The Price of Freedom

Edmon: "You killed them! You killed them all!" Rayna: "Before they killed you. Slavery is a slow death, and a far worse sentence than a dagger to the throat." Edmon: "They weren't going to hurt us! You cut them down like animals!" Your response: [[Idealistic<-But they were slavers!]] [[Pragmatic<-Their guards attacked first.]] [[Dismissive<-Rayna killed them, not me.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "They were selling you like cattle. Why do you care what happens to them?"] Edmon: "You slit their throats like (text-style: "italic")[they] were cattle! They were innocent. They didn't hurt anyone!" Rayna: "They weren't innocent. You're property to them, no more than a piece of land or a prize-bred pig." Edmon: "And that means you have the right to kill them?" Rayna: "Yes." Your response: [[Idealistic 2 <- We're saving you.]] [[Pragmatic 2 <- They're dead either way.]] [[Dismissive 2 <- No thank you?]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We were defending ourselves. They attacked first."] Edmon: "A group of rebels came charging from the woods armed to the teeth. What'd you expect? And all our masters did was beg for mercy!" Rayna: "You can't trust a master. I know how they work. There's a hidden dagger behind every offer of peace." Your Response: [[Idealistic 2 <- We are trying to save you.]] [[Pragmatic 2 <- They're dead either way.]] [[Dismissive 2 <- No thank you?]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "I was only defending myself. Rayna's the one who killed the magisters."] Rayna: "Should I wait for your permission every time I swing my sword? A slaver is a slaver." Edmon: "I know your kind. The company you keep says all I need to know. You charged from the forest, just like her." Your response: [[Idealistic 2 <- We are trying to save you.]] [[Pragmatic 2 <- They're dead either way.]] [[Dismissive 2 <- Not even a thank you?]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "They were taking you against your will to be sold - into slavery. Again. Am I missing something? Isn't it a good thing they're dead?"] Edmon: "Don't act like a hero. You're no better than them. What do you want from us? Why did you kill them?" [[Second Conversation Tier<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "Well, it doesn't matter anymore. They're dead now. We can't change that."] Edmon: "Doesn't matter? You killed fifteen people. How can you say that doesen't matter?" [[Continue->Second Conversation Tier]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "A 'thank you' would be nice. We just saved your lives."] Edmon: "You didn't save anyone. My masters are dead! They didn't deserve that." Rayna: "Are you listening to yourself? These aren't your masters anymore. They never were." [[Continue->Second Conversation Tier]]

<div style="text-indent: 2em;">You are the (text-style: "bold")[Red Seraph], a prominent leader of a rebellion against the enslavement of elves. (text-style: "bold")[Rayna] is one of your elven companions and a former slave herself. You have successfully tracked down a caravan of slave owners and armed guards. The caravan is delivering elves to the city of Old Raine.</div> <div style="text-indent: 2em;">As you, (text-style: "bold")[Rayna], and the rest of your party exit the woods, the guards recognize your party as rebels and attack. When the guards are defeated, the slave owners beg for their lives, but never draw a weapon themselves.</div> <div style="text-indent: 2em;">(text-style: "bold")[Rayna] ignores their pleas and slits their throats. The freed elven slaves step forward, horrified by the bloodshed.</div> <div style="text-indent: 2em;">(text-style: "bold")[Edmon] steps forward as the leader of the slaves, gaping at the deceased soliders and slavers. [[After the Battle<-Continue]]</div>

Rayna: "We freed you! You're no longer slaves. The masters can't hurt you again." Edmon: "Wait - I recognize you. You're the Red Seraph, aren't you? You lot run around, killing people and setting the world on fire. Leaving elves homeless. I don't want anything to do with you." Rayna: "Setting the world on fire? Are you joking? Their 'world' is the enslavement of our people. You want to be someone's property?" [[Continue->Second Conversation Tier Continued]]

