A Cage for Gods

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Rook’s Regrets

Rook falls their knees and looks around.

Rook: What… this is…

They see a chasm, with a statue of themselves on the other side.

Rook: This is where we talked when I was dreaming.

They stand.

Rook: But I’m not dreaming.

They start to look around.

Rook: Has to be some way out of here. Just have to find it. I have to get back to the team.

They find some kind of warded chest.

Rook: A wolf statue. Of course.

They pick up a Remnant of Reflection and continue searching.

Rook: How did Solas get out of here? Solas swapped places with me, but… there’s more to it than that.

Rook finds a Remnant of Failure.

Rook: Through our connection… tried to mould me into something like him. But I’m not him. Need to find my own way out.

Rook finds a Remnant of Parting.

Rook: Feels like this place is taunting me. I need to get out of here. I can’t waste time being stuck. Find out if Lucanis is… No. He was just knocked out. He can’t be dead.

The warded chest unlocks, and Rook obtains a bunch of runes.

Rook: Chest’s open, but that doesn’t help me get out.

They continue, and a staircase appears.

Rook: Varric?

Varric: Hey, kid. Come on. Solas found a way out. Now you need to find yours.

Rook: Varric?

There’s no response.

Rook: He’s not here. Of course he’s not. So, how do I get out?

They head up the sairs.

Rook: Solas said this prison was built to hold gods.

A bunch of statues of Bellara fill the space.

Bellara: “Built to hold gods.” And locked with regret. He said that, too.

Rook continues up the stairs.

Rook: Bellara?

Bellara: Rook.

Romanced	Not romanced
Bellara: I thought we mattered to each other. I thought you’d watch my back.	Bellara kept the Archive/Through the Shadows not completed Bellara: I was supposed to find all the secrets of the Nadas Dirthalen. Now I never will. Bellara freed the Archive Bellara: I wanted the elves to have a future that was all their own. I’ll never see that now.

Romanced

Not romanced

Bellara: I thought we mattered to each other. I thought you’d watch my back.

Bellara kept the Archive/Through the Shadows not completed

Bellara: I was supposed to find all the secrets of the Nadas Dirthalen. Now I never will.

Bellara freed the Archive

Bellara: I wanted the elves to have a future that was all their own. I’ll never see that now.

Bellara: I’m sorry to make you sad. But I told you the enchantments were dangerous. You chose me, anyway. You picked me to die.

At the top of the stairs, a statue of Bellara waits.

A bunch of statues of Neve fill the space.

Neve: “Built to hold gods.” And locked by regret. Didn’t he say that, too?

Rook continues up the stairs.

Rook: Neve?

Neve: Rook.

Romanced	Not Romanced
Neve: I knew you were Trouble. You think I’d learn. Keep your heart close so people won’t break it.	Neve protects Dock Town/The Local Hero not completed Neve: Who’s going to protect Dock Town now that I’m gone, Rook? Neve is an inspiration for Dock Town Neve: I wanted better for Dock Town. I wanted to be there for them. And now?

Romanced

Not Romanced

Neve: I knew you were Trouble. You think I’d learn. Keep your heart close so people won’t break it.

Neve protects Dock Town/The Local Hero not completed

Neve: Who’s going to protect Dock Town now that I’m gone, Rook?

Neve is an inspiration for Dock Town

Neve: I wanted better for Dock Town. I wanted to be there for them. And now?

Neve: I told you the enchantments were dangerous. You chose me, anyway. I trusted you. And it got me killed.

At the top of the stairs, a statue of Neve waits.

Return to choice selection.

Dialogue options:

Sad: I’m sorry. [1]
Angry: That’s wrong! [2]

1 - Sad: I’m sorry.

Rook: You’re right.

Romanced	Not romanced
Rook: You matter so much to me, [Bellara/Neve]…	Rook: You’re my friend, [Bellara/Neve]…

Rook: But we had to get those wards down. I made a choice. I live with the choices I make—the successes and the failures.

