Main Dialogue
In Hushed Whispers
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Negotiations
The party heads towards Redcliffe.
Solas: Redcliffe village should be just ahead.
The party approaches the gates of Redcliffe. A rift is visible in front of the gates.
A soldier runs past the party.
Soldier: I want a constant watch on the damned thing! Sound the alarm at the first sight of demons! Soldier: Watch out, traveler! The Veil’s ripped open, and Maker-knows-what could come out! Soldier: Turn back! We can’t open the gates until the threat has passed!
The party fights the demons that come out of the rift. There are some areas where time moves faster or slower.
PC closes the rift.
PC: What… was that?
- Blackwall: I don’t know. Was that a new kind of rift? How many of them are there?
- Cassandra: We don’t know what these rifts can do. That one appeared to alter the time around it.
- Iron Bull: That fade rift messed up time. See, this is why my people get pissy about magic!
- Sera: Demons and rubbish are bad enough. This, I don’t even want to know!
- Solas: That rift altered the flow of time around itself. That is… unexpected.
- Vivienne: None of my reports indicated temporal distortions near these rifts. Interesting.
- Varric: I think we could have skipped these things getting weirder, don’t you?
- PC (no one else in party): That was not like other rifts.
Dialogue options:
-
General: Maybe Fiona will know.
PC: There are many mages in Redcliffe. Maybe Fiona will know what’s going on. -
General: We’ll have to look into this.
PC: We need to find out what caused… whatever this is. -
General: Something’s wrong here.
PC: Something’s not right — stay on your guard.
Soldier: Maker have mercy! It’s over? Open the gates!
The gates open and the group walks through the gates. They are greeted by an Inquisition scout.
Scout: We’ve spread word that the Inquisition was coming, but you should know no one here was expecting us.
PC: No one? Not even Grand Enchanter Fiona?
Scout: If she was, she hasn’t told anyone. We’ve arranged use of the tavern for the negotiations.
An elf approaches.
Lysas: Agents of the Inquisition, my apologies! Magister Alexius is in charge now, but hasn’t yet arrived. He’s expected shortly. You can speak with the former grand enchanter in the meantime.
Lysas leaves.
- Sera: Why is this place so weird?
- Solas: The Veil is weaker here than in Haven. And not merely weak but altered in a way I have not seen.
- Varric: Is it just me, or is something weird going on here.
- Blackwall: Something’s not right. We need to talk to the grand enchanter.
- Cassandra: We should talk to the grand enchanter.
- Vivienne: We must speak with Fiona at once.
They enter Redcliffe proper. There is a whole lot of ambient chatter about mages, tenplars, and the Inquisition’s actions based on side quests completed.
The party enters the Gull & Lantern. Fiona is there to greet them as they enter.
Fiona: Welcome, agents of the Inquisition.
If Vivienne is in party:
Fiona: First Enchanter Vivienne.
Vivienne: My dear Fiona. It’s been so long since we last spoke. You look dreadful! Are you sleeping well?
Fiona: What has brought you to Redcliffe?
Dialogue options:
-
General: You invited me here.
PC: We’re here because of your invitation back in Val Royeaux. -
General: Is that a trick question?
PC: Is this some kind of test? We’re here because you invited us in Val Royeaux. -
General: Drop the act.
PC: Skip the pleasantries. You know why we’re here. You came all the way to Val Royeaux to invite us.
Fiona: You must be mistaken. I haven’t been to Val Royeaux since before the Conclave.
Dialogue options:
- General: Then who did I meet? [1]
- General: Something weird is happening. [2]
- General: I’m certain it was you. [3]
1 - General: Then who did I meet?
PC: If it wasn’t you who invited me here, who was it?
Fiona: I… I don’t know. Now that you say it, I feel strange…
2 - General: Something weird is happening.
PC: Well, that’s very strange, because someone who looked exactly like you spoke to me in Val Royeaux.
Fiona: Exactly like me? I suppose it could be magic at work, but why would anyone…
3 - General: I’m certain it was you.
PC: There is no mistake. While the templars were leaving, you came to Val Royeaux and asked me here.
Fiona: The templars left Val Royeaux? Where did they go? That sounds… Why does that sound so strange?
4 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Fiona: Whoever… or whatever brought you here, the situation has changed. The free mages have already… pledged themselves to the service of the Tevinter Imperium.
- Cassandra: An alliance with Tevinter? Do you not fear all of Thedas turning against you?
