"I have a report you might find interesting," said the Seeker, folding her arms. "It tells of a chasm in the Vinmark Mountains and a secret that was said to be buried within. Yet when the Chantry went to investigate, they were turned away by the Grey Wardens."
"And why would I find that interesting?" Varric raised an eyebrow.
She glared. "Because the Champions were there." She gestured. "I can't help but notice you've failed to mention this… adventure."
"Oh, that." Varric spread his hands. "I didn't think you'd be interested. Just some business with the Hawke family, a few Carta dwarves who went too far…" He sighed. "You're not going to believe me."
"I'll take my chances."
"All right. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Lelya was sleeping soundly in bed whence he was suddenly awakened by a loud crashing sound. She grabbed a rope and quickly rushed outside to find a dwarf shove Orana over the railing. The elf girl put out an arm to break her fall, and there was a snapping noise. Another dwarf drew a knife and advanced on Bodhan.
Lelya wasted no time blasting the dwarf with a fireball and blasting the knife out of his hand. By this point, Dak had awoken and rushed out of his room with his sword in his hand. The dwarves immediately turned towards him. He heard one shout, "The Hawkes must not be killed."
Then, suddenly counting on the dwarfs were Winger and Summer, who caught them entirely by surprise. Dak quickly moved in, cutting them down with his blade, and Leyla unleashed ice blasts.
"Everyone all right?" Leyla asked once the last of the dwarfs were being taken care of.
Bodhan glanced around frantically. "Sandal?" He breathed a sigh of relief when the boy and his mother emerged. Bodhan checked his son and then nodded to them. "I'll go fetch the guard."
Their mother's face was full of fear. "My children, are you all right?"
"We're fine, mother," Leyla assured her. "I cannot say the same for Orana."
"What was all that about? Why would Morse attack you?" Merrill asked.
"That's a good question," said Dak.
Aveline soon arrived with some guards to clean up the mess, and Varric had also tagged along.
"And they gave you no indication of what they wanted?" Aveline asked.
"It sounds like they wanted both me and Dak," said Lelya.
"I recognise these dwarfs," said Varric as he bent down to examine the corpses. "There from the Carta."
"Now, why would dwarven smugglers would go to such lengths to get both me and Lelya?" Dak asked.
"No clue, but I did hear something unusual for my contacts in the merchant guild," Varric frowned. "Apparently, there is a small group of Carta dwarfs up to something in the Vinmark Mountains."
"Then it looks like we know where to go next," said Dak.
"You shouldn't go alone," said Aveline. "Normally, I would volunteer to accompany, but my duties here prohibit me from leaving the city."
"I'll come with you," said Merrill.
"And I got nothing better to do," said Varric.
"Do you really both have to go?" their mother asked fearfully.
"Mother, we don't have much choice," said Leyla. "We need to find out why the Carta attacked us here at our home. Don't worry; we'll be back before you know it."
Sebastian could not go with them, as he had more important things to do within the Chantry. Anders, Isabela, and Fenris, however, both volunteered.
"There it is," said Varric. They'd been travelling through what appeared to be a wasteland for the better part of two days. If the sun got any hotter, he was going to melt.
Dak narrowed his eyes. "It doesn't look all that dwarven."
Varric shrugged. "These are Carta dwarves, so they're more criminals and smugglers than anything else." He looked around. "They're not usually stupid, though. I don't know why they'd attack you."
"Thankfully, they failed," said Leyla.
"You have a plan, then? I found their hideout, but my sources couldn't tell me anything else. It's all very…" He sighed. "Strange."
"Why do you say that?" Leyla asked. "It's just the Carta, isn't it?"
"As far as my contacts in the Carta know, they shouldn't be here. There shouldn't even be a here." He hated mysteries. "This place is invisible. A big blind spot on the map. Bianca's never been this suspicious, and she's twitchy to start with."
Dak put a hand to his sword. "Does it matter? We just need to stop them trying to kill us."
"A fine point. So what's the plan?"
"There must be a reason they attacked us," said Leyla. "We need to find out."
"Right. Only one way to do that."
"So we just slaughter every dwarf insight?" Dak asked.
"Not every dwarf," said Varric plainly.
"Whatever happens, they won't get the chance to attack again," said Fenris firmly.
They wandered down to the fortress and destroyed merchant caravans. He pointed out how strange it was for the Carta to attack guild members.
A dwarf met them in a stone passageway. "Both brother and sister. You're here together. You've come."
"Is…" Dak glanced at Leyla. "He referring to you and me?"
The dwarf turned away and gestured. "Everyone. It's the children of Malcolm Hawke. They've come to us."
Leyla narrowed his eyes. "What does our father have to do with this?"
"It began with him and ends with you. Blood for blood, that's what we were told."
Dak raised a questioning eyebrow. "Did… Father cross the Carta, somehow?"
"You've come to us now, and that's the only thing that matters."
Leyla couldn't really understand what was happening or what they would not. Father might have got the Carta to smuggle some lyrium, but that didn't sound like him.
"We came here to find out why the Carta has attacked us," said Leyla.
The dwarf gestured urgently. "For the blood! We must have it!"
