Personal Quest

The Left Hand of the Divine

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A Message

The PC approaches Leliana in the Rookery. She is reading a letter.

Leliana: A message from Divine Justinia.

Dialogue options:

General: Are you all right? [1]
General: I’m pretty sure she’s dead. [2]
General: It’s a trap. [3]

1 - General: Are you all right? PC: That’s a shock. You’re all right reading it? Leliana: Thank you for the concern, Inquisitor, but I am. [4]

2 - General: I’m pretty sure she’s dead. PC: Dead people usually don’t send messages. Leliana: And I see you feel it necessary to inform me of this. [4]

3 - General: It’s a trap. PC: Don’t trust it. We have enemies who would trick us like this. Leliana: No, it’s genuine. She and I have a series of clues we include in our correspondence precisely for this reason. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Leliana: This message was written months, perhaps even years ago… to be delivered to me if she died. I’ve heard of such contingency plans. A sudden death often leaves loose ends. I’m to go to Valence, a small village on the Waking Sea. There is something hidden there.

5 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What will you find? [6]
Investigate: Why Valence? [7]
General: Whatever you need. [8]
General: So you want to leave? [9]
General: Send someone else. [10]

1 - Investigate: What will you find? PC: Do you know what you’re looking for? Leliana: The Divine was a powerful woman who used her position to obtain all sorts of things. Whatever she hid in Valence would very likely benefit the Inquisition and must be kept from falling into the wrong hands. If I’m lucky, she will have instructions for me.

Dialogue options:

Special: I instruct you. She doesn’t. [7]\
[Back to 1]

7 - Special: I instruct you. She doesn’t. PC: You take your instructions from me. What sort of help can a dead Divine give you? Leliana: I don’t know. Perhaps something to do with the Chantry? Or it could be personal? She guided me for many years, Inquisitor, as a Divine and as a friend. There are days when I still look to her for advice only to remember that I am alone. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Why Valence? PC: Why hide things in Valence? What’s so special about it? Leliana: Justinia was revered mother at the chantry there for many years before she became the Divine. It is a place that holds great meaning for her. [back to 1]

4 - General: Whatever you need. PC: I’ll help in whatever way I can. Leliana: Wonderful. I was hoping you would agree to come with me to Valence. [7]

5 - General: So you want to leave? PC: Is this you asking permission to leave for a bit? Leliana: Well, yes. I can’t imagine I’ll be away from my post for very long. And I was hoping you would agree to come with me. Will you at least consider it? [7]

6 - General: Send someone else. PC: You’re not leaving. Get someone else to go on your treasure hunt. Leliana: I would prefer to take this task personally. And I was hoping you would agree to come with me. Will you at least consider it? [7]

7 - Scene continues.

Leliana: One more thing: If what is hidden in Valence is as valuable as I think, we’re not going to be the only ones looking for it. I shall meet you at the chantry in Valence. Try not to delay.

Valence

The PC meets Leliana at the Chantry. The walk down the entrance hall together.

Leliana: It’s just as I remember it.

Dialogue options:

Investigate: You’ve been here before? [2]
General: Peaceful little chantry. [3]
General: It’s too quiet for comfort. [4]
General: What are we looking for? [5]

2 - Investigate: You’ve been here before? PC: You didn’t tell me you’d been here before.

HoF romanced Leliana Leliana: The Hero of Ferelden and I came here after the Blight to visit Justinia. She was just Dorothea then, a revered mother. [back to 1]

Leliana not romanced by HoF/Leliana not recruited in Origins Leliana: After the Blight ended, I came here to see Justinia. She was just Dorothea then, a revered mother.

Leliana recruited in Origins, HoF died Leliana: I needed her wisdom after the Hero of Ferelden died. [back to 1]

3 - General: Peaceful little chantry. PC: It’s peaceful here. You must have good memories of this place. Leliana: It was a place of comfort. It is good to see it’s still untouched by Corypheus. [6]

4 - General: It’s too quiet for comfort. PC: I didn’t expect it to be so… deserted. It makes me uneasy. Leliana: It’s a small village, and it’s too early for the Chant. I’m sure the sisters are somewhere. [6]

5 - General: What are we looking for? PC: So where’s this hidden treasure? Leliana: Straight to business. It’s why I like you, Inquisitor. [6]

6 - Scene continues.

A Chantry sister appears from around the corner.

Natalie: Leliana? Is that you?

Leliana: Sister Natalie! What are you doing here? I thought you were in Val Royeaux.

They hug, but Leliana frowns behind her back and shakes hear head at the PC.

Natalie: No, I’ve been here since Justinia died. This place makes me feel like… like she’s still with us.

Leliana: Inquisitor, this is Natalie, a trusted friend.

Natalie: Wait. “Inquisitor”? You… you brought the Inquisitor here?