Scene continues. [3]

2 - Angry: That’s wrong!

Rook: No. You’re wrong.

Romanced	Not romanced
Rook: The woman I care about?	Rook: My friend?

Rook: She knew the risks, and she still volunteered. She chose, as much as I did.

Scene continues. [3]

3 - Scene continues.

Rook: We all believed in what we were fighting for. What we’re still fighting for. And [Bellara/Neve] knew what it might cost.

Varric: She did, kid. We all did. Because you always chose the hard truth over the easy lie. Solas, on the other hand…

Another set of stairs appears.

Choice dependent dialogue:

Davrin led the distraction
Harding led the distraction

Davrin: Everyone’s a pawn to someone like Solas. Pieces to sacrifice, without a second thought.

A statue of Davrin appears on the next set of stairs.

Rook: Davrin…

Davrin: “Whatever it takes.” That’s what you told us.

Romance dependent dialogue:

Romanced
Not romanced

Davrin: You saw me, Rook. And I saw you. I could be myself with you. You asked a lot, but… you gave a lot, too. You sacrificed for me. For us.

Rook finds another statue.

Davrin: After everything you’ve done? It was my turn to make the sacrifice. And I’d do it again. Because I know you’ll make sure it was worth it.

Dialogue options:

Sad: I’ll miss you. [4]
Tough: This isn’t over. [5]

4 - Sad: I’ll miss you.

Rook: I’m going to miss you, Davrin. I wish I could see what we were going to become. I know it would’ve been great. But now you’re gone. And the fight’s not over. So I promise you this. I’m going to get out of here. I’m going to stop Elgar’nan. And I’m going to stop Solas. I’ll save the world, Davrin. And make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

5 - Tough: This isn’t over.

Rook: Wish I could’ve seen what we were going to become. I know it would’ve been incredible. You took a fight that wasn’t yours and made it yours… I’ll make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

Davrin: And you lived that. Every day.

The Profane and the Lost completed	The Profane and the Lost not completed
Griffons went to Arlathan Davrin: You helped me rescue the griffons. Got ‘em to Arlathan. Griffons stayed with the Wardens Davrin: You helped me rescue the griffons. Got ‘em to the Wardens.	Davrin: You never backed down from a fight. Never let us down. Like a leader.

The Profane and the Lost completed

The Profane and the Lost not completed

Griffons went to Arlathan

Davrin: You helped me rescue the griffons. Got ‘em to Arlathan.

Griffons stayed with the Wardens

Davrin: You helped me rescue the griffons. Got ‘em to the Wardens.

Davrin: You never backed down from a fight. Never let us down. Like a leader.

Davrin: You asked a lot of us. Of the team. But you asked even more of yourself.

Rook finds another statue.

Davrin: After everything you’ve done? It was my turn to make the sacrifice. And I’d do it again.

Dialogue options:

Sad: I’ll miss you. [4]
Tough: This isn’t over. [5]

4 - Sad: I’ll miss you.

Rook: I’m going to miss you, Davrin. We fought together. Bled together. And anytime I needed you, you were there. But now you’re gone. And the fight’s not over. So I promise you this. I’m going to get out of here. I’m going to stop Elgar’nan. And I’m going to stop Solas. I’ll save the world, Davrin. And make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

5 - Tough: This isn’t over.

Rook: You gave your life to save the world, Davrin. But the world’s still not saved. So I’m going to get out of here. Stop Elgar’nan. And stop Solas. I’ll make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

Return to romance choice.

Harding: Everyone’s a pawn. Allies. Even friends. He’ll sacrifice them without a thought. Isn’t that what pawns are for?

A statue of Harding appears on the next set of stairs.

Rook: Harding…

Harding: “Whatever it takes.” Your words, weren’t they?

Romance dependent dialogue:

Romanced
Not romanced

Harding: Never met anyone quite like you. Never thought I’d feel quite like this either. Everything in the world was falling apart, but every time I looked for you, you were there. You gave me a reason to keep fighting. Even when the next step felt impossible.

