Maxwell took a seat at the table and Cassandra passed him the basket of rolls. Varric was pestering Blackwall again. "So it was just you, alone in the vast wilderness?"
Blackwall helped himself to some ham. "What are you on about?"
"The lone wanderer, searching the world. What's he trying to find? Love? Absolution?"
"Try 'someone with a strong arm and a stronger will to fight darkspawn.'"
Varric waved a sausage around as though it were a conductor's wand. "Yes, but what does that represent?"
"Wanting to kill more darkspawn."
"You're just like Sebastian." Varric bit the sausage in half.
"You do realise that if you don't tell him, he's just going to make something up," Theron said.
"He'll make something up even if I do tell him," Blackwall countered.
Sera and Iron Bull were apparently having a discussion about Qunari women, wondering if they were all fit like Adaar. The look on Sera's face was slightly disturbing. Dorian was going back and forth between being amused by Varric's needling of Blackwall and giving Cassandra a contemplative look.
Cassandra finally glared at Dorian. "Why are you looking at me like that, Dorian?"
He grinned. "I'm imagining what you would look like…" He looked her up and down. "In a dress."
She shook her head at him and made a disgusted noise. "If my uncle can't put me in one neither shall you."
Evelyn was wondering through the ramparts and then suddenly bumped into Cullen. She had a feeling that it wasn't coincidence, but he looked genuinely surprised that she did.
"It's a nice day," he said.
"What?" she frowned.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "It's…" He looked away. "Was there something you wished to discuss?"
There were a thousand things they needed to discuss. She didn't really want to talk about any of them. "Cullen, I…" She sighed.
"What's wrong?" He started to put a hand on her arm, and then drew it back nervously.
"You left the templars, but do you trust mages? Could you think of me as anything more?" Maker, she felt like an idiot saying it out loud.
"I could." She blinked and stared up at him. He blushed. "I mean, I do…" He shifted his weight from foot to foot and ran a hand down his face. "Think of you. And what I might say in this sort of situation."
"What's stopping you?"
"Your brother is the Inquisitor. We're at war. And you…" He met her eyes. "I didn't think it was possible."
She caught his hand. "And yet I'm still here."
"So you are…" He stepped towards her. "It seems too much to ask." He ran the knuckles of his other hand down her cheek, his touch feather-light. "But I want to—"
Evelyn leaned forward as he bent his head towards hers.
"Commander!" Both of them froze. Cullen stepped back from her and glanced at the voice. A messenger was walking towards them, looking at the parchment he was carrying in his hands. "You wanted a copy of Sister Leliana's report."
"What?" Cullen stepped away from her, his voice harsh. Evelyncould feel her cheeks reddening.
"Sister Leliana's report. You wanted it delivered 'without delay'." The messenger finally looked up. He blinked. He looked at her for a moment, and then looked at Cullen. Cullen took a step towards him, and the messenger's eyes widened as he took a step backwards. "Or…" The young man looked absolutely terrified. "To your office…" The messenger glanced at her again, and somehow his eyes managed to widen even further. "Right…" He fled like the Archdemon was on his heels.
She looked down at her feet. "If you need to—"
Cullen cut her off by grabbing her and kissing her soundly. She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss. They stood there for a few seconds or a thousand years, lost in each other.
Then he stepped back. "I'm sorry…" He swallowed. "That was…" He managed to meet her eyes. "Um…" He smiled. "Really nice."
"You don't regret it, do you?" She gazed into his eyes.
"No. No. Not at all." He leaned in to kiss her again.
"Report."
"We've received an urgent request from Orzammar," said Josephine. "A subterranean earthquake has collapsed one of their lyrium mines, and collapsed several seals that were holding the darkspawn at bay. It's also opened up a fissure to the surface."
"We need to get down there at once," said Maxwell. "Have our engineers arrange something to get us down that fissure."
"At once, Inquisitor."
"I'll come with you," said Erdic. "This earthquake could damage lyrium supply lines all across Thedas and we need lyrium more than anyone."
"Agreed," said Maxwell.
"Inquisitor." Scout Harding waved. "The workers are almost done building a lift to the Deep Roads. No darkspawn trouble yet, but the earthquakes have been brutal."
"I was told to meet a Shaper Valta."
"She's waiting below. You won't see an Orzammar dwarf on the surface. They have rules about that."
"You'd think with so many of us here, they'd relax the restrictions," said Erdic.
"If anything, the Breach business has made them even more cautious."
Maxwell nodded. "From your tone, I'd guess Orzammar isn't your favorite place."
"I don't have an opinion. 'Cloudgazers' like me and Erdic aren't allowed in the city."
"There are ways in," Erdic smirked. "They just aren't advertised."
They then made their way to the lift that the engineers had created. It didn't look safe or sturdy, but unfortunately it was the only way to get down into the fissure. One by one they stepped onto the left natural look down into the endless abyss below.
"Try not to shift around—and keep back from the edge. It's a long way down." Scout Harding waved as the lift started to descend.
"This reminds me of a story," said Varric.
Erdic raised an eyebrow. "Shocking."
"It's about an impossibly handsome dwarf and his friend who got crowned King of the Nugs."
Maxwell looked down at him. "A nug king, really?"
Varric shrugged. "It's not as good as it sounds. Nugs mostly just shit on the floor and roll in it." He then waved his hand dramatically. "Welcome to the Deep Roads."
Solas just gaze and marvel at the lift. "Dwarves cannot dream, yet they devise the most fascinating inventions."
"Not all ideas come from the Fade," Ellana pointed out, she had insisted on coming along with them when she heard Solas was joining them.
