[theme music playing]
[suspenseful music playing]
[sweeping music playing]
[Rezaren] Isn't it strange?
Tevinter is home to the most powerful magic in the world.
We're hated for it, envied for it,
but all agree Tevinter Mages can accomplish nearly anything,
when the truth is we possess only a fraction of the power we once held.
- So many secrets locked away in our past. - [magic hums]
Ages ago, Magisters harnessed forces we still don't fully understand.
At least in this case,
there may be a witness.
[sighs] You know, if you're so desperate to dig through the past,
you could get rid of the slave corpses Marconius IV put in the walls.
Mad bastard.
Careful, Tassia, you might offend the Chantry.
- And you won't? - [chuckles]
Rezaren, you look like every bad rumor about us combined.
A Magister skulking around dark ruins, summoning demons.
Oh, you just need a skull hanging from your belt.
I'm summoning a spirit. It's completely different.
Spirits, demons, they're all dangerous.
Getting a history lesson about that thing isn't worth the risk.
[Rezaren] The Divine himself asked me to research the Circulum Infinitus.
After you practically begged him.
[sighs]
Even if you got it to work, you could never use it.
It's powered by blood magic. The Divine would never approve.
And that's exactly why I'm doing this.
The Circulum Infinitus was crafted here.
If we can find a spirit that witnessed its creation,
we can learn how it was made and how to modify it to our own needs.
[sighs]
It is supposed to bring the dead back to life, Tassia.
Just as they were before.
Maker's breath, don't you think that's worth investigating?
Isn't there someone you'd give anything to get back?
[exhales]
All right. [sighs] But we're in this together.
I am not letting you face one of those things alone.
[tense music building]
- [grunts] - [stone crumbles]
- [magic pulsing] - [dramatic music playing]
[magic booms, rumbles]
[mysterious music playing]
Welcome, Spirit of Wisdom.
[spirit] Rezaren Ammosine, Magister of the Tevinter Imperium.
I am called Memory,
and I have observed all things in this place since its founding,
in service of Tevinter.
Then perhaps you remember the creation of this?
[gasps]
The Circulum!
[gasps]
The last and greatest work of Magister Amelia Pavus.
Yet, I sense it has never been used.
No.
It was lost in the scuffle of politics and history.
But you intend to use it now?
[chuckles softly]
I might,
but times have changed.
I will not kill one person to resurrect another.
I need a way to use the Circulum without spilling blood.
Be wary, Magister.
Many before you have sought to bring back the dead, and failed.
By name and by nature, mortals are doomed to die.
And nothing goes against nature without consequence.
Just because something hasn't been done doesn't mean it can't be done.
And Magisters don't frighten easily.
True, but you do not comprehend the full danger of this artifact.
Power like this draws many eyes.
Should the Circulum go to the one that seeks it,
all of Tevinter will burn.
Who else wants this artifact?
[straining] Revealing that would be unwise.
We didn't ask what you thought, spirit.
- Tell us who else wants the Circulum! - [dramatic music playing]
[groaning]
You dare command me, like some common shade?
I summoned you, and you will answer!
[power whooshes]
Beware, boy.
Memory unheeded can only become enmity.
Answer the question, spirit!
[magic humming loudly]
[groans]
Rezaren, careful. I think...
[screams]
[roars]
[low, guttural laugh]
I think it might transform.
[sighs] Great, now we've got to deal with a demon.
- [roars] - [magic thuds, whooshes]
Spirit or demon, it still can't cross the circle.
[suspenseful music playing]
- [snarls] - [thuds]
[magic trilling]
[growling]
Don't let them break through!
- [both grunt] - [snarling]
[both grunting]
[yells]
[gasps]
- [shield clanks] - [grunts]
- [clanks loudly]
[staff whirls, clanks]
- [magic crackles, booms] - [grunts]
- [thuds, whooshes] - [magic crackles]
Say nothing.
- [demon growls] - [grunts]
[grunts]
[roars]
- [thuds loudly] - [stone crumbling]
Such power should never have been in mortal hands,
but in my own.
- [tense music playing] - [groaning]
You should have kept running, demon!
[snarls, grunts]
[grunts]
[feet pounding]
- [Tassia grunts] - [hammer clangs]
- [roaring] - [grunting]
[groans]
[suspenseful music playing]
[demon snarling]
[grunts]
[yelling, grunts]
[demon snarls]
- [grunts] - [groans]
Arrogant little meat sack!
- [Rezaren] Hey! - [growls]
- [thuds] - [magic whooshes]
[demon] No!
[yells in anguish]
[Tassia grunts]
[dramatic music playing]
- [breathes heavily] - [music fades]
[mysterious music playing]
If that artifact is a threat to Tevinter, we need to destroy it.
It's not the artifact that's dangerous. It's whoever else wants it.
I won't let anyone take the Circulum from me.
- Not even you... - I won't risk losing you.
What?
[exhales]
I said I won't risk losing you.
But I'm supposed to protect everyone in this palace, Rezaren.
Please don't make me protect you from yourself.
