Recruitment

Blackwall Recruitment

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The Lone Warden

At the crossroads in Ferelden, a farmer can be spoken to about Blackwall.

Giles: Things used to be peaceful around here.

Special: I’m looking for a Grey Warden.
PC: I’m tracking someone. A Grey Warden who might be in the area.

Giles: Ah, you must mean Blackwall. Good man. Kept us safe when the demons attacked.

PC: When the Breach opened?

Giles: The “Breach,” huh? All I know is things got bad when it opened. The Warden helped stop the demons while we got away. Without him, we would’ve… We took what we could from the farms, then the bandits came and stole all that. Made Blackwall mad as blazes, like it was the last straw or something. He conscripted the other farmers and headed after them. Down the road there. Haven’t seen them since.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Bandits? [2]
Investigate: So this Warden helped you? [3]
Investigate: He conscripted people? [4]
General: I need to go find Blackwall. [5]

2 - Investigate: Bandits?
PC: Know anything about the bandits?
Giles: They were just a nuisance, threatening people along the paths for tolls and such. This time they robbed us blind. Guess the hole in the sky or Blackwall fighting demons spooked them. Made them want to stock up and run. Not sure why. Can’t exactly run from the sky.
[Back to 1]

3 - Investigate: So this Warden helped you?
PC: Blackwall fought off demons for you.
Giles: He saved us. Stood shield out, cutting them down as they came. Like nothing we’d ever seen. Said it was his duty, fighting things like that. Didn’t ask for pay or nothing, even though Wardens can take what they want. That makes some people nervous, but I say they deserve it. Especially after I saw him work.
[Back to 1]

4 - Investigate: He conscripted people?
PC: Your friends were conscripted? Did Blackwall force them to go after the bandits?
Giles: He could have. Wardens have that right, don’t they? Seems like fair trade for saving everyone from blights. Anyway, he didn’t force, he rallied. Said blights and demons are his job, but we’d have to learn to fight thieves like that ourselves. The boys didn’t argue. He really fired them up.
PC: But not you?
Giles: I’m old. And someone had to stay back.
[Back to 1]

5 - General: I need to go find Blackwall.
PC: I have to track him down. Any idea where Blackwall is now?
Giles: Can’t say. They left down the road there, following the bandits. You find him, say thanks again for me. If I were younger, I’d have followed, no question. [6]

6 - Scene continues.

The PC approaches the little hut where Blackwall and a few farmers are standing around with weapons and shields. Blackwall is clearly training them.

Blackwall: They will make this a fight, not us.
Blackwall: Line there. And there. No gaps.
Blackwall: Keep focused. They’ll know what it means.

Blackwall: Remember how to carry your shields! You’re not hiding, you’re holding. Otherwise it’s useless!

The PC approaches.

PC: Blackwall? Warden Blackwall?

Blackwall: You’re not— How do you know my name? Who sent… (Shouts.)!

An arrow flies towards the PC, but Blackwall throws up his shield just in time for it to sink into the wood.

Blackwall: That’s it. Help or get out. We’re dealing with these idiots first! Conscripts! Here they come!

Bandits attack.

Blackwall: Hold the wall men! Make them come to me!

Bandit: You’re dead, bastard! Dead!

Blackwall: I wasn’t here to fight! Stop and think!

Bandit: Too late for that! You know how this ends!

Blackwall kills the last bandit and walks away, sinking his sword into the ground. He kneels by a corpse.

Blackwall: Sorry bastards.

He gets back up and addresses the farmers.

Blackwall: Good work conscripts, even if this shouldn’t have happened. They could’ve—well, thieves are made, not born. Take back what they stole. Go back to your families. You saved yourselves.

The farmers leave and the PC approaches again.

Plot-progression specific dialogue:

Pre-Skyhold [7]
Post-Skyhold [29]

7 - Pre-Skyhold:

Blackwall: You’re no farmer. Why do you know my name? Who are you?

