국경 폐쇄에 알맞은 시기

끔찍한 소식이다. 페렐던에 있는 우리의 감시자 형제자매들이 모두 사망했다는 소문이 들린다. 회색 감시자들이 없으면, 대재앙이 페렐던을 집어삼킬 것이다. 그리고 그 후에는 의심의 여지 없이 사방으로 퍼져나갈 것이다. 북쪽으로는 네바라와 자유 동맹에 가닿고, 서쪽의 올레이에도 닿을 것이다. 대악마를 필두로 수천에 이르는 어둠의 피조물이 물밀 듯이 쏟아져 들어올 것이다. 우리는 망각의 눈을 똑바로 응시할 준비를 해야 한다.

너희들 중 많은 수가 동부에 이런 위협이 고조되고 있는 상황에 왜 우리가 여기 남아 있는 건지 의문을 제기했다. 너희들도 알다시피, 이건 새롭게 떠오른 문제가 아니다. 이건 정치적인 문제다. 페렐던과 올레이가 단순히 '갈등'을 빚어왔다고 말하는 건 지나치게 절제된 표현이다. 이 둘은 철저한 원수지간이다. 우리는 올레이인이기 이전에 감시자이지만, 페렐던의 지도자들에게 그런 건 중요하지 않은 듯하다.

소문으로 페렐던의 국왕이 사망했으며, 그의 후계자인 로게인 맥 티어가 페렐던 영토에 감시자들을 들이지 말라는 법령을 선포했다고 한다. 맥 티어는 국가적인 영웅이자, 페렐던을 침공했던 올레이 군을 몰아내는데 크게 기여한 자로, 우리 감시단에게 원한을 품고 있는 것으로 보인다. 우리의 능력을 의심해서일지도 모르지만, 그자가 역사책에 기록된 것보다 더 멍청한 자이기 때문인지도 모를 일이다.

이것이 페렐던이 닥쳐오는 종말을 기꺼이 받아들이려 하고 있음에도 우리가 손 놓고 기다릴 수밖에 없는 이유다.

—용의 시대 9:30년, 발 셰반의 감시단 부사령관 블랙월이 신병들에게 한 연설

 

The news is dire. There are rumors that our Warden brothers and sisters in Ferelden have all perished. Without the Grey Wardens, the Blight will take Ferelden. Then it will undoubtedly spread. It will go north to Nevarra and the Marches. It will come west to Orlais. At the head will be an Archdemon, and in its wake will come thousands upon thousands of darkspawn. We must be ready to stare squarely into the eyes of oblivion.

 

Many of you have asked why we remain here when such threats are mounting in the east. The problem, you see, is not a new one for us. Politics. To say Ferelden and Orlais have been at odds is an understatement. These two are like dogs and cats. We Wardens are Orlesian by address only, but that does not seem to matter to Ferelden's leaders.

 

Word is that the King of Ferelden is dead. And his successor, Loghain Mac Tir, decrees that no Warden set foot in the country. Mac Tir, a national hero who helped expel invading Orlesian forces from Ferelden, seems to have it out for our Order, too. Maybe he doubts our abilities. Maybe he is more foolish than the history books make him out to be.

 

This is why we must wait, even as Ferelden willingly welcomes its fate.

 

—An address by Warden-Constable Blackwall of Val Chevin to his recruits, 9:30 Dragon