Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker

They call it the Dragon Age...

a time of political strife, savage beasts and powerful magic...

but also a time of faith... faith in the Chantry of Andraste,

a dominant religious order led by her holiness, the Divine...

Her Templar knights exert harsh control over the Mages,

restricting the practice of the arcane

magical arts they believe have the potential

to unleash a blight upon the world...

The most dangerous of these are the Blood Mages who continue

to perform their dark rituals in secret... in defiance of the Chantry.

Determined to neutralize this threat at any cost,

the Templar's methods become more brutal and their suspicions rise,

even extending to the loyal Circle of Magi...

Corruption infects the Templar ranks as the leadership sees their role shift

from control and protection... to suppression.

As tensions boil within the Chantry, the balance of power has been maintained

by the Seekers, the finest and most loyal of the Templars.

Handpicked by the Divine herself...

these defenders of truth root out corruption, wherever it may be found,

be it from rogue Mages, or within the halls of the Chantry itself.

Now the Ten Year "Gathering of the Faithful" looms,

and pilgrims from all corners of the world journey

to the Orlaisian Empire to pray for peace...

A peace that those in the shadows are plotting to shatter.

Brothers!

A new era for Mages everywhere is about to begin!

Now, Avexis, the time has come to join our cause.

Keep your focus, Cassandra.

Don't let your fury run away with you again.

I know, Byron.

Trust in the Maker.

It's useless to resist, Avexis.

Drink.. Drink your destiny...

Brother Frenic...

If she drinks any more, it will kill her..

I will decide when she's had enough. Is that understood?!

For the Chantry!

Ha!

Now, release it!

Enough, Cassandra! Gather your wits. We have work to do.

I'll draw its eye. Don't keep me waiting!

Hey!

That's right! Come on! Come and get me!

There's nowhere left to run, Mage.

Release the girl and submit!

Make way!

You're from one of the dragon-hunting clans.

It seems I'm outmatched...

Spineless Blood Mage!

You may rise.

We applaud your recent efforts, High Seeker.

However, your report also raises many concerns.

To think this is all happening so close to the Ten Year Gathering...

Surely it is not a coincidence.

We're already taking extra precautions, Most Holy.

So you managed to bring back a little Blood Mage girl?

Avexis is not a Blood Mage, Your Grace.

She was taken from the Circle of Magi.

It's true. She went missing from the Circle a few weeks ago.

Presumably kidnapped. We've been searching for her since.

I am most grateful for her rescue, High Seeker.

We will come for her soon.

I'm afraid I cannot allow that, First Enchanter.

And why not?

She was the focus of the ritual,

and is obviously vital to whatever the Blood Mages are planning.

She will remain in my custody until we get to the bottom of this.

Did the Seekers really bring down a drake?

Yes, Your Reverence. It was Cassandra.

You are to be commended for your exceptional bravery.

I would expect nothing less from a Pentaghast.

Your family's dragon-hunting skills are legendary.

You honor us, Grand Cleric. We are proud to serve the Chantry.

You have my praise as well, High Seeker.

Another notable success by your loyal order.

However, it seems rather reckless to risk your

small numbers against Blood Mage ceremonies.

Perhaps if you shared your intelligence, my Templars could better assist you.

There are times when stealth and discretion are more valuable than numbers.

Are you implying you don't trust us to act with discretion?

Ensuring that you do is one of our duties.

Or have you forgotten, Knight Commander?

Gentlemen, remember where you are.

My deepest apologies, Your Holiness.

With your permission, we shall take our leave and return to our investigation.

Such violence before bed will give you nightmares.

Let's see what you've got!

There's nothing left for me to teach you about swordplay.

I know no man tougher than you with a blade.

But you just bested me.

Yes, but you weren't fighting with everything you have, were you?

Perhaps, but you had me completely at your mercy with that final move.

Sometimes your blade becomes your shield and your shield becomes your blade.

Your prejudice misleads your judgment, Cassandra.

To see the truth, you must look through the eyes of your heart,

and not just the ones in your head.

Not everything is what it appears on the surface.

Sorry, I must sound just like a father lecturing his child.

I'd be proud to have you as a father.

Good night, Byron.

One of the Circle of Magi dogs was able to sniff out our ritual.

However, its purpose still eludes them.

As long as we get Avexis back, we can proceed as planned.

It's far too dangerous to continue meeting like this.

Here. This is a rare Elven Stone you can use to communicate with me.

Keep it on your person at all times.

Should you discover any more useful information,

my Mages and I will be ready to act.

Victory will be ours.

Byron! What are you doing?

There's no time to explain.

Go back to your quarters and forget what you've seen here.

That's not what you trained me to do.

I trained you to follow orders. Now go!

Byron;

Tell me where you're taking her.

I can't say.

I'm on an important mission.

What is it?

I don't want to involve you in this.

Raise the alarm! Men down! There's been an intruder!

Someone has taken the girl! ...Search the grounds!

Find her! ...They can't have gotten far!

Come on.

Byron and Cassandra have taken the girl!

Inform the High Seeker.

The rest of you, follow me!

Hya!

We'll wait here.

For what?

Byron;

Yes... I suppose you're a part of this now...

I don't know all the details yet, but I've been investigating a conspiracy.

That's how I found out about the Blood Mage ceremony.

Is the High Seeker aware of this?

No... I fear the conspiracy goes all the way to the Chantry.

And you suspect the High Seeker?!

I'm a Seeker. I'm trained to suspect everyone.

Do you even know what you are suggesting?!

To doubt the High Seeker is...

This elf girl supposedly has the ability to control wild beasts.

That's why the Blood Mages wanted her.

That's a rare power, but what does it have to do with the conspiracy?

I don't know yet. But I'm convinced she's the key to all of it.

And because the High Seeker refused

to return her to the Circle, you think that means...?

I'm not sure what to think about any of it!

For now, I'm taking Avexis to a friend I know I can trust.

Who? Tell me!

Are these the friends you were waiting for?

We can't take on these numbers and protect the girl. We must retreat.

Go!

Cassandra, wait!

Hya!

Behind you!

Byron!

I'll be taking what is mine, Seeker.

No... Avexis...

Release her! Now!

Seeker reinforcements are approaching...

Your comrades are too late, Dragon Hunter...

This round... belongs to me...

Byron;

Go after them...

We must get Avexis back...

The Chantry is in peril...

I should have listened to you...

Cassandra...

Hate can only breed more hate...

Byron;

Filthy murdering Mage!

I-I'm not the one you want!

Where did your accomplices take Avexis?!

Stop! You have the wrong person!

Silence, Blood Mage!

No, I'm a Circle Mage, not a Blood Mage!

A Mage is a Mage!

There they are!

Stand down! Lower your weapon, Cassandra!

You have some explaining to do.

He's dead!

What?! What happened here? Talk!

These Blood Mages killed Byron.

I'm telling you, I had no part in this, I swear it!

Where's the girl?

They took her.

Or perhaps you gave her to them!

Why did you and Byron remove her from her guard?

Talk, Cassandra!

So be it. Take her into custody! And the Mage as well!

What?!

Listen, we have to get Avexis back as soon as possible.

In danger!

You had your chance. Save it for the High Seeker.

Byron came here to meet me.

I promised him that I'd take Avexis to a safe place.

There's no way those Blood Mages could've known to follow you here tonight.

Not without spies on the inside.

Byron suspected that someone within the Chantry is behind a conspiracy.

If he was right, and we let these Seekers take us back,