Leyla blinked. "I hope you don't mean my blood."
"We will take it. Corypheus will walk in the sun once more!" The dwarf drew a pair of long knives and rushed to attack.
The dwarfs attacked them ferociously, and Dak had to roll out of the way to avoid getting skewered. Leyla then quickly fired up a lightning blast, and one of the dwarfs electrocuted him, allowing Dak to plunge his sword through his chest. Fenris jumped in, swinging his sword, decapitating. At the same time, Isabel managed to get behind one of them and plunged her daggers into his back. Varric kept on firing bolts, and Merrill and Anders, on the other hand, and lease they combined spells, knocking the rest of them back.
"Okay, why would they be after our blood?" Dak asked after the battle was over.
"No idea," said Leyla.
"Clearly, these dwarves are insane," Fenris said. "Perhaps even more so than Varric."
"I heard that!" said Varric
"I've never heard of a dwarf doing blood magic. Do you suppose this Corypheus taught them? But why would they want you in particular?" Merrill frowned as she looked from Dak to Leyla.
"The Carta doesn't normally act like this. They're businessmen."
"I'd like to know who this Corypheus is." Leyla stood up. "With a name like that, he's bound to go 'mwah-ha-ha' at some point. I just know it." He shook his head. "And really? More blood? Why can't it ever be spit… or a lock of hair?"
"You really want to encounter a spit mage?" Varric gave him a disbelieving look.
"For variety, sure," Leyla shrugged.
Isabela laughed. "So now you're the target of batty dwarven assassins? You and your brother do attract the strangest types."
"It does seem that way, doesn't it?" said Dak
"I wonder what it is. Perhaps you should bathe more frequently."
Leyla groaned. "Someday, I'll visit a place with no ancient evils, horrors, devouring plagues, or insanity. Maybe a beach."
"I can recommend a few if you'd like," Isabela said.
"Please do."
Varric smirked. "The day you go to the beach is the day an armada of angry demon pirates show up."
They soon came into view that the fortress, by the looks of it, was rather ancient.
"A fortress." He shook his head. "Here, in the middle of nowhere?"
Anders walked forward a few more paces, then knelt next to a corpse. "Legion of the Dead armour. It's a dwarven tradition. Anyone accused of a crime can clear their name if they die fighting darkspawn. Surprisingly, they bump into Grey Wardens a lot." He stood. "I had a friend that was a member."
"If that's true, there's only one reason they would be here," said Dak.
"Oh no, please say we will be running into any darkspawn," Leyla groaned.
"Don't suppose we can turn and leave," said Anders.
More dwarves. More insane rambling. And not just from his companions. Some of the dwarves were babbling about drinking from the Master and other such creepy nonsense. "The Hawke's blood. The Master will rise. He will be free." Another of the crazy dwarves walked towards them.
"Gerav?" Varric stepped forward.
"Varric?" Gerav shook his head. "N-no one told me you would be part of this. We were just going after the Hawkes."
"Why has the Carta been attacking me and my sister?" Dak asked.
"I c-can't say. The Master must be free…"
"Really, Gerav?" Varric shook his head in disapproval. "I thought better of you than this. I mean, gutting the occasional competitor for fun and profit that's the game. But what are you all even doing here? Worshipping demons?"
"We drink the darkspawn blood. He calls us…"
Leyla's eyes widened. "Why would you do that? Won't you just die?"
"It's the only way… to hear the music."
"Oh, come on, you nug-licker," said Varric. "Snap out of it. There's no gold in hallucinating."
Dak turned to Varric. "An acquaintance of yours, Varric?"
"Dak, Leyla, this is Gerav. He's a greedy, brilliant bastard son-of-a-nug from the Carta. Gerav, this is Dak and Leyla, the ones whose blood you want to drink or bathe in or whatever." Varric shrugged. "But if you're after eternal youth, I've got to tell you, Dak's no virgin."
"The Master is calling. He needs the blood."
"Gerav… buddy… This isn't like you." Varric drew Bianca. "Look. I've still got Bianca; she never misfired a day in her life. You don't want her to see her papa like this, do you?"
"Varric? You want to spare this bastard?" Leyla asked, knowing how difficult this was for him.
"Not if he's after you and Dak, Leyla." Varric cocked Bianca. "Bianca, I think it's time to say goodbye."
The dwarf then suddenly launched themselves at them, and Varric did not hesitate, firing several bolts from Bianca. It didn't take them long to take them down, and once they were dead, Varric began to remove the bolt he fired in Gerav's throat.
"You poor stupid bastard…" he said, shaking his head. He looked up at them. "I used to do business with the Carta back in the day. Gerav was a nutcase then, too, but in a good way. He was trying to design a new type of repeating crossbow. Bianca was the only one that ever worked."
He stood up and shook his head as he walked away. "I can't believe he ended up like that."
"Someone must be behind all this; I refuse to believe that anyone sane would ever drink darkspawn blood," said Dak.
"Well, Grey Wardens drink darkspawn blood to get their powers," said Anders. "But they don't drink it raw; it is all prepared beforehand."
"Aren't you supposed to keep that a secret?" Leyla asked.
