Main Quest

The Descent

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Storm Coast Fissure

The PC find Harding at the entrance to the Deep Roads.

Harding: Inquisitor. The workers are almost done building a lift to the Deep Roads. No darkspawn trouble yet, but the earthquakes have been brutal.

PC: I was told to meet a Shaper Valta.

Harding: She’s waiting below. You won’t see an Orzammar dwarf on the surface. They have rules about that.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Tell me about the earthquakes. [2]
Investigate: How are the lyrium mines? [3]
Investigate: No darkspawn have surfaced? [4]
Dwarf PC: Orzammar’s living in the past. [5]
General: We’d better get down there. [6]
General: The opening could close. [7]
General: You don’t like Orzammar? [8]

2 - Investigate: Tell me about the earthquakes. PC: How many quakes have there been since you arrived? Harding: Uh, at least three big rumblers, and the aftershocks are nothing to sneeze at. My feet miss solid ground. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: How are the lyrium mines? PC: Josephine’s report mentioned several lyrium mines were damaged by the quakes. Harding: You’ll see what’s left of this one on your way down. From what I hear, the other mines are barely holding together. [back to 1]

4 - Investigate: No darkspawn have surfaced? PC: So you haven’t seen any darkspawn up here? Harding: I sharpened my arrows just in case, but they never showed. I’m okay with that. [back to 1]

5 - Dwarf PC: Orzammar’s living in the past. PC: You’d think with so many of us up here, they’d relax the restrictions. Harding: If anything, this Breach business has made them even more cautious. [9]

6 - General: We’d better get down there. PC: It’s hardly the time for a lyrium shortage. Orzammar’s mines need all the protection they can get. Harding: I’d offer to go with you, but someone should keep watch. Plus, I could use the sun—if this storm ever clears. [9]

7 - General: The opening could close. PC: What if another earthquake seals us in? Harding: If that happens, I’ll dig you out myself. [9]

8 - General: You don’t like Orzammar? PC: From your tone, I’d guess Orzammar isn’t your favorite place.

Non-dwarf PC Harding: I don’t have an opinion. “Cloudgazers” like me aren’t allowed in the city. [9]

Dwarf PC Harding: Hard to say if I’d like it. “Cloudgazers” like us aren’t allowed in the city. PC: There are ways in. They just aren’t advertised. [9]

9 - Scene continues.

One of the nearby dwarves whistles at the party.

Harding: The lift’s ready for you.

They load onto the lift.

Harding: Try not to shift around—and keep back from the edge. It’s a long way down.

They descend.

Party comments:

Vivienne: Lowered into a hole. What an auspicious start. PC: We’ve been in worse places. Vivienne: Perhaps you have, my dear. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Varric: This reminds me of a story. PC: Shocking. Varric: It’s about an impossibly handsome dwarf and his friend who got crowned King of the Nugs. PC: A nug king, really? Varric: It’s not as good as it sounds. Nugs mostly just shit on the floor and roll in it. Welcome to the Deep Roads. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Sera: Stupid darkspawn. (Spits.) PC: You’re much more likely to hit rock. Sera: Still their house. Message sent. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Iron Bull: So, the Deep Roads. Do you think there’ll be tight spaces? Long hallways with low ceilings? PC: Possibly, why? Iron Bull: Just hoping my horns fit. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Dorian: Is it me or is this the slowest lift ever constructed? PC: It’s better than climbing down. Dorian: I could do with some music. Something with a flute? ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Cassandra: We should be wary of raw lyrium. PC: I’m more worried about finding darkspawn. Cassandra: (Chuckles.) Neither is a pleasing prospect. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Blackwall: Always wondered if I’d die down here. PC: You’re not dead yet. Blackwall: The day’s just starting. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Solas: Dwarves cannot dream, yet they devise the most fascinating inventions. PC: Not all ideas come from the Fade. Solas: True. But these designs must be inspired by something. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
Cole: Palms calloused, clutching, clawing when the dust came. PC: The miners. Cole: The stones were angry. I didn’t think stones got angry. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
PC (no party brought): A long way, indeed…

Shaper Valta

The party reaches the bottom. A dwarf nearby checks through a list of the dead.

Valta: Korut… Magarl… Novric… Your names will not be forgotten.

The party approaches.

PC: You must be Shaper Valta.

Valta: Atrast vala, Inquisitor. The Shaperate welcomes you to the Deep Roads.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Why are you in the shadows? [2]
Investigate: Tell me about the Shaperate. [3]
General: How bad are the casualties? [4]
General: Are you alone here? [5]
General: What’s the latest? [6]

2 - Investigate: Why are you in the shadows? PC: You look as though you’re hiding from something. Valta: As a citizen of Orzammar, even a glimpse of your sky could cost me my position and render me casteless. Varric: Gotta love “real” dwarves. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Tell me about the Shaperate. PC: What does a Shaper do, exactly? Valta: We chronicle the life and times of our people. PC: You’re historians. Valta: Also scholars and genealogists. Shapers preserve knowledge in the Memories, an archive in Orzammar. We record Memories in lyrium to ensure they never fade. We must be meticulous in every detail. Cassandra: A difficult task. [back to 1]

4 - General: How bad are the casualties? PC: How many dwarves have you lost? Valta: More than we can count. The Mining Caste has suffered greatly. [7]

5 - General: Are you alone here? PC: My ambassador briefed me, but now I hear there are still more quakes? Valta: Each new tremor opens another fissure in the Deep Roads. [7]

6 - General: What’s the latest? PC: Are there others around? Valta: There’s nothing to be done here but account for the dead. The rest are deeper into the roads. [7]

7 - Scene continues.

Valta: Our situation has worsened since we contacted Skyhold.

There’s a small quake.

Valta: The quakes collapsed this mine and shattered a seal keeping the darkspawn at bay. The Legion of the Dead hasn’t been able to mend the broken seal—and we can’t afford to lose any more lyrium.