- Iron Bull: This right here is why you can’t trust mages.
- Solas: I understand that you are afraid, but you deserve better than slavery to Tevinter.
- Varric: Andraste’s ass… I’m trying to think of a single worse thing you could have done. And I’ve got nothing.
- Vivienne: Fiona dear, your dementia is showing.
Fiona: As one indentured to a magister, I no longer have the authority to negotiate with you.
Dialogue options:
- General: That was fast. [5]
- General: You’re ignoring the Breach? [6]
- General: You’ve made a huge mistake. [7]
+ Vivienne Approves - General: Then tell me who does. [8]
5 - General: That was fast.
PC: The Divine’s corpse is barely cold, and you’ve already joined the Imperium?
Fiona: Most of Thedas blames us for the Divine’s death. The templar attacks grew worse, and we mages had no allies. Either my people made a last stand here in Redcliffe, or we took the only offer of help extended to us. I had to save them. I had no other choice.
6 - General: You’re ignoring the Breach?
PC: What about the giant hole in the Veil that’s spewing demons everywhere? You’re just going to pretend it isn’t there?
Fiona: I am not forgetting the Breach, but we can only fight one war at a time. The templar threat was immediate. If we live, we can worry about the torn Veil.
7 - General: You’ve made a huge mistake.
PC: An alliance with Tevinter is a terrible mistake.
Fiona: All hope of peace died with Justinia. This… bargain with Tevinter would not have been my first choice, but we had no choice. We are losing this war. I needed to save as many of my people as I could.
8 - General: Then tell me who does.
PC: very well. Who’s in charge now?
9 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree.Two figures dressed in Tevinter garb approach from behind them,
Alexius: Welcome, my friends! I apologize for not greeting you earlier.
Fiona: Agents of the Inquisition, allow me to introduce Magister Gereon Alexius.
Alexius: The southern mages are under my command. And you are the survivor, yes? The one from the fade? Interesting.
Dialogue options:
- Investigate: Tell me about this alliance. [10]
- Investigate: Where’s the arl? [11]
- General: Let’s negotiate. [12]
- General: This is a long way from home. [13]
- General: I need mages for the Breach. [14]
10 - Investigate: Tell me about this alliance.
PC: I’d like to know more about this alliance between the rebel mages and the Imperium.
Alexius: Certainly. What specifically do you wish to know?
Dialogue options:
- Investigate: Fiona said she’s “indentured.” [15]
- Investigate: When did this happen? [16]
- Investigate: What does Tevinter gain? [17]
- [Return to main dialogue tree.]
15 - Investigate: Fiona said she’s “indentured.”
PC: The grand enchanter told me she was “indentured to a magister.”
Alexius: Out southern brethren have no legal status in the Imperium. As they were not born citizens of Tevinter, they must work for a period of ten years before gaining full rights. As their protector, I shall oversee their work for the Imperium.
16 - Investigate: When did this happen?
PC: I’m not clear on when, exactly, you negotiated the arrangement with Fiona.
Alexius: When the conclave was destroyed, these poor souls faces the brutality of the templars, who rushed to attack them. It could only be through divine providence that I arrived when I did.
Fiona: It was certainly… very timely.
17 - Investigate: What does Tevinter gain?
PC: What does the Imperium gain from taking rebel mages under its wing?
Alexius: For the moment, the southern mages are a considerable expense. After they are properly trained, they will join our legion.
Fiona: You said not all my people would be military! There are children, those not suited—
Alexius: And one day, I’m sure they will all be productive citizens of the Imperium. When their debts are paid.
11 - Investigate: Where’s the arl?
PC: I haven’t seen any sign of Redcliffe’s arl or his men.
Alexius: The arl of Redcliffe left the village.
- Cassandra: Arl Teagan did not abandon his lands during the Blight, even when they were under siege.
- Blackwall: Left? An arl would never voluntarily leave his seat.
- Varric: “Left.” That’s a polite way of saying “thrown out on his ass.”
Alexius: There were… tensions growing. I did not want an incident.
12 - General: Let’s negotiate.
PC: If you’re leading the mages now, then let’s talk. I’m sure we can come to an arrangement.
Alexius: It is always a pleasure to meet a reasonable [person].
13 - General: This is a long way from home.
PC: You’re quite a long way from Tevinter, Alexius.
Alexius: Indeed I am, though I have heard you are no Ferelden either. It seems we are both strangers here.
