While Dak was walking across the Plaza, he saw a young woman talking to a templar in Hightown, who was being particularly kind. It appeared that she was searching for one particular templar.

The moment she saw him, she quickly turned to him. "Please, can you help me? My brother," she begged.

"What happened to your brother?" Dak asked calmly.

She began to cry. "Keran was always so devout, so idealistic. He was so proud when the templars accepted him. I pleaded with him not to join the Order, but he wouldn't listen." She hugged herself fearfully. "You hear dark rumours about the templars and Knight-Commander Meredith. And now my brother is gone."

Dak had heard of such rumours, mostly he assumed were idle gossip. However, Anders' tale about how poorly the mages were treated here was true; he knew that for certain. Ordinarily, he wouldn't get involved with the templars, but this was a good opportunity to find out more about how they operate in the city.

"I'm here to help you. Just tell me what you know," said Dak, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Keran would write to me every day. Then suddenly, no more letters. I wrote many times with no response. I tried to see him, but Knight-Commander Meredith threw me out. They won't tell me anything!"

Dak rubbed his chin. "Your brother may indeed be in trouble. What can I do for you?"

She looked relieved. "Perchance in your journeys, if you find yourself in the Gallows—ask the other recruits, Wilmod and Hugh, about my brother. They were Keran's closest friends in the Order. If anyone knows where he is, it's them. Maker bless you and watch after you in this endeavour."

Dak quickly recruited Leyla, Anders, Fenris and Varric, and they soon entered into the Gallows.

The moment they entered, Fenris looked around. Apparently, this was the first time he had been inside the Circle of Magi outside of the Imperium.

"I've… heard about the Circle of Magi outside the Imperium, but I've never been in one." Fenris gave Leyla a concerned look. "Are you certain it's wise for you to be here?"

"Maybe not, but we'll be cautious."

Fenris continued looking around. "This seems more like a prison. I wonder if it's more effective than the Circle I know."

"How is the Imperial Circle of Magi different?"

"Once upon a time, it was as it is here. The Chantry watched the magisters closely for any signs of corruption or weakness. Then it changed. The magisters were permitted to watch over their own, and templars were kept only to enforce the law. What happened next was inevitable. The magisters rule again, as powerful as they ever were."

"You're saying the same thing could happen here."

"If the mages were permitted to be their own watches? Of course. It is too easy for a mage to resort to blood magic if they feel the need is great enough."

"As easy as it is to resort to a sword!" said Anders furiously. "You were created a living weapon. Should you not be trusted with your freedom?"

Fenris narrowed his eyes. "My power is not controlled by a demon. A mage can desire power, justice, revenge, protection… any cause will do, and then they are lost."

Leyla shook her head. "You can't say every mage is corrupt."

"All I am saying is the Imperium offers no answer. All that Andraste did long ago to end the tyranny of magic has been undone."

"She ended the tyranny of magic and replaced it with an entirely new one," said Anders, crossing his arms furiously.

"Considering all that magic has done to my homeland and my race, I weep for your predicament. Power corrupts, as they say, and mages have power enough already."

The two of them were about to come to blows, but Leyla quickly put herself between them.

"You two are making a scene," she hissed.

Sure enough, they could see mages and templars alike looking directly at them.

"Besides, according to everything I've seen, the Circle can't control mages anyhow," said Dak.

"And what is the alternative? Freedom is a noble ideal, but I see no oppression here. I see fear… and danger."

"I think the two of you make some excellent points," said Leyla.

Dak nodded. "Father always said that it was because of the schism when the Imperium broke off with the Asgard Chantry that mages were put under scrutiny. They were simply afraid that the same thing would happen in the South as it did in the North."

"Not that this conversation is in final anything, but don't we have a job to do here?" Varric asked. "I would personally like it if we just do what we have to do here and get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."

Everyone agreed, though Anders and Fenris glared at one another and began asking questions. Of course, they had to be rather subtle when they questioned the templars, but they decided to concentrate the questions on the new recruits, thinking that they were less tight-lipped.

A group of three stood near the bronze statues, and they walked over to them.

"Do you know a recruit named Keran?" Dak asked. "His sister is looking for him."

"We cannot speak to you, messere."

They were just about to walk off when one of the other templars spoke up. "To the Void with that. Keran and the others are missing."

