Shale couldn't help but grumble at the confusing method in which Reegan talked, but didn't say more than that.
As the group approached the gates, two dwarves met them with hands raised to halt their progress. "Hold it, this land is held in trust of the Sovereign Dwarven Kings, I cannot allow entry at this time."
"I wish to speak with your king, it's urgent." The Knightess said in response, hand reaching into a pouch to retrieve something.
"Orzammar has no king. Endrin Aeducan returned to the Stone no three weeks ago, sick over the loss of his sons." The dwarf said, tone turning from the commanding boom he had used to one of melancholic quietness. This made Naeve pause for a moment before continuing, her comrades murmuring in their own way.
The dwarf continued. "The Assembly has gone through a dozen votes without agreeing on a successor. If it's not settled, we risk a civil war."
Allistar joked. "I guess Reegan here wasn't kidding about the talk of Nobles offing each other."
She would eventually pull out a seal with a symbol unknown to the heroes, speaking to the Dwarf. "I am a Grey Warden, this treaty obliges Orzammar to aid me."
The Dwarf took the seal, looking it over. Eyes brimming with recognition. "Well, that is the royal seal. That means the Assembly is authorized to address it. You may pass, Grey Warden."
The Dwarf made to step to the side when he realized just how big of a party that was gathered. "Are all of these..." He paused to look over the colorful faces adorning the various members of the Party. "Travelers with you?"
The Knightess paused before responding without hesitation in her voice. "Yes, I have to gather as many I can for a grave danger that has to be dealt with. They bring with them exotic skills and weapons that are essential to the Grey Warden's mission."
The Dwarf remained quiet before waving his hand. "Head on in, but anything that they do will fall back unto you."
As the group walked through the now opened stone doors, the light going from the stark white glow of the moon on the snow, now a warm brownish color of far-away torches illuminating stone halls. Statues adorning the area they walked past, each with tablets detailing history of said statues, there were some passerby, mostly beggers that looked at the large crowd as they passed by with interest. Some hopeful of coin or food to be passed onto them.
Continuing past that, they'd come to a another door that once walked through would take them to a large courtyard like area with three paths branching off to their right, left and center.
In the center, there looked to be two crowds gathered, facing the other. From the sounds of it, things were not exactly pleasant in the discussion between the two.
One side's leader would say to the other. "It is the Assembly that makes a king, and a king who nominates his successor, none of it is carried in his blood."
The younger dwarf, angry and holding a tone of sheer contempt. "Or, as now, when someone tries using the Assembly to pull a coup."
"Who's to say what my father said in his final hours when the usurper Harrowmont was the only one by his side?" The young dwarf accused the other older dwarf, almost at his throat.
The other dwarf in question did not take kindly to this. "I'll have you thrown in prison!"
Things were escalating as the younger dwarf responded. "You've bitten off more than you can chew!" A dwarf from the Eldest one's group spoke out.
"Handlers, handles these deshyrs in the Diamond Quarter! I will not have Bhelen incite a riot!" This in turn caused a silver armored dwarf next to the young dwarf draw a weapon.
"You will not speak that way about the man who should be king!" And like that, the armored dwarf cut down the poor bastard who called for the Handlers, practically cutting the dwarf in two after tossing said dwarf to the ground. The action causing the other group to disperse amidst screams.
And the other group with the youngest dwarf to calmly walk away.
Leaving the large group that had just entered the city to bear witness to all of that and now, they were left to wander the city as they pleased.