Asunder read-along: Chapter 11

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THE READ-A-LONG

What is this? The read-a-long is an opportunity to do a long distance book club with other Dragon Age fans, where once a week one chapter will be discussed in David Gaider's tie-in novel, Asunder

[Official book teaser blurb]The destruction of Kirkwall's Circle of Magi has brought chaos to the lives of mages and templars throughout Thedas. Some mages teeter on the bring of rebellion against their templar watchers, while others struggle to maintain order and stability amid the tides of change.

In the majestic White Spire, at the heart of templar power in Val Royeaux, tension have reached the boiling point. The actions of a few radicals draw the attention of the Seekers, a powerful and secret segment of the templars, who arrive to take command and restore order no matter the cost. To make matters worse, a mystical killer stalks the White Spire's halls, invisible to all save one lone mage.

As Rhys is the only one who can see the killer, all eyes turn to him as the prime suspect in the murder investigation. With little hope of proving his innocence, Rhys's future looks to be short and grim. But his skill with spirit magic earns him a reprieve, as he is drafted into an expedition traveling deep into the western wastelands of Orlais. There, his fate will become entwined with that of a beautiful templar, a tormented soul, and Wynne--heroine of the Blight. Together they will uncover a secrete far greater than they imagined. One that will change the fate of mages in Thedas forever.

If you've read it and have Thoughts or Feels, comment to discuss! Discussion can be serious or snarky, but please keep it constructive and not destructive.

- Chapter 1 (09-Sep)
- Chapter 2 (16-Sep)
- Chapter 3 (23-Sep)
- Chapter 4 (30-Sep)
- Chapter 5 (07-Oct)
- Chapter 6 (14-Oct)
- Chapter 7 (21-Oct)
- Chapter 8 (28-Oct)
- Chapter 9 (04-Nov)
- Chapter 10 (11-Nov)

(If the first person who gets to this post can start a comment thread entitled 'Serious Discussion' and a second one for 'Snarky Discussion', I would greatly appreciate it.)

[Chapter 11]Chapter 11 Synopsis

The music Cole heard threatens to drown him, then is silent--but he finds himself in a war-torn city he doesn't recognize. There are darkspawn there--sort of. They look like the creatures he fought in the wastes, but don't feel right. He fights them, then Wynne, Rhys, Adrian, Shale, and Evangeline show up, and Wynne comments that everyone was sucked into the Fade in the ritual, and not just her. They're in Denerim, or Wynne's memory of Denerim during the final attack of the Fourth Blight. Everyone else can see Cole, they realize who he is, and they begin to fight over what to do with him when the Archdemon comes.

All six of them fight the Archdemon, Cole finally saving Rhys's life before being separated from the rest of them by the buffeting winds of the Archdemon's wings and a collapsing building. Another argument ensues, this time about what comes next in light of the unforseen predicament, and it's decided that Wynne, Shale, and Adrian will go to find the demon possessing Pharamond while Rhys and Evangeline will go search for Cole.