"You think I’m a monster? Well, look around then. We’re surrounded by monsters wherever we look. I just have the unfortunate fate of looking monstrous at times instead of hiding it like anyone else."

Story:

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Alison Crest was born in 9:10 Dragon, near Redcliffe Village in Ferelden. Her parents were both Grey Wardens and because of this, she nearly died because of the excess darkspawn taint from her mother. She never got to know much about her parents until she was older. She grew up believing that they had simply abandoned her. She was raised by the Chantry and was easily swayed by the religious upbringing she had. As she grew, Alison showed an interest in wanting to join the Templar Order -- although the Chantry Sisters tried to convince her otherwise. She stubbornly stuck to what she wanted regardless of how much the Chantry Sisters tried to talk her out of it. She saw their eagerness to push her away as a challenge instead.

When Alison enlisted into the Templar Order, she expected things to be super difficult. More so because she was a girl and not a boy. Which wasn’t a far off guess as she did have to prove herself a bit more than the others that were with her. It wasn’t a problem as she just saw it as another challenge and reason to prove herself. If she was able to prove her worth, then it would be better for her in the long run. The training she enjoyed the most was the education and meeting different people. After getting to know her fellow recruits, she realized that she wasn’t alone in being abandoned as a child and was glad to find people that understood her.

During her training, Alison realized that odd things were happening to her… rather around her. One day, she was sparring with a friend and got carried away -- wanting to win the fight. During her slight frenzy, a fire started around them. The two put it out and chalked it up to a random ember fluttering from a nearby torch. However, Alison knew better. As a child, strange things like this happened to her quite a bit. Either random objects moving around or water spouting from a well. Something strange always happened to her and she was never able to explain it. She always assumed she was cursed or something. The strange happenings kept occurring even during her Templar training. This was one of the reasons she joined the Order -- she wanted to find a way to stop these strange things from happening. It wasn’t a major issue until she was training with her mentor. Another fire started when he was teaching her how to subdue magic and he ended up with a serious burn. She was suspended from her duties for a week after a Knight-Captain assessed the situation and Alison felt like she was being abandoned again. A week went by and she found herself even more panicked as she was being taken to the Knight-Commander. The Knight-Commander, and the First Enchanter as well, had tried to understand what was going on with Alison. Having received many reports about “strange things” happening whenever she was worked up. An investigation was done as well, as they inquired about past behaviors and strangeness with the Chantry Sisters she grew up with. Seeing and understanding how scared Alison was, the First Enchanter told her that she was displaying magical powers. Her fear turned to confusion and after hearing his explanation, was less confused. All the strange things that happened around her made sense all of a sudden. The First Enchanter continued by saying that it was probably something she inherited from her mother -- who was a mage. He suggested trying to hone her magic instead of subdue it and Alison agreed, not really seeing an alternative. After a few weeks of testing her magical powers, she was relieved to see she wasn’t a mage after all. She couldn’t conjure magic or manifest it in any form. She resumed her Templar training and officially joined the Order. After going through her vigil, she felt whatever magic powers swelling inside of her going away. Like snuffing a flame on a candle. She was glad that it was gone and didn’t need to bother her again. More or less, she started to feel normal and was appreciative towards the feeling. However, the feeling didn't last long.

Sometime after joining, Alison continued to see the First Enchanter. As he was curious about her magical abilities and if they had truly disappeared. He often spoke about her mother whenever she saw him. She grew to develop a disdain towards her, feeling that it was her mother’s fault that whatever happened to her had occurred. She just wanted a normal life and instead, she got unwanted difficulties instead. Her view on magic was also slightly disjointed because of how the Chantry taught her to view them. Magic was a sin of men who were too curious to stop wondering about godly power or something. She didn’t drink the kool-aid per se but did understand the message. Alison wasn’t against mages or abusive towards simply because they used magic. She was sympathetic towards them and treated them as her equals for the most part. Even after getting to know who her mother was, she didn’t look poorly towards the mages at all. “Everyone’s responsible for their own actions and inactions” was her main thought towards them.