"Well, I'm not a Grey Warden anymore."
"Regardless, we want answers. We have to keep on going," said Dak.
They went further in and encountered a heavily armoured dwarf unloading a bronto. "The Hawkes. They told me you two were going to be trouble." He smiled as he stepped away from the bronto. "I swore to Corypheus we'd bring him Malcolm Hawke's blood. One way or the other…"
"What does this have to do with our father?" Leyla demanded.
"The Master wants you. I don't ask why." The dwarf removed a strange-looking staff from the bronto and set it on a table.
"So, it's Corypheus who's after us?"
"What Corypheus wants, Corypheus gets. From us, or from someone."
"Corypheus wants some blood?" said Dak as if this was perfectly normal. "Sure. Let me just open a vein… How about a kidney, too?"
"Corypheus, we have done as you command." The dwarf threw his head back and raised his hands. "Your sacrifice is here. You will see the surface once more!"
Fenris stepped in front of Leyla as the dwarf charged. The dwarf more or less ended up impaling himself on Fenris's blade. Leyla, Merrill and Anders both threw up barriers as more dwarves attacked. Varric fired a bolt straight at the bronto, and seconds later, it toppled over.
Leyla looked at the staff the dwarf was carrying and reached out to grab it. The moment she did, the staff began to glow.
"What the—" Leyla gasped. Then she screamed as the staff started to glow.
Dak immediately rushed over to her, but then he was shot backwards when he tried to grab her. Leyla felt her entire body was on fire as a massive surge of power overwhelmed her. When the light vanished, she toppled over, and Fenris quickly grabbed her.
"Maker's breath…" said Varric.
Anders quickly bent down and began to use his healing magic, and he frowned. "She seems to be all right."
"I'm fine," said Leyla as she sat up. "That was…" She examined the staff. "Father used this."
"The enchantment needed to do that…" Dak shook his head. "What did Father know?"
Leyla held up the staff. "This will take us to Corypheus."
They began chasing down the remaining thugs, but a barrier emerged behind them as they descended the stairs.
"Those sons of bitches…" Varric cursed. "The whole blasted thing's sealed over."
"I'm sure there's another way out," said Leyla.
"Looks like our only option is to press forward," said Dak.
"Do you two have any idea what is going on?" Fenris asked.
"No clue, but this is clearly more than just a disagreement with the Carta," said Leyla.
"We need to find this Corypheus on demand some answers," said Dak.
They proceeded further in, and it appeared they were inside the fortress. However, it felt more like a maze than anything else, but Leyla could deftly send some powerful magic in the corridors. They then heard a voice as they proceeded further.
"…be bound here for eternity, hunger stilled, rage smothered, desire dampened, pride crushed. In the name of the Maker, so let it be. I can do nothing about the Wardens' use of demons in this horrid place. But I will have no one say any magic of mine ever released one into the world…"
Dak took his hand off his sword hilt and shook his head. "Who was that? I feel like I know that voice."
Leyla recognised the voice as well. "It sounded like Father, but… how?" His father would never have been mixed up in anything that involved demons. He glanced at Merrill, who was examining the bindings. "Merrill?"
"I think if you activate that thing there, you'll be able to bring this down and kill the demon," said Merrill.
"Would that bring the barrier down?" Isabela asked.
"I don't know," Merrill said.
"Worth a try," said Dak.
Naturally, the moment they opened the cell, the demon attacked them, but they were able to take care of it. The moment they did, they began to hear the voice again. "I can do nothing about the Wardens' use of demons in this horrid place. But I will have no one say any magic of mine ever released into the world."
"Do you hope to learn something about your father down here?" Isabela asked.
"Of course, we barely remember him," said Dak.
"Well, I think your father sounds like someone worth knowing." Isabela smiled. "According to my mother, my father wasn't. Not even for one night."
They then finally encountered someone who was not equal or a demon, but he wasn't exactly a perfect specimen of man. He appeared to be having trouble moving, and he had several serious-looking injuries. His hair was falling out in clumps, and his skin was mottled grey. Anders winced as he approached.
"The key," he said, looking at Leyla's staff. "Did they find it? The dwarves? I heard them… looking… digging… How do you bring the key here?"
Leyla held up the odd staff. "You mean this? How is this a key?"
The thing shambled towards them. "Magic, old magic, it is. Magic from the blood. It made the seals. It can destroy them."
"We came in here to find Corypheus," said Dak, who was clearly starting to lose his patients. "Do you know where…" Maybe there was a better question. "Or what he is?"
"Do not say his name," the man cringed. "He will hear you. Do not wake him. Now, when you hold the key."
Dak groaned. "Let me guess, you want to drink our blood too?"
"Blood. The blood of the Hawke. Are you both Hawkess?" It looked at them, glazed, dead eyes narrowing. "Yes. I smell magic on you. But you hold the key. The key to his death…" It nodded. "Yes, I can show you out, yes."
"Who are you?" Dak demanded. "What's wrong with you?"
"You ask me that? I am the one who belongs here, not you. You are no darkspawn."
Dak looked at his armour and recognised the faded grey griffin symbol. "That armour, it's Warden issue. No one has that."
