Tori and the others ran after Coryoheus, quickly catching up with him and jumping into the fray.

Corypheus added two new attacks to his repertoire- first teleporting to one corner of the plaza, then creating two large beams that sweep across the entire field to convalesce into the opposite corner. When those attacks failed, he used the same attacks as before.

They thought they had him beat when he seemed to waiver, but it was a mistake that cost them dearly.

Tori had been knocked back into a wall and Corypheus made to deal a finishing blow, but Ryder had stepped in front of Tori and took the attack head on.

"Hawke!"

"Ryder, no!"

Ryder stood there, rooted to the spot as smoke swirled around him from the blast.

"Ryder... why..?"

Ryder looked over his shoulder and managed a smile as he looked at Tori. "This war... Corypheus... Anders and Fenris... it's all my fault..."

Tori shook her head, forcing herself to her feet. "No, it's not!" Her eyes widened and she rushed forward to catch Ryder as he fell back. "Ryder, stay with me!"

Ryder reached up, touching her cheek as he smiled weakly. "I'll be with my family again... and Fenris..."

Varric had run over, kneeling next to them. "Hang in there, Hawke."

Ryder coughed, a lethal amount of blood spewing out. "I'm sorry... for everything..."

Tori shook her head, the tears beginning to slip down her cheeks. "You don't have to apologize... it's OK, just stay with me... please..!"

Ryder's eyes glazed over and his hand fell limply to his side, his head rolling back.

Varric shut his eyes and looked away, trying to hold back his own tears as Tori cried out- holding a now dead Ryder Hawke in her arms.

The others stood there, shocked and angered, while Corypheus watched with a sick sense of pride.

Tori heard him begin to laugh and she glared at him. "You're going to pay for this!" She set Ryder down and stood, taking her sword in hand and charging at Corypheus.

The others watched as Tori unleashed fury upon the darkspawn magister, forcing him to try to use the orb once more.

"Not like this!" Corypheus snarled, clearly weakened from the battle, as he drew in the orb. "I have walked the halls of the Golden City, crossed the ages... Dumat! Ancient Ones! I beseech you!"

Tori activated the Anchor, aiming it at Corypheus.

"If you exist- if you ever truly existed- aid me now!"

Tori used the Anchor to overpower Corypheus' unstable hold over the orb's magik and drew the orb into her before aiming it at the Breach and sending the magik sky high into the eye of the Breach.

Corypheus, having fallen to his knees, looked at Tori as she advanced- the orb dropping to the ground.

"You wanted into the Fade?" Tori asked before opening a rift within Corypheus and watching as he collapsed into himself and vanished.

Around them, the ground sank back towards the earth from whence it came as the magik dissipated with Corypheus' demise. When the dust cleared, Tori got to her feet and went over to Solas as he knelt in front of the orb- holding its shattered pieces in his hands.

"Solas?"

"The orb."

Tori felt her chest aching at the sight of his distress. "I know you wanted the orb saved. I'm so sorry."

Solas looked at her. "It is not your fault." He stood and turned to her, his brow furrowed.

"There's more, isn't there?"

"It was not supposed to happen this way. No matter what comes, I want you to know that you will always have my respect." He looked away.

Tori made to go to him, embrace him or comfort him, but she heard Cassandra calling to her. "Come on, let's rejoin the others." She turned to find where the others were, going down the steps.

"Morrigan, you're alright!" Tori felt a sense of relief when she saw Morrigan walking with her companions.

Morrigan nodded. "And you are victorious, I see. What a novel result." She looked up at the sky. "And it seems the Breach is finally closed."

Tori nodded. "Looks that way."

"What do we do now?" Cassandra asked.

Tori looked back at the top of the stairs, seeing that Solas had disappeared. She sighed, turning back to the others. "We go back to Skyhold."

The rest of the night was one big celebration: one to recognize the victory won at the Temple of Sacred Ashes and to remember those who fell during the war. Tori made her way through the great hall of the keep, speaking with her companions- consoling Varric after Ryder's sacrifice- and her advisors before making her way up to her bedroom.

She stood out on the balcony, her sons tucked safely away in bed.

"There you are."

Tori turned to see that Cullen had joined her. "Sorry, I needed to get away."

Cullen's brow furrowed at her expression. "It wasn't your fault, Tori. For Hawke's death."