Natalie: My [lord/lady], forgive me for not recognizing you earlier.

Natalie kneels.

Dialogue options:

General: I’d rather not be recognized. [7]
General: You’ll pay penance for that. [8]
General: I don’t care. [9]

7 - General: I’d rather not be recognized. PC: I wish more people would fail to recognize me. Natalie: Oh, I… I see. [10]

8 - General: You’ll pay penance for that. PC: You owe me twenty readings of the Canticle of Trials for that insult. Leliana: [They don’t] mean it. [10]

9 - General: I don’t care. PC: Bigger things to worry about than that. Natalie: Oh, I… I see. [10]

10 - Scene continues.

Natalie stands.

Leliana: Natalie, listen. There is something hidden here. Something Justinia left for me.

Natalie: Oh, really? What is it?

Leliana: I don’t know, but we’ll find it. I’m curious to see what brought us all here.

The PC begins to look around.

Leliana: Justinia’s letter came with instructions for me. They were a little cryptic. “Always remember that faith sprung from a barren branch. That light has no fear of darkness. Above all, that strength lives in an open heart.”

Natalie: She must be hinting at something in here. Let’s look around.

Leliana and Natalie talk as the PC searches.

Leliana: Do they still sing verses from the Benedictions every Friday? That canticle was Justinia’s favorite.

Natalie: Yes, of course. We’d never give up the traditions of our most beloved Divine.

Leliana: That is lovely to hear.

They continue to chat.

Leliana: I stare up at the Breach sometimes. It’s terrifying but beautiful in its way.

Natalie: It is beautiful.

Leliana: Have you seen it by sunrise?

Natalie: When the sun rises through it, it splits into what looks like a thousand suns like a broken mirror.

Leliana: Yes. Spectacular, isn’t it?

The PC keeps searching.

Leliana: You must be careful, Natalie. Justinia’s enemies are making their move, vying for position and the Sunburst Throne.

The PC examines a nearby painting of thorny brambles.

Leliana: I was in the cloister in Lothering when the Blight began. There was a lot of fear back then. No one knew what was going to happen, whether we would live or die. And then, one morning, I found a single bloom on a dead rose bush, and I thought, “Even in the midst of all this, life finds a way. The Maker hasn’t abandoned us.”

The PC examines one of the fires in the center of the Chantry.

Leliana: Justinia saved me, but not in the way you’d think. She wouldn’t let me give up. She saved me by forcing me to save myself. There’s always light where there’s hope.

The PC examines a painting of Andraste being stabbed through the heart.

Leliana: “An open heart.” Well, that one’s quite literal. And morbid. But Justinia always said compassion was my greatest strength. Doubt is easy. It takes courage to trust.

When all the hints are solved, they notice something along one of the walls.

Natalie: What was that?

Leliana: Looks like we opened something.

Natalie’s Fate

The PC uncovers a hidden alcove behind a painting. Leliana turns on Natalie, drawing a knife and holding it to her throat.

Leliana: Sorry to keep you waiting.

Dialogue options:

General: Stop! [1]
General: Well played. [2]
General: It’s about time. [3]

1 - General: Stop! PC: Leliana, stop! What are you doing? Leliana: I’m protecting us. [4]

2 - General: Well played. PC: Good old Leliana was playing you the whole time. Didn’t you realize? [4]

3 - General: It’s about time. PC: Finally. I was getting tired of all these tricks. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Leliana: They never sing the Benedictions here on Fridays, Natalie. Something so simple, and you got it so wrong. I wanted to believe, but you were lying from the start.

Natalie scowls.

Leliana: Keep that pretty mouth shut if you must, dear. You’ve already told me everything I need to know. The prickleweed burs on your hem, talking about the sun rising through the Breach. It all points to a single place: Morelle in the Dales. Grand Cleric Victoire’s bastion. She sent you, didn’t she? Victoire was always an opportunist.

5 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Grand Cleric Victoire? [6]
Investigate: What were your plans? [7]
General: Join us, Natalie. [8]
General: We can’t let her go now. [9]
General: Good, we know our enemy. [10]

6 - Investigate: Grand Cleric Victoire? PC: Who is this grand cleric? I’ve never heard of her. Leliana: An experienced cleric. She never agreed with Justinia but kept her ideas to herself. I suppose now, with Justinia dead, she thought she could make her move. [back to 5]

7 - Investigate: What were your plans? PC: I want to know what this grand cleric planned here. Leliana: She sent Natalie here to see what Justinia was hiding, no? Natalie: The Inquisition has turned Thedas away from the true Chantry. It must be stopped. Leliana: Stop us? You must be joking. Natalie: Mother Victoire is well loved by many. The Inquisition has more enemies than you know. Leliana: And Victoire thinks she can ally with them? [11]

8 - General: Join us, Natalie. PC: We don’t have to be at odds, Natalie. You could come with us. Join the Inquisition. Natalie: I was called to serve the grand cleric. I will not betray her. [11]

9 - General: We can’t let her go now. PC: If we let her go, she’ll just run off to her cleric, won’t she? Leliana: Likely.