Some judicious questioning revealed that Keran was not the only missing recruit. And that it was supposed to be a secret. And that the Knight-Commander was a little bit on the hard-assed, fanatical side. A few more questions revealed that a recruit named Wilmod had recently returned, then promptly left again to go walk around outside Huttsgalor, followed by the Knight-Captain.

"So, are we rescuing Wilmod or the Knight-Captain?" Varric asked as they left the Gallows.

"I do not know; let's hope this is just nothing," said Dak.

"Knowing our luck, I sincerely doubt that," said Leyla.

They made their way into the mountains, a rather secluded spot where they found the Knight-Captain, a short blond-haired man Leyla found rather dashing, manhandled a person they had to assume to be Wilmod rather harshly.

"Andraste be my witness, Wilmod. I will have the truth from you. Now!" he demanded.

"Mercy, sir, mercy!" Wilmod begged.

"Were it that easy."

"Don't hit me."

The Knight-Captain then kneed him in the chest and pulled out his sword. "I will know where you're going. And I will know now."

"Don't you lay another hand on that boy," Dak warned.

The knight-captain turned towards them. "This is templar business, stranger."

However, Wilond then suddenly started laughing. "You have struck me for the last time, you pathetic human. To me!"

"Maker preserve us," the knight-captain gasped as Wilmod suddenly shifted, becoming an abomination.

Leyla watched as Dak quickly moved, just as the abomination blasted the Knight-Captain with some magic. Leyla quickly bent down to perform some healing magic. Fortunately, he had been knocked out cold. Dak then quickly plunged his blade into the abomination, and it instantly burst into flames as it died.

The Knight-Captain then regained consciousness, and Leyla helped him get to his feet. "I knew… I knew he was involved in something sinister," he said, looking at the burnt ash where the abomination once stood. "But this. Is it even possible?"

"I thought only mages could become abominations?" Dak frowned.

"That is what I believed as well," said the Knight-Captain concerning me. "Normally, we only worry that mages will fall victim to possession. I have heard of blood mages, or demons in solid form, who could summon others into unwilling hosts." The man's voice sounded haunted. "But I had not thought one of our own would be susceptible."

"You shouldn't have been out here alone with him," said Leyla.

"I am Knight-Captain Cullen. I thank you for your assistance," he said graciously, giving Leyla a small smile. "I have been conducting an investigation into some of our recruits who have gone missing. Wilmod was the first to return. I had hoped to confront him quietly, out of sight."

Dak frowned. "If you didn't know he was possessed, why draw your sword on a recruit?"

"He had only been back a few days when he left again secretly. It set off some warning bells." Cullen gestured for them to walk with him as he began heading back to Huttsgalor. "I meant to scare him into a confession. He had to believe my threats were genuine."

"Do you know what happened to Wilmod while he was gone?" Dak asked.

Cullen shook his head. "Obviously, more than I had anticipated." He sighed. "Wilmod has never been fully… convinced of the Order's rules. Mages cannot be our friends. They must always be watched. I thought Wilmod might be meeting with some old friends who'd escaped the Circle."

"I've got friends who are mages. Are you saying the need to 'always be watched,' as well?"

"I was at the Circle Tower in Midgard during the Blight. I saw first-hand how templars' trust and leniency can be rewarded."

"Trust and leniency?" Anders scoffed. "Is that what you call it?"

"I still have nightmares of Uldred's depravities."

Leyla was concerned that Cullen would notice her staff, but thankfully, Dak had a smart idea of disguising it as a polearm. Additionally, he seemed a bit more focused on the fact that one of his templars had just turned into an abomination, not that she blamed him.

"We were trying to find another recruit, a friend of Wilmod's," said Dak. "Do you know where Keran is?"

Cullen shook his head. "He also disappeared. They were last seen together at the Blooming Rose. But I had no luck interrogating the, ah, young ladies there." Leyla noticed him blushing, which she found rather cute. "I doubt they know anything about magic or demons."

Dak just shook his head. "I'll speak to them. You never know how much you can learn from pillow talk."

"The Order would be truly in your debt if you helped us with this. No one at the brothel will speak with me for fear I would shut them down for serving our recruits. If you learn what manner of creature did this to Wilmod, please come tell me in the Gallows. I will ensure you are rewarded."

Cullen gave them a slight bow as they entered Huttsgalor before going on his way.

"If there was one place I didn't expect this mission to take, a brothel was one of them," said Leyla.

"If demons are involved, then blood mages are no doubt at the root of it," said Anders. "As much as I loathe helping the templars, having these blood mages around could do us more harm."

