That Which Survives – Anna replays Dragon Age Pt.5

After Redcliffe we feel urged to look for that Urn but I somehow really don’t want to yet. So first it is relaxing time in camp. I keep giving the loot I don’t want to carry around to Aren’s friends and call it “gifts”.  Sometimes I actually find something rather important. Like in Redcliffe Castle. When I had a totally sound reason to go through the castle and steal loot stuff after the demon was defeated. Just like there was a totally valid reason to break into the arl’s study and grab everything that was clickable. One of those things was an amulet that belonged to Alistair’s mother. And he is very happy to have it back since it is the only thing of hers he ever . Because Aren really likes him a lot, but, well, he’s a dude and she is just not into that. At all. “I don’t really feel the same way” is the kindest option in there so we go with that. (“Dude it’s not you, it’s your gender” would have been awkward to write into this game I guess.) But he seems mostly fine and happy to be her friend.

The one redeeming quality of Ferelden

Sten is slowly warming up to Aren’s non stop chattering and her constant questions and tells her that Ferelden has one (only one!) redeeming quality: Cookies. He also really appreciates the watercolour paintings we keep finding for him. Odd, but whatever floats his boat. He tells us he lost his sword in battle and can therefore never go home again because a Qunari without his weapon would be offed the minute he stepped foot into his homeland. So of course we offer to find that sword. That he lost… well, “somewhere”. That’s a good a place as any to start looking I guess…

So sneaky, no one would ever guess where this guy came from…

So, after a little deliberation we decide to go to Denerim ant do the two birds, one stone thing. Talk to Alistair’s sister and look for Brother Genitivi, who according to Lady Isolde knows something about the Urn. On the way to the city we get attacked and no one is actually surprised anymore. It’s an assassin in an Orlesian feather mask who was sent to kill Leliana. Apparently her evil ex still has it in for her and we should totally go to Denerim to kick her butt. Three birds it is.

We also get attacked by wolves. Many, maaaaany wolves. After we kill them all we find this gem right next to us:

You don’t say…

In Denerim – my game keeps crashing every time I go near the market. Seems I forgot to install a fix patch for Improved Atmosphere. I do that while the group now consisting of Aren, Leliana, Alistair and Zevran wait patiently by the entrance. When it finally works we can also take care of some sidequests, take on more sidequests (this time involving throwing dead people into wells, knocking on doors and scaring of mercs) we finally talk to Alistairs sister. Who is a complete asshole and only out for money. Aren tells Alistair that some people are just that selfish and that it would probably be good for him to be selfish too once in a while. Afterwards we go over to Brother Genitivi’s house and find some weirdo impersonating his apprentice. Apparently the old scholar actually found something and is on his way to the village of Haven. We find some evidence that there is also a kind of extremist Dragon Cult somewhere in the vicinity – so we should probably follow him sometime in the future.

Finally we go and find Marjolene who is apparently completely paranoid and convinced that everything Leliana has done in the past years is one big scheme on getting revenge on her. Aren and Leliana decide it is best to take her out once and for all. Leliana needs a moment to compose herself, after all, Marjolene once meant the world for her. So we clean out the back alleys of Denerim to take her mind off it for a while and then leave the city for now.

On the road we meet a merchant who convinces us to buy a golem control rod. (Golem not included…) And so our next stop is the village of Honnleath that is surprisingly overrun by darkspawn. That we kill of course. The golem for our control rod is standing there but not reacting. We investigate further, find a bunch of scared villagers that somehow have magic barriers (the fuck? Apostates!!!) and tell us the golem killed it’s former master. Since we already have a history in recruiting murderers and three time’s a charm we simply must have the golem! Before we can get it though we have to talk to a cat, solve a puzzle that constantly burnes out clothes and then fight said cat. What a game!

Hello, do you have some time to talk about Magic and how it my serve us?

We finally wake the golem up and, oh boy, the control rod is broken. The golem calls herself Shale and insults us non stop but still kind of wants to come with us because she has been standing there for 30+ years and really has nothing better to do. The way to our camp is littered with blood splatter and the mortal remains of any bird unlucky enough to meet us since Shale kind of hates everything that can potentially mistake the golem for a statue.

And from that moment Shale is Aren’s new BFF!

In camp we equip our new party member and Shale’s first question is if the augmentation crystals we gave her make her look fat. They don’t of course and she is enthusiastically requesting more glitter! Seriously, if you don’t have this DLC get it – Shale is one of the most delightful people in game!

adorable rambling by our favourite rougue

Meanwhile Leliana had time to work through some stuff and is worried, that Marjolene was right when she told her they are the same. Aren gives her an inspiring pep talk about how they are nothing alike and Leliana continues to be a better person and her past shouldn’t define her. Which leads to Leliana finally confessing her feelings and making a very adorable fool of herself telling Aren how she feels about her. Aren is completely relieved that she doesn’t have to do the first step here and kisses her. Cue the music!

just… so much love!