10 - General: Good, we know our enemy. PC: Good work. We know the name of our enemy. That’s half the battle won. Leliana: Exactly. [11]

11 - Scene continues.

Natalie: Kill me then. I’m not afraid to die for my beliefs. At least I still know what I believe.

Kill her. [12]
Let her go. [13]

12 - Kill her. PC: This has to be done. You know it. Natalie: I see what you’ve become. Natalie: “The righteous stand before the darkness, and the Maker shall guide their… ” (Gasps.) Leliana slashes her across the throat and she falls to the ground.[14]

13 - Let her go.

Leliana softened PC: Release her, Leliana. She is no threat. Leliana: The grand cleric… PC: She is one woman. We are the Inquisition. Leliana: The Inquisitor has spoken. Run. Tell your mistress that she has a choice. She lets go and Natalie leaves.[14]

Leliana hardened PC: We don’t have to kill her. Leliana: No, I must protect the Inquisition. She is an enemy. Natalie: I see what you’ve become. Natalie: “The righteous stand before the darkness, and the Maker shall guide their… ” (Gasps.) Leliana slashes her across the throat and she falls to the ground.[14]

14 - Scene continues.

Leliana rushes over to the hidden alcove and looks at the box.

Leliana: No. This can’t be it. There’s nothing here!

Dialogue options:

General: It’s not nothing. [15]
General: A hidden bottom? [16]
General: Damn. [17]

15 - General: It’s not nothing. PC: It’s not what you expected. That doesn’t mean it’s nothing. [18]

16 - General: A hidden bottom? PC: Check again. Perhaps the box itself is a puzzle. She seemed the puzzling sort. Leliana: No. It’s just… it’s just an empty box. [18]

17 - General: Damn. PC: Well, this was a waste of time. Leliana: I wish I could say this was more than an empty box. [18]

18 - Scene continues.

Leliana: There’s a message, carved in the lid. “The Left Hand should lay down her burden.” She… she’s releasing me. The Divine has a long reach, but it is always her Left Hand that stretches out. A thousand lies. A thousand deaths. Her commands, but my conscience that bore the consequences.

19 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What she said in the Fade… [20]
General: Stop torturing yourself. [21]
General: It was necessary. [22]

20 - Investigate: What she said in the Fade… PC: She apologized in the Fade. She said she failed you. This is what she meant. Leliana: All this time, Justinia carried the fear that she was using me, just like I’d been used in the past. But Marjolaine’s games were trifles. Justinia gambled with the fate of nations. She needed me. No one else could’ve done what I did. She knows that. [back to 19]

21 - General: Stop torturing yourself. PC: Then you have to let it go. Let her go. You don’t owe her anything anymore.

Leliana softened Leliana: If it were not for you, I would’ve killed Natalie and called it a good thing. [23]

Leliana hardened Leliana: This? Now? After everything you’ve said and done?

Leliana (told to kill Butler in Haven): I hesitated with Butler, but you never did. You gave me confidence that killing him was the right answer. Leliana (PC said “sacrifices must be made” after reaching Skyhold): After Haven, we agreed that war requires sacrifices. “Whatever it takes,” you said.

Leliana: And my poor, dear Natalie. I called her sister once, but I couldn’t risk leaving her alive. Don’t tell me to let it all go after all I’ve sacrificed to get here. [23]

22 - General: It was necessary. PC: Sacrifices are necessary. You know that.

Leliana softened Leliana: I never thought I’d hear this from you, Inquisitor. You were always an inspiration. I looked at you and saw someone who knows the way through the shadows. I was like that once, you know. But everything changes, and things are never as simple as we’d like them to be. [23]

Leliana hardened Leliana: I know. And hearing you agree gives me the courage to do what must be done. [23]

23 - Scene continues.

She walks away from the alcove.

Leliana softened Leliana: Thank you for showing me what was right when I couldn’t see it for myself. There are things that must be said, but not here. I will see you back at Skyhold.

Leliana hardened Leliana: Justinia tried to save me, but all it’s done is made me realize I don’t need saving. There is work to be done. I’ll see you back at Skyhold.

Rebirth

softened

The PC finds Leliana in the rookery.

Scout: Grand Cleric Victoire has offered the ambassador support for the Inquisition.

Leliana: Ah, Natalie is as persuasive as ever.

The PC approaches.

Scout: I’m told that Ambassador Montilyet is pleased with the… restraint you showed in Valence.

Leliana: Ugh, she’s positively beside herself. I will never hear the end of it. “Niceness before knives, Leliana! Haven’t I always told you?”