"You hear it, no?" he said, looking at Anders. "Hear it calling? I smell it in you. I know the way out. Follow me. Down and in. Down and in."
Leyla was relieved they finally found someone who didn't want to kill them for once. "Perfect. What do I need to do?"
"The seals hold us in. Anything comes in; nothing ever leaves. Not without the key. You must use it, and yes, on the seals. For every seal, you touch the key to it. Only then do they open. Only for the Hawke. Not back. Not up. The only way out is down and through the heart. Down…" He started to shamble off. "Down in the depths…"
"Why do I get the feeling that things are bound to get even more complicated," said Dak.
They began chasing after the man, where they encountered another sealed demon, which they killed.
Once again, they heard the voice again when they killed the demon. "I may have left the Circle, but I took a vow. My magic will serve that which is best in me, not that which is most base."
"That which is best in me," said Dak, looking at Leyla. "Father used to say that, didn't he? To you?"
"I just hope I make him proud," she said softly.
She then felt Dak placed a hand on her shoulder. "You have."
They finally caught up with the Warden and came face-to-face with what appeared to be a giant monster trapped inside a green barrier.
"Let me guess," said Dak, looking at the Warden. "The first seal?"
"Two thousand years, the magic holds. Never broken. Give it the key. Let it take the magic back to itself. Absorb it, all who came before…"
Leyla walked up, the strange staff in his hands. "This…This is a bad idea, isn't it?"
Leyla then plunged the staff into the seal and unlocked the barrier. Unsurprisingly, the monster inside it immediately began to attack them. Fortunately, they have the sense to prepare themselves before releasing the creature.
Once the creature had been vanquished, Leyla looked at one of the glowing pillars. It was as if, by instinct, she had used the staff to draw magic into it.
The strange Warden nodded with approval. "The blood works. It is good."
"Thank you for helping us, but… who are you? Do you have a name?" Leyla asked.
"Name…" It paced back and forth. "So long since I've said my name. La… Larius. I was Larius. There… was a title, too. Commander… Commander of the Grey."
"He was a Warden," said Anders. "Poor wretch must come down here on his Calling…"
"Yes. The Calling…" Larius nodded. "The songs get louder. Only death stops them. I am dead. But I never died."
Dak turned to Anders, slightly confused. "Anders? What are you talking about?"
"Wardens aren't immune to the taint forever," said Anders grimly. "In time, we start to hear voices. The same ones darkspawn hear."
"If you're a Warden, then do you know…" said Leyla, turning to Larius. "What just happened? What does the seal have to do with my blood?"
"The magic, it calls to the blood, reads the thoughts of those who hold it. The last to hold it, the Hawke. I…" Larius looked away. "I was there when he laid the seals. Before I became this. You favour him. C-Corypheus calls. In the darkness. What waits there?" He shuffled away again.
Fenris shook his head. "It seems your blood is special, Hawke. Why am I not surprised?"
"The sooner we find our way out of here, the better," said Varric.
Merrill looked at Dak, slightly confused. "Why do you suppose the Carta what's a big hole in the ground?"
"I don't think they want to be here," said Dak, slightly amused.
"Do you think they fell down here and got stuck?" Merrill blinked. "Maybe a good rope ladder would solve this whole Carta problem."
Leyla laughed. "If only it was that simple."
They proceeded further, breaking more seals and killing the demons behind, and then they heard their father's voice again.
"I've bought our freedom, Leandra. We can go home now, us and the baby. We'll be together. I hope it takes after you love. I would wish this magic on no one. May they never learn what I've done here."
Dak looked at Leyla. "Father didn't want a child with magic? He got that one wrong. As well there only being one of us. He sure didn't show any regret back home. The attention he gave you… Well, I guess he figured the worst that could happen to me was tripping on my sword."
Leyla merely gave him a smile. "He knew you didn't need protecting. You were the strongest of us."
"Sure, it's easy to believe that now. But I think…" He paused slightly. "I just wanted to help." He then gave his sister a sympathetic look. "I did worry sometimes for you."
"And I always worry about you."
"That's why he always told us to look out for one another, to cover each other's weaknesses and enhance our strength."
They proceeded deeper and finally encountered darkspawn, which Anders wasn't too happy about.
"When I left the Wardens, I swore I'd never spend another minute in the Deep Roads." Anders glared at their surroundings.
"'Left' sounds like it was a mutual arrangement," said Fenris.
"Fine. I ran away. What's it to you?"
"Ran away from the Circle, ran away from the Wardens…" Fenris shrugged. "It sounds like a habit."
"Running away from your family, straight to Danarius. Running away from Danarius, straight to Dak and Leyla. Maybe we're more alike than you think."
"I've always said so," Varric said, netting a glare from both men.
They kept walking, and suddenly, Anders stumbled and grabbed his head.
"What's wrong?" Leyla asked, concerned.
"I'm not listening…" Anders shook his head. "I'm not listening."
"The abomination's hearing voice," Fenris said. "How unexpected."
"I don't think it's Justice that's doing the talking," said Dak.