Rook finds another statue.

Harding: And you never wavered, not once. So how could I?

Dialogue options:

Sad: I’ll miss you. [4]
Tough: This isn’t over. [5]

4 - Sad: I’ll miss you.

Rook: You were special to me, Lace. Always will be. But now you’re gone. And the fight’s not over. So I promise you this. I’m going to get out of here. Stop Elgar’nan. Stop Solas. And save the world. I’ll make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

5 - Tough: This isn’t over.

Rook: You were special to me, Lace. Always will be. But the world’s still not saved. So I’m going to get out of here. Stop Elgar’nan. And stop Solas. I’ll make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

Harding: And you were right. You gave so much, to all of us.

The Heart of the Titan completed	The Heart of the Titan not completed
Harding contained her anger Harding: You reminded me that what I feel isn’t who I am. That I know the world is good, and that I love the people in it. Harding honored her anger Harding: You taught me it was okay to be angry. That sometimes you have to be. But that it shouldn’t destroy you.	Harding: We started this fight together, Rook. You, me, Neve. Varric. And every day, you’ve kept that fight going. Even when the rest of us couldn’t.

The Heart of the Titan completed

The Heart of the Titan not completed

Harding contained her anger

Harding: You reminded me that what I feel isn’t who I am. That I know the world is good, and that I love the people in it.

Harding honored her anger

Harding: You taught me it was okay to be angry. That sometimes you have to be. But that it shouldn’t destroy you.

Harding: We started this fight together, Rook. You, me, Neve. Varric. And every day, you’ve kept that fight going. Even when the rest of us couldn’t.

Harding: You did everything for the team. Brought us together. Held us together when no one else could.

Rook finds another statue.

Harding: And you never wavered, not once. So how could I?

Dialogue options:

Sad: I’ll miss you. [4]
Tough: This isn’t over. [5]

4 - Sad: I’ll miss you.

Rook: “Take care of the team for me.” That’s what Varric told me. And we were more than just a team. We were friends. But now you’re gone. And the fight’s not over. So I promise you this. I’m going to get out of here. Stop Elgar’nan. Stop Solas. And save the world. I’ll make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

5 - Tough: This isn’t over.

Rook: You gave your life to save the world, Harding. But the world’s still not saved. So I’m going to get out of here. Stop Elgar’nan. And stop Solas. I’ll make sure your sacrifice was worth it.

Scene continues. [6]

Return to romance choice.

6 - Scene continues.

Return to choice selection.

Varric: Great job, kid.

A door appears behind rook.

Varric: Now… what about mine?

Varric

Rook: That’s…

Varric: Where it all began.

Rook: What am I going to see there?

Varric: I think you already know.

The scene flashes back to the Ritual Site.

Challenged Varric’s plan	Supported Varric’s plan
Rook: Come on, Varric. We didn’t come all this way just to talk to him. Varric: He was my friend, Rook. I’ve gotta try to reach him. And if he won’t listen to me… then he’ll hear from Bianca.	Rook: We’ve got your back. If anyone can get through to him, you can. Varric: Thanks, Rook. Whatever else he is, he’s my friend. And if he won’t listen to me… then he’ll hear from Bianca.

Challenged Varric’s plan

Supported Varric’s plan

Rook: Come on, Varric. We didn’t come all this way just to talk to him.

Varric: He was my friend, Rook. I’ve gotta try to reach him. And if he won’t listen to me… then he’ll hear from Bianca.

Rook: We’ve got your back. If anyone can get through to him, you can.

Varric: Thanks, Rook. Whatever else he is, he’s my friend. And if he won’t listen to me… then he’ll hear from Bianca.

The scene changes to Varric pointing Bianca at Solas.

Varric: You need to listen.

Varric is stabbed, and his body falls down the stairs. Rook runs up to him.

Rook: Varric… Varric! [Harding/Neve]!

Varric: Rook…

Harding runs to Rook, and Neve runs to Varric.

Harding: Let’s go! This way!