Scout: Will that be all, my lady?

Leliana: For now.

The scout bows at the PC before leaving.

Dialogue options:

General: How are you? [1]
General: Ah, new friends! [2]
General: Trouble? [3]

1 - General: How are you? PC: How have you been feeling since Valence? Leliana: Good. Wonderful. Valence was something of a rebirth for me. [4]

2 - General: Ah, new friends! PC: I love making new friends, don’t you? Leliana: It was a gamble, Inquisitor, but it paid off. [4]

3 - General: Trouble? PC: Are we having trouble with Natalie? Leliana: Not at all. It seems we will benefit from sparing her after all, and I have you to thank for that. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Leliana: If you hadn’t been with me at Valence, I would have killed Natalie. I’d have told you that I didn’t have a choice, but there is always a choice.

She looks down at the box.

Leliana: I am more than this. I am more than what Justinia made me.

5 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Are you quitting? [6]
Investigate: Are you angry with Justinia? [7]
General: You’re more than even she was. [8]
General: Did this monologue help? [9]
General: Then forget her. [10]

6 - Investigate: Are you quitting? PC: What does this mean for my Inquisition? Will you still be my spymaster? Leliana: Of course. I would not give up my post, not after everything we’ve built. I just know now that I shouldn’t ignore my heart. Mercy is not always a weakness.

Dialogue options:

Investigate: Are you angry with Justinia? [7]
General: Justinia did well in the end. [8]
General: Did this monologue help? [9]
General: Then forget her. [10]

7 - Investigate: Are you angry with Justinia? PC: Do you resent Justinia for what she did? Leliana: How can I when there is so much between us, when she gave her life for peace? No, I believe her intentions were pure. Most intentions are. [back to 5]

8 - General: You’re more than even she was./Justinia did well in the end PC: You’ve exceeded her. She could never have imagined the power you now hold. Leliana: And now I will know how to use that power wisely. I have to stay true to who I really am—before a spymaster, Left Hand, or bard. [11]

9 - General: Did this monologue help? PC: Does saying all this out loud make you feel any different? Leliana: Yes, actually. Giving the thought a voice forces me to admit what Justinia did to me. I have to stay true to who I really am—before a spymaster, Left Hand, or bard. [11]

10 - General: Then forget her. PC: Then put Justinia behind you. Remember you’re Inquisition now. Leliana: Of course. I won’t forget my duty, and I won’t forget that it is not all I am. [11]

11 - Scene continues.

She looks at the box again.

Leliana: I almost lost myself.

What I Am

hardened

The PC finds Leliana in the rookery.

Scout: Grand Cleric Victoire is scrambling after the loss of her agent.

Leliana: Good. Her support base is in Morelle. Tear it down.

The PC approaches.

Leliana: Grand Cleric Victoire wishes to make an enemy of the Inquisition? I’ll give her what she wants. Doesn’t Victoire have a young cousin? Lord Firmin? She dotes on him.

Scout: Yes, mistress. I believe that is so.

Leliana: Good. Have him… collected. He shall be an honored guest, and make sure the grand cleric hears about it.

Scout: At your command.

The scout bows at the PC before leaving.

Dialogue options:

General: Is everything all right? [1]
General: Harsh tactics with Victoire. [2]
General: Fine work. [3]

1 - General: Is everything all right? PC: Is everything under control? Leliana: Perfect. The grand cleric and others like her will fall in line soon enough. [4]

2 - General: Harsh tactics with Victoire. PC: You’re dealing with the grand cleric a little harshly, don’t you think? Leliana: Harsh times call for harsh measures, Inquisitor. [4]

3 - General: Fine work. PC: Good work with the grand cleric. Leliana: Thank you. I do what I can. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Leliana: You see, when I am ruthless, it gets us where we need to be. It’s something to be proud of. Why fix it? How funny that her regret is what finally puts my own to rest. I chose to become her Left Hard, knowing what it meant. It was my weakness that stopped me from fully committing to my task.

Dialogue options:

General: It wasn’t weakness. [5]
General: I guess that’s settled. [6]
General: Enough time has been wasted. [7]

5 - General: It wasn’t weakness. PC: You have a good heart. It’s not a weakness. Leliana: You are too kind, Inquisitor. Call it what it is. [8]

6 - General: I guess that’s settled. PC: Well then, I suppose that’s that. [8]

7 - General: Enough time has been wasted. PC: You’ve spent more than enough time playing the Divine’s games. Leliana: Forgive me, Inquisitor. It took far too long for me to realize this. [8]

8 - Scene continues.

Leliana: The Inquisition needs me, just as the Divine did, to do what no one else dares. Death and deception are my trade. It is what I am.

She walks to the window.

Leliana: It is what I always will be.