14 - General: I need mages for the Breach.
PC: I’m here to get mages to close the Breach.
Alexius: Right to business! I understand, of course.
15 - Scene continues.
Return to previous main tree.Alexius gestures the PC to follow and takes a seat at a table, where the PC joins him. Fiona looks distressed.
Alexius: Felix, would you send for a scribe, please? Pardon my manners. My son Felix, friends.
Felix bows and leaves.
Alexius: I am not surprised you’re here. Containing the Breach is not a feat that many could even attempt. There is no telling how many mages would be needed for such an endeavor. Ambitious, indeed.
Dialogue options:
-
General: Then you’ll help us?
PC: Does that mean you’ll lend your mages to our cause? -
General: We don’t think small here.
PC: Well, when you’re fighting a massive tear in the sky, you can hardly afford to think small. -
General: I’ll take whoever you’ve got.
PC: I’ll take every mage you can give me.
Alexius: There will have to be—
Felix returns to the table, but appears unsteady. The PC and Alexius rise, and Felix stumbles into the PC.
Alexius: Felix!
| Female PC | Male PC |
|---|---|
| Felix: I’m so sorry! Please forgive my clumsiness, my lady. | Felix: My lord, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. |
Alexius: Are you all right?
Felix: I’m fine, father.
Alexius: Come, I’ll get your powders. Please excuse me, friends. We will have to continue this another time. Fiona, I require your assistance back at the castle.
Felix: I don’t mean to trouble everyone.
Alexius: I will send word to the Inquisition. We will conclude this business at a later date.
Alexius, Felix, and Fiona leave. The PC looks down at a note that Felix gave him when he stumbled.
PC: “Come to the Chantry. You are in danger.”
- Cassandra: Did the magister’s son give you that? Why would he help you?
- Blackwall: That from the magister’s son? You really think he wants to help you?
- Sera: Well, aren’t we secret-y.
- Solas: The note is unsigned. The boy feared his father might retrieve it.
- Varric: Oh, very interesting.
- Vivienne: The magister’s son dropped that? Be cautious, Inquisitor. Family name is everything in Tevinter. [lol Viv, we’re not the Inquisitor yet.]
Dialogue options:
-
General: It’s worth investigating.
PC: We’ll be careful, but we need to figure out what’s going on here. -
General: It could be a trap.
PC: There’s no telling who or what will be waiting for us in that Chantry.- Cassandra: We’ll be on guard.
- Sera: Come on, let’s do something.
- Varric: Only one way to find out.
- Vivienne: We have found more questions than answers so far, my dear.
- Solas: Elaborate bait for a trap. Why would he not just openly invite us there?
- Blackwall: I suppose we won’t find out unless we go.
Magister Pavus
The party enters the Redcliffe chantry to see Dorian beating the daylights out of shades with his staff in front of a rift.
Dorian: Good, you’re finally here! Now help me close this would you?
The party fights another time-altering rift with Dorian’s assistance. After it is closed, Dorian approaches the party.
Dorian: Fascinating, how does that work, exactly? You don’t even know, do you? You just wiggle your fingers, and boom! Rift closes.
PC: Who are you?
Dorian: Ah, getting ahead of myself again, I see. Dorian of House Pavus, most recently of Minrathous. How do you do?
-
Cassandra: Another Tevinter. Be cautious with this one.
Dorian: Suspicious friends you have here. -
Iron Bull: Watch yourself. The pretty ones are always the worst.
Dorian: Suspicious friends you have here. -
Vivienne: Let one Tevinter in, suddenly they’re scurrying out of all the walls like roaches.
Dorian: Now now, I’m ever so much more handsome than a cockroach.
Dorian: Magister Alexius was once my mentor, so my assistance should be valuable — as I’m sure you can imagine.
Dialogue options:
- Investigate: Where’s Felix? [1]
- Investigate: You’re a Magister? [2]
- General: Why help us? [3]
- General: Quit grandstanding. [4]
- General: Did you send the note? [5]
1 - Investigate: Where’s Felix?
PC: I was expecting Felix to be here.
Dorian: I’m sure he’s on his way. He was to give you the note, then meet us here after ditching his father.
Dialogue options:
6 - Investigate: Is something wrong with Felix?
PC: Alexius couldn’t jump to Felix’s fast enough when he pretended to be faint. Is something wrong with him?
Dorian: He’s had some lingering illness for months. Felix is an only child, and Alexius is being a mother hen, most likely.