Dialogue options:

General: Greetings are in order. [8]
General: That depends on who you ask. [9]
General: The Inquisition has questions. [10]

8 - General: Greetings are in order.
PC: I know your name because I’m an agent of the Inquisition. I’m investigating whether the disappearance of Wardens has anything to do with the murder of the Divine. [11]

9 - General: That depends on who you ask.
PC: I’ve been called a lot of things lately by a lot of people.
Blackwall: Well, I’m talking to you. Stop dancing.
Cassandra (if in party): We’re Inquisition, trying to find out why the Wardens disappeared and if it had anything to do with the Divine’ s murder.
Blackwall: Wait. That gear. That’s Inquisition.
PC: And we’re investigating whether missing Wardens are involved in the Divine’s death. [11]

10 - General: The Inquisition has questions.
PC: I’m here investigating Grey Wardens for the Inquisition. We’re seeing if their disappearance has anything to do with the murder of the Divine. [11]

11 - Scene continues.

Blackwall: Maker’s balls, the Wardens and the Divine? That can’t—no, you’re asking, so you don’t really know. First off, I didn’t know they disappeared. But we do that, right? No more Blight, job done. Wardens are the first thing forgotten. But one thing I’ll tell you: no Warden killed the Divine. Our purpose isn’t political.

Dialogue options:

General: I wasn’t accusing Wardens yet. [12]
General: Is it killing bandits? [13]
General: Then where are the Wardens? [14]

12 - General: I wasn’t accusing Wardens yet.
PC: I’m not here to accuse. Not yet. I just need information. I’ve only found you. Where are the rest? [15]

13 - General: Is it killing bandits?
PC: What’s the Warden “purpose” got to do with throwing farmers at bandits?
Blackwall: This was different. I was in the area recruiting. Fought some demons, then I heard about the stealing. [15]

14 - General: Then where are the Wardens?
PC: So where are the rest of you? [15]

15 - Scene continues.

Blackwall: I haven’t seen any Wardens for months. I travel alone, recruiting. Not much interest because the Archdemon is a decade dead, and no need to conscript because there’s no Blight coming. Treaties give the Wardens to take what we need. Who we need. These idiots forced this fight, so I “conscripted” their victims. They had to do what I said, so I told them to stand. Next time they won’t need me. Grey Wardens can inspire, make you better than you think you are.

16 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: The treaties sound powerful. [17]
Investigate: Where might the Wardens go? [18]
Investigate: Why haven’t you disappeared? [19]
Flirt: So what’s next for us? [20]
General: Inspiring but fruitless. [21]
General: You’re giving me nothing. [22]

17 - Investigate: The treaties sound powerful.
PC: I wasn’t aware Grey Wardens could take whatever they want.
Blackwall: It’s complicated. If there’s a Blight, everyone has to help the effort to fight it. The treaties are ancient. Outside of Blights, it’s as binding as a clever tongue can make it.
[Back to 16]

18 - Investigate: Where might the Wardens go?
PC: Do you have any idea where the other Wardens could have gone?
Blackwall: Maybe they returned to our stronghold at Weisshaupt? Thats in the Anderfels, a long way north. I don’t really know. Can’t imagine why they’d all disappear at once, let alone where they disappeared to.
[Back to 16]

19 - Investigate: Why haven’t you disappeared?
PC: Why haven’t you gone missing like the rest of them?
Blackwall: Well, maybe I was going to. Or maybe there’s a new directive, but a runner got lost or something. My job was to recruit on my own. Planned to stay that way for months. Years.
[Back to 16]

20 - Flirt: So what’s next for us?
PC: Well thank you, Warden Blackwall. But now where does this leave us? [23]

21 - General: Inspiring but fruitless.
PC: It’s been a pleasure, Warden Blackwall, but this didn’t help at all. [23]

22 - General: You’re giving me nothing.
PC: You’re no help. I’m no further ahead than I was. [23]

23 - Scene continues.

