Pride, Wolf and Rebellion

Devotion

The wind carried the scent of smoke and death across the undulating grasslands of the Exalted Plains, with its forgotten strongholds and relics flecking the region with sinister memories. It had been seven hundred years since the elven army fell to the Chantry, but wounds endured.

Scout Harding approached the company and presented her status report. Violence prevailed on the Exalted Plains, with the Undead rising to overrun a cluster of Empress Celene's battlements. There was also a Dalish clan living somewhere along the Enavuris River.

Fen'Asha and her group got to work, forming a rescue party to seek Solas' friend. This was no easy task. The rest of the Inquisition dispersed to handle hordes of Undead dotting the way.

Soon, they came upon what was left of a bandit camp. A thick crimson trail led from it, coursing through to a congregation of corpses.

Solas' discomfort grew as they followed the trace of blood and bodies maimed by deep claws and found what they were after.

"My friend," gasped Solas.

A monstrous pride demon crouched before him in the midst of a ritual circle. It growled. Reverberations echoed through the ground.

"The mages turned it into a demon," said Fen'Asha.

Solas nodded.

"It was a spirit of wisdom," said Fen'Asha. "And now..."

"A spirit becomes a demon when denied its original purpose," he said.

"I don't understand."

A man approached the group, selecting his steps with care. He was dressed like a former Circle mage.

"Let's ask him," said Solas.

"You are a mage," sighed the man. "You aren't one of the bandits? Do you have any lyrium? We're exhausted. That demon..."

"You summoned it," said Solas.

The former Circle mage opened his mouth.

"It was a spirit of Wisdom at the time," Solas continued. "You turned it into a killer, perverted it against its purpose."

The mage shook his head as if to fight off Solas' frozen glare.

"You..." continued Solas.

"Look," stammered the mage. "I know how this looks. It's probably confusing for someone who hasn't studied demons, but..."

Solas cocked his head, his eyes allaying to the heavens.

"If you'd help us..."

"We are not here to help you," Solas rumbled.

"Listen..."

Solas stared through him.

Fen'Asha winced.

"Look," said the mage. "I was in the Kirkwall Circle. I know what I'm..."

"Shut up," said Solas.

"Excuse me?"

"You summoned the demon," said Solas. "To protect you from bandits."

The mage shifted.

"And you bound it to obedience, commanded it to kill. It turned," continued Solas.

The mage assented reluctantly.

Solas turned to Fen'Asha. "We break the summoning circle, break the binding."

"If I may interject," the mage said. "That binding is the only thing keeping it from killing us. Whatever it was before..."

"Please," Solas said, ignoring the mage. "There's no time, Inquisitor."