8 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Are the mines that important? [9]
Investigate: Why call upon the Inquisition? [10]
History perk: I know about the Legion. [11]
General (no history perk): How dead is this Legion? [12]
General: We’re happy to help. [13]
General: Let’s get moving. [14]

9 - Investigate: Are the mines that important? PC: What will happen if we lose more lyrium mines? Valta: The surface needs lyrium for all sorts of magic—the Inquisition more than most, I understand. And Orzammar’s economy relies on the lyrium trade. Without it, there will be chaos above and below. [back to 8]

10 - Investigate: Why call upon the Inquisition? PC: Orzammar deals with darkspawn all the time. Why request the Inquisition’s help? Valta: The Legion isn’t prepared for this level of disaster, and the Grey Wardens haven’t answered our calls for aid. Any threat to the flow of lyrium requires immediate response. The Inquisition is the only force we can rely upon. [back to 8]

11 - History perk: I know about the Legion. PC: I’ve read about the Legion of the Dead. Dwarves who fight darkspawn in service to Orzammar. They commit their lives to the cause and celebrate their own funerals before entering the Deep Roads. Valta: No matter their sins in life, the Legion die noble deaths. [15]

12 - General: How dead is this Legion? PC: I trust this “Legion of the Dead” isn’t actually deceased yet? Valta: Not yet. But they are ready to die. [15]

13 - General: We’re happy to help. PC: The Inquisition stands ready to aid Orzammar. Without a steady lyrium supply, things on the surface will get even worse. [15]

14 - General: Let’s get moving. PC: There’s no time to waste. Take me to the Legion. [15]

15 - Scene continues.

There’s another quake, and a rock falls. Valta leaps at the PC and shoves them out of the way.

Valta: Apologies for pushing you.

Vivienne: Aren’t you a polite thing.

Valta: I fear the damage that tremor caused. Follow me to the Legion camp.

They begin to travel down the path.

Valta: Keep your eyes open. These roads are dangerous.

An ogre rushes them.

Valta: An ogre!

Party comments:

Blackwall: Stay clear of its reach!
Varric: I hate the Deep Roads…
Iron bull: Form up!
Cassandra: Maker’s breath!
Cole: it wants to hurt us!
Sera: This way, big horse!

It grabs one of the party members.

Valta: It’s not focused on us! Now’s the time to attack!

Valta: Strike now!

Valta: Now! While it’s distracted!

They defeat the ogre.

Valta: You have my gratitude.

Dialogue options:

General: Now we’re even. [16]
General: We’re in this together. [17]
General: Be careful. [18]

16 - General: Now we’re even. PC: Just returning the favor. [19]

17 - General: We’re in this together. PC: If I lost you, I’d never make it out of the Deep Roads. Valta: I’m sure you would find a way. [19]

18 - General: Be careful. PC: Stay on your guard. [19]

19 - Scene continues.

Valta: If the ogre reached this point, the Legion must be overwhelmed. Let us hurry.

They continue.

Valta: I will never get used to the stench of darkspawn. They corrupt everything, even the air.

The party approaches a Deep Road tunnel, and they hear fighting.

Valta: That’s the broken seal ahead. It is worse than I thought.

Lieutenant Renn

A group of dwarves fights darkspawn ahead.

Renn: Get those charges to the tunnels!

Some of the dwarves run ahead with barrels.

Renn: Someone prime the sodding fuses!

More darkspawn come through, and the party joins the fight.

Valta: We can’t lose this position. Hurry!

Renn: Can’t set the charges with those bastards breathing down our necks!

More darkspawn swarm them.

Valta: Clear out the darkspawn!

Renn: That’s got ’em on their heels! Keep it up!

They clear out the wave.

Renn: The seal’s clear! Prime the charges!

Valta: Now! Set the charges!

The PC run ahead to set the charges.

Renn: that’s the last charge! Get clear of the blast!

The PC joins the dwarves behind some cover. There is an explosion at the tunnel, and the dwarves cheer. The PC walks over to Valta after they set up camp.

Valta: Inquisitor, meet Lieutenant Renn: a veteran of the Fifth Blight and one of the Legion’s finest commanders.

Renn stops sharpening his axe.

Renn: (Snorts.) Someone paid her to say that.

He stands.

Renn: Appreciate the help, Inquisitor. Collapsing that seal bought us time. Blighters had the run of these tunnels for days. Now they have a roadblock.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Tell me about the Deep Roads. [2]
Investigate: Have you worked together long? [3]
General: I’m glad to help the Legion. [4]
General: Your soldiers are impressive. [5]
General: The darkspawn won’t wait. [6]

2 - Investigate: Tell me about the Deep Roads. PC: How many Deep Roads are there? How deep do they go? Renn: They’ll take you from one side of Thedas to the other, if you have a death wish. Valta: The roads once connected dwarven cities that were hundreds of miles apart. Then came the darkspawn. Renn and I have been exploring this region. Reclaiming it. But the work is slow. Renn: Mark the map, fight an army. Mark the map, fall in a hole. And so on. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Have you worked together long? PC: I get the impression you two have known each other a while. Renn: Yeah. The Shaperate sent her to dig up some relics. Asked me to keep her out of trouble. That was three years ago. Valta: You can quit any time. Renn: Not when we still have things to fight about. [back to 1]

4 - General: I’m glad to help the Legion. PC: The Legion of the Dead has the Inquisition’s full support. Renn: That’s the best news I’ve heard since the quakes began. Actually, the only good news. [7]

5 - General: Your soldiers are impressive. PC: For such a small group, your people have held up well. Renn: (Sighs.) The quakes took a lot of us. Reinforcements’ll be slow to arrive. [7]

6 - General: The darkspawn won’t wait. PC: We can’t give the darkspawn a chance to regroup. Let’s hit them again before they mount another attack. Valta: Normally, that would be the plan. But there is… a complication. [7]

7 - Scene continues.

There’s another quake, and some of the statues around them begin to fall.

PC: Take cover!

The shaking stops.

Valta: You heard that, yes? The rhythm in the tremors? It’s clearer. Stronger. More insistent.

Renn: I hear it. Doesn’t prove a thing.

Valta: These quakes are not a natural disaster. They’re deliberate. There’s an… intelligence behind them.

Dialogue options:

General: They are definitely powerful. [8]
General: Renn seems skeptical. [9]
General: How can you know that? [10]

8 - General: They are definitely powerful. PC: If something is causing them, the strength required would be incredible. What could do that? Renn: (Sighs.) Here we go… [11]

9 - General: Renn seems skeptical. PC: I don’t think the lieutenant agrees with you. Renn: Look, there is something strange causing the quakes. I’m just not sure what. [11]

10 - General: How can you know that? PC: How could an earthquake be caused deliberately? Renn: We get plenty of natural tremors down here. These are different. She thinks she knows why. [11]

11 - Scene continues.

Valta: I found an ancient text during an expedition with Renn last year. At the time, it was just a curiosity. But now… The text describes giant creatures—called “Titans”—living deep underground. They “sing” in the Stone, shaping it. When these quakes began, I believe we heard that rhythm. I believe a Titan is causing all this destruction.