Solas nodded. "True. But these designs must be inspired by something."
"We should be wary of raw lyrium," said Cassandra.
"I'm more worried about finding darkspawn," said Maxwell.
Cassandra chuckled. "Neither is a pleasing prospect."
Blackwall looked a bit green at the movement of the lift. "Always wondered if I'd die down here."
"You're not dead yet," Erdic pointed out.
"The day's just starting."
They found Shaper Valta performing some kind of funeral rite over the wrapped bodies of several dwarves. She was back away in the shadows. "Korut… Magarl… Novric… Your names will not be forgotten," she said as she scribbled on her clipboard.
"You must be Shaper Valta," said Maxwell as they approached.
"Atrast vala, Inquisitor. The Shaperate welcomes you to the Deep Roads."
"You look as though you're hiding from something."
"As a citizen of Orzammar, even a glimpse of your sky could cost me my position and render me casteless."
Erdic crossed his arms and looked Valta. "Orzammar deals with darkspawn all the time. Why request Inquisition's help?"
"The Legion isn't prepared for this level of disaster, and the Grey Wardens haven't answered our call for aid," said Valta. "Our Commander has managed to prevent us from being overrun by the darkspawn, but even she's been overwhelmed. Any threat to the flow of lyrium requires immediate response. The Inquisition is the only force we can rely on."
Maxwell was a surprise that the Grey Wardens hadn't been sent to help, they were after all hunting down demons and red templars that were under the command of an ancient darkspawn. Faren clearly hadn't got the message or else he would have sent help.
Maxwell questioned the woman about Orzammar and the Shaperate, and then the ground began to rumble. Valta threw herself forward, taking herself and Maxwell out of the way of falling boulders. Ellana and Solas quickly formed a barrier preventing smaller rocks from hitting the others.
"Apologies for pushing you," Valta said as she climbed back to her feet. "I fear the damage that tremor caused. Follow me to the Legion camp."
They followed Valta towards the camp mayhem got very far when the ground began to shake again.
"Keep your eyes open," said Valta. "These roads are dangerous."
Valta's words spoke true when a heavily armoured ogre appeared out of nowhere.
"An ogre!" Valta yelled jumping before it got a chance to ram her.
"I hate the Deep Roads," said Varric as he pulled out Bianca.
Ellana and Solas quickly created barriers just as it charged again, is it hit the barrier with such force that it nearly shattered and caused both Ellana and Solas topple over. Erdic, Cassandra and Blackwall began to engage the ogre.
Maxwell had managed to sneak behind it are then plunged his daggers into its back causing it to roar. Varric solid opportunity and fired a bolt that struck its neck and Maxwell kept on digging his daggers deeper into its back.
Then with one last mighty roar it toppled over, Maxwell then made his way over to Valta and extended a hand.
"You have my gratitude," said Valta excepting hand.
"Just returning the favour," he said pulling her up.
"If the ogre reached this point, the Legion must be overwhelmed," said Valta she looked down the tunnel where the ogre just came from. "Let us hurry."
They ran through the tunnel and they found a dwarven made tunnel. Valta looked disgusted as they move went in deeper.
"I will never get used to the stench of darkspawn," she said. "They cropped everything, even the air." She then looked ahead and started to see statues and they started to hear the sound of battle. "That's the broken seal ahead. It is worse than I thought."
When they got there they found the Legion engaged with darkspawn and leading them was a dwarven woman, but her face was hidden by a helmet. She was growling the forces around her pushing the darkspawn back.
"Keep the pressure on men!" she ordered.
Next to her was male dwarf with an axe and he was cutting his way through the darkspawn just as much as she was.
"Get those charges!" A dwarf yelled.
Two dwarfs then placed two barrels next to a door, but before they could prime the charges both darkspawn emerged.
"Someone prime those sodding fuses!" the dwarf yelled.
"Help the Legion," said Maxwell.
While his forces and the Legion engaged the darkspawn, uses stealth techniques to sneak behind their lines and find the charges. He then rushed back to the main forces, who managed to quash the darkspawn and were already hiding behind cover.
Thirty seconds later there was a huge explosion that sealed the entire corridor with rubble and the Legion began to cheer.
"Inquisitor, meet Lieutenant Renn: a veteran of the Fifth Blight and one of the Legion's finest commanders," said Valta
The dwarven man snorted. "Someone paid her to say that."
"She speaks the truth, Renn," said the female dwarf. She then removed her helmet to reveal a wave of red hair. "You are one of the finest commanders I've seen." She then turned to face Maxwell and the others. "Forgive me, I'm Sereda Aeducan, older sister of King Bhelen and Warden Commander of Orzammar."
Erdic looked up intrigued. "The woman who led the forces in the Fifth Blight?"
"The same," said Sereda. She then looked at all of them. "I have been hoping for news on the surface, we've heard troubling rumours."
Maxwell then began to explain the situation on the surface and Sereda looked at him very troubled. Especially the appearance of Corypheus and his archdemon.
"Very troubling," said Sereda. "However, we do have more pressing issues at the time."
"She's right," said Renn stood. "Collapsing that seal bought us time. Blighters had the run of these tunnels for days. Now they have a roadblock."
Maxwell then began to ask on the Deep Roads. They explained that they were slowly regaining a foothold in the Deep Roads and that they were attempting to reclaim the area they were in.
"We can't give the darkspawn a chance to regroup," said Maxwell. "Let's hit them again before they mount another attack."
"Normally, that would be the plan," said Valta. "But there is… a complication."
Then suddenly the entire corridor began to shake. The earthquake collapsed one of the nearby statues.