Blackwall: Inquisition… Agent, did you say? Hold a moment. The Divine is dead, and the sky is torn. Events like these, thinking we’re absent is almost as bad as thinking we’re involved. If you’re trying to put things right, maybe you need a Warden. Maybe you need me.

24 - Dialogue options:

How can you alone help? [25]
Yes, join the Inquisition. (Warden Blackwall will join the Inquisition.) [26]
We don’t need a Warden. (Warden Blackwall will leave and not return.) [27]

25 - How can you alone help?
PC: The Inquisition needs all the support it can get, but what can one Grey Warden do?
Blackwall: Save the fucking world if pressed. Look, maybe fighting demons from the sky isn’t something I’m practiced at, but show me someone who is. And like I said, there are treaties. Maybe this isn’t a Blight but it’s bloody well a disaster. Some will honor them. Being a Warden means something to a lot of people.
[Back to 24]

26 - Yes, join the Inquisition.
PC: Warden Blackwall, the Inquisition accepts your offer.
Blackwall: Good to hear. We both need to know what’s going on, and perhaps I’ve been keeping to myself for too long. This Warden walks with the Inquisition. [28]

27 - We don’t need a Warden.
PC: Go your own way. A Grey Warden would just complicate matters.
Blackwall: That’s your choice to make. I’ll do what I can on my own, then. Maker guide your path, wherever it leads. [28]

28 - Scene ends.

29 - Post-Skyhold:

Blackwall: You’re Inquisition. What do you want?

Dialogue options:

General: Greetings are in order. [30]
General: Many things. Answers, mostly. [31]
General: The Inquisition has questions. [32]

30 - General: Greetings are in order.
PC: My name is Inquisitor [Adaar/Cadash/Lavellan/Trevelyan]. I lead the Inquisition. We’re investigating whether the Warden disappearance is connected to Corypheus and the Divine’s murder. [33]

31 - General: Many things. Answers, mostly.
PC: The state we’re in, we need a lot of things. Right now, it’s answers.
Blackwall: Then get to asking.
Cassandra (if in party):The Inquisitor is here to find out why the Wardens disappeared, and if it had anything to do with Corypheus and the murder of the divine.
PC: I’m the Inquisitor. Your fellow Wardens disappeared, and I need to know if it has anything to do with Corypheus murdering the Divine. [33]

32 - General: The Inquisition has questions.
PC: I’m the Inquisitor. I have questions about your fellow Wardens. I need to know if their disappearance has anything to do with Corypheus and his murder of the Divine. [33]

33 - Scene continues.

Blackwall: Maker’s balls, that’s a mouthful. Wardens and who? And he killed the Divine? That makes no sense.

Varric (if in party): To me, neither, and I was there. Guy was caged by Wardens. Now he claims he’s gonna be a god.

Cassandra (if in party): It’s a creature that wardens once caged. Now it claims to be a god.
Blackwall: Bullshit. I heard something about a dragon that looked like and Archdemon, but the rest?

Blackwall: I heard something about a dragon that looked like an Archdemon and something about Old God heresy, but that’s just madness. No, Inquisitor or not, you must have it wrong. This Corypheus, or whatever, is insane or lying. I’ve never even heard his name.

Blackwall: First off, I didn’t know they disappeared. But we do that, right? No more Blight, job done. Wardens are the first thing forgotten. But one thing I’ll tell you: no Warden killed the Divine. Our purpose isn’t political.

Dialogue options:

General: I wasn’t accusing Wardens yet. [34]
General: Is it killing bandits? [35]
General: Then where are the Wardens? [36]

34 - General: I wasn’t accusing Wardens yet.
PC: I’m not here to accuse. Not yet. I just need information. I’ve only found you and heard of one other. Where are the rest? [37]

35 - General: Is it killing bandits?
PC: What’s the Warden “purpose” got to do with throwing farmers at bandits?
Blackwall: This was different. I was in the area recruiting. Fought some demons, then I heard about the stealing. [37]

36 - General: Then where are the Wardens?
PC: I have leads on two Wardens, including you. Where is the rest of the Order? [37]

37 - Scene continues.