Leyla reached the same conclusion and placed her hands on Anders' shoulders. "Anders? Anders?"
After a moment, Anders nodded at her. "I'm all right. I think I'm all right."
"He is waking," said Larius, shambled towards them again. "The magic grows lax. He feels us walk where no step goes."
"Are you talking about Corypheus?" Leyla frowned.
"Can't you tell us who he is? I hate walking into danger blind," said Dak.
"He calls. Like an Old God. He mimics their cry." Larius gestured. "He calls them to free him. The dark children and the light, any with taint in their blood."
"Well, that clears things up," said Dak sarcastically.
"If Corypheus isn't an Old God, what is he?" Leyla asked. "Human, demon, darkspawn?"
"More than darkspawn. More than human." Larius shook his head. "He thinks. He talks. He pieces the Veil."
Anders' eyes widened. "You're talking about an awakened darkspawn. When I was in the Wardens, we encountered intelligent darkspawn in Trader's Bay."
"He wants what was once his," Larius continued.
"How could this Corypheus be sending people after me if he's asleep?" Leyla asked.
"He can call it a dream, but he does not know. When the seals are gone, he will wake. And he must die."
"Why are you down here? How have you survived?" Dak asked.
"The Calling. The music. It is our death."
"The corruption…" said Anders. "Once it gets that bad, the darkspawn can't sense you anymore. The last advantage."
"Yes," Larius said. "I lived, but I died. The corruption feeds me. So many years in darkness…"
"When you run off, where do you go?" Leyla asked.
"I know the darkness before the seals. Here, the voice is too strong." Larius shambled off again. "I cannot stay."
With no other choice, they kept on going, but they hadn't gotten any further when Anders began staggering again. "Stop. Just make him stop talking. Make him stop."
"It's Corypheus," said Dak. "He can hear Corypheus."
"Hang in there, Blondie," said Varric. "We're going to get you out of this."
Leyla tried to snap out of it by shaking him like before, but it didn't work. Dak then moved in and punched him across the face, which did work.
"Sorry," said Dak. "You weren't coming out of it."
"It's all right," said Anders as Leyla healed him. "I'm just grateful to be back in my own mind. Whoever this Corypheus is, he's powerful."
They kept moving, but now everyone watched Anders closely, in case he lost it.
Anders sighed. "How's this going to fit into your grand tale, Varric? 'Dak, Leyla and friends walked for a really long time in nasty tunnels that smelled like nug shit.'"
"Well, I'd probably say something like… 'Then, around the corner, we caught the sight of an entirely new type of darkspawn.' You had to ask, Blondie."
Anders sighed. "I've already done the 'and around the corner, we caught sight of an entirely new type of darkspawn' thing. You'll have to come up with something else."
They soon came across an ancient altar that looked Tevinter in origin, maybe dedicated to one of their Old Gods.
Leyla examined the altar. Fenris gave her a concerned look. "Don't even think about making a sacrifice here, Leyla. Whatever happens, I promise it won't be good."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but…" Anders took a deep breath. "Fenris is right."
"I have no intention of even touching the thing," Leyla assured them. "I'm more concerned with…" She shook her head. "Feel it? There is power in the thing. But… if Dumat is dead, how could there be?" He straightened and then left the thing behind.
They found the body of what seemed to be one of Varric's ancestors and delivered the last rites. Varric seemed oddly touched by the sentiment.
Anders stumbled again. Isabela started to draw back her hand, and he shoved her away. "Aaaah."
"What's wrong?" Leyla asked, turning around.
"Wardens… the Joining… I have too much taint in my blood. I can't shut him out." Anders bent over, holding his head. "Help me…" He started to glow. Always a bad sign. "I will not…" Justice's voice took over. "Be controlled."
"Let it go," said Leyla calmly. "There's a better way to fight him."
The abomination twirled the staff and started to call up a spell. Dak wasted no time in moving in, quickly knocking the staff out of his hands. He punched him in the face again, bringing him back to his senses.
"Thank you," Anders managed, despite the blood streaming from his nose. Leyla offered him a hand up. "I-I guess they're right. You never can leave the Wardens." He sighed. "I hope I can hold against him. Against them both."
"Let's just try not doing that again," said Varric. "Bianca hates being turned on by her friends."
"He feels the seals weaken." Larius shambled out of the shadows again. "He knows you are close. You must be ready…" Suddenly, he turned and started looking around. "What's that? Who? No… no. They're here."
"Who is 'they'? The Carta?" Dak asked.
Larius shook his head. "No. Worse. More treacherous, more dangerous. The Wardens. They listen to Corypheus. They want to bring him to the light. Stop them. You must stop them." He shuffled away again.
"Would it kill him to give us a straight answer?" Dak asked.
"Come on, need to keep going," said Leyla.
They continued when they heard another set of voices down the tunnel.
"Something's happening," said a woman's voice. "The prison's breaking down. But it's stood up to tunnelling before. What can—"
They then suddenly encountered a group of Grey Wardens led by a woman, and judging from the staff strapped to her back, she was a mage. The woman stopped when they saw them and saw the key Leyla was currently using as a staff.
