Hespith

"That's where they come from. That's why they hate us... that's why they need us. That's why they take us.... that's why they feed us. But the true abomination... is not that it occurred, but that it was allowed."

Hespith was Branka's lover. She accompanied Branka into the Deep Roads to search for the Anvil of the Void (object), but her House was decimated by the darkspawn.

Involvement
The Warden's party finds Hespith near the exit of the Dead Trenches, after hearing a recitation of most of her poem, which she repeats in its entirety once they actually see her. She shows signs of corruption, and speaks to the Warden of Branka's insanity and what the darkspawn do with the women they capture, describing the process of becoming a broodmother.

After speaking with the Warden, Hespith disappears. It is presumed she took her own life by jumping off the cliff behind the broodmother that was once Laryn.

Quotes

 * "She became obsessed, that is the word but it is not strong enough. Blessed Stone, there was nothing left in her but the Anvil."


 * "We tried to escape, but they found us. They took us all, turned us. The men, they kill... they're merciful. But the women, they want. They want to touch, to mold, to change until you are filled with them. They took Laryn. They made her eat the others, our friends. She tore off her husband's face and drank his blood. And while she ate, she grew. She swelled and turned gray and she smelled like them. They remade her in their image. Then she made more of them. Broodmother..."


 * "That's where they come from. That's why they hate us... that's why they need us. That's why they take us.... that's why they feed us. But the true abomination... is not that it occurred, but that it was allowed. Branka... my love... The Stone has punished me, dream friend. I am dying of something worse than death. Betrayal."


 * "I was her captain, and I did not stop her. Her lover, and I could not turn her. Forgive her... but no, she cannot be forgiven. Not for what she did. Not for what she has become."

Hespith's Poem
Hespith repeats this recitation:

"First day, they come and catch everyone.

Second day, they beat us and eat some for meat.

Third day, the men are all gnawed on again.

Fourth day, we wait and fear for our fate.

Fifth day, they return and it's another girl's turn.

Sixth day, her screams we hear in our dreams.

Seventh day, she grew as in her mouth they spew.

Eighth day, we hate it as she is violated.

Ninth day, she grins and devours her kin.

Now she does feast, as she's become the beast."

Now you lay and wait, for their screams will haunt you in your dreams.

Trivia

 * In Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, Oghren will mention having a dream about a broodmother with Hespith's face after his Joining, however, his dream begins to become more absurd and irrational later on, causing him to question whether he had truly seen Hespith, or if it was only a dream.
 * The Dragon Age Toolset has 'She simply steps off the ledge and kills herself after this' as part of her VO notes after her last line.