"Kirkwall was originally Emerius, after the Magister who founded it. It supplied jet stone to the Imperium for years before elected the heart of the slave trade after a slave revolt that almost killed Archon Vanarius Issar. Ironically, the city was a major backer for the Imperial Highway which helped Andraste march right in during the revolt."

He pauses and glances over at Cullen with a very small smirk. He doesn't need a reminder of Kirkwall's history. He knows it all. Admittedly only because it's a former Imperial city.

"In the end the city fell in a slave revolt. What is know Hightown was sacked and almost all the signs of Tevinter were destroyed except for those statues. Mostly because of their importance to opening the sea gates. Should I lecture you more? I can even tell you about how it became part of the Free Marches."