"You," she said, pointing at Leyla. "You have the key. And you've come through the seals. But how?" She then turned her eyes towards Dak and went back to Leyla. "Wait, you're Hawks! Stroud told me you met in the Deep Roads. Are you the same ones? The children of Malcolm? The Carta said they were close. I am Janeka. I lead this unit of Grey Wardens."
Dak narrowed his eyes. "Why are you so interested in my father?"
"Then you don't know? Without Malcolm, this prison would have fallen over twenty years ago."
Leyla frowned. "Tell me what my father did."
"The Grey Wardens built this prison to contain one of the most powerful darkspawn we've ever encountered." She gestured. "But even the best magic fades. The Wardens need to reinforce the seals. This requires the blood of a mage untainted by… Warden training. The last to perform the ritual was your father."
"My father was a blood mage?" said Leyla in disbelief.
"To avert the Blights, forbidden magics are sometimes necessary."
"Our Father would never stoop to using blood magic!" Dak glared.
She shrugged. "He did not bind the demons if that is your concern. That was done in another era, before the Chantry's laws."
Leyla began to realise why she and Dak's blood had been needed. "That's why the Carta came after me."
"We need help from you, Hawks," she said arrogantly. "I believe the original Wardens were wrong. He isn't a threat to humanity—he's our greatest opportunity. A darkspawn who can talk, feel, reason…"
"Corypheus cares nothing for Blights." Larius's voice rang out. "He used you."
One of the wardens with her gaped. "The Warden-Commander."
Janeka narrowed her eyes. "Don't listen to this… creature. He's half darkspawn himself. I know how to harness Corypheus to use his magic to end the Blights."
"No," Larius said. "The Wardens knew. Corypheus is too powerful."
Anders stepped forward. "Warden-Commander Ragnar realised the dangers of these awakened darkspawns."
Varric shrugged. "Worth the risk. If he doesn't help, it's one more big darkspawn to stick a bolt in. No big deal."
Fenris just shook his head. "A darkspawn and a mage. Just what the world needs."
"Corypheus calls her, and she listens." Larius gestured. "She brought him the Carta and sent them for you."
Janeka stepped forward. "I need you two."
Leyla and Dak looked at one another. The way the Carta dwarfs acted was of great concern, and they had just witnessed Anders being controlled by Corypheus. These two events didn't exactly help Janeka's case.
"How could you trust any deal this darkspawn makes with you?" Leyla asked.
"Do not think me foolish, Leyla," she said. "I am making no deal. I have a spell which can control Corypheus, bind him to my will. He will be a new, important weapon in the war on the Blights. No more, no less."
"Are you talking about using blood magic?"
"Everything that was done to him was through the power of blood. The Wardens imprisoned Corypheus before the Chantry banned such magic. It is the only way to hold him."
"A convenient excuse," Fenris said.
Everything she was spouting sounded rather theoretical, and she could only imagine what damage this Corypheus could do if freed.
"Corypheus may be as great a threat as the next Blight," said Leyla firmly. "We can't risk freeing him."
"We'll find a way to do this with or without you, Hawkes. This prison will be broken. The Blights will end. Come." She gestured to her companions, and they left.
Larius gestured to him. "With me. We will beat them to the seal."
They decided to activate some of the prison's old mechanisms to slow Janeka down. Unfortunately, the Carta set off the wards, blocking their path. According to Larius, they had to reconnect some kind of beam to get past the barrier.
Fenris leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. Merrill went up to him quite cheerfully. "Cheer up, Fenris! This isn't so bad!"
Fenris looked at her as if she was insane. "We're in a black pit full of evil. How can you imagine this "isn't so bad?"
Merrill shrugged. "It's not going to rain. And there's almost no chance of being attacked by bears!"
Fenris shook his head in disbelief. "And we put our lives in your hands. Astonishing."
"Oh, I know." Merrill giggled. "It surprises me, too."
"She's got a point," said Varric.
Thankfully, Leyla figured out the mechanism before another argument ensued. Once they were free, they met up with Jankea, who, after mocking Larius, attacked them. It took them a while to work their way around the traps and deepstalkers.
They soon made it to the top of the summit, where they found Janeka and her Wardens blocking their path. "You're too late, Larius. Hand over the Hawkes, and I'll give you a quick death."
Larius shook his head. "The Hawkes have made their choice—the right one."
"The right choice, or the only choice?" She folded her arms, and her face became smug. "Malcolm Hawke was not allowed to disagree."
"It is the past. It doesn't matter." Larius tried to wave her away.
Dak turned to him. "Larius? What does Janeka mean by 'not allowed?'"
"How does she know this?" Larius glared at one of the other wardens. "Alec, did you tell her?" He shrugged. "Malcolm Hawke was reluctant, had to be… persuaded. I was Warden-Commander. It was my duty." Larius took a few steps away. "I delivered an ultimatum—help us, or you'll never see her again."
Dak put a hand to his sword. "You did what?"
"You were going to kill our mother?"
"No, never," Larius held up his hands. "He came with us. I never had to decide her fate. She was never told about what passed between Malcolm and me."
"That doesn't excuse it," said Dak.