12 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Titans? This is new. [13]
Investigate: I don’t hear a rhythm. [14]
Investigate: What do you mean by the Stone? [15]
Arcane perk: Strange singing is never good. [16]
General: You may be onto something. [17]
General: It all seems far-fetched. [18]
General: We need plans, not theories. [19]

13 - Investigate: Titans? This is new. PC: I’ve never heard of Titans before. What else can you tell me about them? Valta: The text I found predated the First Blight. Its pages had mostly rotted away. And there’s no mention of the Titans in Orzammar’s Memories. Renn: Which tells you something. [back to 12]

14 - Investigate: I don’t hear a rhythm. PC: All I heard was an earthquake. How is it you and Renn hear a rhythm?

Valta (dwarf PC): With respect, Inquisitor… you were born on the surface. You don’t have out connection to the Stone. Valta (non-dwarf PC): Our people have a strong connection to the Stone. We feel it in a way topsiders cannot.

Renn: Shapers have great stone sense. And Valta’s better than most. She never gets lost. [back to 12]

15 - Investigate: What do you mean by the Stone? PC: You speak of “the Stone” like it’s more than walls. Valta: The Stone is eternal. She was here before us and remains after we die. PC: But the Stone isn’t your god? Renn: We don’t worship her, but we do respect and honor her. Valta: The Stone makes us strong, and we return that strength to her when we die. It’s difficult to express in words. [back to 12]

16 - Arcane perk: Strange singing is never good. PC: Mysterious songs often lure people to their deaths—or to an Archdemon. Valta: This rhythm isn’t a song, exactly. It sounds like… air flowing through lungs. Renn: Hmm… Air that can collapse a whole mine. Dorian: Dangerous, then. But a magic unique to the Deep Roads might be worth investigating. Solas: A mystery worth investigating. [20]

17 - General: You may be onto something. PC: In my experience, no explanation is too strange to consider.

18 - General: It all seems far-fetched. PC: Even if something strange is behind these earthquakes, it’s not necessarily a Titan. Renn: Aye. You’d think the Memories would at least mention them. Varric: I wouldn’t rule out Scribbles’ theory. Hawke and I found some weird shit in the Deep Roads. [20]

19 - General: We need plans, not theories. PC: I’m here to stop earthquakes from destroying the mines. I don’t care what’s causing them. Renn: A [person] of action. Good. [20]

20 - Scene continues.

Renn: For all we know, that text you found was a bedtime story. We can’t be sure until we find the source.

Valta: The rhythm I sense in the quakes is emanating from somewhere far below. The Stone will lead us there.

Renn: And if it comes to a fight, that’ll be our job. There’s a lift at the side passage nearby. Ready when you are.

Darkspawn Warrens

The party heads down the lift.

Valta: I hope we don’t run into an emissary.

Renn: (Sighs.) Now we definitely will.

PC: I take it emissaries are bad?

Renn: Most darkspawn are mindless killing machines, connected by the blight. But emissaries are intelligent—and use magic.

Sera: Have to take their whole head to wipe the grin off their face. Which, fair enough, right?

They head into the Deep Roads and hear darkspawn shrieking in the distance.

Renn: Shrieks. It had to be shrieks.

PC: I thought you’d be used to all kinds of darkspawn.

Renn: Look, everyone’s got their favorites.

Iron Bull: I’m partial to ogres. Great racks.

They continue.

Valta: This door… There’s something strange about it. Looks like our construction, but… hmm.

PC: It’s missing gears.

Valta: We have to find them. It’s our only way through.

The PC finds a gear nearby.

Valta: That gear will fit the door. Keep an eye out for others.

There’s another gear in the room.

PC: This gear is warm to the touch. Strange.

Valta: I don’t recognize the metal. But we should only need one more.

The PC tries the door again.

Valta: It won’t budge until we replace the gears.

Renn: Dwarven design. Sturdy and stubborn.

PC: I could swear these gears are getting warmer together.

The begin to look for the next gear.

Valta: Renn, I’m sorry about Bernat. You served with him a long time.

Iron Bull: It’s never easy to lose a member of your company.

Renn: (Sighs.) It was quick, and Bernat returned to the Stone with honor. We should all be so lucky.

Valta: It’s all right to be upset.

Renn: I’m too old to be upset.

The PC finds the third gear.

Valta: We have enough of these odd gears. Let’s head back to the door.

Renn and Valta continue to chat.

Renn: Did that messenger who came through camp have any news about Orzammar? The food shortage?

Valta: More riots. There’s unrest from Dust Town to the Diamond Quarters.

Renn: Can’t have the deep lords going hungry.

Valta: I made sure your mother and brother are safe.

Renn: That wasn’t necessary.

Valta: You’re welcome.

The PC opens the door.

Valta: It’s open! Keep any gears we find. We may need more. And if we don’t, I want to study them. Whatever they’re made of wasn’t mined down here.

They continue in.

Valta: That scar on your nose is new.

Renn: Yeah, well… Fell out of bed.

Valta: you sleep on the ground.

Renn: Heh. Surprised me too.

There’s another tremor as they fight darkpawn.

Valta: The rhythm in the tremors. It echoes through the Stone. This way.

They find another gear door.

Valta: Another strange door. Who put these here—and why?

PC: This one uses a different kind of gear from the others.

Valta: We don’t have to open it. My stone sense leads the other way. Though I am curious to see the other side…

Renn: You always are.

The party continues, finding some darkspawn as they go.

Renn: You kill darkspawn like you’ve been doing it your whole life, Inquisitor.

Valta: He means that as a compliment.

Renn: You’re famous. Even down here. Is it true you killed a dragon?

If the PC has never killed a dragon PC: That particular story is false. Renn: Hrm… huh… always wanted to see a dragon.

If the PC has killed a dragon Dialogue options:

General: They are noble beasts. PC: Magnificent creatures. Bringing one down is always bittersweet. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: Yes, and it was glorious. PC: You haven’t lived ‘til you’ve felt their wings pulling you in. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: I’ve killed one or two. PC: I have. It was quite the battle.

Renn: I can’t even imagine! Tell me about their teeth. I’ve heard they don’t all breathe fire, and their scales have different colors and patterns.

Careful, Renn. I believe you’re drooling.

They continue on to fight a horde of darkspawn. When they are defeated, the PC investigates some corpses. Renn kneels near them.

Renn: There’s nothing left of them. Can’t even tell who they were.

Valta: I’m sorry, Renn.

Renn: You join the Legion knowing you’re already dead. You don’t fear the killing blow. We rest in the Stone and pass our strength back to her. That’s our reward. But the darkspawn defiled these soldiers. They can’t return to the Stone. They’d only weaken her.

Dialogue options:

General: There’s nothing to be done? [1]
General: Let’s avenge them. [2]
General: We have no time to mourn. [3]

1 - General: There’s nothing to be done? PC: There must be some way to lay them to rest with honor. Valta: We can burn the remains. Renn: Aye. It’s all we can do.

