Chapter 19: The First Betrayer
Corypheus was glaring at them, it's cold reptilian gaze held the kindness of death, and destruction...
Carver fought off the urge to whimper, it felt like his tainted blood was boiling in his veins.
What kind of creature was this Corypheus? He was a darkspawn, but…no darkspawn had ever made Carver feel this way. The taint was so pure in its blood, so visceral. The creature did not feel like it was simply tainted…
It felt like…it felt like it was the taint.
Garrett regarded the monster coolly, sizing it up, here was the one who was responsible for all the trouble, the carta, Janeka, and even the others wardens betrayal could all be laid at this monster's feet.
The monster that Malcolm Hawke had abandoned his principles to see caged.
One thing was for certain, they could not let Corypheus leave this place.
Whatever was to happen, the threat of this monster ended here?
The darkspawn did something then, something that they never would have expected…
It spoke.
"Is…this a dream I wake from," the voice was low and raspy, a voice unused in almost two millennia, but a voice that still radiated with authority.
The voice was of one who was used to being obeyed.
"Am I in dwarven lands? I see no roads, no cities," Corypheus sounded confused, not sure exactly where he was.
Hawke decided to help.
"You're a darkspawn," he said jovially, "Dark. Spawn. Ravaging the deep roads…spreading the Blight, and of this ring a bell?"
Corypheus glared at him; apparently it did not appreciate his insolence.
"Let's not piss off the ancient darkspawn, eh, Hawke," Varric advised.
Corypheus gave them an imperious look.
"Slaves of the dwarves then," It spat, it continued to stare at Hawke, finally…realization came into its eyes.
"You…you are what held me. Serve you at the temple of Dumat? Bring me hence; I must speak with the first acolyte."
Larius finally found his voice again; he ambled up next to Hawke.
"He speaks of the Imperium, of the old gods." The tainted commander said thoughtfully.
"But the imperium has not ruled the Free Marches for centuries," Carver growled, his eyes never leaving the emissary, he had found the thing that had made Arika attack him…
He was itching to pay it back for that.
"He does not know, "Larius realized, "He slept, he dreamt, but he does not know. For him, the Imperium still rules these lands."
Isabela frowned.
"So who wants to break the bad news," she asked, "I vote Larius."
The darkspawn's brow furrowed in confusion.
"So strange the words you speak," Corypheus said shaking its head, it turned from them, paying them no mind.
They might as well have been ants as far as the darkspawn cared.
It raised its arms to the heavens, its eyes seeking answers among the stars…
"Dumat," It cried, "Lord…tell me, what waking dream is this?"
It stood there for a moment, expecting an answer from its lord and master…
It received none.
Corypheus snarled in fury, it turned on Hawke and his companions.
"Whoever you be," it growled, "You owe allegiance to every Magister in Tevinter, on your knees, dogs."
Carver lost his temper, the burning in his blood made him reckless.
He drew his blade.
"The Imperium is dying," he spat, "Your precious Dumat started that, he led the darkspawn in a hundred year Blight. The empire crumbled, its provinces lost."
"No," Corypheus snarled, "Dumat would not abandon us!"
"Dumat is dead!" Carver shouted, "He died an archdemon, he, Toth, Andoral, Urthemiel, they are all dead!"
"Junior," Varric warned, "Now is not the time for a history lesson."
Carver glared at the darkspawn, if this was going to turn into a fight, he wanted to get it started.
"Dead?" Corypheus shook its head, "No, Dumat could not die, he is our lord, he promised…he promised the power…the power of the gods. He…he showed us how. He would not forsake us now! He showed us how to enter…the city of gold, but…it was not…it was black…corrupt…tainted."
Larius's eyes widened, he…he knew who he was dealing with now. What Corypheus was…and why it had needed to be caged.
He shivered cold to his very core.
"The first violation," he whispered, 'the golden city…he…he is no darkspawn…he is a magister! He is one of the betrayers, the mages who brought the Blight!"
Hawke did not know what to make of this revelation.
