InsaneJournal

A standard Deep Roads watch by Ilshae Alerion and Asmund Astyth takes an unexpected turn as a large darkspawn raiding group makes an attempt to reach the surface. Those Wardens lucky enough to be asleep are awakened in time to provide assistance thanks to a particularly vivid nightmare starring the Archdemon. The darkspawn are contained before they can escape the outpost and threaten the city.

With the Archdemon at last sighted on the surface, Warden Commander Frieda Ortan orders the Deep Roads entrance sealed, then calls for the remaining Warden forces to march north along with one final Nevarran military contingent. Those who wish to fight for Thedas without joining the Order or the army are also encouraged to join the march. (note that characters who leave with the Wardens will not be able to return to cumberland until may.)

With the majority of the Nevarran army dispatched to the front, certain unsavory elements are making themselves known on the roads surrounding the city. The Chantry puts out a bounty on the raiders along the Imperial Highway. Lev Tagaris, Godric Tagaris, and Ostrich Tranador take the job. When they locate the bandit camp, they find themselves greatly outnumbered — at least, until unexpected allies emerge from the woods.

A week and half on their journey to Hunter Fell, the Grey Wardens receive word of missing mages, all of whom specialized in creation magic and spirit healing. As they begin to track one of the missing mages, Salladin, a rogue of Clan Ralaferin, reveals herself to them. Keeper Dhaveira has also been taken away by this kidnapper, who is none other than Revnas, the elven mage who led Iveani Ralaferin to be captured by the templars. Enlisting the help of Caspian Pentaghast and Rosalind Margrace, along with the unexpected addition of Drusilla Branas, the young healer sets out to save her clan.

With the Wardens gone from Cumberland and the Deep Roads entrance sealed, the citizenry seem to have little to do but wait. Unfortunately, things rarely work out so simply: a breach from underground to the hidden escape tunnels under the palace leads to an unexpected darkspawn incursion inside the palace itself, with King Markus Pentaghast and Princess Alia Pentaghast facing the first wave unprepared. The incursion quickly spreads, with the battle extending to envelop most of the city overnight and citizens forced to take up arms and build barricades to ensure their survival.

The armies of the continent and the darkspawn clash in the abandoned city of Hunter Fell, with Archdemon Toth looming large over the battlefield. Late in the day, Caspian Pentaghast, Midha Aenoch, Ilshae Alerion, Bastien Montbelliard, and Takwana Nandoro finally manage to fight through the waves of darkspawn to challenge the Archdemon. The battle ends at last with Caspian Pentaghast sacrificing himself to slay the dragon, sending the remaining darkspawn fleeing and ending the Blight. (characters who aren’t listed here are encouraged to log their own battles vs. darkspawn, but only these five characters will reach the archdemon.)

The Archdemon’s defeat would seem to mark the end of the collaboration between the great powers of Thedas. A look at the private correspondence of Ambassador Manon de Freyen and Ambassador Octavius Alexius hints at what’s to come.