to raise the dead or extent life, the use of soul gems had become illegal unless bought from the Mages Guild, Traven was now worried about what Irving had said "Well if Solona and Daylen are able to stop this, then they will need help."

Chapter end:

Notes: Well here's the next chapter of the Divine Empire. Thanks to Kingsoud who restored my confidence in this story and now we are getting on with the story and I have thought of a plot for Origins and we will not just be seeing Darkspawn or the civil war, but for now we will just be describing the character origins and while we will see every origin, not every character will be a Grey Warden. The next chapter will be on the Three Elven Origins. One last thing, I need a name for Solona's dragon which will play a major role in the story.