2 - General: Let’s avenge them. PC: We’ll make the darkspawn pay for what they’ve done. Renn: I’ve killed so many. But every time I stare into their black eyes, I know one day I won’t be quick enough. Valta: Stop it. Renn: It’s the truth, Valta. I’m going to die down here. I can only hope it won’t be like this. Valta: We’ll burn the remains. Honor them with flame.

3 - General: We have no time to mourn. PC: No one should die like this. But if we don’t keep moving, there will only be more dead. Renn: let me burn the remains. I can do that much for them. Valta: I’ll help you.

4 - Scene continues.

The party approaches the ledge.

Valta: Look at that, Renn. Could this be Thaig Heidrun?

Renn: Darkspawn all over it. You can see their torches.

Dorian: Even darkspawn appreciate a little mood lighting.

PC: We’re getting close to something.

Renn: Aye, the fight of our lives.

The continue down the path.

Renn: Keep your mouth closed when fighting darkspawn. Their blood’s poison.

Dialogue options:

General: I appreciate the advice. PC: Thanks for the warning. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: Of course it’s poison. PC: Lovely creatures. ㅤㅤ ㅤ
General: Oh, I know. PC: I’ve killed darkspawn.

Renn: There was this Carta boy, Vond, who joined the Legion around the same time I did. Fast with daggers. Could poke fifty holes in a hurlock before the blighter knew what happened. Daggers are messy. Vond swallowed some spatter. Took him three days to die.

Varric: We need to work on your stories, Grisly.

Ruins of Heidrun Thaig

They head down the next lift.

Renn: Lost a good soldier in the Roads once. She fell down a hole. Found her three days later.

Valta: He loves this story…

Renn: Spent a whole day telling us all the strange things she saw while lost. A golden longboat floating in the air… packs of hairless children hunting nugs… a giant skeleton on a throne.

PC: Was it true?

Renn: never found out. She woke up the next day and couldn’t remember any of it.

They fight more darkspawn.

Renn: Almost lost my leg to a hurlock a few years back. Left a nasty scar.

PC: How’d you get away?

Renn: Kicked it with the other leg. (Chuckles.) Seriously, keep your guard up. They’ll use your tongue as jewelry.

Cassandra: (Disgusted noise.)

Iron Bull: (Laughs.) Good man.

PC: I’ll remember that.

They head into some caves.

Valta: I’ve heard encouraging things about your progress topside. That you’re bringing order to the chaos.

PC: That’s what they tell me.

Valta: We could use that down here.

They continue.

PC: I heard the Hero of Ferelden came down here during the Blight.

Renn: Kardol met the Warden, but I never had the pleasure.

PC: Do you often see Grey Wardens?

Renn: From time to time. They’re a good bunch. Tough in a fight. Fearless.

Blackwall: Any Warden would say the same about the Legion.

There’s a large quake.

PC: Careful.

Renn: That was a big one.

Valta: We need to go deeper.

Renn: Only way down from here is falling. Not keen on that.

Varric: I’d also like to avoid falling, if we’re counting votes.

Valta: There has to be another way.

They fight through more darkspawn.

Renn: The darkspawn are getting worse. We must be close to a nest.

Valta: That explains the stench.

The party passes through a doorway to find much of the ruins on fire. They fight their way through waves of darkspawn as they make their way down. They eventually fight their way to a room with an emissary alpha.

Valta: Don’t let them get behind us!

Renn: Get to the emissary leader! Cut it down and they’re done!

Renn: Don’t let that emissary leader control the battle! This is our fight!

They defeat the darkspawn, then make camp.

Renn: (Grunts.) That’s the last of those darkspawn. The Legion’s in your debt, Inquisitor.

Valta: Look at this, Renn. It’s… ancient. Maybe a thousand years old.

PC: Any idea who built it, or why?

Valta: This thaig is on top of a lyrium mine. According to the Memories, the mine was destroyed by some unexplained disaster. The miners must have used this lift to reach the lower levels.

Dorian: I’m starting to see a trend.

Varric: But we’re not using it, right?

Sera: And now it’s squatted by… something bigger than a dragon?

PC (if Dorian/Sera/Varric are not in party): Sounds familiar.

PC: If there is a Titan causing earthquakes, it’s down there.

Valta: I found this book with the emissary. The pages are mostly ruined, but a few are readable. See this line? “I awoke to the singing stone. Our kingdom trembled at the Titan’s hymn.”

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: They say that lyrium “sings.” [2]
Investigate: Can darkspawn hear the hum? [3]
Dwarf PC: That’s not all it says. [4]
General: So how did the quakes stop? [5]
General: Titans are involved. [6]
General: We need more information. [7]

2 - Investigate: They say that lyrium “sings.” PC: That reference to singing stone… I’ve been told that raw lyrium has a sound. Valta: A hum. The Mining Caste follows it to find lyrium veins. They say it’s the Stone calling to them. PC: Perhaps it wasn’t chance that the quakes destroyed lyrium mines. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Can darkspawn hear the hum? PC: Is it possible the darkspawn or their emissary could also hear the song? Valta: The Stone would never call to those vile things—but that doesn’t mean they can’t hear her. Renn: Darkspawn live and die by the Blight. They don’t care for much else. Valta: I didn’t realize you knew so much about darkspawn motives. Renn: Not everything’s a mystery, Valta. Some things are exactly as they appear. Valta: And some things are not. [back to 1]

4 - Dwarf PC: That’s not all it says. PC: Look! There’s more. “The rhythm bleeds despair.” Is this what you’ve been hearing? Valta: I wonder… can the Stone feel despair? [8]

5 - General: So how did the quakes stop? PC: If similar quakes happened then, the people who lived here may have found a way to stop them. Valta: I see no solution in the text, but it’s practically dust. We’re lucky any words survived. Renn: Heh. Half a poem. Just what we needed. [8]

6 - General: Titans are involved. PC: It would seem you’re not the first to connect earthquakes to Titans. Renn: (Scoffs.) Not to keep beating a dead bronto, but there’s no actual evidence that what happened then and now are the same. Valta: Singing tremors—destroying a mine and threatening a thaig. You don’t see any similarity? Renn: I think you’re reading what you want to read. [8]

7 - General: We need more information. PC: How can we be sure what the book says is true? Renn: We shouldn’t force connections that don’t exist. [8]

8 - Scene continues.

Valta: Perhaps this will change your mind.

Valta: Look here. It’s the royal seal of Orseck Garal.

Renn: King Orseck Garal? That book belonged to a Paragon? Maybe you are on to something, Valta.