The scene ends, and Rook stands in the Fade prison.

Dialogue options:

Sad: I can’t accept this. [1]
Afraid: My friend is dead. [2]
Angry: Solas killed you. [3]

1 - Sad: I can’t accept this.

Rook: You can’t be dead, Varric. You’ve helped me so much. Told me what to do, when I didn’t know. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without you.

Varric: But you did, Rook. You did all of this without me.

Rook: Because… you died.

Scene continues. [4]

2 - Afraid: My friend is dead.

Rook: You died, back at the ritual site. You’ve been dead, all along. Whenever I’ve been talking to you, asking for advice… I’ve been talking to myself, haven’t I? Because you’re dead.

Scene continues. [4]

3 - Angry: Solas killed you.

Rook: Solas killed you. His friend. You tried to talk to him. To reason with him. And he cut you down.

Varric: Pretty sure he didn’t mean to.

Rook: Doesn’t matter. You’re still dead.

Scene continues. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Return to previous tree.

Varric: Yeah. Sorry about that, kid.

Dialogue options:

It’s my fault. [5]
I’m sorry. [6]
I think I knew. [7]

5 - It’s my fault.

Rook: I failed you, Varric.

Varric: How do you figure?

Rook: If I’d been faster, or had a different plan… a better one…

Varric: Eh, bullshit. Haven’t you learned anything from this place?

Scene continues. [8]

6 - I’m sorry.

Rook: I’m sorry, Varric.

Varric: For what?

Rook: For not saving you.

Varric: Shit. Didn’t you learn anything from this place?

Scene continues. [8]

7 - I think I knew.

Rook: You know, I think I knew the truth. Deep down. But I couldn’t face it.

Varric: Why not?

Rook: Because it would mean admitting that I let you die.

Varric: Shit. Didn’t you learn anything from this place?

Scene continues. [8]

8 - Scene continues.

Return to previous tree.

Varric: I made the choice. To talk to him. To try to reach him. Even knowing the risks. Because he was my friend. My decision. My sacrifice. And you don’t get to take that from me.

Rook: But—

Varric: Every story’s got an ending. This one just came a little earlier than I’d planned.

Dialogue options:

Sad: I’ll miss you. [9]
Afraid: I can’t do this alone. [10]
Angry: So Harding… and Neve… [11]

9 - Sad: I’ll miss you.

Rook: I’m going to miss you, Varric.

Varric: Going to miss you too, kid. But you’ve got your own story to finish.

Scene continues. [12]

10 - Afraid: I can’t do this alone.

Rook: How am I supposed to lead this team? I need you, Varric. I can’t do this alone.

Varric: What do you think you’ve been doing all this time? You’re the leader they need, Rook. And you’re not alone. Time to finish this story. Your story.

Scene continues. [12]

11 - Angry: So Harding… and Neve…

Rook: All this time. Harding and Neve… Why didn’t anyone tell me?

Varric: They thought you knew. You’re the only one that wasn’t in on it.

Rook: But they talked to you. I remember.

Varric: Nah. They talked to you. Or to themselves. You just filled in the blanks. Time to finish this story. Your story.

Scene continues. [12]

12 - Scene continues.

Return to previous tree.

Varric: I just know the ending’s going to be killer.

A light emerges at the top of some stairs.

Rook: What happens now? To you?

Varric: I’ll disappear. Go back to just being a memory.

Rook: Right…

Varric: Hey. Don’t get all misty-eyed on me, okay? I had a good run. And I don’t regret a second of it.

Rook: What about Solas?

Regrets of the Dreadwolf completed	Regrets of the Dreadwolf not completed
Varric: You talked to Mythal. You saw the memories. Solas wants to be a hero. That’s who he is, deep down. But it’s easier for him to play the villain. Because that means he didn’t fail. All the damage he’s done, the people he’s hurt—it becomes a choice. Remind him who he really is. He might just listen.	Varric: I would’ve said you can talk to him. Get him to listen. But I tried that, and… well. We know how that went. You’re going to have to fight him. Because if he doesn’t end the world? Doesn’t restore the ancient magic? Then he’s not the misunderstood hero, fighting for the greater good. He’s just someone who’s hurt a lot of people. And he’ll never let himself be that.

