Tales of the Blight II: The Inquisitor

[Part of my Dragon Age: Inquisition play through. Spoilers ahead!]

Two years after the defeat of Corypheus, the Inquistor finds himself and his remaining comrades summoned by the Divine Victoria to an Exalted Council to determine the future of the Inquisition. While the Court of Orlais maneuvers to control them, the Nobles of Ferelden - nervous at having a free standing army at their doorstep, would prefer to see them disband entirely. Talks are disrupted when Qunari saboteurs are detected within the palace, and while Leliana deactivates all their hidden gaatlok explosives, the Inquisitor's team chases them through an elven magic mirror through the fade where they face both Qunari and ancient elf spirits.

Feeling he can help ease their suffering, Cole decides to remain with the spirits while the rest of the party reach the Qunari base of operations. Here, Iron Bull sides with his people and is killed by Cassandra while Sera deals with the Qunari pet dragon. This buys time for Inquisitor Trevelyan to pursue the Qunari leader through more mirrors, the anchor in his hand becoming more painful and powerful through each one - until he finally catches her - but she has already been turned to stone by Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf of elven legend - better known to Trevelyan as Solas.

Solas reveals it was his orb Corypheus had been using, as he intended the magister to simply power it up and get killed in the following explosion. He didn't realize Corypheus had a way to cheat death at the time. With the orb destroyed he had to resort to killing Flemeth to take her power of Mythal instead, with the goal of freeing his people from the fade by removing the barrier to it altogether... and destroying the current world. With the power of the anchor now killing him, Trevelyan still vows to prove to Solas that this world is worth saving. The elf cuts off Trevelyan's arm (to save him) and departs - telling him to enjoy what time he has left.

Critical hit in the feels!

Back at the Exalted Council, the Qunari disavow all actions of the terrorist splinter group that caused the disturbance, promising their continued alliance to Divine Victoria. As for the Inquisition, it is disbanded effective immediately. This is both to retain balance in the realm and to hide their next move against Solas, who is all too familiar with their inner workings. In secret, Trevelyan, Cassandra and Leliana decide to find people Solas doesn't know about to help stop his world ending plot.

And Sera goes back to doing whatever.

Insight: I was getting wrecked when starting the Trespasser DLC, mainly because I didn't realize I wasn't wearing my armor. Duh! Check your gear before going into battle!

Tales of the Blight II: Morrigan

[Part of my Dragon Age: Inquisition play through. Spoilers ahead!]

'Tis strange how small the world is sometimes. Having convinced the Inquisitor that it would take the power of a god to match that of Corypheus, we have come to this ancient shrine to seek the aid of the elven god Mythal: the Great Protector. Who appears instead? She whom I have tried to hide from all these years. Mother. She is Mythal? She has deceived me even more than I thought.

Didn't you get killed, Mother?
Yes, but I got better.

With her guidance I learn her ability to shapeshift into a dragon and am more than a match for the winged beast serving the Elder One, just as the last of his Red Templars are no match against the combined army of the Inquisition and Orlais. It is said the Inquisitor grabbed his magic ball again and this time crushed it in his hand, killing the poor creature. Let that be a lesson to all would-be evil doers I suppose: don't let them grab your balls.

In the end a great victory against chaos was won, but left the world forever changed.

While Empress Celene remains on her golden throne, blood drips from her hands. All her court know it however none are in a position to move against her.

Meanwhile the Chantry shocks the world by naming First Enchanter Vivienne as successor to the Sunburst Throne. Given the name Divine Victoria, she is the first mage to hold the position and the surprise of many, she reinstates the Circle of Magi and creates a Templar Order firmly leashed to her hand.

She is not the only one to reach high office. The dwarf Varric becomes the new Viscount of Kirkwall and Dorian Pavus is instated as magister upon his return to the Tevinter Imperium. Meanwhile the Grey Warden known as Blackwall is discovered to be a fraud and a war criminal, executed by the Inquisitor himself for his crimes, while the elven apostate Solas simply vanished after the final battle. And what of the Inquisition itself? Its military might has grown, now rivaling that of kingdoms. Fear of the Inquisition's army has become the true source of its power.

I leave Skyhold now, knowing that power will continue to grow.

Insight: If you do all the content prior to this fight, Corypheus won't really be much of a challenge.

Tales of the Blight II: Leliana

[Part of my Dragon Age: Inquisition play through. Spoilers ahead!]

With the demon army neutralized, the only other plot we know Corypheus has up his sleeve is the assassination of Empress Celene. Thankfully the Inquisition has been regarded important enough to be invited to the peace talks at the Winter Palace in Halamshiral, and who better to send than the Inquisition spymaster herself?  

So, not just a pretty face...

I suspect it would need to be someone close to the Empress who wields a modicum of power. This immediately narrows the suspect list to three people. Her cousin, Gaspard de Chalons, who claims she stole the crown from him and began the civil war. Gaspard's sister, Florianne de Chalons, who acts as the host of these talks but is clearly hiding something. And the elven Ambassador Briala, who was once Celene's lover and is now the leader of an underground network of elves - eager to exploit the nobles to gain any foothold for their oppressed people.

Thank the Maker the answer to all this is simple. They are all guilty in one form or another, and with abundant evidence that can readily be found by those with a discerning eye, the Empress is convinced to execute all of them as traitors while becoming a firm supporter of the Inquisition for saving her life. Not only do we gain the backing of the Orlesian army, but also the talents of her court magician - someone I haven't seen for a very long time.

Insight: I quite liked this part of the game. You need to keep your court approval high but when you go missing to look for clues and evidence in restricted areas it continually drops making for some really fast decision making.

Tales of the Blight II: Hawke

[Part of my Dragon Age: Inquisition play through. Spoilers ahead!]