"You see?" Janeka was all but sneering. "How can you trust anything Larius says?"
She was right. They couldn't trust Larius, but he was right about Corypheus. Leyla looked at Dak, who nodded, clearly coming to the same conclusion as her.
Leyla then looked back at Janeka. "Larius's threats were reprehensible, but he is still right about Corypheus."
"You two can come willingly or not. I just need your blood."
At once, a massive battle took place. It wasn't easy taking down Janeka and her Wardens; they were extremely well-trained. Fortunately, they had a form Warden among their number, who was just as formidable with magic as Janeka. Dak and Fenris certainly have a tough time dealing with the Warriors, but some backup between Leyla, Merill, Isabel and Varric even the odds more in their favour.
"He stirs," said Larius. "Slay him now before he wakes. Before his strength comes." Larius shambled past the dead Wardens. "The key. It's not strong enough. Use your blood. Free him and slay him."
Leyla didn't like this, but there wasn't any other way to escape this prison. She then reluctantly pulled out a dagger.
Once all four pillars were deactivated, he walked to the dais in the centre and used her blood again. The key floated in the air, glowing with a soft orange light. Then the light exploded, throwing both her and the key clear. Fenris and Dak helped her back to her feet as something began to emerge.
It was clearly a darkspawn, an emissary, to be more precise. One equal in height to an ogre. It floated in the air. "Be this some dream I wake from? Am I in dwarven lands? Why seem their roads so empty?" Its voice reverberated throughout the chamber. It turned its strange gaze to them. "You. Serve you at the temple of Dumat? Bring me hence. I must speak with the first acolyte."
Anders' eyes widened. "Dumat… was the first Old God to become an Archdemon. There haven't been temples to him since ancient Esnal."
The creature stared at Leyla. "You look human. Do you belong to the Empire? Slaves, then, to the dwarves? Why come you here?" He glared. "Whoever you be, you owe fealty to any magister of Tevinter. On your knees. All of you."
Dak frowned. "The Free Marches haven't been part of the Imperium for six hundred years."
It narrowed its eyes at both him and Leyla. "You are what held me. I smell the blood in you." It turned away and raised its hands. "Dumat. Lord. Tell me. What waking dream is this? The light. We sought the golden light. You offered… the power of the gods themselves. But it was… black… corrupt. Darkness… ever since. How long?"
"The Golden City." Larius shook his head. "The first violation. The magisters who brought the Blight."
"That's ridiculous!" said Anders firmly. "There were no magical bogeymen who trespassed in the Maker's city. It's a story."
"You don't think a magister would be arrogant enough to challenge the Maker?" said Fenris. "You need to meet more magisters."
Anders waved his hand dismissively. "It's Chantry propaganda."
Leyla wasn't entirely convinced. "Where do you think darkspawn come from?"
"Some creation of the Old Gods, no doubt."
Corypheus was looking up at the sky. "Dumat? Have you forsaken me? I am your faithful servant…"
"The darkspawn aren't just some conveniently explicit lesson on the dangers of magic," said Anders firmly.
Leyla wasn't entirely convinced; it was challenging, considering that there was a talking darkspawn shouting 'Dumat' all over the place. "Unless Corypheus is for real, everyone who knows what happened is long dead."
"You don't think it's convenient? What does every sane man and woman in Reros fear? The Blights. Why not pin those on mages, too?"
"What matter of speech is this?" Corypheus demanded, looking furious at them. "How long have I slumbered?"
"He tainted the world," Larius said. "He speaks to all who carry the corruption. Darkspawn. Wardens. He brought Janeka here. Brought you…"
"If he's been calling the Wardens to free him, what's his plan?" Dak frowned, staring up at Corypheus. "He seems confused."
"He slept. While the seals held, he could not wake. He knows nothing of the time that passed. We must kill now. Before he comes to."
Leyla was finding it difficult to wrap her head around what was happening. Here, she was currently in a warden prison and face-to-face with an ancient Esnal magister who was responsible for the Blight. "You really think he's one of the original magisters? That he's been to the Black City?"
"The city!" Corypheus roared. "It was opposed to be golden! It was opposed to be ours!" Corypheus began to gather his magic. "If I cannot leave with you, I will leave through you. I seek the light."
Whether Corypheus was an ancient magister was of some concern, but the immediate concern was letting him roam free. There was no telling what kind of chaos he would ensue, and everyone agreed on that.
Unfortunately, Corypheus wasn't just going to let them kill him, but he also demonstrated that he was indeed a very powerful mage. He began using spells that Leyla had never seen before. The moment he began casting his spell, the pillars started to glow, and Corypheus conjured up a powerful barrier.
The only way to lower that barrier was to deactivate the pillars, which provided an opening for them to strike. However, it appeared he had quite the regenerative powers. He returned to his feet every time he was knocked down and started bringing the ceiling down.
Now, they had to dodge fireballs and falling rocks. Merrill created a powerful barrier to protect them. Dak distracted him by giving Leyla enough time to deactivate the pillars. Unfortunately, a single time he took down a pillar, shades would appear in an attack, but Fenris and Isabela quickly cut their way through them.