Don't worry,
I can't be away from Minrathous much longer.
One way or another, this will all be over soon.
[bell tolling]
[exhales]
And that would be the call to evening chant.
We're not done talking about this though.
Oh, of course not. I have an extensive lecture planned.
[inhales]
Just let me wrap things up here.
[magic trills, whooshes]
[exhales]
The defenses in this place are insane.
I swear, if we don't fix them,
some poor bastard is going to get everyone killed.
I promised I'd change them, and I will.
Until then, you'll have to accept
that your job might not be as boring as it usually is.
My job's supposed to be boring. Which reminds me, I'm on rotation tonight.
So I get to do my favorite thing,
standing outside doors, carefully watching nothing.
Well, it's still better than singing the Chant of Light, again.
[chuckles]
[mechanism clicking]
- [door thuds] - [dramatic music playing]
[clears throat]
Maker bless your evening, Knight Commander.
[Tassia] And yours, Magister.
[thuds]
[stone grinding]
- [mysterious music playing] - [thuds]
[groans uneasily]
[bell tolling]
Second bell.
That, my friends, is the second of four bells
in an Imperial Chantry service.
Right now, most of the palace is busy looking for salvation.
Let's make sure we're on our way before they find it.
Understand?
[blows raspberry]
All right, one last time.
[intriguing music playing]
[Fairbanks] We split off into four teams.
Roland, you're our man on the inside.
Draw as many guards as you can out of the throne room
so Lacklon and I can access the vault.
[suspenseful music building]
[grunts]
- [rope whooshes] - [mechanism rattling]
- [crashing loudly] - [yelling] Oh! Oh!
Help! Help!
Oh, oh, the pain!
Terrible! Oh!
Please, someone tell my wife I loved her.
[Roland groans]
[Fairbanks] Lacklon will watch my back, and I'll get us into the old temple vault.
- Huh? - [whooshing]
[coughing, groaning]
[crickets chirping]
[Fairbanks] Hira and Qwydion, head for the cathedral.
We need to keep those people inside for as long as we can.
[magic jingles]
[dramatic music playing]
[grunts]
[grunting]
[strains, grunts]
- [magic crackles] - [pants]
[footsteps approaching]
Blood and spite. Hang on!
[magic hums, whooshes]
Ah!
[suspenseful music playing]
- [whimsical music playing] - [straining]
[grunts, sighs]
[Fairbanks] Miriam, I won't ask you to go any further into the palace,
but we can't lose access to that tunnel.
- [suspenseful music playing] - [clanking]
Guard it with your life.
[clanking continues]
[gasps]
[whimpers]
Is... Is someone there?
Please don't tell the cook, okay? I'm... I'm...
[shudders]
I'm hiding too.
[Miriam whimpering] No, no, wait!
- [all laughing] - [mysterious music playing]
Oh. [grunts]
[laughing]
Ow!
A slave should never harm her betters!
[whimpering] No, no, wait, please don't!
Ow!
[dramatic music playing]
[music fades]
[stammers] Uh, I don't know the delicate way to bring this up,
but I know you're loyal to Magister Ammosine
and that he thinks of you as family and...
[whimsical music playing]
Well, he's under so much pressure to figure out the Circulum.
Neb, I worry he could be tempted to do something dangerous.
Or wrong.
I know we aren't close, and I swear by The Maker,
I don't want to get you in trouble,
but has he done anything off around you, out of the ordinary?
I just...
[door clanking, rumbling]
- [people chanting in distance] - What's going on here? Trading gossip?
Just fighting off boredom. Are you leaving early, Magister?
As much as I love hearing about my failings in the eyes of The Maker,
a walk might be a bit more pleasant.
[Tassia] Allow me to escort you.
Oh.
Of course.
That would be lovely.
It's all right, Neb. Meet me back at the apartments.
Pfft. I mean, he's cute, but yikes.
- Let's stay focused. - [bell tolling]
Oh shit, the third bell.
Boost me up, then head to Fairbanks. I'll do the bottom seal on my own.
[suspenseful music playing]
- [Miriam] The cook. - [gasps, shudders]
Why are you hiding from them?
I took some food from the trash.
I didn't think it would do any harm.
- They weren't even gonna eat it. - [high-pitched ringing]
[mysterious music playing]
[grunts]
[woman] A slave owns nothing. Is nothing.
You are not fit to touch what is mine.
[child] Please, I don't want her to beat me.
If I can just hide here for a bit, maybe... maybe she'll calm down.
Don't be stupid. She won't.
And hiding won't help you, so...
- [door opening] - [gasps]
Where's my bat-eared thief of an apprentice?
[ominous music playing]
[footsteps approaching]
Want me to call an actual thief?
We're past the third bell and I ain't holding the circle thing.
You know, my wife always says sarcasm doesn't help,
but I never really understood that until now.
[people fighting]
The next patrol. They found Roland.
[fighting continues]
Work faster, or we're all dead.
I've told you, there's no one else here. I think you should leave.
I'll be damned if I let an elf tell me what to do.
I meant no disrespect, but...