It has been years since the CHAMPION AND LEADER OF KIRKWALL went into hiding (Hawke gets a lot of time skips huh?) in an attempt to protect the city from any repercussions from his actions, but even he could not ignore the threat Corypheus posed, nor the letter requesting his aid from his good friend Varric.

He went to meet Inquisitor Trevelyan and his colorful troupe with useful information in hand, and was surprised to learn that Seeker Cassandra had thought of naming Hawke the Inquisitor from the outset but continued to be protected by Varric with whom the Seeker was now furious with. Hawke laughed as he had enough titles already anyway.

Is he talking about the quality drop in Dragon Age 2?

More importantly, he had located the missing Grey Wardens. Somehow all of them began experiencing "the Calling", thanks to Corypheus, and while most headed to the Deep Roads for their final journeys the more cowardly ones had turned to the Venatori to become unwillingly enslaved to the enemy, either through mind control or being turned into demons. An army of them, all gathering at Adamant Fortress.

With a clear target in their sights, Hawke went with the Inquisition army to face these worthless Grey Wardens who had the support of Corypheus' dragon. With high casualties on both sides, the remaining Grey Wardens eventually found their courage and joined the Inquisition as the dragon fled. Alas, Hawke would not survive to see the end of this battle.

Insight: For a rogue I recommend learning stealth quickly and if you graduate to tempest like Sera, those lightning jars make you OP.

Tales of the Blight II: Sera

[Part of my Dragon Age: Inquisition play through. Spoilers ahead!]

Didn't think I'd like her, but she ended up being my favorite companion.

I told them I'm not an elfy elf but I get sent to the stupid forest anyway! Should have been Dorian who'd be all Tevinter about this ancient bullshit. Or Cassandra, but she's got a thing for the Inquisitor, busy with her thing and his thing... doing things.

Trees are stupid. Just like people fighting their other people about some other rubbish god as if Corypenis isn't bad enough. And what's with all the bloody spiders!? Ugh, water everywhere. Everything is dank and chafy. I need to find a place to pee. Well, this is rubbish. Let's do whatever and get out.

Shrines are bad. Who doesn't know that? Another nutter trying to become a god. Right, I can see why everyone fights over this. No I can't. You're smart, but you're sort of stupid. Stupid magic ruins everything. You're not even very good at it. Don't care. Stupid gets arrows. Hey! Look at this! I've got something for you! It's my butt! That's a surprise, innit arseholes? Arrows. Arrows come next.

Good riddance to bad rubbish. I even made a bear friend! Maybe I can teach it knitting. Knitting is brilliant! It's stabby sewing!

Insight: Frostback Basin is another DLC area, which means it will match your level when it loads up (minimum level 20). The dragon here is the hardest available in the game and has all the tricks too. Use cover when it flies, and frost resist potions are especially handy for his adds, who you need to clear out as soon as they show up.

Tales of the Blight II: Dorian

[Part of my Dragon Age: Inquisition play through. Spoilers ahead!]

It's freezing! Why is a desert freezing? Cold desert wasteland. "Let's send Dorian!"

I read somewhere you can sink into sand. Just... whoop! Down you go. Do they have sand worms here? Giant sand worms? No? Ah, the Venatori. It will be wonderful to rid the world of these cretins. Just what are my fellow countrymen up to all the way out here? I know I'm supposed to just be "observing" but I was never good at doing what other people wanted, and I need to prove that Tevinter isn't the source of everything bad and evil in the world.

Tevinter's sparkliest mage.

Dwarven ruins on the surface. That must be a year's worth of argument for the scholars. An enchantment designed to keep people out. A warning, or possibly a test. Someone should do something about that. Are they really searching for more artifacts for Corypheus after he pulled an archdemon out of his arse? Oh, look—a dragon. What a perfect way to ruin our day. I can't decide if it's impressive or disconcerting.

So much for that. Our dear commander might crack a smile for once. Well, I’m rather sick of this place and I shouldn't keep them waiting, it's so impolite.

Insight: The deserts are finally an area where you should use a mount for travel. Otherwise, mounts are best used to jump off cliffs because they negate all fall damage somehow.

Tales of the Blight II: The Herald

[Part of my Dragon Age: Inquisition play through. Spoilers ahead!]

The Herald of Andraste's second attempt at closing the breach is a success, now that he is backed by the Redcliffe mages conscripted to the Inquisition - but the victory party is short lived as a massive enemy force descends upon the hamlet that night: An army of templars, dubbed "Red Templars" by Varric, as they are all clearly under the effect of red lyrium like the templar leader in Kirkwall slain years ago.

A young boy named Cole manages to alert the town in time to get their trebuchets and other defenses ready which eliminates much of the enemy force, but not enough to stop a red lyrium dragon and the Elder One. The Herald confronts him alone to buy time for the others to escape, and this Elder One who calls himself Corypheus accuses the Herald of stealing the "anchor" from him - using his big magic ball to try reclaim the rift power in the Herald's hand... but fails.

I love fondling my magic ball.

Accepting he'll have to find another way to achieve his goal of god hood, Corypheus tries next to simply kill the Herald, but an avalanche that destroys Haven forces him to flee and buries the Herald in a cave. Somehow touching Corypheus' ball has made the anchor grow more powerful - and the Herald uses it to blast his way out of the mountain and regroup with the survivors.

With the village lost, it falls to Solas to lead the Inquisition to Skyhold, a forgotten fortress high in the mountains to begin anew - and it is here where Cassandra proclaims the official leader of this Inquisition to be the Herald, now officially "the Inquisitor", to the cheers of many.

Insight: If you are a kleptomaniac like I am, you'll want to get the perks which increase inventory space. You'll also want the fine tools perk to open the "harder" locked doors.