<div align="center">(http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110225013516/dragonage/images/thumb/e/e1/Free_Marches.jpg/728px-Free_Marches.jpg)<br/><br/>(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/2317152659_7f9890a2bd.jpg)</div><br/><div align="center"><strong>Jalen Rivers Intro</strong></div><br/><div class="floatleft">(http://images.sixrevisions.com/2009/09/03-17_angry_mage.jpg)</div>The City of Starkhaven was buzzing with activity, as crowds upon crowds of people were being herded into the makeshift stadium for the Grand Tourney. Starkhaven had always been a very busy city with some of the proudest of those who lived in the Free Marches calling it home. But in the weeks building up until this Grand Tourney, it had just got busier and busier. People from all over Thedas had come. From the Rich wanting to see a good show, to mercenaries and soldiers wanting fame and fortune. Brothels had sprung up in buildings all over town and fights were becoming more and more common in the pubs. But there was a general excitement and merchants, landlords and other rich people, were getting extremely richer.<br/><br/>And some would say something like this was needed. After the events at Kirkwall, the tension between the Templars/Chantry and the Circle of Magi was ever growing, and that seemed to filter down into how the Templars treated the normal folk, and more and more people were being accused of being apostate. Add to that the fact that some of the Quanari had fled from Kirkwall and set a camp outside Starkhaven had made everyone in Starkhaven a bit wary. And the Prince of Starkhaven had been building an army to go to Kirkwall and bring a magician named Anders to justice for his actions in Kirkwall that saw the Chantry attacked by some sort of magic. The Quanari mistook this army as a threat to them, which is why that Army had not left Starkhaven yet. And everything had been put on hold for the Grand Tourney. That was a Free Marches tradition that even the Prince of Starkhaven wouldn't break.<br/><br/>And it was the Grand Tourney that was responsible for Jalen Rivers current employement. With the Prince of Starkhaven having started recruiting for the army, the City Guard was short on numbers, and had hired mercenaries for the event. The success of these hirings varied drastically, some mercenaries being sentenced to death for some of the things they did as "City Guards". But Starkhaven were paying Jalen, and his orders were to keep the peace and that's what he had been doing. So much so that he had risen enough to be considered one of the most reliable mercenaries and had been stationed inside the stadium to keep the peace during the Grand Tourney.<br/><br/>He would have loved to have competed in the Tourney, but Jalen knew that without his magic, he was no match for some of the people he would have to duel. He was a great warrior, he didn't doubt that. But what turned his good skills with a blade into being a great warrior was the magic inside of him. He could enchant his weapon, surrounded himself with a protective shield and Rock Armor, heal himself and throw people around with his Force Magic. Without that, he would be good enough to beat a few people, but he wouldn't be a contender. And it wasn't a good time to be a Mage. Even if you were in the Circle of Magic, the Templars were reportedly getting crueller and crueller. And their pursuit of Apostates had grown in fevre. So to come to the Grand Tourney and start flaunting magic would be a stupid idea.<br/><br/>Instead he was to stand on the sidelines and watch the competition. He couldn't complain, because he would have the best seat in the house. Some even said the Hero of Ferelden or Hawke may show up to the Tourney, but neither seemed like the type that needed to boost their reputation. A loud gong interupted his thoughts as the Master of Ceremonies started to introduce the Grand Tourney.<br/><br/>The Show was about to begin!<br/>