"Take cover!" Maxwell yelled.
All of them took cover and waited for the quake to pass and Maxwell noted that Valta appeared to be deep in concentration. The dwarven woman almost looked to be counting.
As soon as the shaking stopped, Valta turned to Renn. "You heard that, yes? The rhythm in the tremors? It's clearer. Stronger. More insistent."
"I hear it. Doesn't prove a thing."
Valta gave him a frustrated look. "These quakes are not a natural disaster. They're deliberate. There's an…" She hesitated before continuing. "Intelligence behind them."
"It's not the most outlandish theory I've heard," said Sereda defensively.
"How could an earthquake be caused deliberately?" Ellana tilted her head at the dwarf.
Renn shot Valta a look. "We get plenty of natural tremors down here. These are different. She thinks she knows why."
"I found an ancient text during an expedition with Renn last year. At the time, it was just a curiosity. But now…" Valta gestured as she spoke. "The text describes giant creatures—called 'Titans'—living deep underground. They 'sing' in the Stone, shaping it. When these quakes began, I believe we heard that rhythm. I believe a Titan is causing all this destruction."
"All I heard was an earthquake," said Erdic crossing his arms. "How is it you, Sereda and Renn hear a rhythm?"
Valta looked at him cautiously. "With respect, Guardian… you were born on the surface. You don't have our connection to the Stone."
"Shapers have great stone sense," said Renn. "And Vatla's better than most. She never gets lost."
"If it weren't for her, we probably would not have made it this far," said Sereda.
Maxwell kept his eyes on Valta. "I've never heard of Titans before. What else can you tell me about them?"
"The text I found predated the First Blight. Its pages had mostly rotted away. And there's no mention of the Titans in Orzammar's memories."
"Which tells you something." Renn had his arms folded sceptically.
He questioned them further, letting them explain the Stone and their senses. And then a thought came to him. "Mysterious songs often lure people to their deaths—or to an Archdemon."
"This is definitely not the Calling," Sereda assured. "The Stone does not produce a song like that of the Old Gods
Valta nodded her head. "This rhythm isn't a song, exactly. It sounds like…" She bit her lip. "Air flowing through lungs."
"Hmm…" Renn shrugged. "Air that can collapse a whole mine."
"A mystery worth investigating," said Solas.
"In our experience, no explanation is too strange to consider."
Renn looked at him like he was also crazy. "For all we know, that text you found was a bedtime story. We can't be sure until we find the source."
"The rhythm I sense in the quakes is emanating from somewhere far below. The Stone will lead us there."
"And if it comes to a fight, that'll be our job." Renn nodded. "There's a life at the side passage nearby. Ready when you are."
Valta looked up at Maxwell as they walked through the corridors.
"The Inquisition is on everyone's lips," she said. "Even the Assembly has taken an interest. I'm told King Bhelen wish to meet you personally, but the Deshyas talked him down. The earthquakes present too great a risk. When the previous king died, Orzammar nearly fell apart. Which is why he sent Paragon Sereda to meet with you."
Erdic made his way over to Valta. This might be the only chance he could get to discuss about his family.
"House Cadash was exiled from Orzammar before my time, but no one's ever told me why," he said. "Does the Shaperare know?"
"It's my understanding that your House tried to obtain information about a war golem during the First Blight," said Valta.
Erdic frowned. "Why would that warrant exile?"
"Their methods were considered… offensive. House Cadash was feared long before it joined the Carta. I wish I could tell you more, but family histories are not my area of expertise."
"During my travels during the Blight I actually joined up with a golem from House Cadash," said Sereda as she marched up to join them. "Apparently she was the first woman to volunteer to become a golem, but other than that I know nothing more."
They soon reached an elevator and they began to descend deeper into the Deep Roads.
"I hope we don't run into an emissary."
Valta's words were greeted by a collective groan. Renn put a hand on the hilt of his axe and sighed. "Now we definitely will."
Maxwell glanced at the darkspawn experts. "I take it emissaries are bad."
"Most darkspawn are mindless killing machines, connected by the Blight. But emissaries are intelligent—and use magic." Renn glanced over at him.
"Trust me I had to fight quite a lot during the Blight," said Sereda. "They are not to be underestimated, I'm sure with your clashes with Corypheus you would agree."
Once they reached the bottom of the lift they exited and wandered through the corridors. Seconds later they heard a bloodcurdling cry.
"Shrieks. It had to be shrieks," Renn groaned.
"I thought you'd be used to all kinds of darkspawn," said Erdic as he ready his sword.
"Look, everyone's got their favourites," said Renn as the shrieks came running towards them.
Fortunately with Sereda reading and they were able to kill all the shrieks and then pressed forward into the corridor.
They carried on deeper through the corridor and they found some gears made of unknown material. A little further they found us door and slots in order the input the gears. Valta two was interested in the gears as they pressed on.
Suddenly there was another quake.
"The rhythm in the tremors. It echoes through the Stone. This way…" said Valta.
They continued to follow Valta through the corridor.
Renn looked up at Maxwell as they continued their way through corridors.
"I've been meaning to ask Inquisitor: Skyhold. How does it… well, hold in the sky?" he asked.
Varric laughed. "The old 'fall into the sky' routine."
"I know," said Eridc shaking his head. "It never gets old."
Renn glared at the two of them and then looked back at Maxwell. "How do you keep it from floating away?"
Maxwell did his best to withhold his laughter. "It's built into a mountain…"
Renn nodded in understanding. "Ah, held by the Stone, then. Anyway, you kill darkspawn like you've done at your whole life, Inquisitor and the same goes for your guard."