Valta: Of course you’d take a dead man’s word over mine. Always the traditionalist.

Renn: Hey… challenging tradition lost you a cushy position in Orzammar.

9 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Was King Garal that important? [10]
General: Valta lost her Shaperate job? [11]
General: This sounds personal. [12]
General: Focus, both of you. [13]

10 - Investigate: Was King Garal that important? PC: Does a king’s book mean that much to you, Renn? Renn: Paragons are the best of our people. They don’t hand that title out to just anyone—not even a king. Knowing it was Garal’s book from the start would’ve saved us an argument. Valta: As if you’d ever avoid an argument. [back to 9]

11 - General: Valta lost her Shaperate job? PC: What does he mean you “lost” your position? I thought you were a Shaper. Valta: Not all Shapers have the same duties. Mine were… adjusted. [14]

12 - General: This sounds personal. PC: Valta’s standing within the Shaperate is her business—not mine or yours, Renn. Renn: My apologies, Valta. I forgot my place. Valta: As did I. You deserve an explanation, Inquisitor. [14]

13 - General: Focus, both of you. PC: We don’t have time for this. Valta: I agree—and to be clear, I was reassigned. [14]

14 - Scene continues.

Valta: When my superiors ordered me to remove an official record from the Memories, I declined. We decided it would be best if I served the Shaperate here, finding history instead of recording it.

15 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What were you asked to remove? [16]
Investigate: Memories can be erased? [17]
Investigate: Were Titan records removed? [18]
General: You did the right thing. [19]
General: The Shaperate disappoints me. [20]
General: It doesn’t matter now. [21]

16 - Investigate: What were you asked to remove? PC: That record must have been important, to risk your position over it. Valta: It was trivial, actually. [back to 15]

Valta: A cousin of King Harrowmont discovered that her husband’s ancestor had Carta connections. Valta: A childhood friend of King Bhelen had ancestral ties to the Carta.

Valta: But the truth is the truth—no matter how political it may be.

17 - Investigate: Memories can be erased? PC: The Shaperate can erase official records? Aren’t the Memories permanent? Valta: Sometimes erasing records is standard procedure. If a dwarf becomes casteless, they’re struck from the Memories. But I was asked to change a fact that someone important merely found… inconvenient. Dorian: Understandable. Yesterday’s “all the rage” is today’s embarrassment. [back to 15]

18 - Investigate: Were Titan records removed? PC: If the Shaperate is willing to erase Memories, what would prevent them from covering up the existence of Titans? Renn: Why would they do that? Valta: Because someone in power demanded it. [back to 15]

19 - General: You did the right thing. PC: It takes courage to challenge authority. Valta: (Chuckles.) I suppose you would know. Some believe the past is what we make it, but we gain nothing from ignoring mistakes. Cassandra: Wise words. [22]

20 - General: The Shaperate disappoints me. PC: I had no idea the Shaperate was so corrupt. Valta: Institutions aren’t corrupt, only people. I wish abusing Memories for political gain was a rarity. Renn: I remember Orzammar as an honorable kingdom. Valta: You’ve been gone a long time, Renn. [22]

21 - General: It doesn’t matter now. PC: What you did and why is none of my concern. [22]

22 - Scene continues.

Renn: I’m sorry I brought it up. The earthquakes are what matters. I don’t know where this lift leads, but we’re about to find out the hard way. Get ready.

Forgotten Caverns

The party gets off the next lift and ventures into the dark.

Valta: What was that?

Renn: What was what?

Valta: Something moved. There. Light a torch.

Renn: So it can see us coming? Just stay close.

Party comments:

Varric: Nothing’s stopping us from going back up. PC: We’re not going back up. Varric: (Sighs.) Just a suggestion.
Solas: The air is different. Stale.
Sera: Down. Down. Oh, let’s go down again. (Snickers.) “Down again.”
Cole: It’s wrong here. Too many whispers. The song is wrong. Chords cut to silence.
Blackwall: Stay together. It’s easy to get lost down here.
Iron Bull: Rather be fighting something I can see.
Vivienne: The deeper we go, the more oppressive it becomes.
Dorian: I don’t wish to alarm anyone, but I believe we’ve all gone blind.
Cassandra: We are practically blind down here.

Valta: We’ve gone past the Deep Roads.

PC: How can you tell? It’s pitch black.

Valta: I can feel it.

Eyes appear and disappear as the party moves through the caverns. There’s movement in the darkness.

Renn: Show yourselves!

Renn gets hit with something.

Valta: Renn!

He collapses to one knee.

Renn: Hm… sod it all.

Valta: No!

Renn: (Roars.)

They fight the unknown assailants, fending off lyrium bullets. They eventually defeat them all, and Renn falls to the ground. Valta kneels beside him.

Valta: You deserved better.

She looks towards the PC.

Valta: Renn never wanted this life. He was a cobbler. A good one. He joined the Legion to pay his father’s debts. It kept his mother and brother from losing their caste. The poor and desperate here often sacrifice themselves for their family’s future.

Dialogue options:

Sad: I’m sorry for your loss. [1]
Stoic: He knew the risks. [2]
Angry: They will pay for this. [3]

1 - Sad: I’m sorry for your loss. PC: Renn was a good man. We’ll honor his sacrifice. Valta: He always seemed… indestructible. [4]

2 - Stoic: He knew the risks. PC: Renn walked into this with his eyes open. Everyone in the Legion knows their fate. Valta: They’re treated like walking corpses. It’s wrong. Renn served for ten years. And he was so full of life. [4]

3 - Angry: They will pay for this. PC: We will find whatever, whoever did this, and make them stop. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Valta: The armor on these warriors… there’s lyrium woven directly into the metal. And it’s bonded to their skin. Impossible to remove, but I know what we’d find underneath. These are dwarves. Renn was killed by our own kind.

Dialogue options:

General: They’re not from Orzammar. [5]
General: Why did they attack? [6]
General: Their weapons are powerful. [7]

5 - General: They’re not from Orzammar. PC: They don’t look like any dwarves I’ve ever met. Valta: Me neither. It just doesn’t make sense. We’ve done nothing to them. [8]

6 - General: Why did they attack? PC: If they’re fellow dwarves, why did they fight us? Valta: They never spoke a word. No warning, no demands… just violence. [8]

7 - General: Their weapons are powerful. PC: All it took was a single strike. Renn never had a chance. Valta: The bolt was glowing. Their weapons could also have been infused with lyrium. [8]

8 - Scene continues.

Valta: I won’t leave Renn like this. We must return him to the Stone.

Valta: Atrast tunsha, salroka.

Valta: I’ll see this through, Renn. I promise.

The party continues.