Sometime after she became an official Knight of the Order, Alison did inquire about her parents. Asking the Chantry in Redcliffe first then the First Enchanter himself. Much to her surprise, her mother was inquiring about her as well. When she first saw her mother, Alison was overjoyed. The person she saw lived up to her younger imaginations nearly to the “T”. A strong woman who was as courageous as she was beautiful. However, what soured it was the prolonged talks about Alison’s family lineage and magic. Something that shocked her because Alison the “strange occurrences” were behind her -- and for the most part, they were. Catherine Crest, Alison’s mother, explained the circumstances that led to Alison’s birth and what happened after. After hearing it, Alison felt like the mother she imagined as a child was just that, an imagination. She refused to hear anything her mother tried to tell her and claimed that she was only interested in Alison’s magic. Didn’t hear from her for years and this is why she appears out of the blue. Some time later, Alison inquired to the First Enchanter if what her mother had told them was true. That Alison wasn’t magical herself, but had a magical being living within her. He confirmed it’s possibility but the type of being it was, he couldn’t fathom. She then persisted on asking him if it was possible to try and draw it out. In her mind, if it was out of her body, then she didn’t need to worry about it. However, the way about it wasn’t something she preferred. She’d had to undergo the Tranquil Rite. She continued to stress over it for the following weeks until she heard a voice. She replied back to it and, after a bit, realized the voice wasn’t coming from anyone around her. It was coming from her head. Putting two and two together, she realized that it must’ve been the spirit that was residing in her.

A few more weeks passed and Alison had gotten to know her other half marginally better. She learned it was responsible for the strange occurrences she had and that it was also responsible for keeping her alive… to a degree. Alison, having been the daughter to two Grey Wardens, had enough darkspawn taint in her body to kill her as an infant. If this spirit were to release its grip it had on her, she’d die in a matter of moments. Though thought was terrifying and she realized that any way to split them apart would meet with her demise regardless. That aside, it did give her aid when she needed it. Such as giving her more history on certain magical subjects, how to better wield her weapon, and so on. Their relationship was both peculiar and hidden. She didn’t dare to tell anyone until the First Enchanter inquired about her behavior. She hoped that he would tell the Knight Commander about her, since she was technically an abomination. Instead she wanted to know if it was possible to better harness its power. Relying all the information about the spirit to the First Enchanter. He, along with some others, attempted to make an item to act as a conduit for the spirit’s power. However, without knowing how strong the spirit was, it was hard to gauge. However the project itself was unfinished because Alison was reassigned to serve in the Kirkwall Circle of Magi.

After arriving in Kirkwall, Alison met with the First Enchanter there and inquired if he could help finish what the previous First Enchanter had started. Orsino in fact did finish making the conduit. Although it was rather crude in design, its effect was still there. The gauntlet she had channeled the spirit’s power and it’s only physical properties, was the black and blue imprint it left on the gauntlet. Through the gauntlet, Alison was able to use magic. Although she had no formal training as a mage, the spirit was able to share its knowledge with her. To avoid raised eyebrows, Alison trained for a year with the spirit to better use their combined strength. When she was done, the crux of their power appeared to look like enhanced Templar abilities.

When a wave of refugees came to Kirkwall after the onslaught of the Fifth Blight had started in Ferelden, Alison was there to help. She tried her best to help them as best she was able but she even had her own limitations. That’s when she met with a peculiar individual she wouldn’t soon forget, Hawke. She helped him and his friends get through the wall of refugees, if only to try and work out some sort of deal with someone else. After that was situated, she assumed that was the last she saw of him.