You think I'm scared of you?
It don't matter how special an elf you are.
- You're still just a tool. - [high-pitched ringing]
[woman] An assassin must know their role to perfection.
You are the sword of this family. You will not fail us.
- Again! - [grunts]
Again!
[grunts]
You touch me and they'll string you up by the ears, just like any other slave.
Of course, ma'am.
I believe I've found what you're looking for.
- [gasps] No! No, no, please! - Ah, come on, you little beggar.
It's been a while since I've boiled all the pots clean.
[child grunts]
Let's see how much heat that delicate elven skin can take.
- [child] How could you? - [Miriam] I'm sorry.
[inhales]
No one ever saves people like us.
[all grunting]
You sky-sucking idiot!
You were supposed to get rid of the guards!
- [both grunting] - Not attract more of them!
[grunts] Well, thank goodness you've come to my rescue.
[grunts]
- [high-pitched ringing] - [gasps, whimpering]
- [men groaning] - [hearts beating]
[dramatic music playing]
[gasps, whimpers]
[high-pitched ringing]
[panting]
[groans in pain]
Oh, come on. [strains]
[clinks]
[whirring, clicking]
[clunking]
- [rumbling] - [dramatic music playing]
Praise the Maker.
[Hira scoffs] You're just opening it now?
Qwydion's already on her way back to the tunnel.
Good to see you too, Hira.
Sorry we're running late, Hira. No, please, you go first, Hira.
[grunts, panting]
[gasping]
[panting]
[shuddering]
[grunts, panting]
[mysterious music playing]
- [magic rippling] - [Hira sighs] Interlocking barriers.
- They look pretty lethal too. - But you can disable them?
- [whirling] - Please. That's why I'm here.
[magic hums]
[inhales]
- [crackling] - [dramatic music playing]
- [whooshes] - [grunts]
[magic ripples]
See?
You know, I was almost hoping you wouldn't be able to do that.
[cries out in pain]
For what it's worth, I wish there'd been another way.
[grunts, groans]
[dramatic music building]
[grunts]
[strains]
- [suspenseful music playing] - [panting]
[Tassia] The service is almost over. We should go back.
- You go ahead, I'll just be... - I know what you're doing, Rezaren.
[gasps]
- [Rezaren] What are you talking about? - [heart beating]
[gasps]
[shuddering]
[Rezaren] Miriam...
[sobbing] What did you do?
You're trying to wait me out so you can go back to the vault again.
I didn't... [sighs]
[chuckles] Is it really that obvious?
That demon should have been the end of things.
If you won't listen to me, maybe you'll listen to The Divine.
You wouldn't.
What you're trying to do is valiant, but you're becoming obsessed.
- [Rezaren] You're right. - What?
I've wanted so much to rescue the dead that I've lost sight of the living.
Will you help me see clearly again?
[gentle music playing]
[tense music playing]
[both grunting]
- [grunts] - [Hira groans]
[pants, grunts]
[groaning]
[both grunting]
- [magic hums] - [both grunt]
Fairbanks, stop! Listen to me!
- [pants] - [magical chiming]
[grunts]
[gasping]
I think we're a little past that!
[dramatic music playing]
[grunts]
[screaming]
- [groaning] - [suspenseful music playing]
[pants]
[grunts]
- [groans] - [rumbling]
[straining]
[yells]
[yelps, groans]
[straining]
Fairbanks!
[gasps]
[grunts, pants]
This can't be happening.
I can't...
[panting]
[shudders]
Maker, forgive me.
- [grunts] - [thuds]
[magic whooshing]
- [suspenseful music building] - [rumbling]
[music peaks, fades]
[rumbling]
[screeching]
[chittering]
[whooshing]
[magic hums]
[grunts]
Ho-ho, well, that can't be good.
[dramatic music building]
- [grunts, pants] - Head back to the rendezvous.
[whooshing approaching]
- [chittering] - Those came from the vault.
Rezaren, Divine Marconius built that vault to be a last resort.
Its security system isn't meant to stop intruders.
It's meant to stop a full-scale coup.
It's designed to kill everyone in the palace.
Hira.
Don't be an idiot, we have to go now.
[Rezaren] No. Wait!
[panting]
[suspenseful music playing]
- [chittering] - Huh.
[magic humming]
Huh!
[whooshing]
Uh...
Oh, okay.
[roars]
Uh, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!
- [monster snarls] - [grunting, laughing]
- [guard] Move, move, move, move! - [magic crackles]
- Get to your... [groans] - [slams]
[clangs]
[Hira shudders] It's fine.
It'll be fine.
[breathing heavily]
[grunts]
[pants]
- [sighs] - [flask clatters]
[gasping]
[rumbling]
[suspenseful music building]
[stones crumbling]
- [groaning] - [door creaks]
[gasps] Huh?
[gasping] Fairbanks?
What happened? Where's Hira?
[Fairbanks shuddering] It...
I...
[groans, gulps]
[grunts, shudders]
[footsteps approaching]
What the fuck?
[eerie music rising]
[music fades]
[theme music playing]