Edmon: "We want no part of your war." (text-style: "bold")[ Optional questions] (Investigate): [[You don't want freedom?->Question 1]] [[Your masters were kind?->Question 2]] [[Why are you afraid of us?->Question 3]] [[What about the rest of you?->Question 4]] (text-style: "bold")[Your response] (Progress conversation): [[Idealistic 3<-Are you sure?]] [[Pragmatic 3<-We're not conscripting you.]] [[Dismissive 3<-Fine then.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your question: "Your masters don't hurt you? You don't want to get away from them?"] Edmon: "Our masters aren't brothers in the church. They are hard. And cruel. There's nothing easy about being a slave, but I'd choose it over your losing war. Challenging the masters will only get a blade in your belly, or a demon in your bed." Rayna: "But we have to try. We can't just surrender." [[Modified Second Conversation Tier Continued<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your question: "We're here to rescue you. Why are you so afraid of us?"] Edmon: "You butchered all these people in cold blood!" Rayna: "We butchered them because they buy, sell, and abuse people every day. No one should be allowed to own another person." Edmon: "Killing innocents is chaos! I don't care who they were. Only the Maker should deal in life and death. Certainly not an elf." (text-style: "bold")[Follow-up question:] [[Question 3 Part 2<- Aren't you an elf?]] [[Modified Second Conversation Tier Continued<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your question: "Does Edmon speak for all of you?"] (the other elves turn away from the Seraph's party, cowering from the weapons and bloody corpses) (Edmon moves to stand between them) Edmon: "We've been through enough to trust each other. Rebel or master, I know a tyrant when I see one, and I'm not letting you drag us off into battle." [[Modified Second Conversation Tier Continued<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "I know this war is terrifying, but you can't give into the masters. Slavery isn't all there is. There are better things worth fighting for."] Edmon: "Your better lives reek of poverty and battle. Of false hope and empty promises. And that's assuming the masters don't kill us first." Rayna: "Then help us build something better. We can't accept slavery just because no one in Old Raine has found the perfect system." Edmon: "You slayed three unarmed men who begged for mercy! You're not building anything better. You've killed thousands. You tear lives apart." Rayna: "We're fighting for survival!" Edmon: "And we'll fight for survival, too. By going back to Old Raine, where it's safe." [[Third Conversation Tier<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We're not forcing you into battle. I won't shove a sword in your hands and push you to the front lines."] Edmon: "You think 'free' slaves can choose not to fight? The masters will come for us. We'd be fugitives." Rayna: "Not everyone at camp is a fighter. We have healers. We have smiths, and cooks, and scouts. You can choose how to help." Edmon: "We're not going with you. Following the Seraph is a death sentence. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but the masters will come to reclaim what's there's." Rayna: "Then go somewhere else! Run for the Plains! We've freed you. It's your choice." Edmon: "Then we choose Old Raine. We're going back where it's safe." [[Continue->Third Conversation Tier]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "Then go back to your chains. We didn't come here to argue."] Rayna: "Seraph, how can you say that? They deserve better than this. Just because they're afraid doesn't mean we can abandon them." Edmon: "The only thing we're afraid of is you. Forty years as a slave, and I've never seen death like this. We're going back to Old Raine." [[Continue->Third Conversation Tier]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your question: "You want to be slaves? Aren't the masters forcing you to work your entire lives away for nothing? What about freedom?"] Edmon: "Freedom? There's no freedom in your war. Life as a slave isn't easy, but I help Old Raine become a better place, and I do it with my friends and family. I always have food on my plate and a bed to sleep on. Can you promise me the same?" (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[Idealistic 4<-I can promise you choice.]] [[Pragmatic 4<-No, but...]] [[Dismissive 4<-I don't owe you anything.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We're fighting so everyone has a future they can control. A master shouldn't own your entire life."] Edmon: "I don't care. At least I know what tomorrow looks like, and I know I'll live to see it." Rayna: "No you don't. If your master decides it's time to die, then you die. You don't have a voice." Edmon: "How useful is a voice when you're screaming at an empty plate? Or yelling for the world to treat you fairer? You can't change the way things are. I know what I am. And I'm not a rebel." [[Modified Second Conversation Tier Continued<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "Are the masters offering you anything better? They decide everything you'll ever do, and give you nothing in return."] Edmon: "They promise us tomorrow. That's more than your bloody hands can offer." Rayna: "If we win, the blood is worth it. No one will ever know what it feels like to be powerless." Edmon: "And if you lose?" Rayna: "Then at least we died trying." [[Modified Second Conversation Tier Continued<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We're not promising you anything. We killed your masters. We already did your fighting for you."] Edmon: "We didn't ask for anything. Leave now and let us go before you kill anyone else." [[Modified Second Conversation Tier Continued<-Continue]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "You think humans are better than you?"] Rayna: "Of course he does. That's what slavers do. They fill your head with doubt, so you truly believe you're worse than nothing. That you're not worth saving." Edmon: "'Worth' doesn't mean anything. I am what I am. I'm an elf, and I'm a slave, and nothing can change that." Rayna: "That's not true." Edmon: "Holding your ears down doesn't stop them from sticking out." Rayna: "But keeping your head down will ensure you're a slave forever." [[Modified Second Conversation Tier Continued<-Continue]]

