All evidence seem to indicate that these countless human sacrifices were meant to meet a purpose of a magical nature. Furthermore, the outlines and patterns of Kirkwall's intersections, back alleys, and boulevards bear a striking resemblance to those found on magical glyphs. The sewers even have grooves where blood would flow, all leading down.

Whole buildings were built upon lakes of blood. The blood of these countless slaves that went missing were spilled beneath the city in sacrifice. Over the centuries, practically a whole civilization of slaves simply disappeared from the hordes of slaves that passed through Kirkwall. When the Tevinter Imperium first occupied Kirkwall centuries ago, hundreds of Tevinter mages lived and researched in this hidden underground maze - far from the scrutiny of common men. In the sewers underneath the city, there is a hive of hidden passages and caves. These disturbing issues may be attributed to the fact that the Veil is thin in Kirkwall, though some have also speculated that Corypheus' presence near the city might have been a factor. A greater percentage of them do not survive the Harrowing and a greater percentage turn to blood magic - almost double that of Starkhaven or Ostwick. Indeed, the mages of Kirkwall have a more troubled history than those in any other Circle. Kirkwall has long suffered from endless plagues of violence, lunacy, human sacrifice, and blood magic.

This stranglehold on sea traffic is jealously guarded by the ever-changing rulers of the city as the net trolls taxes, tolls, and extortions in from the sea. Kirkwall sits next to the narrowest point of the Waking Sea, and a massive chain net can be erected between the statues and the lighthouse, closing off the only narrow navigable lane. Flanking the channel are two massive bronze statues-the Twins of Kirkwall. Over the years, the Chantry has effaced many of these profane sentinels, but it will take many more years to erase them all.Īlso carved into the cliff is a channel that permits ships into the city's interior. It is visible for miles, and carved into the cliff side are a pantheon of vile guardians representing the Old Gods.

A ship approaching the harbor spots the city's namesake: an imposing black wall. The city's complicated past is not easy to forget, history having earmarked many corners of the stone city. Natives of Kirkwall are known as 'Kirkwallers'. Kirkwall has changed hands many times and has always been a valuable port, the nexus of nearly all trade that flows between the Free Marches and Ferelden.

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