Again spoiler warnings... read this if you have done this area or don't really care about playing Dragon Age.
So the thieving grey warden made it to Branka? It's amazing how far a common thief has reached in the world. Battling demons and darkspawn, looters and bandits while making a pile of gold for himself. Gunter has reached Branka only to be trapped in the area with her unless he finds the anvil of the void. It was a difficult task considering Branka has been there for some time and still hasn't gotten past the traps and the guards.
A horde of darkspawn first blocked Gunter's path. With the stealth and guile, the group managed to lead one enemy at the time to their hiding spot and beat the crap out of them. The darkspawn numbers thinned until it was but an ogre and a couple of archers left. Gunter's team charged in taking out their enemies swiftly. Ogre's were no longer a problem to them despite it's massive size.
Next came the first room with traps. These traps were no match for the raw experience of one of the greatest dwarven thieves. A few screws removed rendered the blade traps useless but this was not the only threat. There were several stone golems in the room and they awoke once the party was in the center of it. Yet Gunter had his own golem companion, Shale. With the aid of the berserker rage of Ohgren, they take out the golems quickly.
A problem has arisen for the team suddenly. Gunter's double dagger fighting isn't effective against these stone golems. Gunter has never been the fighter and he relies basically on his speed to take down enemies and against rocks, all he manages to do is chip off the top layers. (In a game note, the dagger damage is broken - it only takes strength for damage when it should be half of strength and dexterity. There's a hotfix but it boosts the power of bows so it seems to be a worse tradeoff as enemy archers outnumber your group 5 to 1). Morrigan's staff also seems to deal no damage against these constructs. Blasts of cold and lightning merely slow down these living robots.
Gas filled the second chamber which Gunter had to pass. More golems blocked their way and Gunter's backstab attack did more than break his own dagger. The golems broke off some floor tiles...large floor tiles and hurled them at Gunter, knocking him out. The muscle of the team managed to shatter the golems and revive Gunter after the battle.
The third room was different. There was no traps but 4 anvils surrounding a strange totem. As the adventurers approached, the totem sprung into life. It had 4 sides, 4 faces facing each anvil. The eyes of the totem burst into bluish flame and summoning 4 spirits to defend itself. As the team takes out a spirit, the anvil glows allowing them to send a magical strike against the totem. The blast shatters one of the faces of the totem. The team quickly realizes that it must destroy all four faces to defeat this construct. After the four faces of the totem crumbled, the team was able to move on.
Finally, the group approaches a gigantic chamber surrounded by flowing lava. There a huge metal figure stood. Gunter cautiously approached the figure. This golem turns out to be the old paragon - Caridin, the creator of the golems. Caridin asks to destroy the anvil of the void as the anvil may create golems at the price of dwarves giving up their lives. Branka arrives and says that the anvil may be used to fight the darkspawn and finally push them back. Morrigan agrees with this - the power to become a god - a creator. Shale however realizes that he was actually a she, the only female dwarf who became a golem. Shayle will not join Gunter should he side with Branka. Ohgren can see the madness that has consumed his wife but should he attack his wife due to the madness?
So it's decision time for Gunter. He sees the power of the anvil but he schemes of a better plan. He'll first take out Branka for trapping him and the hassle of the search for her. Next, he'll take the anvil for himself - take out Caridin in the process. Kill 2 birds with one stone and all the glory for him. The fight against Branka should be easier, he thinks, as the room is filled with golems.
Morrigan and Ohgren disagrees but still the join in fighting Branka. Branka takes out a control rod - subdues Caridin and takes several golems under her control. Bad news for Gunter. A grand melee ensues, golem against golem, dwarf against dwarf. Dealing with Branka is just as tough as golems since Gunter's daggers barely hurt her. He had to retreat and start using a bow for offense. Branka was a monster despite not being one of the warrior caste. She beats up her husband, Ohgren, with ease (quite an insult for a warrior caste). Morrigan can barely hurt her as dwarves naturally resist magic.
Finally, after Shale and Ohgren falls, Branka appears to make the kill. Gunter rushes away and pelts her with arrows. Morrigan attempts freezing her several times but fails. Morrigan soon falls to Branka's might. Branka charges Gunter knocking him down only to find a dagger sticking inside her. Gunter then fires arrows striking her head - finally killing the mad dwarf. Out of exhaustion, Gunter collapses. It appears that he won't have the strength to take Caridin out too. He decides to help and destroy the anvil instead thus gaining Caridin's help.
In the end, Gunter gives a crown to prince Behlen declaring that he was the choice of Caridin. The chapter ends as Behlen grants armies to the Grey warden and sentencing his rival to death. Gunter agrees, says goodbye to his sister and asks one little favor of the prince ... his face on one of the gigantic statues.
Sorry for the super long post – the journey for the dwarves assistance is a hundred times longer.
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