Rayna: "Old Raine is not an option! I'm not letting you walk back into slavery. We can help you." Edmon: "I don't want any part of your revolution! Leave us. This isn't a negotiation. You killed our masters - in cold blood. We want no part." (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[Idealistic 5 <- Give us a chance!]] [[Pragmatic 5 <- Old Raine isn't safe.]] [[Dismissive 5 <- Rayna, stop.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We're trying to help you! Give us a chance. You deserve more than the masters can offer."] Rayna: "Which is nothing. The masters are offering you nothing. The Seraph and I offer you hope." Edmon: "...The (text-style: "italic")[Red] Seraph, isn't it? Like you're some holy creature that dipped its hands in too much blood. I hear them talk about you, like you're a goddamn hero, like you're the Maker come again. But you're a monster. You murdered my masters, and I don't trust you with my friends! I'm not giving you any chances." The Seraph: "They weren't good people! No one needs a master!" Edmon: "Then I'm rejecting you as mine!" [[Continue->Fourth Conversation Tier]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "You don't have soliders to protect you anymore. The roads aren't safe. And Old Raine will attack you on sight without guards, even if you do make it. All they'll see are rebel slaves."] Edmon: "That's a chance I'm willing to take. A master wouldn't shoot an unarmed elf." Rayna: "You give the masters more credit than they deserve." Edmon: "Says the elf who murdered three unarmed men!" Rayna: "Is that all you have to say? Since when is saving innocents from terrible people a bad thing?" Edmon: "The terrible people are the rebels setting fire to this land. Go away." [[Continue->Fourth Conversation Tier]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "Rayna, they're clearly not listening to reason. There's nothing we can do to convince them."] Rayna: "I won't accept that. The slaves aren't beyond saving. We can do more. We can do better." Edmon: "Then start by respecting us. Respect our choice to return to our way of life." Rayna: "Slavery isn't a choice! There's no future and no hope. You're at the complete whim of people who think you're no better than beasts. You deserve more." Edmon: "We deserve more than bloodshed and poverty. Let us be." [[Continue->Fourth Conversation Tier]]

Rayna: "We (text-style: "italic")[need] to show them a better path. Let's take them back to camp. We can show them what it means to be free elves." You: "Take them? By force?" Rayna: "It's like I told you before. Masters make slaves truly believe they aren't worth saving. They don't want freedom because they don't understand it. They've never known anything but pain and humiliation." Edmon: "If you put one hand on us, I swear..." (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[Idealistic 6 <- This doesn't seem right.]] [[Pragmatic 6 <- Will that accomplish anything?]] [[Dismissive 6 <- Why waste our time?]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "Are you sure about this, Rayna? If we force them back with us, are we any better than the masters?"] Rayna: "We're not forcing them to work for us. They just need guidance. These slaves are broken. Like I was. They don't understand that anything can be better." Edmon: "Listen to the Seraph, elf. This isn't what you want." Rayna: "Stop calling me that! We're no different!" Edmon: "You've forgotten what you are!" Rayna: "I am not a slave! And neither are you!" [[Continue-> Fifth Conversation Tier]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "What will dragging them back to camp solve? We won't make allies that way, and what if they don't want to stay? We don't have prisons."] Rayna: "They wouldn't be our prisoners." Edmon: "You're holding us against our will. That's the definition of prisoner." Rayna: "And what's the definition of slave?" Edmon: "A person who understands their place in the world and works to make Old Raine a better place." Rayna: "That's complete bullshit! No slave makes Old Raine a better place. They line their masters' pockets with gold and lose everything!" [[Continue-> Fifth Conversation Tier]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We can't do anything for them. If they won't accept our help, I'm not forcing it down their throats."] Rayna: "After everything we've fought for? Part of saving Old Raine is showing its people a better path. Not everyone will understand right away." The Seraph: "They've made their intentions clear." Rayna: "And so have you." [[Continue-> Fifth Conversation Tier]]

