A group of mages and templars had kidnapped Lyria's brother. She dropped all the things she was working on, all the people she was helping, and immediately set forth to the coast so she could confront these people and get Carver out of their hands.
They went to the region on the coast where Keran had set her brother was being held and immediately came upon some more templars and mages who attacked them on sight without a word.
Once they lay dead, a man came around the corner. Samson. The ex-templar who had been involved with Feynriel so many years ago. He said that he was trying to redeem himself. That when Meredith got hauled off her throne, maybe he would be allowed back into the templar order... but this was not the way to do it. These mages were dabbling in the unnatural.
He then left, warning Lyria about what she was to face.
Lyria didn't care. She wanted her brother.
She raced down into the camp and found her brother, lying on the ground in a magic-induced sleep, and there was Thrask, standing with the mages she had once freed from that cave.
Lyria spoke with Thrask and persuaded him to see reason. Why would she be helping Meredith? The woman was crazy and she had always helped mages whenever she could. Why would they think she was against them?
The templar Thrask was grateful to hear that she was on their side and told the mages to free Carver.
Then the mage from the cave spoke. She had harboured a hatred for Lyria ever since she had killed her blood mage lover. Lyria had bade her and the other mages to flee but they had been captured by templars anyway.
As far as she was concerned, Lyria could watch as Carver died and then die herself.
Thrask tried to talk to the woman. To stop her from this path.
But it was too late. The woman stabbed the pointed end of her staff inside of herself and summoned all the blood magic she could muster, and attacked.
The blood mage controlled all around her into helping attack Lyria and her group, but despite the unnatural power she had summoned she was no match for an angered Lyria.
She soon lay dead, as did most of the templars and mages around her. There was a few survivors, but not many.
Carver awoke. Lyria promised him that nomething like that would never happen to him again... but she wasn't too sure if that was a promise she could keep. She seemed to have made many enemies over the past few years.
Carver, less pigheaded than normal, thanked her and went back to the Wardens.
Relieved to have her brother safe and sound, Lyria calmed down a little and composed herself. Just in time for Samson to return with Cullen and another group of templars.
Samson had told Cullen all about the blood magic down here, and the templars helping the mages, and had sought his assistance. Cullen was surprised to see Lyria there and hoped that she wasn't planning on joining these rebels.
Lyria didn't say anything about that, only that these survivors should be treated leniently, then left.
She caught back up with Cullen in the Gallows, and this time brought Aveline with her so they could both face the templar and get some answers from him. Just who had been accusing Aveline of being soft when she was clearly the most capable captain Kirkwall had ever seen?
Apparently Cullen had no doubt about her ability, but the templars were wanting to consolidate power and Aveline's command was the next step. Any murmurings of discontent was reason enough for Meredith to take over, unless of course, Aveline could quickly deal with this.
They very quickly found the culprit. The one speaking against the guard and its captain. The old captain who Aveline had jailed and then replaced.
When Aveline confronted him he would not listen to reason and refused to stand down. He had told her that she would pay for having his arrested, and now she would pay!
They quickly took care of him. Now Aveline would have nothing to worry about and be able to retain the command of the guard.
For a change, there was nothing left for Lyria to do. She took the rare opportunity for respite to speak with all of her companions and have a few drinks with them.
Varric was sorry about how he had acted at Bartrand's, he didn't know what had come over him, but he was feeling better now. Lyria also found a sword that she gave to Fenris. Anders still didn't really want to talk with her and Lyria was disheartened that he hadn't seemed to have made that potion yet, the one that would separate him and Justice.
When she returned home from the Hanged Man, there was a letter awaiting her on her desk. It was another message from the First Enchanter, seeking help against Meredith.
He requested that Lyria come to the Gallows so that together, perhaps, they could make sure there was no more bloodshed.
When she got to the Gallows though, Orsino wasn't there. A mage came running over to her and told her that the First Enchanter was on his way to the Chantry to get the Grand Cleric on-side, and Meredith was following him with a contingent of templars.
Lyria, the Champion, she had to go and help! He feared there would be blood.
Lyria and her group ran to the Chantry. Meredith and Orsino were already there, shouting at one another.
Lyria didn't know why they bothered, they were obviously never going to see eye to eye. But that was why Orsino was there. He was going to the Chantry to get the Grand Cleric and for her to mediate this once and for all. Meredith needed to stop seeing blood mages around every corner. She needed to step down as ruler of Kirkwall. The people needed to elect a new Viscount and the templars needed to loosen their city-wide grip — this entire situation was wrong.
Before Lyria could calm anyone down, Anders stepped in.
He walked right up to Meredith and declared that he would no longer watch her treat all mages like criminals. The Circle had failed mages, and Orsino of all people should know that.
He looked up at the Chantry and declared that there would be no mediation. There would be no voice in the middle. There could be no peace. This was between mages and templars and he was going to die fighting.
The Chantry exploded. The Grand Cleric and everyone within that building was dead.
Knight-Commander Meredith slowly looked from the Chantry then over to Anders, rage embedded within her eyes. Magic had destroyed the Chantry. Magic had killed the Grand Cleric. Every single mage in this city was going to die!
She glared at Lyria. What was she going to do about this? As Champion it was her duty to protect the city. She needed to side with the templars and help execute every mage.
Lyria all but spat in her face. She didn't approve of Anders' actions, but she would not turn against the mages of this city. They needed her now more than ever.
Meredith stormed off and prepared to gather her templars. First Enchanter Orsino pleaded with Lyria to meet him at the Gallows to protect the mages there before Meredith could get them.
Before leaving for the Gallows, Lyria questioned Anders. Everything he had asked of her, the ingredients, distracting the Grand Cleric, everything, was it for this?
He admitted that it was. He hadn't told her the truth because he was worried that she would actually want to join him in this, help him. He couldn't have that. This was his action alone and would not have the blame laid upon her shoulders.
He had allowed the spirit Justice access to him and thanks to that one action he had been changed forever. Despite everything, this would lead to justice for the mages. There was no other choice. He understood if she wanted to kill him for his actions. It no longer mattered. Justice had begun.
Lyria would do no such thing. She pleaded with him to help her save the mages of this city before it was too late.
They needed to hurry.
Until next time! 🐲⚔️
All screenshots in this post are courtesy of me, 