Rook: So how do I get out of here?

Varric: Listen to your team. Like you always do.

Voices start to come from the light.

Emmrich: This way. It’s thinner here!

Taash: You better be right.

Varric: They’re waiting for you. Just take it one step at a time.

Rook: Goodbye, Varric, and thank you.

Lucanis: Rook!

Varric: Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I’d say good luck, but… you don’t need it. You already have everything you need.

Varric turns and heads back down the stairs. Rook reaches out, and their companions’ arms start to come through.

Emmrich: There! A light!

Lucanis: We’ve got something. Get ready.

Taash: Heave!

They pull Rook through. The scene goes white and cuts to a narration animation.

Elgar’nan: I am Elgar’nan: First of the Firstborn, Last of the Evanuris. Come to reign over you with fine and gentle hand. Citizens of Minrathous, give yourself to me… Together we shall unleash magic so glorious… So limitless… that all the world will be transformed.

Back at the Lighthouse

The teams meets in the library.

Rook: He seized control of the Archon’s Palace?

Emmrich: While the Magisterium was in full session. Only the Venatori seem to have survived.

Rook: How are the Shadow Dragons?

Davrin led the distraction	Harding led the distraction
Harding: Still fighting, last we heard. But Elgar’nan’s blighted the city, and the Venatori have sealed the gates. No one can get in or out.	Davrin: Still fighting, last we heard. But Elgar’nan’s blighted the city, and the Venatori magically sealed the gates. No one’s getting in or out.

Bellara dismantled the wards	Neve dismantled the wards
Neve: Even the city’s eluvians went dark. We’ve got no way to contact the Shadow Dragons. They’d be dead already if not for Solas.	Bellara: Even the Minrathous eluvians went dark. We can’t check in with the Shadow Dragons. If it weren’t for Solas, they’d already be dead.

Rook: Solas?

Lucanis: He got to Minrathous just before the gates were sealed. He saved some civilians and killed some Venatori.

Davrin led the distraction	Harding led the distraction
Harding: Now everyone’s following Solas like he’s the only one who can save them.	Davrin: Now people are rallying behind the Dread Wolf like he’s the only one who can save them.

Dialogue options:

Affable: He wants revenge.
Rook: He’ll save them from the blight or die trying. He’s not lying about that. Though I doubt anyone rallying to the Dread Wolf’s banner knows that he plans to drown the world in demons once Elgar’nan is dead.
Tough: He uses people.
Rook: He’s using the Shadow Dragons and anyone else he can to give him a clear shot at Elgar’nan. Then he finishes his ritual, and the whole world drowns in demons.
Angry: Don’t count on it.
Rook: That lying bastard’s always been good at getting people to believe in him. And once he takes down Elgar’nan, he finishes his ritual—and whoever survived gets drowned in demons.

Taash: He can’t hurt Elgar’nan yet. That Archdemon makes him invulnerable.

Davrin led the distraction	Harding led the distraction
Harding: So Solas has to kill it first.	Davrin: Right. Solas needs to kill it first.

Dialogue options:

We need that dagger. [1]
We hit Solas first. [2]
We can’t trust Solas. [3]

1 - We need that dagger.

Rook: That’s why we need to get to Solas first.

Lucanis: He’s not going to be happy when he sees you’ve escaped from his trap.

Rook: That’s his problem. He’s got the dagger, and the dagger is the only thing that can kill Elgar’nan. We need to get it back.

Scene continues. [4]

2 - We hit Solas first.

Rook: Solas is our first target.

Lucanis: He won’t be happy when he sees you’ve escaped from his trap.

Rook: Well, unlike Elgar’nan, we can hurt Solas—and he’s got the dagger we need to stop Elgar’nan.

Scene continues. [4]

3 - We can’t trust Solas.