"He means it is a compliment," said Vatla.
"You and your guard are famous. Even down here. Is it true you killed a dragon?"
"Magnificent creatures." Maxwell smiled. "Bringing one down is always bittersweet."
Renn's smile became eager. "I can't even imagine. Tell me about their teeth." He gestured. "I heard they don't all breath fire, and their scales have different colours and patterns."
"Careful, Renn." Valta winked at him. "I believe you're drooling."
They cleared another area of darkspawn, and Renn knelt next to some bodies in Legion armour. Anger and sorrow warred for control of his face. "There's nothing left of them. Can't even tell who they were."
"I'm sorry, Renn." Valta put a hand on his shoulder.
"They didn't deserve this fate," said Sereda sadly.
"You join the Legion knowing you're already dead. You don't fear the killing blow. We rest in the Stone and pass our strength back to her. That's our reward. But the darkspawn defiled these soldiers. They can't return to the Stone. They'd only weaken her."
Maxwell sighed. "There must be some way to lay them to rest with honour."
"We can burn the remains," said Vatla.
"Aye. It's all we can do," Renn nodded.
They began to gather them into a pile, and added wood from nearby broken casks. Ellana and Solas called her magic to her to ignite the makeshift pyre.
They carried on deeper into the Deep Roads and stopped when they reached the edge. They looked down and saw what remained of an ancient dwarven city it was magnificent. However, they could see burning torches in the distance.
"Look at that, Renn." Valta pointed eagerly. "Could this be Thaig Heidrun?"
"Darkspawn all over it. You can see their torches," said Renn.
"It makes me sick every time I see darkspawn defile a thaig," said Sereda in disgust.
As they went on deeper into the thaig, Erdic looked back at Sereda.
"I heard that you and the other wardens came down here during the Blight," he said.
"We did, Orzammar was suffering a political mess at the time and finding a Paragon was the only way to resolve it," said Sereda. "Of course the Paragon were sent to find was completely crazy, but fortunately were able to get the help from another and Bhelen exceeded to the throne."
"Did you and Renn met back then?" Ellana asked.
"No, I didn't even know he took part in the campaign until we met," said Sereda. "I mean can you remember every soldier under your command?"
"Good point," said Ellana.
Soon they found themselves in a massive battle to regain control of the thaig. They had to fight all kinds of darkspawm, genlocks, hurlock, shrieks, ogres and an emissary. Fortunately, Sereda was with them and directed them perfectly to counter any of the darkspawns counter-attacks.
Slowly but surely they managed to fight the way through them until the annihilator it every single darkspawn in the thaig.
Renn grunted as they walked through the cleared warren. "That's the last of those darkspawn. The Legion's in your debt," he said as he wiped his blade clean.
Valta moved ahead eagerly. "Look at this, Renn. It's…" She touched the construction. "Ancient. Maybe a thousand years old."
Ellana examined the lift. "Any idea who built it, or why?"
"This thaig is on top of a lyrium mine. According to the Memories, this mine was destroyed by some unexplained disaster. The miners must have used this lift to reach the lower levels."
"Sounds familiar," said Erdic.
"If there is a Titan causing earthquakes, it's down there," said Maxwell looking over the edge.
Valta held out a damaged tome. "I found this book with the emissary. The pages are mostly ruined, but a few are readable. See this line? 'I awoke to the singing stone. Our kingdom trembled at the Titan's hymn.'"
Erdic looked at the pages, his ancient dwarven was a bit rusty, but he noted a few things that Valta missed. "Look! There's more. 'The rhythm bleeds despair.'" He then looked at Valta. "Is that what you've been hearing?"
Valta looked up transfixed. "I wonder… can the Stone feel despair?"
"That reference to singing stone…" Ellana folded her arms. "I've been told that raw lyrium has a sound."
"A hum. The mining cast follows it to find lyrium veins. They say it's the Stone calling to them."
She sighed. "Perhaps it wasn't chance that the quakes destroyed lyrium mines."
"Is it possible the darkspawn or their emissary could also hear the song?" Maxwell enquired.
Valta looked up at Maxwell. "The Stone would never call to those vile things—but that doesn't mean they can't hear her."
Renn peered out into the drop. "Darkspawn live and die by the Blight. They don't care for much else."
"I didn't realise you knew so much about darkspawn motives." Valta kept her voice light and teasing.
"Not everything's a mystery, Valta. Some things are exactly as they appear."
"And some things are not."
Maxwell looked at Sereda, who gave the impression that she agreed with Valta. He rubbed the back of here's neck. "How can we be sure what the book says is true?"
"We shouldn't force connections that don't exist." Renn shrugged.
"Perhaps this will change your mind. Look here. It's the royal seal of Orseck Garal." She held the book out to Renn.
"King Orseck Garal? That book belonged to a Paragon? Maybe you are on to something, Valta."
"Of course you'd take a dead man's word over mine. Always the traditionalist."
"Hey…" Renn turned to face her. "Challenging tradition lost you a cushy position in Orzammar."
"Does a king's book mean that much to you, Renn?" Ruya asked.
"Paragons are the best of our people. They don't hand that title out to just anyone - not even a king." He gave Valta a glare that was more teasing than anything. "Knowing it was Garal's book from the start would've saved us an argument."
"As if you'd ever avoid an argument."
"What does he mean you 'lost' your position?" Erdic frowned. "I thought you were a Shaper."
"Not all Shapers have the same duties," said Valta. "Mine were… adjusted. When my superiors ordered me to remove an official record for the Memories, I declined. We decided it would be best if I served the Shaperate here, finding history instead of recording it."
