"Things are heating up," came the scruffed voice in the darkness. "Now is not a good time to be a Templar."

Hawke continued walking, ignoring Samson and his ramblings for the third time that night. Varric, Sebastian, and Aveline accompanied her on their yearly endeavor to rid Kirkwall of gangs that plagued the streets, and the former Templar always had one comment or another as they passed by.

"Everyone always ignores Samson," he said, speaking about himself. "One day I'll be great again, you'll see."

Varric shook his head as they walked down the stairs to the docks. "That guy really needs a hobby," the dwarf muttered under his breath.

Hawke shrugged. "He has a point though. I grow more concerned for Carver in this brewing war with the mages. How far will Meredith push before they push back?"

"'They' also includes you," Aveline pointed out. "You and your brother may end up on opposite sides before this is over."

"We're already on opposite sides," Hawke said. "But he's still family. He'd never turn on me and I would never turn on him. I also refuse to choose a side since both sides are right and wrong."

"A noble attitude," Sebastian chimed in. "Unfortunately, as Champion, I suspect you will not have that luxury."

Hawke smiled up at the archer beside her. "I can always hope, can't I?"

Dearest Father,

Another long night of clearing out gangs and thugs. It seems to only last a few months before a new group forms and decides tormenting the city would be a good idea. The groups we ran into tonight however were much different than our previous excursions.

The Followers of She were out in full force around Lowtown, the first area we focused on. We found out quickly who "she" was; a desire demon named Hanker residing in a dark decrepit alley (why have I never considered that demons actually have names other than desire or rage or hunger? Unless it's just called Hanker so her followers aren't calling her Desire? I'm tired Father, forgive me). There were no clues as to what her overall goal was in enthralling these followers, and sadly they all fought to the death for her. I so wish just once these people would stop to talk instead of attack, but unfortunately that is never the case.

The journey to the docks from Lowtown had us running into Samson. It was clear from his ramblings that his lyrium addiction hasn't subsided in the years since we first met him. Kind of sad, really, that he's strung out on the streets begging for coin to give to lyrium smugglers for "dwarf dust" as he calls it. How far this man must have fallen from his days as a Templar. At least he isn't involved with slavers anymore.

But there were slave hunters at the docks, following the orders of a woman named Jess Varvel, known as "Leashmaster" to her people. When we found her in some run down alley, I was surprised to learn she was a mage and involved in this kind of activity. I'm not sure if she was one of the escaped mages from the Gallows, but knowing she was involved in slavery was enough for us to put an end to her and her operation.

She wasn't the last mage we encountered this evening. Jakeson Hall, a blood mage, ran the Bloodragers gang that was preying on the elite of Hightown. He was working out of an empty home that was right behind mine! To think this man was living next to me this entire time while terrorizing the streets sickened me, and I have to admit it felt good clearing out Hightown of this corrupted mage and his thugs. One more blood mage dead by my hands.

Sebastian reminded me of the first time I had begun this mission of cleaning up Kirkwall's streets. He wasn't joining us back then, but he saw me that night in Hightown so many years ago. It was the night he found out I was a mage after watching Anders and I go after the Guardsman Pretenders. Seems like such a long time ago, fighting with Carver and having fun with Anders. The second time we did this, Sebastian and I almost had our first kiss. The years certainly have changed things for all of us.

We ended the night at the Hanged Man, sorting coin and random items found throughout the evening. That same mysterious woman found us and dropped a few sovereigns on the table. "Courtesy of Red Jenny," she had said before walking out of the tavern. Both Isabela and Varric had mentioned hearing the name before, but both had different accounts of who this Jenny was or what she looked like. Varric swears he heard about her from stories out of Orlais, but Isabela insists she was in Denerim at the same time. Whoever this woman is, she must appreciate the good deeds of others, and thanks to her the Chantry will get a few more coins with this evening's donation.