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| - The framing narration starts with Varric Tethras dragged before Cassandra Pentaghast of the Chantry, who wants him to tell the story of the Champion of Kirkwall. Varric begins with an embellished version, which is cut short by Cassandra, after which Varric begins the "whole story." The story proper begins shortly after the Battle of Ostagar as Hawke's family escapes from Lothering and the darkspawn that have destroyed it. After fighting through a few groups of darkspawn, the Hawkes decide to seek a passage to Kirkwall, birthplace of Hawke's mother Leandra. Along the way, they cross paths with Aveline Vallen and her injured husband Wesley, a member of the Templar Order, and join forces to improve their chances of escaping. Before long, the group runs into more darkspawn, including an ogre that kills one of Hawke's siblings. Although they manage to kill the ogre, the group is surrounded and about to be overrun when a High Dragon suddenly attacks and drives off the darkspawn. As it lands in front of the group, it shapeshifts into Flemeth, who offers Hawke a deal: if Hawke agrees to carry an amulet to a Dalish keeper in the Free Marches, Flemeth will ensure the group's safe passage to Gwaren, the closest settlement with a port, from where they can take a ship to Kirkwall. Hawke agrees, not having much choice. Before they leave, however, Wesley succumbs to the Darkspawn taint and pleads to be killed before it consumes him, despite Aveline's protests. Varric cuts the story ahead to the group's arrival in Kirkwall. Upon arrival, they find out that the city is filled with Fereldan refugees and that the city guards are not letting any of them past the Gallows Courtyard. They talk to Ewald, captain of the guard, who is being pestered by agitated Fereldan deserters. Ewald agrees to simply send people to find Gamlen Amell, Leandra's brother, which angers the deserters into attacking. In exchange for their help with the deserters, the captain agrees to find Gamlen for them. After three days, Gamlen appears, telling his sister that the estate is gone, but he can bribe the family into Kirkwall with financing from either the Red Iron mercenaries or Athenril's smuggling group, as long as the elder Hawke and surviving twin work off the debt for a year. After fulfilling either faction's request, Hawke and the family are allowed to enter the city.
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![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)