"That record must have an important, to risk your position over it," said Ellana.
"It was trivial, actually. A childhood friend of King Bhelen had ancestral ties to the Carta. But the truth is the truth—no matter how political it may be."
Maxwell frowned. "The Shaperate can erase official records? Aren't the memories permanent?"
"Not quite, Inquisitor," said Sereda. "Sometimes the Shaperate removes a dwarf's name of the records when they become casteless. I myself was struck frim the records for a time when I was accused of killing my brother Trian."
"But I was asked to change a fact that someone important merely found… inconvenient," said Valta.
Erdic crossed his arms in deep thought. "If the Shaperate is willing to erase memories, what would prevent them from covering up the existence of Titans?"
"Why would they do that?" said Renn.
"Because someone in power demanded it."
"It wouldn't be the first time," said Sereda.
Maxwell shook his head. "I had no idea the Shaperare was so corrupt."
Valta shook her head. "Institutions aren't corrupt, only people. I wish abusing Memories for political gain was a rarity."
Renn frowned. "I remember Orzammar as an honourable kingdom."
"You can gone a long time, Renn," said Valta sadly.
Renn looked at Valta apologetically. "And so I brought it up. The earthquakes are what matters." He then examined the lift. "I don't know where this lift leads, but we're about to find out the hard way. Get ready."
They then began to descend even deeper into the ground.
Once the lift stopped they found the corridor in front of them in complete darkness. They could barely see their hand in front of their face.
Maxwell then caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of him eye and Vatla clearly saw it as well.
"What was that?" she said.
"What was what?" Renn asked.
"Something moved. There. Light a torch."
"So it can see us coming? Just stay close."
"Just stand ready, anything could happen," said Sereda as she tightened her grip on her sword.
"Nothing stopping us from going back up," said Varric.
"We're not going back up," said Maxwell firmly.
Varric sighed as if he hadn't expected anything less. "Just a suggestion."
Valta's voice held a note of wonder. "We've gone past the Deep Roads."
"How can you tell? It's pitch black," said Erdic keeping his hand on Valta's shoulder, letting the dwarven woman lead them all.
"I can feel it."
There was a faint light, a glow from mushrooms. Not enough to illuminate as much as to vaguely hint at their surroundings. Maxwell could make out Renn pulling his axe out. "Show yourselves!"
A glow, and something came from the darkness, striking Renn. He grunted and staggered, he looked down and saw something had penetrated his armour.
"Renn!" Valta cried out.
Then suddenly out of the dark so began shooting at them. Eridc, Sereda, Cassandra and Blackwall waste their shields just in time as they felt something bouncing off them.
Valta quickly ran up to Renn, who was breathing very deeply.
"Hmm…" He got back to his feet. "Sod it all." As more creatures starting moving, he roared and charged forward, axe in hand.
Ellana and Solas then began to cast some light they could actually see their enemies. Maxwell, Erdic, Cassandra and Blackwall moved in alongside Sereda, Renn and Valta as they fought… nothing they'd ever seen before.
The last of the creatures fell and then a few seconds later Renn collapsed. Valta knelt at his side and all of them joined her.
Valta gently closed her friend's eyes. "You deserved better." She bit her lip. "Renn never wanted this life. He was a cobbler. A good one. He joined the Legion to pay his father's debts. It kept his mother and brother from losing their caste. The poor and desperate here often sacrifice themselves for their family's future."
Maxwell placed a hand on her shoulder. "Renn was a good man. We'll honour his sacrifice."
"He always seemed…" Valta hung her head. "Indestructible." She pulled herself away. "The armour on these warriors…" She pointed at their attackers. "There's lyrium woven directly into the metal. And it's bonded to their skin. Impossible to remove, but I know what we'd find underneath. These are dwarves. Renn was killed by our own kind."
Eridc examined the wound and discovered that the bolts and held it up to the light of Ellana's staff. "All it took was a single strike. Renn never had a chance."
"The bolt was glowing," said Valta. "Their weapons could have been infused with lyrium." Valta stood. "I won't leave Renn like this. We must return him to the Stone."
"He earned that much," Sereda agreed.
Ellana and Solas use their magic to create a burial site.
"Atrast tunsha, salroka." Valta spoke the words quietly as Blackwall laid Renn's body down. "I'll see this through, Renn. I promise."
Ellana used her magic once more, covering the grave.
Valta squared her shoulders. "Anything standing between us and the Titan will regret it."
They stopped at strange markings on the wall. Valta traced a finger along the marks. "This is like the Wall of Memories in Orzammar, but ancient. Very ancient." She narrowed her eyes. "The words seem based in dwarven, but I barely recognise this dialect."
Ellana moved up behind her, letting her staff provide additional illumination and Erdic looked at her. "Is it related to our language?"
"I understand part of it, so it must be." She pointed at a particular glyph. "This word keeps appearing: 'Sha-Brytol.' I believe it means 'revered defenders.'"
"I can barely understand some of it myself," said Sereda.
"My ancient dwarven is rusty…" said Eridc as he examined the carvings. "Something about 'guardians'?"
"I believe it means 'revered defenders'."
Ellana frowned. "What needs to be protected all the way down here?"
"'Isatunoll… Isatunoll…'" Valta frowned. "'Cut our tongues... entomb our bodies... watch over the Titan until it stirs.' So the warriors who attacked us must be the Sha-Brytol. And they're protecting a Titan." She went quiet.
"Are you all right, Valta?" Maxwell asked.
Valta's voice was slightly hoarse when she answered. "I can hear Renn's objections." She took a deep breath. "Let's keep moving. If more of these Memories exist, they may have the answers we need."