Tori sighed and stepped into his embrace as he wrapped his arms around her. "I know, but I feel responsible nonetheless."

"He will be remembered, just as Theon and Fenris will. Just as all those who fell in battle fighting for what they believed was right." Cullen kissed the top of her head. "You came back to us, in one piece. Their memory will live on in you."

Tori managed a small smile at that. "You always seem to know just the right thing to say."

Cullen smiled, holding her closer. "Not always, but in this case I would have to agree."

In the days, weeks, months, and years to come following the victory and end to the war, many things changed. Two years after the fall of Corypheus, Divine Victoria called an Exalted Council to determine the fate of the Inquisition. Orlais and Ferelden had strong opinions- despite Tori's close relationship with its king and the arl of Redcliffe- and both of their representatives would have the Inquisitor's ear.

And all the while, a plot involving the Qunari and members of the Qun was uncovered. Despite trying to deal with the issue silently as to not raise a panic, Arl Teagan and Lord Cyril were very displeased that the Inquisition hid it from them. Though the main members of the council were furious and they knew the fate of the Inquisition- as well as the rest of Thedas- hung precariously close to the edge, Tori and the others were determined to put a stop to it and remedy the situation before it was too late.

During their investigations and their travels through the eluvians, Tori and her companions uncovered the truth and whereabouts of an old friend. The Qunari involved in the actions taken against the Inquisition believed that Tori and the others were agents of Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf of the elvhen people. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Fen'Harel led a rebellion against the other elven gods known as the Evanuris. His original name, however, was Solas. Though meant to be an insult, Solas took the name "Dread Wolf" as a badge of pride, as it inspired hope in his friends and fear in his enemies as he fought against the false gods of the pantheon - in reality, mortal mages - called the Evanuris.

In their lust for more power, the other Evanuris murdered Mythal, whom Fen'Harel saw as the best of "the first of his people," a voice of reason and one of the only decent beings among the elvhen pantheon. As punishment, Fen'Harel was driven to create the Veil, banishing the Evanuris forever in torment and causing the legend of his supposed betrayal. However, Solas claimed that had he not banished the Evanuris, they were sure to destroy the world.

During the height of the Evanuris' power, Fen'Harel fought as a powerful protector and rebel who worked to free slaves bound by vallaslin and granted them sanctuary from their tyrannical masters. His people defended the valley in which the sanctuary sat, and he protected them all. Many the Dread Wolf freed joined him in his fight for freedom from the contemporary times, Solas' unswerving dedication to restore the elves' glory has amassed him many followers among the elven populace across Thedas. None can guess how vast the agents of Fen'Harel are, but many of them span across Thedas and some were even embedded in the Inquisition. Fen'Harel hopes to restore the People and the world to what it was-the world of the ancient elves-even if it means destroying Thedas and its people, including modern day elves. This had in fact been his initial plan: to use the Orb of Fen'Harel, as well as the Inquisitor's mark (which would not kill him), to remove the Veil and restore the People after Corypheus died unlocking its power.

Fen'Harel vowed to walk the solitary path of the Din'Anshiral in order to restore the elvhen people at any cost. Prior to this fateful decision, Fen'Harel had made use of his agent, Felassan, to take control of the eluvian network in order to further his plans to restore the People. When Felassan failed, the Dread Wolf killed his old friend and personally wrested control of the mirrors from Briala, as well as the Dragon's Breath.

After these events were brought to a close, Tori returned to the Winter Palace. She had her arm cut off from the elbow down to stop the mark from spreading even further after finding out from Solas that it could not be removed and would kill her. She brought evidence to the attention of the council and made the decision that the Inquisition would not disband but instead serve as a peacekeeping force under direct command of the Divine herself.

The Exalted Council came to its end and Tori and her companions and friends said their goodbyes before they went their separate ways.

Cassandra continued her reign as Divine Victoria, rebuilding fractured alliances and settling the Inquisition into its new role as her personal guard.

Sera had asked Tori to be "Red Jenny" and with the Inquisition now answering to the Divine, Sera joined the Tori in officially retiring from scaring people in high places. By formal account, both would lead boring, safe lives nowhere special doing not much at all. And with that comforting lie, those in power continued their fragile lives as though all was back to normal. Meanwhile, Red Jenny, an entirely separate person not at all collectively embodied by Sera, Tori, and countless friends continued to make a difference, or just have fun, where and when the impulse struck.

