We exit the temple and enter a cavern. I'm a little shocked by the sudden change, but don't question it too much as we go forward. Slowly, the passage gradually curves right. I can see a tremendous cavern 'room' when the dragonlings attack. Three of them charge us from the front while one tries to take us from behind. Duncan turns around and bounds off to fight the one behind us while Leliana and Morrigan do their specialty. Morrigan begins firing off medium-powered ice spells while Leliana switches to ice arrows. I charge in close. One of the dragonlings becomes frozen, but the other two attack me.
One sinks his teeth deep enough into my armor to pierce my leg and the other hops onto his back legs to slam his front paws against my shoulders. I stumble backwards as Leliana and Morrigan work on getting the one that has his teeth in my leg off. Thankfully, the one biting into me quickly releases his grip in favor or stampeding at Morrigan. Unfortunately, the one with his claws on my shoulder can now force me onto the ground. A tremendous weight settles on my chest as razor-like claws rip through my shoulders' armor. The beast's gigantic mouth comes to wrap around my head. His fangs crunch into my helmet and the dragonling begins attempting to crush my skull inside my armor. My sword is smashed between us, so I use all of my strength to force my blade upwards.
The dragonling doesn't make a sound, but his jaw relaxes while blood pours down on me. Slowly, the dragonling rolls off of me as dead as a doornail. I heave myself up and find the frozen dragonling has thawed and is stumbling around in a circle. I snap his head off of his neck with a single swing. Morrigan, Leliana, and Duncan have taken care of the other two dragonlings and move to get behind me. I keep my weapon drawn as I enter the cavern's large opening. A room full of stalactites and stalagmites with little walking room awaits me. A mage cultist, three cultist warriors, and a drake are awaiting us. The drake and warriors run at us while the mage begins casting buffs and healing spells on his allies. I push my way past the drake and warriors to focus on the mage.
The cultist screams for help as I near him, but his screaming doesn't stop me from plunging my blade deep into his belly and pulling out his bleeding, slimy intestines. The buffs and healing spells disappear from our enemies as the warriors surround my three friends and the drake begins galloping over to me. The creature spreads his mouth wide and attempts to swallow me whole. I drop my sword and allow it. The drake seems to purr in content as he begins swallowing me. My world goes dark as slimy, pulsing muscles surround me. I shudder and wait until I'm halfway down the drake's throat to act.
I thrust my arms outwards just enough that it'll stop me from going down his gullet, but not enough that any air can pass by me. A gagging sound rings in my ears as the drake begins shaking his head and trying to spit me out. I hold tight and feel the convulsions of his throat begin to speed up in panic. I'm in the drake's throat for almost three whole minutes before he collapses to the ground. Slowly, I slide out of the slimy tunnel.
Leliana, Duncan, and Morrigan are all waiting for me when I finally exit the drake's throat. All three of them (including the Mabari) looks absolutely disgusted. I feel slime sliding off of me and realize why. The slime burns when it enters my cuts, but I ignore it and examine the drake. The creature is still breathing and was apparently only unconscious. I get my sword and speak to my team as I begin hacking the animal up.
"Thanks for the help. I appreciated not having to be in there any longer.". My dog whimpers, Morrigan scoffs, and Leliana offers an actual apology and explanation.
"I'm sorry we didn't help. We were afraid we'd hit you, and the drake was already choking by the time we killed the other enemies that were after us.". I grunt to accept her apology while kneeling down and taking a few scales from the drake. Finally, I exit the cavernous room into another small 'hallway' leading northward. The cave hallway we walk through eventually leads to a split. One pathway leads straight while the other leads to my left. I take the left path. Almost instantly, a drake is blocking our way. The beast flares his wings, raises his head high, and screeches. Duncan and I are upon him within a second. My dog sinks his fangs into the drake's leg while I thrust my sword upwards into his chest. An arrow to the eye and ball of ice to the neck end the drake. I strip him of some scales before continuing down the path.
Gradually, the path guides us rightward. We enter a square room with four pillars, traps on either side of us, and five cultist littered around the room. I charge two mages standing close together and leave my team to take care of the rest. Both mages scream as I approach them. The first death is brought on when I decapitate one. The second death is brought when the last mage turns to flee and I spear him through the back.
I watch the idiot slide off of my blade as the rest of my team joins me. I smile a little as I see all of us are splattered with blood. I sheathe my weapon and continue down yet another curving path. We're brought to a straight path that once again leads northward. A light at the end of the tunnel signals we've reached the end of the mountain's inner passages. Unfortunately, someone is already waiting for us at the end of the hall in another tremendous room of icy stalactites and stalagmites.
