Changes: Gallows

Revision as of 20:59, 19 September 2021

The Gallows is an isolated fortress built in the harbor just off the Kirkwall Docks. It is sometimes used to control the flow of travelers arriving by sea but predominantly functions as the home of the Templar Order in the city as well as the site of its Circle of Magi.

Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of Kirkwall's history. The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and angle of the courtyard was designed by magisters bent on breaking the spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves trudging in from the docks saw what awaited them.

It is the home of both the Circle of Magi and the Templar Order in Kirkwall. Hundreds of mages live in the Gallows.^[1]

Background

Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of Kirkwall's history. Fifteen-hundred years ago, Kirkwall was the Tevinter Imperium's largest quarry, feeding the construction of the Imperial Highway.

The Imperium's hunger for expansion led to legions of slaves forced into working the quarry. When the empire's construction phase ended, Kirkwall slid naturally into its new role as the capital of the slave trade—the Gallows at its heart.

The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and angle of the courtyard was designed by magisters bent on breaking the spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves trudging in from the docks saw what awaited them.

When Our Lady turned her armies against the Imperium, the slaves of Kirkwall revolted and claimed the city for themselves. The Gallows stood empty for two hundred years, not to be reopened until the crowning of Divine Justinia I. The Gallows transformed the city again when the abandoned prison tower became the home of Kirkwall's Circle.

—From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

—From Codex entry: Kirkwall - The Gallows

Involvement

Dragon Age II

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age II.

Living conditions in the Gallows become progressively stricter under Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard.^[2] Mages are locked in their cells, denied appearances at court, and made Tranquil for the slightest crimes. The mage underground is created to help mages escape the Gallows and find refuge in far away areas where the templars can't easily reach them. While the templars fight against the mage underground and maleficars, Knight-Commander Meredith begins to impose harsher sanctions on the Kirkwall Circle while templars such as Ser Otto Alrik abuse their charges in secret. As the years go by, Tranquil mages in the Gallows Courtyard become more numerous; presumably to cow the mages into submission. Many mages are terrorized into compliance and the templars are divided on whether these inhumane tactics serve the Templar Order's noble tenets. Knight-Commander Meredith only empowers her sycophants and anyone who criticizes their authority eventually become muzzled pariahs or choose to leave the Order.

In 9:37 Dragon, an apostate mage, Anders, destroys the Kirkwall Chantry, igniting the Kirkwall Rebellion and inspiring mages throughout Thedas to rebel against the Circle system. His magical blast is not contained and rains deadly debris upon half of the city.^[3] The Champion of Kirkwall kills First Enchanter Orsino and Knight-Commander Meredith Stannard during the rebellion in the Gallows.

Dragon Age: Inquisition

This section contains spoilers for:
Dragon Age: Inquisition.

Several years after the final battle at the Gallows, the growth of Red lyrium deposits have overtaken much of the fortress. If Anders was executed and Sebastian's offer of aid was accepted, the Inquisition may send troops to help rebuild Kirkwall and attempt to expunge the red lyrium in the Gallows.

Trespasser

This section contains spoilers for:
Trespasser.

By 9:44 Dragon, Meredith's petrified corpse is finally out of the Gallows. The Kirkwall City Guard celebrated with an impromptu parade.^[4]

Places

Characters

Alain

Athenril

Cavril

Cullen Rutherford

Emeric

Ewald

Grace

Harbormaster's Assistant

Helena

Hugh

Jaken

Margitte

Meeran

Meredith Stannard

Moira

Orsino

Paxley

Raleigh Samson

Ruvena

Solivitus

Templar Lieutenant

Thrask

Stores

Armor Shop

Formari Herbalist

Mage Goods

Weapon Shop

Quests

The Destruction of Lothering

Known residents

First Enchanters

Casimira – the first of the Kirkwall Circle of Magi's First Enchanters^[5]
Honorus – First Enchanter in 9:01 Dragon^[6]
Maceron – First Enchanter until his death in 9:28 Dragon^[7]
Orsino – First Enchanter from 9:28 Dragon^[7] until his death during the annulment of the Kirkwall Circle in 9:37 Dragon

Senior Enchanters

Consuelon – Senior Enchanter who suspected Malcolm Hawke was hiding his talents to avoid Templar attention^[6]

Enchanters

Bethany Hawke (conditional) – apostate younger sister of Hawke; arrested and sent to the Circle if not brought on the Deep Roads Expedition
Malcolm Hawke (formerly)
Ursula – Enchanter during Malcolm Hawke's childhood^[6]