Edmon: "We're leaving. Now. Nothing you say is going to change our minds." Rayna: "Seraph, please, we can't let them go back to Old Raine. We can't let the masters win. These elves deserve their freedom, even if they don't understand." Edmon: "Stop lying! You're only after the masters, after bloodshed! But you'll never stop them. You'll never breach Old Raine." Rayna: "Listen to him! He doesn't know what he's saying! We have to take them back. They need us, now more than ever." (text-style: "bold")[Optional question] (Investigate): [[What would we do with them?->Question 5]] (text-style: "bold")[Your response] (Progress conversation): [[Rayna 1 <- Okay, we'll try to save them.]] [[Edmon 1 <- I won't force them.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "You're right. We can't leave them here like this. We'll take them back to camp and show them a better path."] Edmon: "If you're forcing us into war, then war is exactly what you'll get." (Edmon retrieves the weapons of the fallen guards, as do three of the other elves) Rayna: "What are you doing?!" Edmon: "Defending my people." (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[(Take them back to camp anyways)->Rayna 2]] [[Whoa!->Intermediate Rayna]] [[Okay, we'll let you leave.->Intermediate Edmon 2]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "I'm letting them go back to Old Raine. We can't force them against their will. That makes us no better than the masters."] Rayna: "How could you say that?! This isn't an option. We can't let the slavers win." Seraph: "Dragging them back to camp won't solve anything." Rayna: "You're the Red Seraph. That means you understand what it takes to free Tevinter from the Magisters. Slavery is this nation's greatest evil. We have to show them that." Seraph: "Rayna..." Rayna: "If you do this, I can't follow you. I won't. I'll never let another elf fall victim to slavery again." (text-style: "bold")[Your decision:] [[Okay, we'll help them.->Modified Rayna 1]] [[(Let them leave for Old Raine)->Edmon 2]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your question: "So, you want the five of us to force them back? And then what? Do we set guards for them? How will this look if the rest of Old Raine gets word?"] Rayna: "We're showing Old Raine that we won't accept the old world anymore. Change doesn't come easily, but it's worth the fight." The Seraph: "You didn't answer my question." Rayna: "We'll let others talk to them. We'll let them see the good we've done. And then we'll give them a choice. Because they don't know what that feels like yet. It's our responsibility to show them." (text-style: "bold")[Your response]: [[Rayna 1 <- Okay, we'll try to save them.]] [[Edmon 1 <- I won't force them.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "Rayna's right. Old Raine isn't an option. You have to come with us. We can't let the masters win."] Rayna: "I promise, this is for the best. You'll understand in time." Edmon: "No! You're not taking us!" Rayna: "Stop! We don't want to fight!" Edmon charges with his blade, as do the other armed elves at his side. The Seraph, Rayna, and party are forced to defend themselves. [[Continue->Rayna 3]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We're not here to fight you! Drop your weapons!"] Edmon: "You're not dragging us off to war. I'd rather die here than follow murderers and rebels into hell." Rayna: "It doesn't have to be this way!" Edmon: "Violence for violence. We're giving you what you ask for." (text-style: "bold")[Your decision:] [[(Take them back to camp)->Rayna 2]] [[Okay, we'll let you leave.->Intermediate Edmon 2]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "I won't risk a fight. I'm letting them go back to Old Raine. We can't force them against their will. That makes us no better than the masters."] Rayna: "How could you say that?! This isn't an option. We can't let the slavers win." The Seraph: "Dragging them back to camp won't solve anything." Rayna: "You're the Red Seraph. That means you understand what it takes to free Old Raine from the masters. Slavery is this nation's greatest evil. We have to show them that." You: "Rayna..." Rayna: "If you do this, I can't follow you. I won't. I'll never let another elf fall victim to slavery again." (text-style: "bold")[Your decision:] [[(Take them back to camp)->Rayna 2]] [[(Let them leave for Old Raine)->Edmon 2]]

Edmon falls in battle, as do the other three elves. The other slaves flee from the carnage, screaming as the woods envelope their shrieks. The party stands in shock for a moment, their blades warm with the blood of freed slaves. Rayna: "It didn't have to be this way. They didn't have to die." (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[Idealistic 7 <- We did all we could.]] [[Pragmatic 7 <- You're surprised?]] [[Dismissive 7 <- This is your fault.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We tried to help them. It's not our fault they wouldn't listen."] Rayna: "It's not their fault either. These masters (text-style: "italic")[control] every aspect of their slaves - mind, body, and soul. Freeing them will take more than a sword." You: "We haven't lost the war yet." Rayna: "But they did. They lost their war, and now they're gone forever. We have to do better. For everyone's sake." (End Quest)

