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Chapter 53
Reunion at Redcliffe
9:30 Dragon, 19th day of Cloudreach - Spring
During the night Bran, Eornan and Alpheus had strange dreams.
9:30 Dragon, 20th day of Cloudreach - Spring
We spoke with Bann Teagan about our intentions; he agreed that something had to be done. We prepared ourselves, and asked the bann to post guards in the halls near the vault.
Opening the vault door, we found three enraged corpses (of former knights), a revenant (also a former knight), Connor as possessed by a desire demon, and his mother the Arlessa Isolde. The back wall of the vault shimmered, filled with a Fade rift! "Dispel *that*!" cried Bran, and Alpheus obligingly complied, blithely performing a task that called for a team of experienced mages. We readily dispatched the undead foes, despite the mages being a favored target of the revenant. That fiend's ability to 'pull' foes in and rapidly strike all around him was especially troublesome for the easily-struck and lightly armored Landon. The desire demon in possession of Connor briefly enslaved Bran, but Alpheus would have none of that and swiftly dispelled the enchantment. The creature employed the Blood Wound spell only one time, which was fortunate for our badly wounded friend. In all, the demon was largely ineffective, courtesy of Alpheus' prowess with Spirit magics; had the Rift stayed open, Maker only knows what might have come through.
The vault (left) and the vestibule narthex foyer antechamber other room (right).
While the rest of us engaged the demon in negotiations for its deal to support Arl Eamon's health, Eornan quietly untied the Arlessa and helped her from the room. The fiend allowed as how the deal with Connor had slipped its mind and accepted our offer to let it stay on this side of the Veil (though locked in the vault) in exchange for improving the Arl's health once more. Satisfied, we retreated and sealed the door once more.
We moved the corpses of the dead knights to a pyre in the courtyard, and brought Isolde to the main hall, where Bann Teagan and his followers tended to her. We cleaned ourselves up, and ate lunch.
In the afternoon, we searched Jowan's room, and looked at his books and other possessions:
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Blood Magic as Defense Against the Fade - in Modern Tevene
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Power Without Compromise - in Modern Tevene; gives access to the Blood Mage specialization, after 240 hours of study
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a Copying Book - 16 pages, it copies an original text in one minute, and can use both sides; the test is Magic (Blood Magic) 10, and uses 3 Health.
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The Healers' Helpmate - integrating first aid and magical healing techniques; written in either Orlesian or King's Tongue; 3 lbs.; Untalented and Novice level; It features many illustrations and advice on how to prepare injuries (perform Chirurgery) so they can be healed by magic. Spending 40 hours with this book will allow you to go from Novice to Journeyman in Chirurgery. This book contains the spells: Heal (Untalented Creation), Life Ward, and Memory (Novice level Spirit Magic)
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Core Spells for Enchanters - (four volumes, doesn't include the worthless "mages are guilty" volume), 16 lbs total.
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The Spirit Within, the Spirit Without - requires Novice Spirit Magic; 3.5 pounds; text on intermediate Spirit School - you need to have a book like this in your possession to take the Journeyman Talent in Spirit, however you may only acquire the Talent through leveling up. Includes the spells Mind Blast and Invigorate.
Some of these we had seen before.
9:30 Dragon, 21st day of Cloudreach - Spring
This day we spent reading, learning spells, repairing our gear and clothing, sparring ... Landon give the Wavy Ring to Bran.
9:30 Dragon, 22nd day of Cloudreach - Spring
Alpheus completed teaching Arcane Shield to Landon in the morning, and began learning the Invigorate.
Mid-day Alistair arrived, with Morrigan (a sorceress, daughter of Flemeth), Senior Enchanter Wynne (a spirit healer), Leliana (an Orlesian bard), Sten (a Qunari warrior) and Anwen Cousland. We told them what we knew about the Arl's condition, Connor's condition, and the desire demon. They spoke with Jowan, and looked at the poison sample we had. Alistair had arrived on Duncan's horse, Crookytail (named after Garahel's griffon) ...