Valta: Anything standing between us and the Titan will regret it.

The party comes across some runes on the walls.

Valta: This is like the Wall of Memories in Orzammar, but ancient. Very ancient. The words seem based in dwarven, but I barely recognize this dialect.

PC (dwarf PC): Is it related to our language? PC (non-dwarf PC): Can you translate any of it?

Valta: Only fragments. The language is very different from what we speak today. This word keeps appearing: “Sha-Brytol.”

PC (dwarf PC): My ancient dwarven is rusty… something about “guardians”? Valta (non-dwarf PC): I believe it means “revered defenders.”

Dialogue options:

General: Defenders of what? [9]
General: That’s… a long time. [10]
General: Let’s keep moving. [11]

9 - General: Defenders of what? PC: What needs to be protected all the way down here? [12]

10 - General: That’s… a long time. PC: That’s quite a long stewardship. Valta: They attacked us because they’re protecting something… [12]

11 - General: Let’s keep moving. PC: If it doesn’t help us stop the earthquakes, we need to keep searching. Valta: If these “defenders” killed Renn, I want to know why. [12]

12 - Scene continues.

Valta: “Isatunoll… Isatunoll… Cut our tongues… entomb our bodies… watch over the Titan until it stirs.” So the warriors who attacked us must be the Sha-Brytol. And they’re protecting a Titan.

PC: Are you all right, Valta?

Valta: I can hear Renn’s objections.

She pauses.

Valta: Let’s keep moving. If more of these Memories exist, they may have the answers we need.

They continue into the caverns and approach a bridge.

Valta: There’s something… strange on the other side. I can feel it…

Varric: My guess is another earthquake—that hits when we’re halfway across the bridge.

PC: Watch your step.

They begin to cross, and the bridge collapses from an explosion.

Valta: That wasn’t a quake. Someone sabotaged the bridge. And we don’t have time to fix it.

Solas: Someone does not wish to be disturbed. There must be another way.

Valta: There! That ledge! We can reach it if we’re careful.

Iron Bull: If we wanted to be careful, we’d be up on the surface.

They make their way down the ledge and find more carvings.

PC: Look there—more ancient carvings.

Valta: Aye, but these seem to be about… the Titan. “It shapes the stone. It is the stone. It sculpts the world within and without.”

13 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: The sounds… big. [14]
Investigate: Is it like Shaping the Stone? [15]
Investigate: Did Titans create the Stone? [16]
General: They’re just legends. [17]
General: We must be nearing a Titan. [18]
General: The quakes chance the stone… [19]

14 - Investigate: The sounds… big. PC: Wouldn’t something that can “sculpt the world” have to be rather… enormous? Valta: It is called a “Titan.” [back to 13]

15 - Investigate: Is it like Shaping the Stone? PC: So it’s a “Shaper of the Stone,” like you? Valta: This implies that the Titans are actually sculptors—and our world is their clay. [back to 13]

16 - Investigate: Did Titans create the Stone? PC: If Titans “shape the stone,” could they have actually created it? Valta: The Stone must have existed first. PC: Then the Titans would be the very first children of the Stone… Valta: That would have huge implications for my people. [back to 13]

17 - General: They’re just legends. PC: I’m not sure ancient folk tales are a trustworthy source of information. Valta: I have spent my life preserving stories and events. Every myth contains a kernel of truth. [20]

18 - General: We must be nearing a Titan. PC: More Memories, more Sha-Brytol—we must be getting close to a Titan. Your theory about the source of the quakes is looking more like fact. [20]

19 - General: The quakes chance the stone… PC: If Titans can purposely reshape the world, the earthquakes could be the way they “sculpt the Stone.” Valta: But the quakes are destructive. Titans would mold the world, not smash it to pieces. PC: Depending on your perspective, change can be violent. [20]

20 - Scene continues.

Valta: But if this is true, how could it be missing from the Memories of Orzammar? Why would someone erase such an integral part of our history?

There’s another quake.

PC: Let’s answer that after we stop the earthquakes.

Valta: The rhythm is louder than ever. We’re close.

Bastion of the Pure

The party emerges into a huge cavern glowing with lyrium.

Party comments:

Dorian: Look at that. Like stars at night.
Varric: (Chuckles.) I just became the most popular dwarf in the Merchant’s Guild.
Sera: That is too much of… that stuff.
Cole: It’s singing. A they that’s an it that’s asleep, but still making music.
Solas: It is beautiful.

Valta: All these lyrium veins. And they’re completely untapped.

PC: The Sha-Brytol must mine lyrium somewhere—their weapons and armor are laced with it.

Valta: Unless they’ve found another way to harness it.

They fight more Sha-Brytol as well as some other creatures.

Valta: These creatures aren’t deepstalkers. What do they eat to survive?

Cassandra: Us, if we are not careful.

PC (if Cassandra isn’t in party): Probably best not to think about that too much.

They continue into the lyrium caves.

Valta: I see no evidence of darkspawn here.

Blackwall: Maybe they know better than to come down this far.

PC: Let’s just be grateful.

Valta: But there must be a reason they avoid this place…

They continue until they find a blockade of sorts.

Valta: They built this to stop us. There must be some way to get through.

The PC places one of the earthshaker weapons they’ve picked up, and it breaks through the wall with an explosion.

Valta: This weapon of theirs cut through the barrier, but was destroyed in the effort.

PC: Let’s keep gathering their weapons. There may be more barriers ahead.

They continue.

PC: You said we’re beneath the Deep Roads. Do you think anyone besides the Sha-Brytol has traveled down here?

Valta: We are very likely the first to travel this far.

There’s a huge quake.

Valta: That was the most powerful tremor yet.

PC: Did you hear the same rhythm?

Valta: It’s getting faster. Harsh. Like… something breathing.

They fight more Sha-Brytol.

Valta: We’re both children of the Stone. Please—stop!

The defeat the Sha-Brytol and destroy the wall behind them.

Valta: I hate destroying these weapons. They’re artifacts. We could learn from them.

PC: We have no choice. It’s the only way through the barriers.

They destroy another barrier.

Valta: We’re getting quite good at this.

If Cole is in party Cole: It sings softly under the silence. The Stone took him back. He’s home again. Valta: Somehow that brings me comfort.

If Cole is not in party Valta: Nothing like these dwarves is mentioned anywhere in the Memories. If I had been prepared… Renn might still be alive.