2 - Investigate: You’re a Magister?
PC: Are you a magister?
Dorian: All right. Lets say this once. I’m a mage from Tevinter, but not a member of the Magisterium. I know southerners use the terms interchangeably, but that only make you sound like barbarians.
3 - General: Why help us?
PC: You’re betraying your mentor because…
Dorian: Alexius was my mentor. Meaning not any longer, not for some time.
4 - General: Quit grandstanding.
PC: Stop talking like you’re waiting for applause. Just tell me what’s going on.
Dorian: What, there’s no applause? Fine.
5 - General: Did you send the note?
PC: Are you the one that sent the note, then?
Dorian: I am. Someone had to warn you, after all.
7 - Scene continues.
Return to previous main treeDorian: Look, you must know there’s danger. That should be obvious even without the note. Let’s start with Alexius claiming all the rebel mages out from under you. As if by magic, yes? Which is exactly right. To reach Redcliffe before the Inquisition, Alexius distorted time itself.
Dialogue options:
8 - General: That sounds bad.
PC: I hope that’s less dangerous than it sounds.
Dorian: More.
9 - General: To get here before me?
PC: He arranged it so he could arrive here just after the Divine died?
Dorian: You catch on quick.
10 - General: That’s ridiculous.
| Dalish PC | Human mage PC | Else |
|---|---|---|
| PC: If there was a way to turn back time, the Dalish would have used it long ago. | PC: I’ve never heard of time-controlling magic, not in all my studies. | PC: I’ve never heard of magic that controls time. |
11 - Scene continues.
Return to previous tree- Solas: That is fascinating, if true… and almost certainly dangerous.
- Sera: You don’t believe this do you? It’s daft.
- Vivienne: Manipulating time itself? Many have attempted over the ages, but never once succeeded.
Dorian: The rift you closed here? You saw how it twisted time around itself, sped some things up and and slowed others down. Soon there will be more like it, and they’ll appear further and further away from Redcliffe. The magic Alexius is using is wildly unstable, and it’s unraveling the world.
Dialogue options:
-
General: This is a lot to swallow.
PC: You’re asking me to take a lot on faith. -
General: Do you have evidence?
PC: I’d like more proof than “magical time control! Go with it.” -
General: I don’t trust you.
PC: Why should I believe any of this?
Dorian: I know what I’m talking about. I helped develop this magic. When I was still his apprentice, it was pure theory. Alexius could never get it to work. What I don’t understand is why he’s doing it? Ripping time to shreds just to gain a few hundred lackeys?
Felix joins the conversation.
Felix: He didn’t do it for them.
Dorian: Took you long enough. Is he getting suspicious?
Felix: No, but I shouldn’t have played the illness card. I thought he’d be fussing over me all day.
Felix: My father’s joined a cult. Tevinter supremacists. They call themselves “Venatori.” And I can tell you one thing: whatever he’s done for them, he’s done it to get to you.
Dialogue options:
- Investigate: Why are you telling me this? [12]
- Investigate: Why does he want me? [13]
- General: How do we stop him? [14]
- General: I’m flattered.[15]
+ Dorian slightly approves (affects starting approval upon joining Inquisition) - General: He doesn’t scare me. [16]
12 - Investigate: Why are you telling me this?
PC: Alexius is your father. Why are you working against him?
Felix: For the same reason Dorian works against him. I love my father, and I love my country. But this? Cults? Time magic? What he’s doing is madness. For his own sake, you have to stop him.
Dorian: It would also be nice if he didn’t rip a hole in time. There’s already a hole in the sky.
13 - Investigate: Why does he want me?
PC: Why would he rearrange time and indenture the mage rebellion just to get to me?
Felix: They’re obsessed with you, but I don’t know why. Perhaps because you survived the Temple of Sacred Ashes?
Dorian: You can close the rifts. Maybe there’s a connection? Or they see you as a threat?
Felix: If the Venatori are behind those rifts, or the Breach in the sky, they’re even worse than I thought.
14 - General: How do we stop him?
PC: Do you have any suggestions?
15 - General: I’m flattered.
PC: All this for me? And here I didn’t get Alexius anything.
Dorian: Send him a fruit basket. Everyone loves those.
16 - General: He doesn’t scare me.
PC: I’m not afraid of Alexius.
17 - Scene continues.
