Chapter Text
Traitor’s Fate (Unique Item)
This goblet was once the favored cup of the Teyrn Highever, Fergus Cousland, fashioned from the skull of the traitor Rendon Howe. The goblet is lined with refined stoneheart, refracting light into shimmering pink and green when filled, and the sockets for the eyes are filled with dwarven rubies, gifted by King Harrowmont of Orzammar. Those loyal to House Cousland will travel for a hundred miles just for the chance to sip from the traitor’s skull and pledge their loyalty to Teyrn Highever.
On the Matter of the Remains of the Traitor Loghain Mac Tir
By the proclamation of Her Royal Highness Anora Mac Tir, under the banner of Ferelden’s First Regiment at the Royal Palace of Denerim, according to common law and practices under the Chant of Light:
In recognition of the Hero of Ferelden’s unique circumstances and her heroic deeds during the Fifth Blight, Queen Anora has permitted the temporary remittance of the remains of her father, the Traitor Loghain Mac Tir, into the property of Fergus Cousland, Teyrn Highever.
It is the Queen’s greatest desire to honor the memory of her father in the way befitting of a daughter’s duty. She humbly requests the return of the remains of the Traitor Loghain Mac Tir before the end of the harvest season, so that she may place him to rest in accordance with Chantry rite. The Queen is eager to assure Teyrnir Highever that no special honor will be afforded towards the burial site. As appropriate to his status as a Traitor, the grave of Loghain Mac Tir will be unmarked and unhonored. The Queen seeks only to fulfill the filial duties required of her as his only child.
Special dispensation will be required If the remains of the Traitor Loghain Mac Tir are not remitted to the Royal Palace by the end of harvest season.
- Royal proclamation declared to Teyrnir Highever by order of Queen Anora (9:32 Dragon)
The Ferelden Prince-Consort
Across northern Ferelden and the Bannorn, where loyalty to House Cousland runs deep, he is sometimes referred to by his subjects as the Widower King - despite the fact that his wife lives and he is, according to royal standards, not a king at all. There are many rumors surrounding Fergus Cousland: that the Hero of Ferelden introduced him to Queen Anora at the coronation, and the spark was instant; that he was forced like a reluctant daughter into a political marriage by his own sister in a blind play for power; that his children with Anora are all bastards, or products of blood magic. The truth is far simpler. As King, the hereditary Cousland lands would have been absorbed into the Crownlands. As Prince Consort, he retains his rights to Teyrnir Highever. His eldest daughter will become queen; his second will become teyrn when she comes of age.
In Denerim and Gwaren - her father’s old stomping grounds - Queen Anora is adored. The widow and the widower, a match made by the Maker. Their grief unites them, the people say. Personally I have never known grief to do any such thing.
He is no Cailan, Your Majesty, but his loyalty is first to his living children, second to Highever, and third to his sister and therefore to the Grey Wardens. The peasantry of Highever, Redcliffe, and Amaranthine still hold wild dreams that the Hero of Ferelden will return and seize the throne from Loghain Mac Tir’s daughter. At your command, pressure can be applied - discreetly.
-A report on Ferelden loyalties as delivered to Empress Celene by her spymaster (9:40 Dragon)
The Reluctant Apostate
He was a troublemaker, that’s how I remember him. Always found reason to defy the templars, in big ways and small. He was famous for sneaking out of his quarters at night, and admired by many of the young girls and boys for it. He was apprenticed under a fellow Healer, and I had to admit, he had a talent for it. Births were few but not uncommon in the Circle; I saw him assist on his first when he was just fifteen years old. Many of the Healers had given up on the mother, who bled too much after the baby came, but he worked through the night. She lived. But she did not wake in time to meet her son before he was taken from her by the templars. Anders threw a fit. A tantrum! It was before he’d taken his Harrowing. I remember thinking he would summon a demon of Rage and condemn us all.
Needless to say I did not vote for Fiona as our Grand Enchanter. I was perfectly happy in Kinloch Hold. Things were finally getting back to normal after Uldred, and now this. The only reason I left the Tower at all (Greagoir, bless him, he said he would stay with any mage who wished to remain loyal) is because I knew this merry band of rebels will desperately need Healers in the days to come.
When Anders and the Champion passed through camp, you’d think it was Andraste herself. The young ones cheered for him. (I remember that too: the look of shock on the templars’ faces as he jumped off the dock, the cheering from the children as the fool swam across the lake.) He remembered me. Said he was surprised I came with the rebels. I told him I was surprised the templars hadn’t caught him and strung him up on the walls of the Grand Cathedral yet. He laughed and told me he’d missed me.
I worked through the night with him, but this time we couldn’t save the young mother. He’s been carrying the newborn through camp, looking for other young children and nursing mothers.
He was a troublemaker. But I remember that boy who refused to give up on a dying woman. I remember the children cheering him on as the sunlight glittered off Lake Calenhad, laughter as he chased his freedom in the water. I don’t know anymore. Maybe rebellion isn’t so bad, after all.
-From the diary of an elderly mage, formerly of the Ferelden Circle
A Rumor in Denerim
Wife,
I have said this before. I will say it again until you listen. The Champion and his apostate associate are citizens of Ferelden. Like all refugees in the Free Marches, they have been endlessly mistreated, distrusted, abused, and beaten down under the militant heel of Kirkwall’s elite. They deserve to be welcomed back into the country in which they were born.