In her second year in Kirkwall, she reunited with a familiar face. Her and Cullen Rutherford had spent some time talking about what happened since they last saw each other. Although it took an immense amount of coaxing on Alison’s part, she was surprised about his disposition towards mages. After hearing his story however, she was less surprised. It sounded like he was in his own ring of hell and opted to hide some of what happened to her since they last saw each other. She tried to help him whenever she could. Such as: chasing down Templar recruits that skipped on training, making sure some of the officers had everything in order when Cullen approached them later, and so on. Anything to make his day a little easier. However, her work was mistaken for his and she was pretty sour that he got promoted over her. She assumed many things but was happy for her friend regardless.

However, that was only the start of her issues. The growing tensions between the mages and the Templars grew by the day it felt like. She tried to do her best to mediate between them and often met success. If not the ire of her Knight-Commander whenever she did so or failed to do so. She simply wanted things to not be strenuous between the two groups. Life was hard enough in Kirkwall, why add mindless animosity to it? When Hawke offered to help, she leapt at it and afterwards, helped him when he needed it. She always met him in the same place, The Hanged Man in Lowtown, when she wasn’t on duty. Being able to get away from the Gallows for even a moment was a relief and loved being in his company. Though some of his associates were mages, she turned a blind eye to them for the most part. They weren’t hurting anyone or doing anything that would warrant her going after them. However, her encounter with Anders was entirely different from that of Hawke and Merrill. Anders was combative of her being a Templar and someone to not trust. After spending some time arguing with him about it, he finally relented. That aside, she took to Hawke and his companions very well and looked forward to future adventures with them.

However, all the wonder was whisked away. Reality kicked in through the Templar officers above her station. Simply because she was sympathetic towards mages, Alison was given tremendous amounts of trouble. Although Cullen helped her from time to time, she didn’t have too many issues with them. She assumed they just wanted to throw their weight around and, for the most part, that’s what it was. This continued through the years and became more of an issue for her. More so because the spirit residing within her wanted to stand up against these people. Knowing how much trouble they cost her every day and how much it wore her out, it just wanted it to stop. Although Alison talked the spirit out of it. At this point, the spirit had its own personality and name. Calling it “Draco” simply because of a fanciful affiliation towards dragons. For both being powerful and strong, which is how Alison thought of him. She often referred to him whenever she was around Hawke and their friends. They didn’t shun her for the idea that Draco was a being from the Fade nor did they ridicule her.

As the years passed by, Alison felt more and more worn out by the Templars. Anyone with the emblem, just about, had some sort of trouble with her. She had it, wanting to simply disappear whenever they saw her. The rise in blood mages made the situations worse and she had a slightly hard time hiding the fact that some of her friends were mages. She did look out for them all the same however. She tried to keep the peace between the waging groups in the Gallows, but she wanted to just leave.

There was one incident in particular that made her want to resign. There was an apprentice mage that went missing and Alison set out to her him. After asking for Hawke’s help, they found the young mage trying to fight off some bandits. They chased him around for a bit before finally catching up to him. When they did, another group of Templars had found him and were ready to take him back to the Gallows. However, they wanted to make him a Tranquil, believing that he’d been “tainted”. Alison fought against them, saying that he wasn’t and didn’t get very far. They didn’t believe her and, after a few out of hand comments, the young mage tried to escape and died. In disbelief that her fellow Templars killed an innocent boy, she traveled back to Kirkwall by herself. After a few days, she left the Order and booked a room at The Hanged Man. She couldn’t believe that they simply killed him because of an ill-informed assumption. So she wanted to stay away from them and she did her best… until the streets were flooded with Qunari warriors. The stranded Arishok attempted to overthrow the Viscount and only ended in his own death at the hands of Hawke. Although, because of how strenuous the encounter was, Alison felt as if something was off.

In the following years, Alison kept busy. Mostly working as a mercenary and doing whatever she could to find work. She mostly worked with whatever tasks Varric had for her and was grateful for it. She was also trying to figure out what was going on with her. Since Draco’s power seemed to be fluctuating, growing more and more. Not even he had an answer. She tried to find an answer with the Chantry, asking the Mother there for any and all advice. Although none of it helped out, it made her only more confused and unsure of things. She and Draco tried to figure things out but to little avail.