Return to previous treeDorian: You know you’re his target. Expecting the trap is the first step in turning it to your advantage. I can’t stay in Redcliffe. Alexius doesn’t know I’m here, and I want to keep it that way for now. But whenever you’re ready to deal with him, I want to be there. I’ll be in touch.
Dorian goes to leave, but turns to Felix on the way out.
Dorian: And Felix? Try not to get yourself killed.
Felix: There are worse things than dying, Dorian.
The party leaves the Chantry.
- Blackwall: You think they’re right? Alexius is setting a trap for us?
- Cassandra: We need his mages to seal the Breach. We have no choice but to deal with him.
- Iron Bull: He’s a Vint, so… probably?
- Sera: Ugh, a “magister trap.” I bet there’ll be talking.
- Solas: If so, his son and his protégé turned against him to warn us. Dangerous schemes are being hatched here.
- Varric: I’m sure he is. Everything about that magister practically screamed “I’m setting a trap!” \
- Vivienne: Alexius reeked of frustration. Strange for a man who seemed in complete control of everything.
- Cassandra: This whole business is distasteful. Perhaps we are better off pursuing the templars instead.
- Blackwall: Whatever we do, we should do it quickly. The Breach isn’t getting any smaller.
- Iron Bull: Are there going to be fewer demons that way? Because I’d be up for that.
- Sera: Just pick one, because both sides need a boot up the jackside.
- Solas: We may not have time. The Breach will not wait for deliberation.
- Varric: I’d bet you ten royals whatever the templars are doing is just as weird.
- Vivienne: I’d be careful of that, Cassandra. You don’t want the Inquisition to gain a reputation for abandoning causes halfway.
- Iron Bull: Gotta admit, I wasn’t expecting to find so many Vints here.
- Blackwall: Didn’t they rule everything before? Maybe they just want everything back.
- Cassandra: We must be ready for anything.
- Sera: That’s what they do, yeah? Always showing up places? Tevinter must be rubbish.
- Solas: I suggest you keep your eyes open. Our true enemy is not yet clear.
- Varric: Tevinters and blood mages are like lost socks… or couriers from the Merchant Guild. They turn up in the damnedest places.
- Vivienne: I doubt they expected to find Qunari here.
- Sera: “Oh, demons don’t scare me, I’ll fight ten at once.” Ease up, big horse.
- Blackwall: I know, right? All this just makes my head spin.
- Cassandra: He seemed… competent.
- Iron Bull: If he wants to fight demons, more power to him. He can fight all the demons he wants.
- Solas: In fact, he acquitted himself quite well.
- Varric: Anyone can fight ten demons at once. Not dying while you do it? That’s the tricky part.
- Vivienne: It’s not arrogance if it’s earned, Sera dear. We’ll see if he deserves it.
- Solas: Do we believe that both Alexius’s son and apprentice are turning on him? It seems someone wants to trap us either way.
- Blackwall: I don’t know what to believe. All of this seems wrong.
- Cassandra: Their willingness to betray raises the question of whether they will betray us.
- Iron Bull: Vints. They can’t sneeze without stabbing each other in the back.
- Sera: Then let’s make them believe that it’s a bad idea.
- Varric: Judging by the rifts here, I think Dorian was telling the truth, weird as that is.
- Vivienne: Whatever we believe, something has clearly changed the rifts in the region. I advise caution.
- Varric: Does Tevinter really need cults? Aren’t they weird enough?
- Blackwall: Can we trust Dorian and Felix? I’m not sure who to believe here.
- Cassandra: The word you’re looking for is “dangerous.”
- Iron Bull: Vints are all crazy. If it’s not cults, it’s demons, or musical theater, or something.
- Sera: They believe rubbish anyway. A cult in their cult just doubles it.
- Solas: They have torn open time itself, So no, I doubt they need a cult as well.
- Vivienne: Since they’ve outmaneuvered us so far, it might be wise to take the Venatori seriously.
- Vivienne: Well, the malcontents pledged themselves to Tevinter and joined a cult. I can hardly wait to see what comes next.
- Blackwall: Oh, it’ll probably all go to shit, and we’ll be stuck mopping it up.
- Cassandra: We must untangle this quickly. The Breach will not wait on our intrigues.
- Iron Bull: Me chopping Vints in half, hopefully.
- Sera: Arrows. Arrows come next.
- Solas: There are enough twists and turns to keep anyone occupied here.
- Varric: Yeah, I saw something like this back in Kirkwall. It may end with someone turning into a monster made of corpses.