Despite all my troubles, the Dwarven capital is still my home. And it breaks my heart to see the state that she is now in. With fathers death, the city has been plunged into chaos. It appears that both Bhelen and Harrowmont are contesting the throne and the political upheaval is spilling onto the streets.
As we arrived, there was an open fight in the streets between the two factions which only ended when blood stained the stone. And the Guard did nothing. Orzammar has always been rough, as befits a Dwarven city, but open murder in the street? I have only been away a year - how could things have gotten so bad?
Murder greets the prodigal son as he returns
We went directly to Harrowmont's estate in order to get an audience with Lord Harrowmont but were denied. It appears that the man is afraid for his life and is seeing no-one. All business is being conducted by his second in command, Dulin Forender. I would have expected such cowardice from that cur, Bhelen, but it is worrying to see that even Harrowmont has become so paranoid and is hiding in his home like an old woman.
Dulin was not at the Harrowmont estate but we were told that we could find him in Tapsters Tavern. On the way there, we ran into Mardy, a noble seeker with an interesting tale. It appears that I slept with her a year ago when I first received my commission. I have no recollection of her although I recall the occasion fondly.
At the time, a glory Proving had been organised in my honour to celebrate my commission. With my prowess in combat, I had been able to win the Proving easily. Afterwards, I had gathered several noble seekers and we had enjoyed ourselves into the wee hours of the morning. Good times.
Perhaps too good as it appears that Mardy became pregnant and has since given birth to my son!
Poor Mardy. I can only imagine her initial joy at finally having a chance to join the ranks of the nobles only for that dream to be smashed when I was exiled. Unfortunately, my son also joins in my shame. With no name and no caste, the baby borne of our union is doomed to wander the streets of Orzammar with no prospects.
I don't know how - but I will find a way to help him.
Mardy the noble seeker
As expected, we found Dulin in Tapsters Taven. Unfortunately, he didn't know much about how my father died but was able to promise me an audience with Lord Harrowmont if I could show my allegiance to Harrowmont.
Dulin briefs us on the grim situation in Orzammar
The problem with the succession is that both Harrowmont and Bhelen have equal supporters in the Assembly. Lord Harrowmont claims that Endrin, with his dying breath, had proclaimed that Harrowmont should be the next King. Unfortunately, there were no witnesses to this and Bhelen was claiming that he, being the last son of Endrin Aeduchan, should be the next King. With the Assembly in deadlock, a glory proving had been organised to show which side had the support of the Ancestors.
Unfortunately for Lord Harrowmont, his two top fighters had decided to pull out of the glory proving. Clearly, the work of that cur Bhelen. Dulin had hoped that I could convince their top two fighters to re-enter the proving.
Fool! The best fighter that the Proving had ever seen was standing in front of him and all he could think about was how to get his own fighters back in the arena!
Anyway, I decided that it would be easy for me to win the Proving in Harrowmont's name. Certainly easier than tracking all over Orzammar trying to convince his top two fighters to re-enter the Proving at any rate! And besides, it would be good to remind the people of Orzammar of what they had lost when I left.
Piotin Aeduchan challenges me in the Proving
And so it was that the crowds of Orzammar once more welcomed their champion in the Proving. I progressed through the Proving with relative ease and even faced little Piotin in the final round (except that he is not so little now). My young cousin has done well for himself. He is known as the "Horn of the Aeduchan army" although clearly, such accolades would not have fallen to him had I remained.
Despite never having beaten me before when we were growing up, the fool actually thought he could best me. I soon blunted his horns and showed the crowd what a true Aeduchan could do in battle.
Once again, the crowd cheers for Aladuchar Aeduchan!
All told, I won the glory Proving with laughable ease. While Piotin and the other dwarves may fare well against the Darkspawn, I have faced and defeated Dragons. There is little in Orzammar that can challenge me.
Lord Harrowmont has aged in the year that I have been gone
With the glory Proving showing my skill and my support of Harrowmont, Dulin kept his word. I finally got to see Lord Harrowmont and learn the truth of my father's demise. What surprises me is that father did not die from Bhelen's hand. I had felt sure that there had been some kind of foul treachery involved - possibly even poison. How else could Endrin have passed away so quickly considering he had been in good health when I left?
However, Harrowmont assures me that this wasn't possible as he had been with Endrin constantly. Harrowmont believes that Endrin had lost his will after exiling me, that Endrin knew that I had been framed but had exiled me anyway as he had no proof of my innocence. And that this guilt, together with his understanding of Bhelens treachery, had been enough to break his spirit.
I don't know what to make of this. Could it be true? On one hand, I feel glad that at least father knew that I had not dishonoured the family name. But then, for this to break his spirit?
Could father truly have been so weak?
