피와 돌에 새겨진 기억

오늘 아침에 예정되었던 제물을 바쳤지만, 신들께서는 여전히 침묵을 지키신다. 성직자들도 겁을 먹었고, 온 테빈터가 두려워하고 있다. 신들께서는 우리 신민들을 수 세기 동안 이끄셨지만, 지금은 계시지 않는다. 우린 홀로 이 세상에 남겨져 버린 걸까? 영의 인도를 애걸하는 남쪽의 야만인들과 다를 바 없게 되었는가? 그리고 우리의 동맹, 드워프처럼 땅속에서 올라온 이 기괴한 생명체들은 무엇이란 말인가? 어둠의 피조물이 활개치며 역병을 흩뿌리는데, 어째서 신들께서는 우리를 지켜주시지 않는 것인가?

이젠 땅이 흔들린다. 조각상에 넘어지면서 손을 베이고 말았다. 커다란 울부짖음이 들린다. 그 폭음이 사원 시장을 뒤흔들었다. 그리고 나는 어떤 형체가 하늘을 가르는 걸 보았다. 용이다! 아니, 듀맛이시다! 듀맛께서 우리를 위협하는 어둠의 피조물을 격멸하고 테빈터를 다시 영광과 경이의 시대로 되돌리고자 돌아오셨다! 여러 번 제물을 바쳐온 내게, 그의 모습은 내 손바닥을 보는 만큼이나 익숙했다.

하지만 그게 아니었다. 그분의 비늘은 탁했고 얼룩덜룩했으며, 형체는 뒤틀리고 부패하시었다. 마치 어둠의 피조물처럼. 그분은 거대한 입을 벌리셨고 불꽃이 앞으로 굽이치며 시장을 불태웠다.

불꽃이 내게 달려들고 있다.

우리가 도대체 무슨 잘못을 했단 말인가?

—고대 테빈터 조각상에 묻은 피에서 들려온 기억

 

I made the expected offerings this morning, but the gods remained silent. The priests are frightened. All of Tevinter is frightened. Our gods have led our people for centuries. Now, they have gone still. Are we alone here in this world, no better than the savages to the south who beg for guidance from spirits? And what of the strange creatures who come from underground, like our friends the dwarves? These spawn of the darkness and the plague they carry… why do our gods not protect us from this?

 

Now the ground shakes. The statue cuts my hand as I fall against it. A great roar sounds. It is massive, shaking the temple market, and I see the silhouette cut the sky. It is a dragon. No, it is Dumat! I have made the offerings so many times—his form is as familiar as my own hand. He has returned in glory to destroy these darkspawn that threaten us, to lead Tevinter back to an age of glory and wonder!

 

But no, his scales are sickly and mottled, his form twisted and corrupt, like the darkspawn themselves. He opens his great maw, and fire billows forth, igniting the market.

 

The flames rush toward me.

 

What did we do wrong?

 

—Memories somehow caught in the blood on an ancient Tevinter statue