"Maybe we should tell Mother that we went to the brothel; she'll kill as if she ever found out," said Leyla.

They reached the Blooming Rose, and it was certainly lively if nothing else. Loads of young girls hanging around drunkard men with very few clothes on.

"If someone here tries to hire me again, I'm leaving," Anders muttered as they entered the Blooming Rose.

A drunken patron then wandered over towards Leyla. "Hey, beautiful, why don't you hang with me?"

"Sorry, but I don't work here," said Leyla, trying to keep her distance from him.

"Don't be like that," he said, rather giddy.

"She said she wanted to be left alone," said Fenris, narrowing his eyes at him.

Apparently, Fenris' presence alone was enough to dissuade the drunk, and he wandered off. Dak clearly was trying not to laugh at Leyla's dismay, but then several of the young ladies approached him.

"Hey, handsome, want a good time?"

"We can make it worth your while."

Dak managed to detach himself from the young ladies, and Varric led them to the counter, where they met the woman in charge of the ledger, Viveka.

"I'll do the talking," said Leyla as he made her way up to her. "A couple of templar recruits went missing. They were last seen here."

"You'll have to be specific. We do a lot of business with the templars."

"The templars are the ones who want this information."

"We make a lot of our money off of nervous templars that expect some privacy."

"We'll be discreet," she promised.

"Let me look through the books. Wilmod… Keran…" She traced a finger down the page. "Here we go. Wilmod came in here a lot. You sure he had time to be a templar?" She raised an eyebrow at them before going back to the book. "The both of them last saw 'Idunna the Exotic Wonder from the East.'"

"That's quite the stage name."

"It sounds better than the 'Tramp From Darktown'. You should hear what some of the others are called." She sighed. "You didn't hear any of this from me. We clear?"

They made their way up to one of the bedrooms, where they encountered Idunna. She was certainly pretty enough, but Leyla wouldn't go as far as to say that she was 'exotic' or 'wonderful'.

"Idunna, right?" Leyla asked politely. "Do you remember entertaining a templar named Wilmod a few weeks ago? Or Keran?"

Her eyes were coy, slightly downcast. "Wilmod, Wilmod. That doesn't sound familiar."

Dak sighed. "Do your clients like this charade? It must get dreadfully tiresome."

"Wh-Whatever do you mean?" She sashayed to the bed, then sat, smoothing the covers with one hand. "Questions are boring. Why don't we have some real fun?"

"She may not know anything," said Fenris, staring at the woman.

Ordinarily, Leyla finally strained for Fenris; she too seemed to be hypnotised by this woman and found it difficult to look away from her.

"You should listen to your friend," she said, her smile inviting.

Leyla shook her head to snap herself out of this chance. "We have to ask her about Keran. What's your problem?"

Fenris's eyes suddenly widened. "I don't know. Be careful."

Leyla turned and looked at Iduuna firmly. "We're here on business. Keran. Wilmod."

"Answer one of my questions first." She bent forward. "Who told you about little old me?"

Leyla was getting rather frustrated with this and was just about to demand some answers when she found her mouth moving against its will. "It was… Viveka. She showed me… her books."

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" She rose and walked towards her. "So Viveka sold me out, did she? That drab, pathetic little sewer rat. She will be dealt with." Her smile widened slightly. "Just do one more thing for me. Draw your blade."

Leyla felt compelled and pulled out a knife. She looked at the others, and the two seemed to be under her spell as well; they, too, were unable to move.

She then leaned in towards her ear and whispered, "And bring it gently across your throat."

Leyla found herself edging the dagger closer to her throat. "I will not…" She focused, calling a bit of his magic to her and broke the spell around her. "Be toyed with."

"How did you…?" she gasped and backed away. It took her several seconds to realise that she was a mage and a powerful one. "Oh shit." Instantly, she dropped to her knees. "Spare me!"

Leyla looked to the others and appeared to have been freed from the spell as well, and none of them looked too happy.

"What foul magic was that?" Dak asked, glaring at Idunna.

"Blood and desire, in equal measure. An art I learned from… elsewhere."

"Blood magic, then?" Leyla glared in disgust.

"Yes. Please don't kill me."

"You're going to answer all of my questions," Leyla demanded.

"And you had better not use any magic or else," Dak warned.