I understand Grand Cleric Elemena’s objections. Yes, the Maker’s word is truth, but the Chantry is an institution built by man. It is fallible. When we fail to protect our people, we invite our own destruction, Anora. Your father understood that.
The Circle has elected rebellion. It is too late to stop this. I propose that we stop waiting for the world to go back to the way it was and accept it as it is now. Offer the mages protection. Arl Teagan has agreed to provide refuge in Redcliffe, but only you can declare that the throne of Ferelden will show mercy to men, women, and children thrown into war by the actions of their leaders. I am sure you can understand the terror they must feel in their hearts.
There is one more thing. Travelers passing through rebel camps report that the Champion and the apostate are doing good where they can, offering healing and morale. There are reports they carry an infant with them, a boy: born of mages, orphaned by the war. I will not see a child deserted, Anora. I am your husband and I have a right to rule with your consent. This is the only demand I have ever given you. We shall permit no more children to die under our reign.
I will return to Denerim by the end of the month. I pray to the Maker that the baby is not born before I arrive and that he comes in good health. Stay off your feet and listen to the healers; you’re not as young as you once were.
-Letter from Prince Consort Fergus Cousland to his wife, dated 9:40
Theory on the Metastatic Abomination
Dalish tradition does not separate the notion of the spirit and the demon. The danger that they present is no different than the danger of an inexperienced mage burning herself by conjuring fire without practice. A corrupted mage is not inherently of weak mind, she is simply untrained. How can we expect mages to resist the possession of a spirit - of a demon - if we refuse to teach how to safely interact with such creatures? Arcane warriors and Fade specialists come the closest, but their skills are rare and considered dangerous.
We must learn to touch the spirits that reach for us when we draw on the power of the Fade; to manipulate them as they manipulate us. Brushing the hand of a demon will not corrupt the experienced mage, but it may provide inoculation against future possession. We must learn to recognize the touch. Possession is like a cancer, a tumor which grows if fed. But a tumor can be removed, excised from the body.
Stories of abominations are told to frighten mages, to keep them away from the wonderful things they could learn if they were not afraid of their true power. I ask you this: mightn’t we think of abominations as lepers, rather than boogeymen?
-Letter discarded by Grand Enchanter Fiona, sent by a Dalish apostate
Report from Kinloch Hold
Twenty-three mages and seven templars remained at the Circle Tower. Most of the mages were elderly, and all opposed the Grand Enchanter’s decision to rebel. After the Divine’s death, Inquisition representatives offered both mages and templars refuge in Skyhold. Knight-Commander Greagoir declined, believing their position in the Tower to be safe and defendable.
Letters recently sent to the Tower received no reply. Scouts found the docks abandoned.
What remained of Ferelden’s Circle has been annihilated. Mages and templars both struck down, skulls crushed by a heavy weapon. There was no evidence of red lyrium nor of blood magic. Some of the templars were found unarmed. Many of the mages were still in their beds.
Nothing was stolen. Inquisition scouts are still in the area, searching for more information. Immediate suspicion surrounded former Circle mages, but there are reports of a warhammer-wielding Qunari in the area around the time of the murders. It may be prudent for the Inquisitor to establish an alibi for the night in question, given her stature.
Without a Knight-Commander or First Enchanter, the Ferelden Circle is officially dissolved.
- Report to Commander Cullen on the status of his former Circle
The Tranquil Cure
THE INQUISITION IS LYING TO YOU!
Behind the dark walls of Skyhold, the Inquisition serves none other than the Seekers of Truth in their plot to overthrow the Chantry and establish a new Circle devoted to militant purposes!
A TRANQUIL CURE HAS BEEN DISCOVERED!
And the Inquisition keeps it from you! Keeps it from our brothers and sisters, friends and loved ones, Kirkwall’s flock, and the dark heart at the center of Skyhold itself. They say the first Tranquil has been cured! But the Inquisition handed her back to the templars without delay!
NO FREEDOM WHILE TRANQUILITY EXISTS!
The Inquisition expects us to forget. Expects mages to forgive the Seekers for their failure to police the Templar Order, their sworn duty before the Maker! They would have us follow the College of Magi, content with our own oppression as long as it is no longer lawful. Our oppression was never lawful! Tranquility has always been used as a punishment outside the bounds of the Chantry’s permission!
NO PEACE WITHOUT A CURE!
THE MAGE REBELLION LIVES!
-Leaflets quietly distributed around southern Thedas leading up to the Exalted Council
A Summer Wedding
- 100 bolts of silk
- 50 Orlesian florists
- 200 Ferelden workmen to clean and repair the villa
- Seats for at least 150 guests, including proper arrangements for Ambassador Briala and the Queen and Prince-Consort of Ferelden
- 20 barrels of maraas-lok (a Qunari beverage favored by the Inquisitor and her Tal-Vashoth friend; no, no one else will be drinking it; yes, I said 20 barrels)
- 100 wreaths of jasmine flowers (I understand they are an Antivan wedding tradition)
That’s all we’re missing for now. I asked the Inquisitor if she would require guards for the ceremony, and she just pointed at some names on the guest list. I suppose that’s fair. I’d like to see a party crasher try. Lady Pentaghast would tear them apart.
Oh, and do see if you can get more of those tiny Orlesian cakes. They’re always a hit with the old Inquisition team.
- letter to a supplier from a Ferelden wedding planner