Dialogue options:

General: Don’t blame yourself. [1]
General: They were ready for us. [2]
General: We keep moving or we all die. [3]

1 - General: Don’t blame yourself. PC: It’s easy to blame ourselves when we lose a friend, Valta, but it’s not your fault. I was so focused on the Titan, I didn’t consider what else could be down here. [4]

2 - General: They were ready for us. PC: With those weapons and armor, few would have had a chance. We need to stop the earthquakes before we lose anyone else. Renn will not die in vain. [4]

3 - General: We keep moving or we all die. PC: None of us will make it out of here if we don’t keep moving. You’re right. My apologies. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

The come across a massive barrier with endless swarms of Sha-Brytol.

Valta: We’ll need more than one weapon to cut through this. Can you hold them off while I work?

As the PC fights.

Valta: There’s no end to them!

Eventually the barrier is destroyed.

Valta: That’s it! We’re through!

They continue through a doorway and make camp.

Valta: The attacks are getting worse.

PC: We must be getting close to whatever they’re protecting.

PC (dwarf PC): Does that say “the pure”?

Valta: “Only the pure may pass. All others will be punished.” Assuming the Sha-Brytol are the pure…

PC: We’re the “others” who aren’t allowed to pass.

Valta: Could the earthquakes be the punishment?

5 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: Punishment for mining lyrium? [6]
Investigate: Why are the Sha-Brytol “pure”? [7]
General: More reason to stop them. [8]
General: This is bigger than quakes. [9]
General: Our objective is the same. [10]

6 - Investigate: Punishment for mining lyrium? PC: You found Paragon Garal’s book near a damaged lyrium mine. And the new earthquakes destroyed your mine. Valta: But why would they want to destroy the lyrium mines?

7 - Investigate: Why are the Sha-Brytol “pure”? PC: I wonder what makes the warriors “pure.” Varric: You spend long enough this far down, reason might not be your strong suit. Valta: They do wear sealed armor—to protect themselves from “impurities”?

8 - General: More reason to stop them. Inquisitor: If the tremors are deliberate, it could be disastrous for Orzammar’s lyrium mines. Valta: The Sha-Brytol were dwarves once. Something turned them against us.

9 - General: This is bigger than quakes. Inquisitor: Titans, the Sha-Brytol—this could be more than anything we expected. Valta: For all the Shaperate’s knowledge, I know so little.

10 - General: Our objective is the same. PC: Punishment or not, we need to stop the earthquakes.

11 - Scene continues.

Valta: This reads like a final warning. We must be nearing the source.

The Wellspring

The party continues into an overgrown area, with structures hanging from the cavern roof and many islands that fade into the distance.

Valta: Did the Sha-Brytol build all this?

PC: Or was it here before them?

They pause to overlook the scenery.

Valta: Nothing should surprise me anymore, but this… wait. The rhythm we followed—we’ve found the source.

Valta: But not the Titan.

Arcane perk: You’re wrong. [1]
General: We can’t be sure of that. [2]
General: It might be long dead. [3]
General: Forget about the Titan. [4]

1 - Arcane perk: You’re wrong. PC: Ever since we came down here, the Deep Roads have felt different. Organic. We’ve been looking for the Titan the wrong way. It isn’t like us. Valta: It’s huge. Big enough to change the world around it… PC: We can’t see the Titan… Because we’re inside it. [5]

2 - General: We can’t be sure of that. PC: How would we even recognize a Titan? All we know is that they’re enormous. Valta: We’ve found the Titan. We’re standing inside it. PC: What do you mean, “inside”? Valta: Think back to when we left the ruined thaig. I could feel that this wasn’t the Deep Roads. The Sha-Brytol attacked because we invaded a place only the “pure” are allowed to enter. The body of the Titan. [5]

3 - General: It might be long dead. PC: Its existence was never certain. Those Memories were ancient. The Titan could have died centuries ago. Valta: Something is creating the rhythm I hear. This must all be connected… Valta: We’ve found the Titan. We’re standing inside it. PC: What do you mean, “inside”? Valta: Think back to when we left the ruined thaig. I could feel that this wasn’t the Deep Roads. The Sha-Brytol attacked because we invaded a place only the “pure” are allowed to enter. The body of the Titan. [5]

4 - General: Forget about the Titan. PC: We’re here to stop earthquakes from destroying Orzammar’s lyrium mines. We need to get over there. Valta: The Memories described the Titans as enormous, big enough to reshape the world… Valta: We’ve found the Titan. We’re standing inside it. PC: What do you mean, “inside”? Valta: Think back to when we left the ruined thaig. I could feel that this wasn’t the Deep Roads. The Sha-Brytol attacked because we invaded a place only the “pure” are allowed to enter. The body of the Titan. [5]

5 - Scene continues.

The Sha-Brytol approach them. They party begins to fight their way through.

Valta: If I don’t survive, Orzammar must know the truth.

PC (DUAtW not complete): I won’t fall while Corypheus is still a threat. PC (DUAtW complete): I didn’t defeat Corypheus to die here.

Valta: Those structures… could there be a whole civilization in here?

PC: A city within a Titan. Incredible.

Valta: And the quakes haven’t damaged it.

They fight more Sha-Brytol.

Valta: Don’t make us fight you!

They continue to fight.

Valta: They fight like fanatics. Aren’t they afraid to die?

PC: Perhaps they’re the Titan’s Legion of the Dead.

Valta: Don’t say that.

After killing more Sha-Brytol.

Valta: I don’t want to hurt you!

They find more runes.

Valta: Look… these are the only Memories in this area.

PC (dwarf PC): What is that word… “Line”? “Road”?

Valta: That phrase is “the path of purity.”

And there’s a reference to… “Titan’s blood”? It says the Sha-Brytol come here to…drink it.

Dialogue options:

Arcane perk: The blood keeps them alive. [6]
General: Blood flows through veins… [7]
General: I don’t see blood. [8]
General: And the Titan allows this? [9]

6 - Arcane perk: The blood keeps them alive. PC: The Titan’s blood must keep the Sha-Brytol alive—and powerful. Valta: But where is it? Unless… [10]

7 - General: Blood flows through veins… PC: I only see one substance here that’s found in veins… [10]

8 - General: I don’t see blood. PC: There’s no blood in this cavern. What are missing? Valta: Blood requires a heart… [10]

9 - General: And the Titan allows this? PC: Why would a Titan let the She-Brytol live here and drink its blood? Valta: I’m not convinced it sees us anything more than insects… or parasites. [10]

10 - Scene continues.

Valta: Lyrium. The Titan’s blood is lyrium.

Dialogue options:

Politics: This could cripple Orzammar. [11]
General: Are you sure? [12]
General: This changes nothing. [13]

11 - Politics: This could cripple Orzammar. PC: Every nation on the surface buys lyrium. Orzammar’s entire economy is based on the trade. Valta: This is bigger than any one nation. [14]

12 - General: Are you sure? PC: That’s quite a leap of logic, Valta. Valta: Everything that’s happened is related to lyrium. The destroyed mines. The singing stone. It all leads here. [14]

13 - General: This changes nothing. PC: That’s an interesting explanation, but we need to focus on stopping the quakes. Valta: Lyrium is the blood of a living being. That changes everything. [14]

14 - Scene continues.