"Tarohne put me here," she said frantically. "To send biddable templar recruits to the sanctuary. Three Spear Alley, in the Undercity. I enchanted Wilmod and Keran weeks ago. But after they left these walls, I know not what came of them. Please, let me live. It's not my fault. It was all Tarohne's idea."

Before she made that statement, Leyla had considered handing her over to the templars. How dare she say that it was not her fault? It was clear that she was enjoying every moment of it. It was like she used blood magic by accident to enchant people.

"Tell us about Tarohne," Leyla pressed.

"She put me up to this. She said we can recreate the ancient Imperium. That mages can rule again, not serve. She says the templars cannot hold against us if we stand up and fight."

Leyla was finding it difficult to keep her anger under control. She wouldn't deny that fighting for freedom was a worthy goal and fighting for the right to be treated with dignity. However, their methods were deplorable, and their desire to become something similar to that of the Imperium was wrong. "This base of yours—how many other mages are there? Any other defences?"

"People go in and out all the time. Sometimes a handful, sometimes more. There are traps. Magical traps. There's a hidden switch at the front—it turns them off. Th-That's all I know."

Then, to move that surprised everyone, Leyla plunged the knife into her chest.

Varric sighed. "I better go chat with the Madam."

Using the directions that Idunna gave them, they were able to locate the blood mage hideout, which was filled to the brim with a variety of demons; they even had raging corpses.

"I'm surprised this many blood mages are here in Huttsgalor," said Dak, bewildered.

Leyla had to agree with Dak; given the reputation of the Knight-Commander, she was surprised that a group of them had managed to come together.

"Maybe someone in the Circle is covering them?" Varric suggested.

"I hope that isn't true because if it is, it just made life more difficult for them," said Leyla.

"This is why you shouldn't give mages so much freedom," said Fenris. "Give them an inch, and they'll run a mile."

"Groups like this only exist because of the tyranny of the templars and the Chantry," Anders argued.

Thankfully, before Anders and Fenris could give each other's heads off, they managed to reach the bottom of the chamber, where they found a man suspended in some sort of cocoon.

However, before they could release him, more mages appeared in the one leading them, and they looked completely deranged. He had to assume that this was Tarohne.

"How wonderful, more vessels for our experiments," she said with a crazed smile.

Dak narrowed his eyes at her. "Where is Keran?"

"Perhaps the demons will find one of you suitable."

"Always a demon thing. Can't you people say 'no'?" said Anders, shaking his head in disbelief.

"I am not some hopeless waif that ran crying to a demon—I sought them out and embraced them." She gestured wildly.

"Why have you taken the recruits?" Leyla asked, trying to keep her focused on her while everyone else spread out.

"Demons can inhabit much more than mages and corpses. With assistance, they can control anyone I ask. Any templar… any noble… any well-meaning meddler."

"You do know we cut a path through your abominations, right?" Leyla pointed out.

"Good, good, the demons like spirit. If a few more templars fall to the demons, we can seed chaos in their ranks. How many abominations can they discover amongst their own before it drives the knight-commander crazy?"

"Tell us where Keran is," Dak demanded.

"The experiments need so much fuel, you see. So many living vessels are found wanting. Useless vessels can still feed the compost heap. So it's not a complete waste."

Dak merely gripped his sword firmly in hand. "Good to know you're barking mad. That makes things easier."

"In days of old, the Esnal Imperium spanned the known world. Demons were their allies—held in check by power and knowledge. With a wave of a hand, I could do more than a templar can achieve in a lifetime. Yet they command us? Absurd. We should be ruling them. We should rule you all. Kill the vessels only if you must."

Leyla had heard enough and was first to react by blasting her with some ice. Anders then sent some fireballs at some freshly summoned shades. Dak and Fenris then quickly charged in, cutting through them with their swords.

However, removing the enchanted binding spell surrounding Keran was much harder. Fortunately, Leyla and Anders managed to find a way to dispel it, but Keran fell to the ground completely naked. Thankfully, he was alive and slowly got to his feet, rubbing the back of his neck. "Is it… Is it over?"

"Keran?" Leyla asked.

"Yes, that's my name. Oh, thank the Maker, I thought He had abandoned me."

"Do not trust him. He is likely possessed," Fenris whispered in her ear.

Dak removed the rope from one of the mages and handed it to Keran, who suddenly came wherever he was naked and took it gladly.

"I've never seen blood magic; it's horrific," said Dak.

Leyla nodded. "Andraste was right to warn about magic."

"Wh-what happens to me now?" Keran asked nervously.