Rook: We can’t stop Elgar’nan and his Archdemon while Solas is out there ready to stab us in the back again.

Lucanis: Solas is not going to be happy when he sees you’ve escaped from his trap.

Rook: He’s got the dagger. There’s no way to kill Elgar’nan without it.

Scene continues. [4]

4 - Scene continues.

Return to previous tree.

Emmrich: We did attempt to create a dagger to replace the one Solas took.

Bellara dismantled the wards	Neve dismantled the wards
Neve: Nice to look at, but it can’t cut through enchantments like the real thing.	Bellara: It looks similar. Even feels similar. But it won’t cut through enchantments like the real one does.

Lucanis: So it cannot kill Elgar’nan.

Rook: Looks real enough.

Lucanis: But it is not. We don’t have the right weapon to take down our target, and we lost too much killing Ghilan’nain.

Lucanis: We have no idea where [Bellara/Neve] is—or what Elgar’nan is doing to her.

Davrin led the distraction	Harding led the distraction
Taash: And Davrin and Assan are…	Taash: And Harding is… she’s gone.

Dialogue options:

Affable: They believed in us. [5]
Tough: We fight for them. [6]
Sad: We honor them. [7]

5 - Affable: They believed in us.

Bellara dismantled the wards	Neve dismantled the wards
Rook: Bellara would never forgive us if we let an elven tyrant conquer the world.	Rook: Neve would never let us hear the end of it if we left Elgar’nan in charge of her city.

Davrin led the distraction	Harding led the distraction
Rook: And Davrin wouldn’t rest while monsters put innocent lives in danger.	Rook: And Harding always believed we should take the shot.

Rook: They believed in this team. They trusted all of us. They aren’t here to finish the fight… but we are.

Scene continues. [8]

6 - Tough: We fight for them.

Bellara dismantled the wards	Neve dismantled the wards
Rook: If Bellara were here? She’d tell us there’s still work to do.	Rook: If Neve were here? She’d tell us the case isn’t done.

Davrin led the distraction	Harding led the distraction
Rook: And Davrin would already have Assan in the air.	Rook: And Harding would already have an arrow nocked.

Rook: They’re not here to finish this, but because of their sacrifice, we are. So let’s do it for them.

Scene continues. [8]

7 - Sad: We honor them.

Rook: I know I’m not the only one who didn’t make it off that island.

Bellara dismantled the wards	Neve dismantled the wards
Davrin led the distraction Rook: We lost Bellara. We lost Davrin. Harding led the distraction Rook: We lost Bellara. We lost Harding.	Davrin led the distraction Rook: We lost Neve. We lost Davrin. Harding led the distraction Rook: We lost Neve. We lost Harding.

Bellara dismantled the wards

Neve dismantled the wards

Davrin led the distraction

Rook: We lost Bellara. We lost Davrin.

Harding led the distraction

Rook: We lost Bellara. We lost Harding.

Davrin led the distraction

Rook: We lost Neve. We lost Davrin.

Harding led the distraction

Rook: We lost Neve. We lost Harding.

Rook: So let’s remember them. Remember what they sacrificed. And let’s honor them by finishing the job.

Scene continues. [8]

8 - Scene continues.

Return to previous tree.

Rook: Get a message to anyone who’s still out there. Tell them we’re going to stop Elgar’nan, and we need their help to do it. Then fix up your gear and take care of any unfinished business. In the morning, we take back Minrathous.

The team starts to leave, but one person stays behind.

Romance dependent dialogue:

Emmrich: Are you certain you’re all right, Rook?

Dialogue options:

Yes, really.
Rook: You know, for the first time in a while, I really am.
I’ll get there.
Rook: No. But I will be.
I have to be.
Rook: We’ve still got work to do. I can collapse when this is over.

Emmrich: You needn’t carry this burden on your own. The rest of us will send word to our allies. You must take care of yourself in the meantime. We’ll speak again soon.

Rook smiles and leaves.

Deleted Dialogue