They came to a bridge. Valta hesitated. "There's something…" She tilted her head. "Strange on the other side. I can feel it…"
"My guess is another earthquake—that hit when we're halfway across the bridge," said Varric.
"Watch your step," said Maxwell.
Before they could reach the bridge, it collapsed. Valta made a frustrated noise. "That wasn't a quake. Someone sabotaged the bridge. And we don't have time to fix it." She gestured. "There. That ledge. We can reach it if we're careful."
"I'm surprised they didn't blow up the bridge up while we were in the middle of it," said Sereda.
"I'm just grateful they don't have an itchy trigger finger," said Erdic as he looked down into the canyon below.
They carried on even deeper into the catacombs, watching where they put their feet. They carried on even deeper and soon came across even more carvings across the wall.
"Look there." Maxwell pointed. "More ancient carvings."
"Aye, but these seem to be about…" Valta's voice filled with wonder. "The Titan." She trailed her hand along the carvings as she read. "'It shapes the stone. It is the stone. It sculpts the world within and without.'"
"Wouldn't something that can 'sculpt the world' have to be rather…" Erdic tilted his head. "Enormous?"
"It is called a 'Titan'."Valta continued examining the carvings.
""So it's a 'Shaper of the Stone,' like you?" said Ellana curiously.
"This implies that the Titans are actually sculptors—and our world is their clay."
A thought came to her. "If Titans 'shape the stone,' could they have actually created it?"
"The Stone must have existed first."
"Then the Titans would be the very first children of the Stone…" Maxwell began.
"That would have huge implications for my people," Valta finished.
"If Titans can purposely reshape the world, the earthquakes could be the way they 'sculpt the Stone.'"
"But the quakes are destructive. Titans would mould the world, not smash it to pieces."
"Depending on your perspective, change can be violent." It had taken a truly catastrophic event to get mages and templars working together.
"But if this is true, how could it be missing from the Memories of Orzammar?" Valta shook her head in confusion before turning to them. "Why would someone erase such an integral part of our history?"
Suddenly the world around them rumbled once more. "Let's answer that after we stop the earthquakes."
"The rhythm is louder than ever. We're close."
They stepped into a chamber and stopped short, staring. Lyrium veins grew up stone columns, lighting the entire chamber in a wash of gentle blue.
"It is beautiful," said Solas and Maxwell couldn't help but agree.
"All these lyrium veins. And they're completely untapped."
"The Sha-Brytol must mine lyrium somewhere—their weapons and armour are laced with it," said Erdic.
"Unless they've found another way to harness it." Valta looked around.
"And there seems to be no indication that the darkspawn have stepped foot here," said Sereda.
Blackwall frowned. "Any sign of what keeps them from coming down this far?"
"Let's just be grateful we don't have to deal with darkspawn as well," said Maxwell.
"But there must be a reason they avoid this place…" said Sereda.
After another battle with the strange dwarves, they found a barrier in their path. Valta examined it. "They built this to stop us. There must be some way to get through."
Several attempts failed, and then Erdic stuck one of the Sha-Brytol's strange lyrium-infused weapons to the barrier, stepped back. It exploded, taking the barrier with it.
"You said we're beneath the Deep Roads. Do you think anyone besides the Sha-Brytol has travelled down here?" Maxwell asked.
"We are very likely the first to travel this far."
They killed some strange creatures that vaguely resembled brontos and no sooner had they moved on another barrier appeared in front of them. Maxwell then decided to follow Erdic's lead and stuck one of the Sha-Brytol's into the barrier. Seconds later it exploded creating a clear path.
"I hate destroying these weapons. They're artifacts. We could learn from them." Valta picked up a couple of the fragments.
"We have no choice," said Maxwell. "It's the only way through the barriers."
Once they got through a massive barrier they set up camp.
"The attacks are getting worse," said Valta as she walked up to another set of carvings.
"We must be getting close to whatever they're protecting," said Maxwell.
Valta nodded and examined the carvings. "'Only the pure may pass. All others will be punished.' Assuming the Sha-Brytol are the pure…"
"We're the 'others' who aren't allowed to pass," Maxwell finished.
"Could the earthquakes be the punishment?"
"You found Paragon Garal's book near a damaged lyrium mine. And the new earthquakes destroyed your mine," said Ellana.
"But why would they want to destroy the lyrium mines?" Valta shook her head. "This reads like a final warning. We must be nearing the source."
"If the tremors are deliberate, it could be disastrous for Orzammar's lyrium mines," said Maxwell.
"The Sha-Brytol word dwarves once. Something turned them against us." She then examined the lighting more closely. "This reads like a final warning. We must be nearing the source."
They stepped out of the tunnel and into another world. Light came from somewhere, illuminating what looked to be islands rising out of the mist. Stalagmites hung from the roof of the cavern, built up with what looked to be entire cities or even forests. And everywhere the blue veins of lyrium shimmered.
Valta's was the first to find her voice. "Did the Sha-Brytol build all this?"
"Or was it here before them?" Ellana stared.
"Nothing should surprise me anymore, but this…" Valta staring at her strange crystal with lyrium veins sticking out of it. "Wait. The rhythm we followed—we've found the source. But not the Titan."
Ellana frowned. "Ever since we came down here, the Deep Roads have felt different. Organic."
"And we found no evidence that the darkspawn were ever here," Sereda added.
"We've been looking for the Titan the wrong way. It's not like us."