A man in thick, violently scarlet armor struts up to me with his arms spread wide. I don't give the man a chance to speak. I charge without question and a battle begins. Multiple cultist surround us while mages begin casting from a safe distance away. Now the battle returns to where Duncan and I are live bait. We're knocked down again and again and again as Morrigan cast spells that force us to the ground. Mostly, we distract the warriors while Morrigan takes them out, and Leliana focuses on killing the mages. Finally, when the battle's done we're free to walk (or stumble in the case of Duncan and I) out of the cave.
The mountaintop before us is a rocky, icy, and barren place. We begin walking out into the open when it happens. The world seems to shake as a wild wind whips around us. My eyes go skyward and see a great, gigantic dragon flying overhead. The sun glints off of her scales and her wings block out the sun. A fierce roar rocks me as the beautiful creature flies up atop one of the cliffs surrounding the clearing and nestles down for a nap. A gong in the center of the clearing tells me how I'll summon her down to fight. Instantly, I'm running for the gong. If we can kill Flemeth, then we can definitely kill this dragon. I've even got the hammer in my hands when Morrigan and Leliana catch up to me and force the hammer from my hands. I stomp my foot like a child as I turn to face the two. Morrigan is the first to speak.
"No.". Leliana tries to appease me when I keep pouting and make it clear I'm not going to let this go.
"Please, can't we wait until we have the ashes? Fighting a dragon right now seems a little rash right now.". I hesitate. I want to fight the dragon, but my friends might not fight their hardest if they aren't willingly going into battle. I mumble a question at both of them.
"Promise we'll fight it on the way down?". Morrigan grimaces, but nods. Leliana nods while Duncan just looks at me while wagging his tail. I relent and begin leading us towards the other side of the mountaintop's clearing. Leliana and Morrigan place the hammer down by the gong on our way out. A door leads into a cleaner, brighter part of the building within the mountain. I go through a small hallway and enter another white, bare room with a single door. Standing in front of the door is a man armored from head to toe without a single weapon on him. I'm tempted to draw my weapon, but there's an essence about him that makes me not wish to. When I approach him the man bows and acknowledges me.
"Greetings, travelers. What do you seek?". I sigh and see he's not going to let me pass him without talking.
"We seek the Urn of Sacred Ashes.". He nods and keeps speaking.
"I am the guardian of the ashes. You need not fight me, but there are trials you must past. First, I would like to ask you some questions.". I nod as Morrigan and Leliana huddle behind me. First, the guardian asks me his question.
"Do you feel like you failed Shianni? The halls ran red with the blood of those who harmed her; yet, you did not reach her in time.". I suck in a deep breath and it feels like someone's punched me directly in the heart. I haven't even thought about my family since this entire adventure started. Hell, it's been almost six months since I've been away from them. I nod at the guardian and tell him what I think.
"I'll always feel like I failed her. I looted corpses and stopped to clear every room of enemies before reaching her. Hell, I didn't even run as quickly as I physically could have. There were a thousand things I could have done differently to save her.". The guardian nods in acknowledgement. Now it's Leliana and Morrigan's turns to speak to me. Morrigan goes first.
"I'm not completely sure what happened, but you avenged the wrong done to Shianni. I know you, and I'm certain you took whatever price was required. Besides, death is the ultimate punishment.". Leliana rests her hand on my shoulder. My lover takes a gentler stance to the situation.
"You should leave the past where it is. Thinking about what you could have done will only make you miserable.". The guardian waits until we've all fallen silent to turn to Morrigan. He opens his lips and starts to ask his question.
"Do-". Morrigan shoots the man down in an instant.
"I won't play your games or answer any of your questions, so move on. My regrets and secrets aren't for you or anyone else to know.". The guardian nods and tells Morrigan only one more sentence.
"I respect your choice.". The guardian now turns to my lover. His question almost makes me want to attack him just for the hell of it.
"The Maker only spoke to Andraste and not not a soul since. Your craved attention back in the Chantry at Lothering. Do you feel as if you made up your vision for attention, even if it was negative attention?". I don't believe in the Maker and Leliana very well could have made her story up, but nobody questions my love in such a blunt manner. I step in before Leliana can answer.
"Fuck off and let us pass. I'm the star here, and only my answer matters. Besides, what are you gonna do next? Question my dog?". Duncan barks to show his willingness. The guardian sighs before disappearing in a flash of light.