Vivienne became a Grand Enchanter for the College of the Bright Hand. With the Inquisition no longer the power it had been, the College of the Bright Hand floundered and she succeeded in pushing it into the margins of the Circle politics. No longer anyone's hands, its leaders reforged it as the College of Enchanters, breaking away completely from the Circle.

Varric returned to Kirkwall where he was named Viscount. Under his rule, the city-state finally resumed its place as the major trade hub of the Free Marches. He continued to ignore all mail from both the Merchants Guild and the Prince of Starkhaven, Sebastian.

The Iron Bull and the Bull's Chargers returned to taking jobs throughout Orlais and Ferelden.

Leliana continued to act as the Inquisition's spymaster in its final months as an independent organization. During this time, she shared many of her responsibilities with her most trusted agents, including Charter, Rector, and Harding. Many believed that Leliana feared what lay on the horizon and was grooming successors in anticipation of the challenges ahead.

Dorian returned to Tevinter to take his father's place in the Magisterium. As rumors flew about the Imperium's infighting, Dorian was spoken of often as a voice of resistance against corruption. Along with Magister Maevaris Tilani, he formed a group called the Lucerni to restore and redeem Tevinter - a fight many thought hopeless. Those fighting by Magister Pavus' side noted that he kept in constant communication with Tori via message crystal. Whether for vital information or for moral support, these talks seemed to give Dorian the strength to continue his fight.

Not long after the defeat of Corypheus, Tori and Cullen were blessed with a daughter and named her Rylee. During the beginning of the Exalted Council, they slipped away and were married in the palace gardens by Mother Giselle- who had taken to acting as an advisor to the Divine. After the Inquisition transferred to a peacekeeping role, Cullen and Tori were able to spend more time together. Cullen continued to serve as commander of the Inquisition forces, aiding Tori in service to Divine Victoria. That is, after a long-overdue visit to Cullen's siblings, who were overjoyed to meet their new sister-in-law and their children.

After the Exalted Council, Thom Rainier- formerly known as "Blackwall"- bid farewell to his friends and went to Weisshaupt fortress to pledge himself to the Grey Wardens for good. While he was rarely seen in the years that followed, some said they encountered Rainier in far-flung lands, their accounts always similar. Rainier carried out the duty of the Wardens, but always found time to help others along the way. Sometimes he served as a shield for the defenseless. Other times, he spread simple cheer among children with gifts of small, carved toys. He continued to use "Blackwall" not as a name, but instead as a title in memory of the man the name belonged to and all that he stood for and vowed to teach others the way Gordon Blackwall had him.

After easing the Inquisition's transition into the Chantry, Josephine returned to Antiva and her family. Thanks to Tori's help, the Montilyets were once again permitted to trade in Orlais. The next few years were a busy time, as many ships with the Montilyet crest were built and set sail again from Antivan harbors. Soon, Rivaini pirate captains with an ancient feud against Josephine's ancestors took to the seas, determined to rekindle the rivalry. Apart from Josephine's sister, Yvette, nearly eloping with a dashing pirate prince on one occasion, Lady Montilyet took the development in stride.

Cole took to the road with Maryden to find a new life and a new way to be human. Wherever Maryden went to sing, people found old pains eased and hearts made happier... even if they didn't understand why.

After the events at the Winter Palace, elves left the Inquisition under mysterious circumstances, as did elvhen servants across Thedas. None could say where they went, but those who believed Tori's story about Fen'Harel wondered just how large the Dread Wolf's forces were... and what the ancient elvhen rebel had planned.

The Inquisition carefully gave over many of the duties it had held. As the Divine's personal honor guard and peacekeeping force, the Inquisition shrank to a more manageable size. Many who had served went home, though the remaining force was still enough to give pause to any who might threaten the Divine's plans. Those who served the new Inquisition were tested and checked thoroughly, in the hope of ferreting out any more spies within its ranks. With the Dragon's Breath disrupted and any hope of a swift victory dashed, the Qunari retreated back to the North. Few knew what debates were waged in Par Vollen, but not long after the Exalted Council, the Qunari launched new attacks against Tevinter. Their aggression caught the already unstable Imperium off guard. Tevinter was soon mired in a war many feared could spread across Thedas.