As the tensions between the mages and the Templars grew, so did everyone’s anger about the situation. Hawke and his friends were tired of the numerous confrontations and they did try to stop them. However, they got out of hand as one thing escalated into another. Soon the city of Kirkwall was a warzone and it was the Qunari all over again. Except, instead of foreigners, it was the faces people have seen every day. The battle in the city eventually led them all into the Gallows, where the Knight-Commander was getting ready to attack and dissolve the Circle. Alison felt that strange feeling she felt when Hawke fought the Arishok. Something inside her wanted to come out and she didn’t know what to do. As the fight escalated, something did happen. Alison collapsed from a crushing weight and was enveloped in a dark light. When it subsided, a monster appeared. Looking more darkspawn and nightmarish than anything else. She attacked the Knight-Commander and helped her friends during the fight. Once it was over, she looked back and disappeared.

About a year later, Alison finds herself in a better place. Mentally, physically, and with how she carries herself. She still has issues but she’s leading a mercenary group calling themselves “The Drake’s Nest”. The group consisted of former Templars and mages, wanting to just help people instead of spreading chaos. Alison wanted nothing to do with them at first but she couldn’t let them do anything stupid that would get them killed. The Drake’s Nest, which she disliked at first, grew on her. She did everything she could to help and protect them. Even going as far as giving them a “tough love” approach to help the former Templars break their lyrium addiction.

Terrance Underhill was both her second-in-command and close friend. He had originally been saved by her from a group of mages and asked for her help in various matters prior to forming Drake’s Nest. To her, Terrance formed the group and she was simply the figurehead -- although it was far from that. She couldn’t lead Drake’s Nest without his help or support. Together, they led their growing group to support the people that were caught up in the Mage Rebellion. Mainly concentrated in the Hinterlands of Ferelden, they had their work cut out for them as they spread themselves through most of the Bannorn.

When word about The Conclave reached Alison, she was curious about how it would be received and set out to learn about it. Much to Terrance’s chagrin, she was seen flying around Haven as a dragon. She only helped the people caught up in the sudden outburst of magical power and fled before anyone could seek her out. However, when she returned to Drake’s Nest, she found out that the newly founded Inquisition had scouts in the Hinterlands. She sought out the Inquisition, offering her services to the scouts and soldiers wherever she could.

Before she offered to assist them further, she was off again. Following a strange revelation amongst her own in which the former Templars were disappearing. Her investigation led her to finding red lyrium. Worried, she revealed this to Terrance and wanted to express her desire for help from the Inquisition. Knowing that the red lyrium she found couldn’t be anything good. She left to go ask for assistance only to arrive in Haven. She returned shortly, disappointed that she didn’t get her assistance, but surprised to find out that Terrance continued where she left off. After a couple nights, he too disappeared and she was worried. She followed the trail he left to try and “bait out” the kidnappers only to find more red lyrium and signs of a struggle. After examining everything, she realized that the people who kidnapped Terrance were Templars and found Therinfal Redoubt. She once again went to Haven and presented her findings to them. Demanding aid instead of asking for it. However, without waiting for a response, Alison left to go save her friend. She intended to attack the Templar stronghold only to learn it was being overrun by Red Templars. Templars that had consumed red lyrium and grew more malicious because of doing so. She aided the Templars where she could before finding her friend and leaving for Haven.

Returning to Haven for a third time, Alison found it under attack by the Red Templars she was running away from. She gave the Inquisition her aid and helped them fight against the Red Templars. Diverting their attention so the Inquisition soldiers could help civilians escape. After seeing an Archdemon, Alison immediately turned her attention to it. Her and Draco work together to keep its attention on them before being thwarted by it. Seeing the Herald of Andraste being overrun by it and its master, Alison tried to save her but failed. She tirelessly searched for the Herald in the ruins of Haven and followed the Inquisition to their new home: Skyhold.