"It's huge," Valta agreed. "Big enough to change the world around it…"
Maxwell pondered on this and then he suddenly remembered what Bianca had said about lyrium been alive. Also the veins that run through the rock resembled that of blood flowing through a body.
His eyes widened as he looked at the others. "We can't see the Titan… Because we're inside it."
"That would explain why there is no darkspawn present," said Sereda as she stared at the surroundings.
They stared at each other for a moment before Cassandra alerted them that more Sha-Brytol were coming. Valta put a hand to her weapon. "If I don't survive, Orzammar must know the truth."
"Those structures…" Valta pointed. "Could there be a whole civilization in here?"
"A city within a Titan. Incredible," said Ellana as she stared all around them.
"And the quakes haven't damaged it."
They has to walked down a few steps and fighting dozens of Sha-Brytol they found more carvings on the walls.
"Look…" said Valta pointing at the engravings. "These are the only Memories in this area."
Erdic examined the carvings. "What is that word… 'Lines'? 'Roads'?"
Valta indicated a line. "That phrase is 'the path of purity.' And there's a reference to…" She narrowed her eyes. "'Titan's blood'? It says the Sha-Brytol come here to..." Valta stepped back as her eyes widened once more. "Drink it."
A chill went through Ellana. "The Titan's blood must keep the Sha-Brytol alive—and powerful."
"But where is it?" Valta looked at Ellana eyes instantly she came to the same conclusion. "Unless…" She then turned to large crystal in the distance. "Lyrium. The Titan's blood is lyrium."
Maxwell stared. "Every nation on the surface buys lyrium. Orzammar's entire economy is based on the trade."
"This is bigger than any one nation."
"We have to stop this."
They approached the glowing crystal as they got closer they heard a sort of rhythm as Maxwell didn't know any better it sounded like a heartbeat. Then a shard of blue struck Valta, causing her to gasp and begin seizing. Before Maxwell could go to her side, a stone barrier rose between them.
She turned to see a creature that almost looked to be made of living lyrium. An aspect of the Titan, perhaps? Whatever it was, it was hostile. Ellana put up a barrier around them. Varric's bolts just seemed to bounce off the rocky creature. Tendrils of lyrium connected to…
"Focus there!" Sereda yelled gesturing to tendrils.
Cassandra and Blackwall moved in and raised his shield to block a blow aimed at Ellana and Solas. With them guarding her they use their magic to bring down as much lightning as they could to bear.
Maxwell led the attack with Sereda and Erdic, distracting it so Ellana, Solas and Varric could focus their efforts on the tendrils. Maxwell then used his later smash a crystal at the base of the creature just as Ellana and Solas cast as much lightning as they could down onto the creature.
With that final blow the creature appear to have imploded and with that done Maxwell and Ellana ran over to Valta, who was laying on the ground unconscious.
"Valta? Are you hurt?" Maxwell asked.
Valta was trying to get to her feet. She gasped and held her head. "Too loud…" She staggered. "The song…" She fell to her knees again. "Stop!" Something burst from her, sending Maxwell and his companions flying.
Maxwell rolled back to her feet and stared. A spell. Valta had… cast a spell. Valta stared down at her still faintly glowing hands. "I am…" She swallowed. "It's all right."
"It looked like you were hit by raw lyrium during the battle," said Ellana.
"Yes—it should have poisoned me, but I…" Valta stood. "Feel fine. Good, even."
For a moments he considered having Ellana perform healing magic. And then decided against it. "You said the song was too loud. It was hurting you."
"It was…" Valta furrowed her brow. "Chaos. The rhythm I followed here, but magnified. Overwhelming. But it is gone."
"You almost killed me," said Maxwell. "What happens the next time you lash out?"
"I am in control. I would never harm you, Inquisitor."
Ellana wasn't quite as confident. "You cast some kind of spell. That shouldn't be possible."
"It wasn't a spell, it was…" Valta's voice still held a note of wonder. "An accident. Everything will be fine."
Maxwell looked at the others and they nodded. "We should get help. You may be injured, or…"
"I feel better than I ever have. Stronger. More…" Valta took a deep breath and smiled. "Alive. The Stone is silent. The rhythm has faded, and so have the tremors. But the song still echoes…" Valta half closed her eyes and tilted her head as if listening. "It tells me things…" She smiled. "The Breach—that's what disturbed the Titan. It is calm now that it has a connection with one of its children…" She met Ruya's eyes. "With me."
"Was that the Titan? Did we kill it?" Erdic asked an almost hopeful.
"The Titan lives. This was…" Valta shrugged. "An echo. A guardian. But you silenced it."
"Is this what happened at the thaig where you found Paragon Garal's book?" Ellana asked curiously.
"Aye, but…" Valta shook her head. "I do not know what disturbed the Titan then. The song may tell me…" She smiled. "In time…"
"You said you are a child of the Stone, not a child of the Titans," said Erdic.
"I am not certain what I am, but the Titan recognised me. Like a parent hearing its child's voice."
Maxwell nodded. "The Titan changed you, Valta—you need to be cautious."
"I am different. But I am still a Shaper. 'Isana'. It's our word for lyrium, and we are taught that it is a gift from the Stone. But there's so much more to it than we ever imagined. I was sent to the Deep Roads to recover lost history. This is only the beginning. I am staying here."
"You think you understand what happened to you, but you could be wrong," said Maxwell. "The lyrium could be turn you into a Sha-Brytol—or worse."
"I agree," said Sereda. "You shouldn't stay here, Valta. It's far too dangerous."
"The Sha-Brytol turned themselves into monsters," said Valta. "I have changed because the Titan willed it. The mine's collapse, Renn's death—it all happened to bring me here."