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "They drew their blades and threatened us. What did you think was going to happen?"] Rayna: "I don't know. I thought we could save them. I thought we were doing the right thing... I... I forget how terrible the masters are. They (text-style: "italic")[control] every aspect of their slaves - mind, body, and soul. They couldn't know any better. The masters made sure they wouldn't." You: "We have to do better." Rayna: "And we will. I won't give up hope for them." (End Quest)

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "You let this happen! You pushed them until they had no choice but to defend themselves!"] Rayna: "We couldn't let them run back to their masters! That was never an option." The Seraph: "But now everyone is dead. Nothing changed for the better." Rayna: "The masters (text-style: "italic")[control] every aspect of their slaves - mind, body, and soul. They didn't know what they were doing. They've never known another way." You: "Well, we have to do better. We can't go carving up the countryside with bodies every time we have an argument." Rayna: "We will. I refuse to give up hope for them." (End Quest)

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: I'm sorry Rayna - I can't do this. This isn't right. I'm letting them return back to their masters."] Rayna: "No! I won't let them!" (Rayna draws her weapon) You: (you move to defend the slaves) "Stand down!" Rayna: "I believed in you! I thought someone could finally stand up to the masters! But you're just another pretender. You're breaking at the first sign of resistance." (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[Idealistic 8 <- This wasn't right.]] [[Pragmatic 8 <- That's not fair.]] [[Dismissive 8 <- You're selfish.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "You're right. We can't leave them here like this. We'll take them back to camp and show them a better path."] Edmon: "If you're forcing us into war, then war is exactly what you'll get." (Edmon retrieves the weapons of the fallen guards, as do three of the other elves) Rayna: "What are you doing?!" Edmon: "Defending my people." (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[(Take them back to camp anyways)->Rayna 2]] [[Whoa!->Modified Intermediate Rayna]] [[(Let them leave for Old Raine)->Edmon 2]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We weren't helping these people. We can't force change when all it does is harm them."] Rayna: "Slavery won't fall overnight. It won't fall without claiming innocent lives either. But it will stand forever if all that oppose it are weak-willed." (Rayna leaves the party forever) [[Continue->Edmon 3]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "We've fought and won so many battles, Rayna. Just because one group of slaves doesn't want to join us doesn't mean we've failed."] Rayna: "If we let one group of slaves return to slavery, then we let all slaves down. I refuse to accept letting even one elf return to their chains. And I can't stand with anyone who has lost faith in my people." (Rayna leaves the party forever) [[Continue->Edmon 3]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "Just because you didn't get to be the hero today doesn't mean you get to quit. Are you giving up that easily?"] Rayna: "I will never give up on my homeland, and I will never allow another elf to return to their chains. If you can't stand for all of us, then you're not the leader we need." (Rayna leaves the party forever) [[Continue->Edmon 3]]

Edmon: "We're leaving. We've seen enough of your rebellion to know the stories are all true. We don't want your chaos." (text-style: "bold")[Your response:] [[Idealistic 9 <- You're wrong.]] [[Pragmatic 9 <- But I'm letting you go?]] [[Dismissive 9 <- You're welcome.]]

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "You're wrong. We fight for everyone. We fight for a better nation and a better future."] Edmon: "Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you'll believe it." (End Quest)

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "How does me letting you go lead to chaos?"] Edmon: "You still killed our masters, and you're still waging a bloody, pointless war. One sensible act doesn't make up for that." (End Quest)

(text-style: "bold")[Your response: "I just lost a friend for you. The least you could do is show some gratitude."] Edmon: "Gratitude? For killing our masters and leaving us without protection? I hope the Magisters kill you in the end. You won't win this war, but there's no justice if you make it out alive." (End Quest)

(text-style: "bold")[Optional questions] (Investigate): [[You don't want freedom?->Question 1]] [[Your masters were kind?->Question 2]] [[Why are you afraid of us?->Question 3]] [[What about the rest of you?->Question 4]] (text-style: "bold")[Your response] (Progress conversation): [[Idealistic 3<-Are you sure?]] [[Pragmatic 3<-We're not conscripting you.]] [[Dismissive 3<-Fine then.]]