Blackwall: I haven’t seen any Wardens for months. I travel alone, recruiting. There’s little interest because of Haven, but with no real Blight, there’s no point conscripting. Treaties give the Wardens to take what we need. Who we need. These idiots forced this fight, so I “conscripted” their victims. They had to do what I said, so I told them to stand. Next time they won’t need me. Grey Wardens can inspire, make you better than you think you are.

38 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: The treaties sound powerful. [39]
Investigate: Where might the Wardens go? [40]
Investigate: You know nothing of Corypheus? [41]
Investigate: Why haven’t you disappeared? [42]
Flirt: So what’s next for us? [43]
General: Inspiring but fruitless. [44]
General: You’re giving me nothing. [45]

39 - Investigate: The treaties sound powerful.
PC: I wasn’t aware Grey Wardens could take whatever they want.
Blackwall: It’s complicated. If there’s a Blight, everyone has to help the effort to fight it. The treaties are ancient. Outside of Blights, it’s as binding as a clever tongue can make it.
[Back to 38]

40 - Investigate: Where might the Wardens go?
PC: Do you have any idea where the other Wardens could have gone?
Blackwall: Maybe they returned to our stronghold at Weisshaupt? Thats in the Anderfels, a long way north. I don’t really know. Can’t imagine why they’d all disappear at once, let alone where they disappeared to.
[Back to 38]

41 - Investigate: You know nothing of Corypheus?
PC: So they name Corypheus means nothing to you?
Blackwall: Well now it means I want to kill it., but I’d never heard the name Corypheus before you said it.
[Back to 38]

42 - Investigate: Why haven’t you disappeared?
PC: Why haven’t you gone missing like the rest of them?
Blackwall: Well, maybe I was going to. Or maybe there’s a new directive, but a runner got lost or something. My job was to recruit on my own. Planned to stay that way for months. Years.
[Back to 38]

43 - Flirt: So what’s next for us?
PC: Well thank you, Warden Blackwall. But now where does this leave us? [46]

44 - General: Inspiring but fruitless.
PC: It’s been a pleasure, Warden Blackwall, but this didn’t help at all. [46]

45 - General: You’re giving me nothing.
PC: You’re no help. I’m no further ahead than I was. [46]

46 - Scene continues.

Blackwall: Inquisitor, hold on a moment. With this dragon and that thing…

PC: Corypheus.

Blackwall: Right. I know my Order had nothing to do with that, but it sounds like we should. And if I’m one of the last, I should help. I mean, whatever he is, if there’s any connection to the Blight, you need a Warden.

47 - Dialogue options:

How can you alone help? [48]
Yes, join the Inquisition. (Warden Blackwall will join the Inquisition.) [49]
We don’t need a Warden. (Warden Blackwall will leave and not return.) [50]

48 - How can you alone help?
PC: The Inquisition needs all the support it can get, but what can one Grey Warden do?
Blackwall: Save the fucking world if pressed. Look, maybe fighting demons from the sky isn’t something I’m practiced at, but show me someone who is. And like I said, there are treaties. Maybe this isn’t a Blight but it’s bloody well a disaster. Some will honor them. Being a Warden means something to a lot of people.
[Back to 47]

49 - Yes, join the Inquisition.
PC: Warden Blackwall, the Inquisition accepts your offer.
Blackwall: Good to hear. We both need to know what’s going on, and perhaps I’ve been keeping to myself for too long. This Warden walks with you, Inquisitor. [51]

50 - We don’t need a Warden.
PC: Go your own way. A Grey Warden would just complicate matters.
Blackwall: That’s your choice to make. I’ll do what I can on my own, then. Maker guide your path, wherever it leads. [51]

51 - Scene ends.