"After all we've seen, you wish to commune alone with this… creature?" said Cassandra in bewilderment."
"Who could she harm down here, beside herself?" said Blackwall.
"Nothing good ever happens in the Deep Roads," said Varric shaking his head. "This won't be any different."
"I am called to the search, Inquisitor. This is where I belong," said Valta.
Maxwell could see there was no way he could dissuade her. "I'm leaving with more questions than answers, but that doesn't mean you have to. Just be careful." He then began to leave Valta with the Titan, but Maxwell stopped. "The Shaperate in Orzammar will want to know what happened to you."
"Tell them the truth: you don't know."
"I'll head back to Orzammar and informed them what has happened, whether they believe it is another thing," said Sereda. "It's been an honour to fight alongside you Inquisitor and your followers."
"The honour is mine," said Maxwell.
Once they returned from the Deep Roads they made their way back to Skyhold leaving Sereda with what remained of the Legion of the Dead.
When he got back he noticed that the repairs it will almost complete. He was impressed by how Josephine managed dispatching people to repair and hold the keep. It was apparently perfectly located for the purposes of trade and diplomacy. Maxwell noted that her ambassador was actually humming. Though, that might have more to do with the small vase of wildflowers that had appeared on her desk.
Maxwell smiled to himself. He'd spotted Blackwall picking the wildflowers earlier. It appeared the stalwart Warden had an eye for the lady ambassador. He then made his way over to Cullen's office.
When he got there he found a messenger and he informed him that the commander had gone to speak with Cassandra.
He nodded, and headed to the staircase.
Cassandra and Cullen appeared to be arguing. "You've asked for my opinion, and I've given it." Cassandra folded her arms and glared. "Why would you expect it to change?"
"I expect you to keep your word. It's relentless. I can't—"
"You give yourself too little credit."
"If I'm unable to fulfil what vows I kept, then nothing good has come of this. Would you rather save face than admit—" He cut himself off when he noticed Maxwell standing there. He looked back at Cassandra. "We will speak of this later."
As Cullen walked past he noticed that he will was paler, with dark circles beneath his eyes. He immediately turned around to stare at Cassandra.
"And people say I'm stubborn. This is ridiculous." Cassandra met Maxwell's eyes. "Cullen told you he's no longer taking lyrium?"
"Yes, and I respect his decision."
"As do I." She glared at the door. "Not that he's willing to listen." She sighed. "Cullen has asked that I recommend a replacement for him." She held up a hand to forestall Maxwell's objection. "I refused. It's not necessary. Besides, it would destroy him. He's come so far."
"Why didn't he come to me?"
"We had an agreement long before you joined us. As a Seeker, I could evaluate the dangers."
"Cassandra, did you reviews Cullen's request because he's wrong, because you want him to be wrong?"
"Mages have made their suffering known, but templars never have. They are bound to the Order, mind and soul, with someone always holding their lyrium leash. Cullen has a chance to break that leash, to prove to himself—and anyone who would follow suit—that it's possible. He can do this. I knew that when we met in Kirkwall."
"So do I," said a voice behind them.
They turned and found Evelyn standing there. "Please, let me talk to him."
Cassandra looked at Maxwell, who simply nodded and then she looked back at Evelyn. "Talk to him. Decide if now is the time."
Cullen was looking at the box that contained his lyrium vials. In frustration he grabbed the box and tossed it over towards the door just as Evelyn entered the room.
It just missed her and hit the wall next to it, shattering and sending shards and splinters everywhere. Cullen stared at her in shock. "Maker's breath. I didn't hear you enter. I—" He hung his head. "Forgive me."
"Cullen, if you need to talk…" She stepped all the way in, closing the door behind her.
"You don't have to—" He started to come around the desk, and stumbled. He caught himself on the edge, and groaned softly. She immediately went to his side, putting a hand on his arm. "I never meant for this to interfere."
"Are you going to be all right?" she said in a concerned voice.
"Yes…" He leaned his weight onto the desk. "I don't know." He closed his eyes as she touched his cheek. His skin was cold. He opened his eyes and looked at her. "You heard what happened to Ferelden's circle. It was taken over by abominations. The templars—" He started to pace back and forth. "My friends—were slaughtered. I was tortured. They tried to break my mind, and I—" He gestured sharply. "How can you be the same person after that?" He ran a hand down his face. "Still, I wanted to serve. They sent me to Kirkwall. I trusted my knight-commander, and for what? Her fear of mages ended in madness. Kirkwall's circle fell. Innocent people died in the streets." He turned to face her. "Can't you see why I want nothing to do with that life?"
She stepped towards him. "Of course I can. I—"
"Don't. You should be questioning what I've done." He shook his head, and went back to pacing as she sat on the edge of his desk. "I thought this would be better—that I would regain come control over my life. But these thoughts won't leave me…" He kicked the chair halfway across the room. "How many lives depend on our success? I swore myself to this cause…" He turned, his hands clenched into fists. "I will not give less to the Inquisition than I did the Chantry. I should be taking it." He punched the bookcase, knocking a piece of wood off. "I should be taking it."
Evelyn put her hand on his shoulder, and then gently pulled him towards her. "This doesn't have to be about the Inquisition. Is this what you want?"
After a moment, he let out a breath. "No." He leaned into her as she wrapped her arms around him. "But…" He pulled her to him. "These memories have always haunted me. He leaned back to look at her. "If they become worse, if I cannot endure this…"
She caressed his cheek gently, guiding him to look into her eyes. "You can."
He took another deep breath, and let it out again. "All right." He bent, burying his face in her shoulder, and she held him close.