PC: We have to stop this!

The Heart of the Titan

The party gets closer to the massive heart of lyrium, and there is blast that knocks Valta off her feet. Stone begin to gather, fused by lyrium, and forms a huge creature. The party fights it.

PC: Run! Don’t let it touch you!

PC: Keep moving!

PC: Destroy the lyrium veins!

The party defeats the lyrium monster.

PC: Valta? Are you hurt?

Valta: (Gasps.) Too loud… the song… Stop!

She clutches her head and a blast emanates from her. She stands.

Valta: I am… it’s all right.

1 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What happened to you? [2]
Investigate: Tell me about the song. [3]
Investigate: Should I be afraid? [4]
Arcane perk: Dwarves can’t perform magic. [5]
General: I’m concerned about you. [6]
General: Will the tremors stop now. [7]
General: Stay focused. [8]

2 - Investigate: What happened to you? PC: It looked like you were hit by raw lyrium during the battle. Valta: Yes—it should have poisoned me, but I… feel fine. Good, even. [back to 1]

3 - Investigate: Tell me about the song. PC: You said the song was too loud. It was hurting you. Valta: It was… chaos. The rhythm I followed here, but magnified. Overwhelming. But it is gone. [back to 1]

4 - Investigate: Should I be afraid? PC: You almost killed me. What happens the next time you lash out? Valta: I am in control. I would never harm you, Inquisitor. [back to 1]

5 - Arcane perk: Dwarves can’t perform magic. PC: You cast some kind of spell. That shouldn’t be possible. Valta: It wasn’t a spell, it was… an accident. Everything will be fine. [back to 1]

6 - General: I’m concerned about you. PC: We should get help. You may be injured, or… Valta: I feel better than I ever have. Stronger. More… alive. [9]

7 - General: Will the tremors stop now. PC: Have we stopped the earthquakes? Valta: When we entered this cavern, there was a presence. I don’t feel it anymore. [9]

8 - General: Stay focused. PC: Concentrate, Valta. We’re still in danger. [9]

9 - Scene continues.

Valta: The Stone is silent. The rhythm has faded, and so have the tremors. But the song still echoes… it tells me things… The Breach—that’s what disturbed the Titan. It is calm now that it has a connection with one of its children… with me.

10 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: What did we fight here? [11]
Investigate: Did this happen to King Garal? [12]
Investigate: One of its children? [13]
Politics: The quakes could return. [14]
General: Is it safe to mine lyrium? [15]
General: You’ve been changed, Valta. [16]

11 - Investigate: What did we fight here? PC: Was that the Titan? Did we kill it? Valta: The Titan lives. This was… an echo. A guardian. But you silenced it. [back to 10]

12 - Investigate: Did this happen to King Garal? PC: Is this what happened at the thaig where you found Paragon Garal’s book? Valta: Aye, but… I do not know what disturbed the Titan then. The song may tell me… in time… [back to 10]

13 - Investigate: One of its children? PC: You said you are a child of the Stone, not a child of the Titans. Valta: I am not certain what I am, but the Titan recognized me. Like a parent hearing its child’s voice. [back to 10]

14 - Politics: The quakes could return. PC: You were able to calm the Titan, but what happens next time? Valta: Titans do not stir easily. It has been a thousand years. [17]

15 - General: Is it safe to mine lyrium? PC: Is it safe for Orzammar’s lyrium mines to start operating again? Valta: Mining didn’t disturb the Titan—the Breach did. The mines’ destruction was incidental. [17]

16 - General: You’ve been changed, Valta. PC: The Titan changed you, Valta—you need to be cautious. Valta: I am different. But I am still a Shaper. [17]

17 - Scene continues.

Valta: “Isana.” It’s our word for lyrium, and we are taught that it is a gift from the Stone. But there’s so much more to it than we ever imagined. I was sent to the Deep Roads to recover lost history. This is only the beginning. I am staying here.

18 - Dialogue options:

Investigate: You don’t fear the Sha-Brytol? [19]
Investigate: The beginning of what? [20]
Investigate: How will you survive? [21]
General: You’re assuming so much. [22]
General: The Inquisition needs you. [23]
General: This is not a good idea. [24]

19 - Investigate: You don’t fear the Sha-Brytol? PC: The Sha-Brytol killed Lieutenant Renn—and they’re still down here. Aren’t you afraid? Valta: No. I am… pure. I can defend myself. [back to 18]

20 - Investigate: The beginning of what? PC: The Titan is only the beginning? What else could there be? Valta: The Deep Roads are filled with wonders… answers to questions we haven’t thought to ask. [back to 18]

21 - Investigate: How will you survive? PC: If you stay here, where will you live? What will you eat? Valta: I have my stone sense, and now so much more. I’ll be safe. [back to 18]

22 - General: You’re assuming so much. PC: You think you understand what’s happened to you, but you could be wrong. The lyrium could be turning you into a Sha-Brytol—or worse. Valta: The Sha-Brytol turned themselves into monsters. I have changed because the Titan willed it. [25]

23 - General: The Inquisition needs you. PC: In all of Thedas, you’re the first dwarf ever to command the power of magic. Your help would be invaluable. Valta: I have no place on the surface. That world is yours to save, not mine. [25]

24 - General: This is not a good idea. PC: You can’t just decide to stay in this desolate place on a whim. Valta: I know what I’m doing. [25]

25 - Scene continues.

Valta: The mine’s collapse, Renn’s death—it all happened to bring me here.

Party comments:

Cassandra: After all we have seen, you wish to be alone to commune with this… creature?
Dorian: If she wants to stay, that’s her business. I’d like to see the sun again.
Varric: Nothing good ever happens in the Deep Roads. This won’t be any different.
Blackwall: Who could she harm down here besides herself?
Cole: She’s singing, sighing, slipping through the silence. She can heal here.

Valta: I am called to the search, Inquisitor. This is where I belong.

PC: I’m leaving with more questions than answers, but that doesn’t mean you have to. Just be careful.

They turn to leave.

PC: The Shaperate in Orzammar will want to know what happened to you.

Valta: Tell them the truth: you don’t know.

PC: Let’s go.

The party heads back to the Legion camp near the surface, where Harding and some of the Legionnaires are planning.

Harding: [They] always comes back. Pay up, salroka.

They walk over to the PC, and the scene fades to black.