We asked Morrigan how she came to be helping Anwen and Alistair -- her mother had rescued them from the Tower of Ishal. "These two (gesturing to Alistair and Anwen) needed help." Morrigan had provided the Warden Treaties.
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The Ancient Treaties
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These documents, promising aid to the Gray Wardens in times of Blight, bear what look like the seals of kings. They're all centuries old.
One treaty is signed by a Dwarven king, and has text in Dwarven, Kings Tongue and ... Orlesian?
The next treaty is signed by various Dalish elves, presumably chieftains. The text is in Orlesian and Kings Tongue.
The final treaty is signed by various First Enchanters and a Grand Enchanter. The text is probably in ... Orlesian?
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Leliana had met Anwen and Alistair at Lothering, on their way north; Sten was found there, also.
Senior Enchanter Uldred had sought to overthrow the Circle at Kinloch Hold, and had created some Blood Mages. A lot of demons had been summoned, and First Enchanter Irving had been captured. Anwen and her group had succeeded in suppressing the outbreak of demons, and forestalled the Right of Annulment. Many of the Circle mages and Templars had died, however. Cullen Rutherford, the Templar recruit, had been at Kinloch Hold, and was still alive (but had been treated poorly). Wynne was asked of Senior Enchanter Doyle's fate -- she cannot remember seeing him at the tower during the disaster, though if he became an abomination, he would be unrecognisable.
Alpheus began teaching the Dreamsending spell to Wynne -- this was going to take a couple of days. With Bann Teagan's approval, we obtained horses from Horsemaster Dennit, who was still at his stables/home a mile or two south of Redcliffe.
Morrigan entered the Fade, to confront the desire demon; Alistair performed his Templar duties and watched over her while she was ... away?
We composed a Dreamsending message for Alpheus to send to Sextus.
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Dream Message to Sextus
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We are at Redcliffe, along with Alistair and Anwen Cousland, who are unharmed -- they were saved by Morrigan! Some new allies -- Senior Enchanter Wynne; an Orlesian bard named Leliana; a hornless Qunari warrior named Sten; and a sorceress named Morrigan (a daughter of Flemeth) -- have joined us.
Kinloch Hold has been ravaged by rebellion and a demon outbreak; the demons have been cleared out, and Annulment averted, but many (most?) of the mages and Templars have died.
The Arl of Redcliffe was poisoned and nearly died; an outbreak of demons and such here killed many people in the castle and town. The poisoning was arranged by Loghain.
Morrigan had preserved a set of treaties, made centuries ago, which bind the Circle of Magi, the Dwarves, and the Dalish elves to support and provide aid to the Wardens "in times of Blight." The Circle (at least at Kinloch) has already agreed to honor their treaty. We are going to send some of our party to Orzammar, and some to the Dalish, to present the other treaties and discover what support can actually be obtained.
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In the evening, we asked Sten for some of his story -- he was not very verbose. He was a warrior of the Beresaad, and had lost his sword (which was apparently a Bad Thing To Lose). Alistair mentioned out of earshot that Sten was rather disgusted with magic, or at least with the Circle of Magi at Kinloch (admittedly, not seen at their best).
The arl was out of danger, and Connor was freed from the desire demon -- much rejoicing! The fate of Jowan was left up to the arl.
We will be remaining at Redcliffe for a couple more days, while Alpheus teaches Wynne. Landon will do some more book-reading, and practice/master his new spell.
Experience gained: 2,750 (or whatever brings you to 11th level).
A discussion of our chores, goals and tasks led to this list:
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thwart the Blight
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gathering Allies and an Army
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the Treaties
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with the Dwarves (Anwen's group?)
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with the Dalish Elves (Bran's Bunch?)
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with the Circle of Magi (already resolved, at least for Kinloch Hold)
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the Architect, and What He's Up To
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locate the missing Wardens (Sextus and Shivanna; also Laney, Garrick, Samesley, Andon)
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return to Ostagar
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the Missing Phylacteries - what was the purpose of that? Who was behind it? etc. (Jowan's is missing as well)
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speak with Brother Genitivi, with regard to:
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restoring a proper king to Ferelden/bring Loghain to account for his crimes
On to Through the Looking Glass
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