Once at Skyhold, Alison was formally recruited by the Inquisition. Whatever remained of Drake’s Nest also offered their assistance as well, dissolving the group as well. Alison's concerns at the moment were on the survival of her friend -- Terrance. He had been recovering from his “time” with the Red Templars. Going through lyrium withdrawals and looking sickly from having ingested the red lyrium the Red Templars forced him to consume. Knowing that he would recover, she was alleviated but still concerned.

Her concerns were quickly drawn away as the Inquisitor learned that the Grey Wardens were falling under Corypheus’s control. Corypheus being the creature that could wield an Archdemon at its side. Claiming to be one of the infamous Magisters that entered the Black City. Alison was reluctant in seeing where the trouble with the Wardens would lead and wasn’t wrong to assume her mother was somehow involved. Although, she didn’t care too much and still helped the Inquisitor regardless. She fought at Adamant Fortress but fell unconscious fighting Corypheus’s dragon. When she “came to”, the battle had ended and learned what happened from Draco. She was glad that the Inquisitor offered to allow the Grey Wardens to aid them -- seeing as banishing them sounded dumb to her in the off chance a Blight were to occur during all this. She was also glad her mother was all right as well but kept her distance all the same.

After returning to Skyhold, Alison was given a strange object by the Inquisitor herself. She claimed that the person who gave it to her said that Alison would know how to use it. Although, she was baffled by the entire thing. She opted to look into it after Corypheus had been dealt with -- given there was enough to do and this looked like it could wait for another time.

Soon Alison joined her comrades in their adventure to Halamshiral -- the Winter Palace of Orlais. She was personally overjoyed to go, being immensely giddy at the idea of going. She found Orlais to be immensely fascinating with the spy culture that had developed and was looking forward to what sort of trouble they would encounter. She was also elated that Terrance was better enough to go with her as well and spent most of the night making sure he was all right. She had fun too; watching Cullen being pestered by numerous people and drawing more nobles to his side as well. Completely embarrassing her old friend with ease while the Inquisitor ferretted out the identity of the assassin sent to murder Empress Celene. After the night ended, she was more than elated by the whole thing. Murder, mystery, and getting to embarrass her friends. What more could she ask for?

After the events of Halamshiral ended, Alison received a letter from someone. A boy claiming to be her younger brother and wanted to meet her. She was furious to learn that she had yet another sibling and went to confront her mother about it. Although it ended with them both arguing, Alison felt conflicted about it. The Inquisitor offered to help her through it and suggested meeting her sibling -- that he seemed genuinely interested in her. She reluctantly agreed and met him. She didn’t keep her hopes high but wasn’t upset about the whole thing. She learned about her step-father, Arl Teagan Guerrin, as well and as her younger half sibling, Maric. Although the time she spent with them both was brief, she realized how much both meant to her mother. She also realized that she wanted to spend more time with Maric as well. Once again, however, she promised to do so after she wasn’t so busy. She even offered for him to meet some of her friends as well and was looking forward to it.

Since the Inquisition had thwarted Corypheus’s plans, they found out that it had relocated its forces towards the Arbor Wilds. During the fight to get to the ancient temple located there, Alison and Draco used their powers to try and clear the way. Fighting off as many Venatori, Red Templars, and Grey Wardens as they could. However, after seeing Corypheus’s dragon once again, the pair wanted to settle their difference with the beast once and for all. Although, it ended with Draco forcing them towards the temple to aid their friends. When she got there, she saw Samson and the Inquisitor fighting and arrive in time to stop him from trying to kill her friend. She fought Samson, to buy the Inquisitor time to do whatever she needed to do. Afterwards, she returned to Skyhold with him in chains.