Months ago, he and Anders had argued, the former apostate turned warden had believed that the original betrayers did not exist. That it was simply chantry propaganda, to justify the circles and the imprisonment of mages.
There were no Magisters, Hawke, Anders had said, no boogey men who breached the golden city, and were turned into darkspawn for their sins.
Standing here now, before Corypheus…
Hawke realized that Anders had likely been wrong.
Here was one of the boogey men that the Chantry had warned them about.
Corypheus was one of the reasons that the darkspawn existed in the first place.
He was one of the reasons that Bethany had died.
Garrett felt fury rise in his chest, but he did not strike in anger, he tried to diffuse it for the moment, choosing to hide behind humor.
"So first, he attacked the Maker in his home, and now he has tried attacking me in mine. I can't help but feel…honored."
"THE CITY," the darkspawn hissed, "It was supposed to be golden, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE OURS!"
Corypheus rose into the air, a shimmering shield blocked the exit; he would no longer brook any insolence!
"If I cannot leave with you," the darkspawn roared, "I shall leave through you. I SEEK THE LIGHT!"
Corypheus gestured.
The battle began.
IOI
Jets of red flame exploded from the Magister's fingers.
Hawke raised a magical shield, it held…barely.
He grunted in determination.
The magic, it was so strong!
Hawke had faced powerful mages before, blood mages and Qunari Saarabas. Corypheus however was something far different.
He was a monster of myth, a creature of nightmares!
"You shall not escape my fire," the darkspawn cackled.
Carver smited him.
The Magister snarled, his flames failed, Carver and Isabela lunged forward.
Varric fired Bianca.
Hawke cast flame and ice upon the creature.
Larius spun, he ran for the magical fonts that had bound Corypheus's cell.
It was from these that the ancient magister was drawing power, increasing his strength.
Larius intended to destroy them all.
Shades rose to defend them.
The tainted warden met their claws with his blade.
All they could do was kill him.
Fortunately he was already dead.
IOI
"Die you bastard!"
Carver swung his great sword; it bit deep into Corypheus's shoulder.
"GNAT!" the Magister howled, he pulsed with magical energy.
Carver was blown back against the wall.
"Nooo," Garrett howled, great icy spikes rose, they nearly impaled the darkspawn.
It rose into the air, flame turned to them to water.
Corypheus cast again.
The floor ripped open, great jagged rocks filled the chamber, the open space had become a maze. A cold icy wind whipped into the chamber. Icicles as large as a man formed above their heads…
The deadly missiles rained down on them.
Isabela danced and spun, barely avoiding getting impaled, she threw a dagger at Corypheus's back.
The wind blew it away.
Cursing under her breath, the pirate queen tried again.
They needed to bring this bastard down…
Now!
IOI
Corypheus cackled madly, flames launched from his right hand while electricity crackled in the other.
Hawke had never seen anything like this before.
The bastard was casting multiple spells at once!
No mage could do that!
Of course Corypheus was not an ordinary mage was he?
Stop it, Hawke thought, he is powerful sure, but he is still flesh and blood…
And flesh and blood can be broken…flesh and blood can be killed!
Garrett cast a spell, it rejuvenated his companions.
They flung themselves at the monster anew.
Carver rose, he spat blood and drained away the darkspawn's mana.
Sadly, Corypheus had more to spare.
Lightning crackled across the rocks blocking the path to him.
Varric had to roll out of the way.
If he had not, the electricity would have fried him.
He shot a look at Hawke.
"I swear," the dwarf promised, "If he pulls a dragon out of his ass, I'm leaving!"
Garrett might have laughed, if he was not too busy dodging the darkspawn's jets of flame.
A massive icicle fell, nearly hitting Isabela, the pirate dove out of the way.
Corypheus laughed, he saw them as gnats…bugs to be squashed.
They were amusing him.
"Is there a chill in the air?!" he asked.
Demonic laughter filled the chamber.
IOI
Larius destroyed two more fonts. The shades that the darkspawn had summoned to defend them fell.