Leyla, Merrill and Anders unleashed powerful spells against Corypheus every time they had an opening. Varric also provided some covering fire from Bianca. However, he would have been nearly hit by lightning if Dak hadn't pulled him away in time.
Once they took down the last pillars, everyone threw everything they had against Corypheus as he began to channel his magic for one final attack. Fortunately, before he could launch his attack, Leyla was able to blast a powerful bolt of lightning, which caused him to fall to his knees. Dak then quickly moved in and plunged his sword right through his chest, and he collapsed to the ground.
Everyone could now finally breathe a sigh of relief, but Leyla wanted to find out more about Cotypheus and began to search his body. She then pulled out an ancient Esnal amulet, which Anders took instantly.
Anders examined it. "That amulet… no one's used that pattern since before the First Blight. It was unique to a small sect in Tevinter who worshipped the god Dumat." He then looked down at the ancient magister's body. "Corypheus really was an ancient magister. I always thought the Black City was just a story…"
It proved that the Chantry had been telling the truth for over a thousand years, but it still didn't give the right to punish all mages.
"Even if it's true, it doesn't justify punishing mages over a thousand years later," said Leyla.
"Do you think?" Anders asked. "What else might the Chantry know that we don't? I-I'll need to study this further."
They met Larius outside, and he looked a bit different, though they couldn't say what.
"You did well. More than the Grey Wardens of old were able to accomplish." Larius' voice was steady now, and he stood up straighter. Walking, not shambling. "I will tell the Warden-Commander of your service here."
"Shouldn't you be careful?" Dak asked. "From what I gather, Wardens don't usually come back from the Calling."
"I must try." Larius managed a slight bow. "You've gained an ally today."
Leyla frowned at him. "Why are you talking like that?"
"My head is clear now. Without Corypheus' call, I can think again. I thank you for my freedom."
"The Wardens won't thank us for the death of their own," Leyla pointed out.
"Janeka ignored orders from the Warden-Commander express orders when she sought to free Corypheus. They'll be relieved she's gone." Leyla felt that it was a little dark but said nothing. "The prison stands no more. My gratitude you have for my freedom."
Varric looked up at the Seeker defensively. "I said you wouldn't believe me."
She paced. "When the Seekers arrived at the structure, this prison… it was destroyed." She shook her head. "The Grey Wardens were there, but they did not mention this Larius. They claimed everyone was dead." She glared. "And now you claim the Champion was not only there but defeated a magister… one of the magisters of old."
"Left there by the Wardens themselves."
She put her hands on her hips. "A curious tale. I wonder if there's more to it."
"A small matter." Varric's voice was heavy. "The one lasting treasure to emerge from this—a moment together for the family. In happier times."
Dak and Leyla had finally returned home and told Mother everything that had transpired. Discovering that their father did so much to guarantee their safety shocked her.
"The attacks, darkspawn, every bloody part of it, all because of what happened years ago," said Dak as he leaned against the fireplace. "What he did for Mother. For all of us, really. Blood magic on top of leaving the Amell name. No wonder he kept it secret. Still, to do all that…"
"You never did like that he spent so much time with me, but it wasn't all bad," Leyla smiled.
"He started training me, too, the best he could. Then I picked up some things from those soldiers who came through." He smiled fondly. "Remember when I beat him? Took the blade clean away."
"He was holding back."
"On magic? Sure," Dak nodded. "But not the blade. After that… well, he knew I could handle the house while he was off with you." He sighed. "I suppose I see why he was so concerned."
"Father wouldn't want us wallowing over what we've lost," said Leyla, closing her eyes.
Dak nodded. "True, he would have us focus on the present day, not the past. Still surprised that he never wanted a mage in the family."
"He probably, for the one apostate in the family, was enough trouble," Leyla assumed. "Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I had been normal."
"You are normal; you just have a few extra skills, that's all."
Leyla laughed. "Father would say the same thing to me. You remind me of him a great deal."
"Leyla's right," said Mother as she approached them smiling. "You're not so different. Not beneath. I see much of Malcolm in you both. Apparently, even in my dotage, I know him better now than I did at the time. He kept so many secrets. I may have been willingly blind."
"How did you even meet? A Midgardian apostate and Huttsgalor elite?" Dak asked.
"I would like to know as well," Leyla asked excitedly.
Leandra crossed her arms as if she was remembering that happy moment. "Mages were sometimes called to perform at the Viscount's functions. Malcolm was not what I pictured." She smiled. "So earnest, like he really cared about everything he said." She then smiled at him. "Very like you. But it was long ago. We have a new life, and we must think of tomorrow. Malcolm gave us that."
"It's hard to think of how much we've lost," said Dak.
"Sometimes," Leandra nodded. "But look at what you've done for us. Malcolm gave us a chance, but you two were the ones who brought us where we are. We all know that, even if we sometimes linger in the moment, that is better forgotten. I've done enough of that. We are blessed and should live our lives as such. As much as we choose to."
Dak and Leyla then hugged their mother, who hugged them back. Leyla was grateful that everything was back to normal, always normal as things got around here, and she couldn't wait to go to bed. She had enough adventuring for one day, even perhaps the entire week.