Now with Corypheus on the run yet again, the Inquisiton was getting ready to mount another attack on him. One last battle to end his reign of terror once and for all. With Terrance and a few close friends at her side, Alison offered that Drake’s Nest help fight against the demons Corypheus had at its side. Since the majority of the Inquisition’s forces were still in the Arbor Wilds, it could be months before they returned and organized themselves to fight Corypheus again. She led her companions towards Haven, rekindling the idea of the Drake’s Nest possibly returning once more. Like she had before, when Corypheus’s dragon appeared, Alison and Draco instantly went after it to keep its attention. During their fight with the dragon, Alison and Draco had separated -- Draco forming into a high dragon to fight the beast while Alison prepared to tackle it. However, she slipped off the edge of the floating, rocky terrain she had been on. She freefalled to the air, calling for Draco to help her. Draco did merge their consciousness together but a moment too soon. He couldn’t hear or sense her and was shaken about it, going to Alison’s mother for help. Thankfully, Catherine had accompanied them, with a few Wardens, and she brought Alison back to life. The pair became shaken and had a hard time getting over what happened.

As the Inquisition celebrated their victory, Alison was looking for a way to go back to how things were. She looked into the strange object that the Inquisitor gave to her after dealing with the Grey Wardens. She asked her mother about the object and learned it was an artifact from their ancestor -- Tanaleth Crest. A mage that had once served with the Grey Wardens before mysteriously vanishing the night before fighting an Archdemon. Apparently, she had been trapped in the Fade since then for the last few Ages and who knows how many centuries. They leave Skyhold to search for Tanaleth, to save her from her prison. In doing so, Alison was reacquainted with another couple of half siblings of hers. Something she resented but tried to pay little attention to as she hoped Tanaleth would help her and Draco out.

She entered the Fade, with her family, and searched for her ancestor. She slew the demon, with Draco’s help, and saved her ancestor. After helping Tanaleth recover her strength, she learned that Tanaleth also had a spirit living inside of her. This one supposedly took the appearance of a griffon -- something Alison thought to be very on the nose. With Tanaleth’s help, Alison was able to manifest Draco and talk things out about what happened between them. With everything situated, they returned to Skyhold. Tanaleth and Alison were very keen on learning more about the other’s abilities. Upon returning to Skyhold, Alison introduced Tanaleth to the Inquisitor and her advisors. Hoping that maybe this would help her relative learn about the world around her.

A couple years passed and an Exalted Council was called to determine the fate of the Inquisition. To keep it or dismantle it and reallocate its resources. During those two years, Alison spent her time training and keeping their military in shape. She had been appointed to be one of Cullen’s advisors. Although the Inquisition hadn’t used its might since Corypheus had fallen and the odd skirmish with its followers, there wasn’t a real reason for them to engage anyone. She joined Cullen and was looking forward to the Inquisition disbanding. To her, they had outlived their use and it was time to move on.

However, her idea of being able to lay low and relax was too much to ask for. A dead Qunari had been found in Halamshiral -- where the Exalted Council was taking place. With a friend’s help, she was able to learn that the Ben-Hassrath were involved somehow. Digging deeper, that’s exactly what was uncovered. A group of Qunari were using ancient Elven magic to do the bidding of “The Dread Wolf”. She helped the Inquisitor fight off the forces and all the while planning her next steps for after the Inquisition disbanded. She wanted to bring back Drake’s Nest again. Being a part of the Inquisition had satiated her desire to help people but being stationary made everything feel stagnant -- especially as the years went on. She wanted to see the world, witness more adventures, and help anyone in between all of it.

After declaring Drake’s Nest active again, she got married. She had been involved with a Dalish man she had gotten to know since joining the Inquisition. They had shared a lot of moments together and started seeing each other as well. Wanting to make celebrating Drake’s Nest a bigger deal, they were married at Halamshiral -- something that they had been planning as well.

After the events of the Exalted Council, Alison left Halamshiral with Drake’s Nest and started to venture through Thedas. Rumors have claimed that a group of mercenaries had been seen exploring the Free Marches and even into the Imperium.