Kardol attacked with his forces and, although they took a heavy beating, they were able to keep the Darkspawn engaged while my smaller group sneaked across. Making our way deeper into the Dead Trenches, we came across Hespith, formerly of the House of Branka. The poor woman appears to have lost her sanity. If the tale she told us has any truth, then I can scarce blame her.
The good news we got from Hespith was that Branka was still alive. However, if her ravings are to be believed, the bad news may also be that Branka is still alive.
Could it be true - did Branka really allow members of her House to become a Broodmother? Is Branka breeding Darkspawn?
Brankas Broodmother
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Well, it turned out that Hespith did indeed speak the truth. After killing the broodmother, we finally found Branka. Or rather, she found us. The bitch almost dropped half a mountain on our head in closing off the passage behind us. Somehow, she had found her way to a ridge up above us and when we challenged her, we finally found out the reason for her actions.
Branka tries to justify her actions
She is trying to find the Anvil of the Void and recreate the Golem army. Unfortunately, Caridin had protected the Anvil with so many traps that she needed more bodies to run the Guantlet set by Caridin so many years ago. While I understand her desire to find the Anvil and bring back the glory days of the Dwarven empire, she has clearly lost all sense of perspective.
Dwarves fight the Darkspawn - we do not breed them. For a paragon to lose sight of this is unthinkable. And yet this is what I must deal with. How can I take her back to the Assembly now?
Regardless, I do not need to decide yet. With Branka sealing the passage behind us, we have no choice but to run Caridin's Gauntlet ourselves.
Facing one of Caridin's numerous traps
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By the Stone, I wish I had never come back to Orzammar. My actions have now seen the death of the only two living Paragons.
We made our way through all the traps set by Caridin until we came across Caridin himself. The old Paragon was still alive! He had turned himself into a Golem and it was through Caridin that we learnt the secret of the Anvil.
The Anvil of the Void does not create Golems. It turns existing dwarves into Golems!
Caridin - cursed with eternal life for his actions
Caridin, after being turned into a Golem himself, could see that the Anvil was too dangerous to use. He saw the danger that the Anvil represented and rightfully sealed off the Anvil from the world. Alas, I had now opened that path. With the Anvil on the cusp of recovery by the Dwarves, I agreed to destroy the Anvil.
Alas Branka, taking the opportunity offered by my clearing all the traps, showed herself at this point. With her mad desire to possess the Anvil, it was no surprise that she was not happy to learn of our decision to destroy the Anvil.
Although it pained me to do so, I had no choice. I raised my arms against a Paragon. Together with Caridin, we defeated Branka. For my help, Caridin has fashioned me a crown to present to the new king of Orzammar and, true to my word, I destroyed the Anvil. Caridin, with no more purpose left in his life, jumped into the lava below and finally ended his own pitiful life.
Branka leaves me no choice but to fight and kill her
There is nothing left to do but return to Orzammar. With both Branka and Caridin dead, the Assembly will not be happy with my return.
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