Corypheus must have realized what he was doing; he threw flame at the tainted warden.
Larius raised his shield.
It melted from the heat, but held just long enough.
Larius dove at the final font, his sword shattered it.
"NOOOO!" Corypheus howled.
Larius smiled his first in many years.
The beast had lost its advantage.
Now, they had to finish the job.
IOI
Isabela made her move, Corypheus was distracted, trying to ward of Hawke and Varric's ranged attacks.
She sprang forward, heartbreaker and backstabber over her head.
She intended to bury them deep into the darkspawn's back.
He…had other plans.
A pulse of magical energy knocked Varric and Hawke back.
Corypheus whirled.
He caught Isabela by the throat.
The strength in his fingers made her gasp; her daggers fell from her hands.
The magister turned darkspawn smiled.
"Long has it been," he purred, "so long since I have known a woman's touch."
"I…I can't imagine… why," she gasped, she struggled, but spots were starting to swim before her eyes, "You…you are… such a… catch."
She struggled, but that only amused him more.
Isabela grew weaker, her eyes became glazed.
Corypheus smiled, it pulled her in for a kiss.
It was eager to spread its gift…to spread the taint.
The woman would make a perfect broodmare.
He leaned in…
He threw back his head, howling in agony!
Carver's blade had entered his back; it came out the other side.
Corypheus wailed.
"KISS THIS BITCH!" the young warden roared.
Isabela fell from Corypheus's grasp; Carver ran to her, he shielded her with his body.
"NOW BROTHER," he shouted, "NOW!"
Garrett's eyes glowed red, lighting crackled in his hands.
He released it, a single massive bolt.
It struck Carver's blade, the electricity arced into the darkspawn.
Corypheus shook from the voltage.
"Pour it on Hawke," Varric cheered, "pour it on!"
Garrett nodded, he intended to…
The darkspawn tried to turn, his eyes blazing with magic; he was trying to fight the electricity, to convert it into power.
Varric did not give him the chance.
Bianca's bolts peppered the creature; one even entered the darkspawn's human eye.
Yet, he still would not fall.
Corypheus refused to fall.
He staggered towards Garrett, those long fingers questing for Hawke's throat.
Isabela rose unsteadily, she dipped into a pouch at her belt.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" she shouted.
She lobbed a small flask.
It struck the Magister on the back. The contents ignited.
Corypheus became a walking torch!
It shrieked and wailed, trying to douse the flames.
Hawke and the others did not give him the chance.
Garrett advanced; he spun his staff over his head, its bladed end shone in the light of the flames.
Corypheus tried to raise a shield, but he was in agony, he could not weave the spell.
Garrett swept the staff across Corypheus's throat.
The blade opened it.
Black ichor sprayed the stones of the prison.
Corypheus clutched his throat, his fingers gestured, attempting a healing spell.
Carver was there, he cleansed the beast of mana, and then he yanked his sword from the burning darkspawn's back.
Corypheus fell to his knees; he looked at Carver with his remaining tainted eye.
It pleaded for mercy.
Carver decided to grant it.
He put Corypheus out of its misery.
The great sword finished the work Garrett's staff had started.
It severed the darkspawn's head from his neck.
Blood and magic boiled from the body as the head fell. Corypheus's fingers still struggled to cast, trying to come up with one final spell. Someway to save himself.
Sadly, the ancient magister was out of time.
The magic around his body flickered and died.
Followed shortly by the body itself, Corypheus's body collapsed, a burning husk.
It twitched several times, but finally fell still.
The cell chamber fell silent, the magic that had possessed the place faded with the life of the one who created it.
Corypheus…was dead.
Carver slumped exhausted against one of the stones that Corypheus had raised.
Isabela limped out of cover, her eyes found Hawke.
His eyes were warm and grateful.
She felt tears on her face.
She did not care, she did not care that she never got close to anyone, she did not care that it was a bad idea.
She fell into his arms, their lips crashed together in a deep, passionate kiss.
They were alive, despite the danger, and the destruction they had endured…
They…were still alive.