Was thinking about Lyna's AU - the one I've written bits and pieces of here, going to Skyhold instead of ignoring the summons - and have considered how it changes the rest of her story.
("Vigilance" spoilers below! so readers who don't want a spoiler, best avoid. Sorry, mobile won't let me use a "read more" cut. Mehhhh.)
When she came to the Inquisition, it was with the understanding the organization would help her in turn. And Dagna does turn her mind toward what could be done about the Calling, especially if it might do something about the false Calling too. But she has a lot to do, so she doesn't make many strides toward that, but she did manage a kind of resistance potion - an accidental byproduct of her enchanting experiments and the insights gained. (She had some of Lyna's notes and research to use as well, so it's not like she stumbled on it completely blindly.) Having Dierdre Hawke around to tell them how Anders, Larius, Janeka, and the Carta fell prey to Corypheus's influence at the Vimmark Prison also helped, especially how Anders was able to resist. (Dierdre and Lyna have some shouted words at each other over that, walking away from that yet again understanding neither was perfect but damn did they fuck up.)
But then Lyna goes with the Inquisition to Adamant Fortress. And in trying to chase down Corypheus's dragon - which she senses is and isn't an Archdemon, it didn't have the sheer godlike horrifying aura Urthemiel did - she fell off the bridge along with the Inquisitor, Stroud, Hawke, and the others.
The Nightmare was merciless with her, picking and picking because she's been a favourite meal of his for ten years. The others are astonished at its focus on her alonside the Inquisitor, as is she until she finally realizes why: it's afraid. It knows all about Sloth, the Blackmarsh Baronness, the others. And there is a moment where she is about to stay behind to kill the Nightmare, once and for all, but the Inquisitor and Stroud both overrule her in that decision.
"You must lead the Wardens on a better path," Stroud says before he takes off.
Lyna does not forgive either of them for that, though Zevran does when he shows up at Skyhold. He is done with her martyring herself, and he has largely settled his debts with the Crows (he is on the verge of completely taking over), so he rejoins Lyna regardless of her grumping about the dangers to him. (They had seperated for a time because their individual goals kept interfering with each other, and they had trouble allowing each other to do what they needed to do regardless of the danger. They always kept in touch and made time to see each other, but they spent several years largely being apart.)
So. Lyna returns from the Fade and the Inquisitor banishes the Wardens from Orlais - a stupid move, Lyna believes, though she does agree the Wardens are vulnerable to Corypheus. It's not like the darkspawn ever really take a vacation, they just don't swarm so much on the surface in non-Blight times.
Lyna takes over the remaining Wardens - amused that her command has now greatly expanded with the Orlesians - and makes a show of the whole banishment thing. She instructs small cells to stay in Orlais, with Dagna's resistance potions, and tells them to keep a low profile and keep doing their damn jobs. Meanwhile, she and Zevran takes the rest of the Wardens off to Weisshaupt because the First Warden has a fuckload of explaining to do and she's done with his shit. On arrival she finds out about Valya and the griffons, and all of this sparks off what I call the Grey Warden Civil War.
Basically there is a division of philosophy among the Wardens, those heavily supporting the First Warden and his cronies deep in politics and "whatever it takes." Despite some of Lyna's actions and decisions, she's not a believer in that, usually preferring to save people and eliminate the Blight or sources of taint. It's extenuating circumstances or the bigger picture that's had her choosing seemingly contradictory decisions.
The fighting is largely confined to the Anderfels with some spillover into Tevinter, Lyna's side hampered a bit by still trying to keep Wardens doing their jobs instead of fighting each other. But eventually the griffons help turn the tide, and a rumor as well as a raid into Weisshaupt reveals they had the cure for the Calling all along. (Hence why the First Warden has been angling for the Anderfels throne - he can be miraculously cured and retain considerable martial and political power as a conceivable usurper candidate.) This further shatters the Wardens, with Lyna able to eliminate the holdout leadership and take over as First Warden.
This leaves her with several years of picking up the pieces and completely restructuring the Grey Wardens and how they work fighting the Blight. All of this leaves her a harder person, though she has an easier time with the cure (versus the cure she crafts on her own with help from Scipio, Feynriel, and Emrys Surana, which takes a big hit to her overall health). She still ends up having kids, but they are born a few years later than they would have been, and Junar (Zevran's son) winds up a full year older than Merana than he would have been. Conceived and born during all this struggle, Junar is even more distanced from his famous mother, and has a harder time not feeling bitter toward his half-sibs (because they are conceived and born when Lyna enters a more retired and diplomatic role attached to Alistair's court, and has had more time for them).