Mages

Alain – formerly of the Starkhaven Circle
Evelina – formerly of the Fereldan Circle; later became an apostate
Grace – formerly of the Starkhaven Circle
Heborah de Soliere – escaped and became an apostate^[8]
Huon – later became an apostate
Idunna (conditional) – an apostate blood mage and a prostitute at the Blooming Rose; joins the Circle if spared and handed over to the templars by Hawke
Innley of Starkhaven – escaped and became an apostate^[8]
Jake the Black – escaped and became an apostate^[8]
Malcolm Hawke – later became an apostate
Emile de Launcet – later became an apostate; can be sent back to the Circle by Hawke
Maud – friend and contemporary of Orsino who was discontent with life at the Gallows and committed suicide^[7]
Solivitus
Terrie (conditional) – a fugitive apostate formerly of the Starkhaven Circle; can be turned over to the Kirkwall Circle by Hawke

Apprentices

Ella
Jaken

Tranquil

Ceridweth – an infamous apostate who was eventually captured and made Tranquil^[1]
Elsa
Feynriel (conditional) – an elf-blooded apostate and somniari; if turned over to the Circle, he can later be rendered Tranquil by Hawke
Maddox
Orana – a Tranquil mage who created the amulet Tranquility^[9]
Karl Thekla
Helena

Knight-Commanders

Meredith Stannard

Knight-Templars

Cullen Rutherford
Emeric
Hugh
Moira
Paxley
Raleigh Samson
Ruvena
Thrask

Templar-Recruits

Margitte

Codex entries

Codex entry: Kirkwall - The Gallows

Notes

The first time Hawke visits the Gallows with Fenris in the party, a dialogue scene begins that allows for approval changes:
- "It's wrong to oppress mages."
  - Fenris: rivalry (+15)
  - Anders: friendship (+5)
  - Merrill: friendship (+5)
- "The Circle doesn't work."
  - Fenris: rivalry (+5)
- "The Circle is necessary."
  - Fenris: friendship (+5)
  - Anders: rivalry (+5)
  - Merrill: rivalry (+5)

Gallery

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Codex entry: The Spiral Eye
↑ Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 191-194
↑ Mary Kirby. https://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/485140931352342528 . Twitter.
↑ Codex entry: Varric and the Last Few Years
↑ Codex entry: Staff of Violation
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 148
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 196
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 Bounty Hunter
↑ Codex entry: Tranquility

[spiral-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Codex entry: The Spiral Eye

[2] Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 191-194

[3] Mary Kirby. https://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/485140931352342528 . Twitter.

[4] Codex entry: Varric and the Last Few Years

[5] Codex entry: Staff of Violation

[wot2-148-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 148

[wot2-196-7] 7.0 ^7.1 ^7.2 Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 196

[Bounty_Hunter-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 Bounty Hunter

