I stepped outside the Chantry behind Cassandra. The sunlight blinded me for a moment, and I raised my hand to protect my eyes. Once my eyes adjusted to the light, I lowered my hand and gasped in surprise.

The sky was cloudy and gray, except where the atmosphere was split open and a mass of green energy within the clouds which spewed energy in a rather unique spiral. I guess I had been staring at it for a while, because then Cassandra started to speak.

"We call it the Breach," she stated calmly, "it's a giant rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hour."

I frowned. Was this the green light that I saw? I wondered.

"It is not the only such rift. Just the largest," Cassandra turned to face me and continued, "all were caused by the explosion at the Conclave."

"An explosion can do that?" I asked in shock. What kind of fucked up magic world did I fall into?

"This one did," Cassandra answered as she approached me, "and unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world."

The Breach glowed more intensely for a few moments, and the light in my hand reacted. Pain flared, more intensely than last time. I screamed in shock, falling to my knees, and I clutched my hand to my chest. WHAT THE EVER-LOVING FUCK.

"Every time the Breach expands, your mark spreads," Cassandra informed me, "and it is killing you."

Well isn't that just lovely.

"It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time." Cassandra watched me carefully for a reaction.

"…you'll have to protect me then," I replied in a calm but slightly shaky, voice, "I have no combat experience whatsoever."

Cassandra nodded, and pulled me to my feet and lead me through Haven.

I didn't want to look at the people of this little village, but I could hear the whispers and feel their hatred filled eyes on me.

"They have decided your guilt," Cassandra stated beside me, "they need it. The people of Haven mourn our Most Holy, Divine Justinia, head of the Chantry. The conclave was hers."

I nodded a little to show I was still listening. Cassandra didn't seem to notice, though, and kept talking.

"It was a chance for peace between mages and templars," she continued, "she brought their leaders together. And now they are dead."

"Except that I don't know about any of this," I said at last, bursting out of confusion and fear. "As I said, I am not from this world, as my clothes would suggest." I picked at my long sleeved shirt angrily to prove my point.

"I've noticed they were different," she nodded to me, "though I am not sure how to… understand, that you are not from Thedas." She shook her head. "The Chant of Light clearly states that there is only one world - this one."

I shrugged my shoulders. "My world has many theories about such things," I replied as we kept walking, "but I wouldn't be shocked if not a lot of people believed me."

"They probably won't," Cassandra replied, pulling out a knife. She cut the ropes tying my hands together. "There will be a trial," she stated, "I can promise no more."

"That's fine with me," I replied, my voice dripping with sarcasm, "no one's gonna take my word anyway, but whatever makes you people happy." I sighed, still pissed but calm, and asked Cassandra, "If you don't mind, may I ask a few questions?"

"I will tell you what I know," Cassandra answered, "go ahead."

"First off, what's a Chantry?" I started, "Is it a religious organization?"

"It is," Cassandra replied, "The Chantry teaches the Chant of Light, which is the teachings written by Andraste, about the Maker."

"And Andraste is… a prophet of sorts?" I asked, to which Cassandra nodded and answered, "She is the bride of the Maker."

So, like Christianity… or maybe more like the Catholic Church, if there's a 'Divine'. Assuming the Divine is similar to a pope, and the Maker is their God. Andraste would be female Jesus. Instead of a son, he's got a wife.

"Open the gate!" Cassandra ordered the soldiers, "we are heading into the valley."

As we went through the gate, I started thinking out loud. "So, this conclave was for peace talks… between mages and templars? I know what a mage is, but what is a templar?"

"The Order of Templars enforces the Chantry's will," Cassandra explained, "which includes watching over the Circles of Magi."

So kind of like a knight. With some differences.

I opened my mouth to ask another question when my hand started to glow more brightly as the pain returned to my hand. I screamed in shock, tripping at the suddenness of the fire returning to the mark.

Cassandra caught me before I hit the ground and held me up. "The pulses are coming faster now," she stated as I cradled my hand. "That's not exactly comforting," I replied with a frown and a glare.

"I suppose not," Cassandra replied, releasing my shoulders, "but we should hurry." She started leading the way again.

We came up to a bridge as I was mulling over what I had learned, and started putting the pieces together. I looked up at the Breach in time to see a blinding green light flying towards the bridge.

"Get out of the way!" I yelled at the soldiers ahead of me, "there's a…!" Too late. The bolt of energy hit the bridge and caused it to crumble. I didn't have time to think, I covered my face with my arms and prepared to be crushed.

I felt myself fall and roll but I didn't feel any rocks hitting me. When I lowered my arms, I was lying on the ground, staring at the sky. I looked down at my body in confusion. I was glowing again, with a strange iridescent light. There was hardly a scratch on me.

I looked up as another bolt of light was heading for us. It looked like it would hit the ice not too far from where I was lying, but the ice didn't crack. A green and black portal opened and a robed corpse with a huge hump on its back emerged. Is this what demons look like in this world? Creepy.

"Stand behind me!" Cassandra yelled as she charged at the thing. I stood up, just as I noticed another portal opening a little ways away from me. Shit, another one of those things is gonna attack me, isn't it?

I started to panic as another of those black demons emerged and started charging towards me. What do I do? What do I do? WHAT THE FUCK DO I DO?!