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“I wouldn’t call that protection,” Ashur says wryly.

“I wouldn’t say he deserved any,” Tarquin replies.

With the evil magister and his followers dead, there’s no reason for you to stay here in the catacombs—or is there?

“Should we be worried about the darkspawn?” you ask Mae. “The, uh, intelligent talking darkspawn living in the tunnels under Minrathous?”

She sighs. “They helped us,” she says.

“They’re still darkspawn.”

“That’s true,” she says. “But… let’s let them be a problem for another day.”

You can’t deny that it would be a relief not to have to deal with them now. And, given the consequences you’re already facing from Ashur’s chance encounter with a darkspawn claw during your battle with the mages, perhaps it’s for the best if you leave the rest of them in peace for now.

Instead, you follow the tunnels back as best you can, trying to recall your journey into the bowels of the catacombs. There are a few wrong turns along the way but, eventually, you make it to fresh air and starlight. It’s time to get to the Proving Grounds.

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