Leyla looked at Anders, who had the most experience regarding the demons and possession. "Any chance you can tell if Keran has an extra passenger?"

Anders nodded. "Well, there's one sure way." He shrugged and hit Keran with a blast of magic.

"What was that about?" he yelled in surprise.

Anders shrugged. "If there was a demon in there, it would have defended itself. Looks like he's clear."

Keran looked at them beseechingly. "Don't tell the templars. I-I don't know what they'd do to me. Please, I need to go back and tell them I'm all right. Tell my sister… I-I must go."

Anders looked at Dak and Leyla. "When you talk to Ser Cullen, maybe downplay the blood magic angle. We don't need the templars cracking down even harder."

"They may have every right to, given the circumstances," said Dak.

Leyla wished that Dak was wrong, but she had to agree with him. There was no telling what kind of carnage these blood mages would have done unchecked.

They eventually return to the Gallows, where they found Cullen observing Keran, who is now fully dressed in templar armour, reunion with Macha.

Dak and Leyla knew they had to warn Cullen what had happened.

"Blood mages have infiltrated your ranks," said Dak. "They've been implanting your recruits with demons."

Cullen stared at them, horrified. "Sweet blood of Andraste."

Macha's voice came, trembling and fearful. "D-Demons? Did you say something about recruits and demons?"

Keran tried to calm her. "I didn't want to tell you, Macha. They… they were horrible. Those mages see the rest of us as ants to be crushed." He shook his head. "They won't stop until they've destroyed the Chantry and the templars forever."

Leyla held out her hands calmly. "Not all mages are like that."

"True, not every mage is gives in to temptation, but none are ever free of it," said Cullen. "At any time, any mage could become a monster, from the lowest apprentice to the most seasoned enchanters. Mages cannot be treated like people. They are not like you and me."

"Surely that's a little harsh," Macha said.

"Yet also through," Fenris added.

"They are weapons. They have the power to light a city on fire in a fit of pique," said Cullen firmly.

"There's fault on both sides," said Dak. "We must find a way to live in peace."

Dak felt that the templars were just as guilty of giving into their temptations as mages.

"Perhaps you are right," said Cullen. "Perhaps mages need better education as to why the Chantry functions as it does. Perhaps they would not go against the will of Andraste herself. I will look into it." Cullen turned towards Keran reluctantly. "Keran, I'm afraid I must relieve you of your commission. If there is any chance he still harbours a demon in him—"

"No," Macha said. She gave Cullen a pleading look. "You can't really think that. Keran's fine. He's safe."

"He is not to blame." Fenris shook his head solemnly. "But tell that to the victims if it turns out that our suspicions are correct."

"Please, sir. I tried to resist. I never took anything they offered." He held his hands out. "I-I need this position, or my sister can't eat. I've been training for five years."

"We conducted tests on Keran," said Leyla. "He's not possessed. He can stay in the Order."

"I hesitate to ask what methods you used that you are so certain." Cullen gazed at them for a moment. And then, to Leyla's surprise, the man simply nodded. "Still, you have done much for us by stopping these blood mages. I will heed your request."

"A wise choice," said Fenris.

"If he has shown no sign of demonic possession in ten years' time, Keran will become eligible for full knighthood."

Macha stepped forward. "Thank you. Again. But without a full knighthood, Keran's pay is so small… I do not know if I can reward you as you deserve—"

"I will handle that, miss," said Cullen, stepping forward and handing them a small pouch of coin. "You have done the Order a great service. We will not forget it." He gave them a small bow before walking away, gesturing for both Macha and Keran to accompany him.

"Well, that went better than expected," said Dak.

"I'm just grateful they didn't forgive me out of the mage," said Leyla. She then turned to Anders. "Or that Keran did mention that you yourself are mage Anders."

"Yes, I was surprised he didn't rat me out," Anders agreed. "Still, can't believe he would join the templars, though."

Dak looked at Leyla. "Let's just try to avoid as much business with the templars as possible. We don't want them snooping around asking questions."

"So there were blood mages in Huttsgalor," said Cassandra.

"Yes, but you do take note that the Champions were not involved in any way," Varric pointed out.

"Yes, and the fact they helped the templars is also acknowledged. However, it does seem that Knight-Commander Meredith was right to tighten restrictions on the mages."

"It may seem that way, but you've only heard the beginning of this tale. I'm afraid that your reception will alter as we dived further in."

"Then continue and enlighten me."