[9] Codex entry: Tranquility

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |style       = {{{style|}}}
 |supertitle  =
-|name        = [[Gallows]]
+|name        = [[Gallows|The Gallows]]
 |icon        = Gallows Icon.png
 |image       = Gallows.jpg
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |terrain     =
 |location    = [[Kirkwall]]
+|sections    =
 |quests      =
 |inhabitants =
@@ Line 18: / Line 19: @@
 }}</onlyinclude>
-The '''Gallows''' is an isolated fortress built in the harbor just off the [[Kirkwall]] [[Docks]]. It is sometimes used to control the flow of travelers arriving by sea but predominantly functions as the home of the [[Templar Order]] in the city as well as the site of its [[Circle of Magi]].
+'''The Gallows''' is an isolated fortress built in the harbor just off the [[Kirkwall]] [[Docks]]. It is sometimes used to control the flow of travelers arriving by sea but predominantly functions as the home of the [[Templar Order]] in the city as well as the site of its [[Circle of Magi]].
 Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of Kirkwall's history. The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and angle of the courtyard was designed by [[magister]]s bent on breaking the spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves trudging in from the docks saw what awaited them.
@@ Line 32: / Line 33: @@
 Living conditions in the Gallows become progressively stricter under [[Knight-Commander]] [[Meredith Stannard]].<ref>{{Cite wot2|191-194}}</ref> Mages are locked in their cells, denied appearances at court, and made [[Tranquil]] for the slightest crimes. The [[Codex entry: The Mage Underground|mage underground]] is created to help mages escape the Gallows and find refuge in far away areas where the templars can't easily reach them. While the templars fight against the mage underground and [[maleficar]]s, Knight-Commander Meredith begins to impose harsher sanctions on the Kirkwall Circle while templars such as Ser [[Otto Alrik]] abuse their charges in secret. As the years go by, Tranquil mages in the [[Gallows Courtyard]] become more numerous; presumably to cow the mages into submission. Many mages are terrorized into compliance and the templars are divided on whether these inhumane tactics serve the Templar Order's noble tenets. Knight-Commander Meredith only empowers her sycophants and anyone who criticizes their authority eventually become muzzled pariahs or choose to leave the Order.
-In 9:37 Dragon, an [[apostate]] [[mage]], [[Anders]], destroys the [[Kirkwall Chantry]], igniting the [[Kirkwall Rebellion (9:37 Dragon)|Kirkwall Rebellion]] and inspiring mages throughout Thedas to rebel against the Circle system. His magical blast is not contained and rains deadly debris upon half of the city.<ref>{{Twitter|author=[[Mary Kirby]]|url=https://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/485140931352342528}}</ref> The [[Champion of Kirkwall]] kills [[First Enchanter]] [[Orsino]] and Knight-Commander [[Meredith Stannard]] during the rebellion in the Gallows.}}
+In 9:37 [[Dragon Age (time period)|Dragon]], an [[apostate]] [[mage]], [[Anders]], destroys the [[Kirkwall Chantry]], igniting the [[Kirkwall Rebellion (9:37 Dragon)|Kirkwall Rebellion]] and inspiring mages throughout Thedas to rebel against the Circle system. His magical blast is not contained and rains deadly debris upon half of the city.<ref>{{Twitter|author=[[Mary Kirby]]|url=https://twitter.com/BioMaryKirby/status/485140931352342528}}</ref> The [[Champion of Kirkwall]] kills [[First Enchanter]] [[Orsino]] and Knight-Commander [[Meredith Stannard]] during the rebellion in the Gallows.}}
 === ''Dragon Age: Inquisition'' ===
@@ Line 51: / Line 52: @@
 == Characters ==
-:'''[[Orsino]]'''
-:'''[[Meredith Stannard]]'''
-:'''[[Cullen Rutherford]]'''
-:'''[[Thrask]]'''
-:'''[[Cavril]]'''
 :'''[[Alain]]'''
-:'''[[Grace]]'''
 :'''[[Athenril]]'''
-:'''[[Meeran]]'''
+:'''[[Cavril]]'''
+:'''[[Cullen Rutherford]]'''
 :'''[[Emeric]]'''
-:'''[[Solivitus]]'''
-:'''[[Raleigh Samson]]'''
-:'''[[Hugh]]'''
-:'''[[Paxley]]'''
-:'''[[Ruvena]]'''
-:'''[[Moira]]'''
-:'''[[Margitte]]'''
 :'''[[Ewald]]'''
+:'''[[Grace]]'''
+:'''Harbormaster's Assistant'''
 :'''[[Helena]]'''
+:'''[[Hugh]]'''
 :'''[[Jaken]]'''
+:'''[[Margitte]]'''
+:'''[[Meeran]]'''
+:'''[[Meredith Stannard]]'''
+:'''[[Moira]]'''
+:'''[[Orsino]]'''
+:'''[[Paxley]]'''
+:'''[[Raleigh Samson]]'''
+:'''[[Ruvena]]'''
+:'''[[Solivitus]]'''
 :'''Templar Lieutenant'''
-:'''Harbormaster's Assistant'''
+:'''[[Thrask]]'''
 == Stores ==
 :'''[[Armor Shop]]'''
-:'''[[Weapon Shop]]'''
-:'''[[Mage Goods]]'''
 :'''[[Formari Herbalist]]'''
+:'''[[Mage Goods]]'''
+:'''[[Weapon Shop]]'''
 == Quests ==
@@ Line 109: / Line 110: @@
 :{{:Herbalist's Tasks (Act 3)|style=iconmini2}} <small>(Act 3)</small>
-== Known Kirkwall Circle mages ==
+== Known residents ==
 === First Enchanters ===
 * '''Casimira''' – the first of the Kirkwall Circle of Magi's First Enchanters<ref>[[Codex entry: Staff of Violation]]</ref>
@@ Line 144: / Line 145: @@
 === Tranquil ===
-* '''Ceridweth''' – an infamous apostate who was eventually captured and made Tranquil<ref name="spiral" />
+* '''Ceridweth''' – an infamous [[apostate]] who was eventually captured and made Tranquil<ref name="spiral" />
 * '''[[Elsa]]'''
 * '''[[Feynriel]]''' <small>(conditional)</small> – an [[elf-blooded]] apostate and [[Dreamer|somniari]]; if turned over to the Circle, he can later be rendered Tranquil by Hawke
@@ Line 151: / Line 152: @@
 * '''[[Karl Thekla]]'''
 * '''[[Helena]]'''
+=== Knight-Commanders ===
+* '''[[Meredith Stannard]]'''
+=== Knight-Templars ===
+* '''[[Cullen Rutherford]]'''
+* '''[[Emeric]]'''
+* '''[[Hugh]]'''
+* '''[[Moira]]'''
+* '''[[Paxley]]'''
+* '''[[Raleigh Samson]]'''
+* '''[[Ruvena]]'''
+* '''[[Thrask]]'''
+=== Templar-Recruits ===
+* '''[[Margitte]]'''
 == Codex entries ==
@@ Line 182: / Line 199: @@
 <!--Categories-->
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Gallows, The}}
+[[Category:Locations]]
 [[Category:Dragon Age II locations]]
 [[Category:Kirkwall locations]]
 [[Category:Fortresses]]
 [[Category:Islands]]
+[[Category:Free Marches]]
 <!--Interwiki links-->
 [[ru:Казематы]]