Kass tried to resist as she was pulled forward toward the altar. Her heart raced with fear and just a little excitement, but mostly dread at the fate that lay ahead of her. The shades pulled her arms along the ground one on each side of her cutting her legs along the sharp rocks as they did so. The sky was purple and empty above them and the ground was red like, the blood that now pumped through Kass's veins at great speed. This was the fade, the realm of spirits where men and elves go to dream. But her nightmare was very real and so was the danger.
As the shades approached the altar, the ground began to split; out from the crack slowly appeared a beautiful figure, dressed in fine clothes and gifted with a soft voice.
Only the horns that lay upon her head betrayed her foul intentions. "Surrender, elf mage... do not fight it anymore" her voice echoed through the fade and as she heard it Kass felt her very soul warm. "everything you want... every desire, I can give it all to you" the mage found herself weak at the demons words. Its power compelled her not to fight. But she knew the consequences of a deal with a desire demon She had to fight back!
Pulling hard against the shades holding her arms, she fought with all her strength to wriggle free, but they were too strong They picked her off of the ground and laid her flat on the altar, on its cracked stone, which is ancient in appearance. They held her down, one by the legs, the other by the arms. "you will learn not to fight me... you will learn to love me Kassabell... you will know my will!" The demon drew closer to her, pressing its face against hers, one horn beginning to break the skin on the young girl's forehead. a small stream of blood ran down her face, meeting the demons lips. "So sweet... elven blood... so innocent... so weak..."
"I.. am not weak" the elf suddenly pulled one leg free from the shade, quickly she landed a kick onto the surprised shade, forcing it back for long enough for her to escape from the other others grasp. "You will not have me!" The demon stepped back in shock from this occurrence. Until now only the strongest mages had been able to resist it or even tried!, yet this girl could. The demon felt its power weaken. Though many demons had powers of their own, the desire demons feed from the weakness of their victims... their fears, their needs.. their desires. Now that the girl was strong, the demon had no influence over her a moment later and the demon was gone.
Kass awoke in her bed with a shudder. the sun had just begun to rise over the alienage. All was calm, at least for now. While most humans and elves visited the fade in spirit when they dream, Kass like all mages had the ability to visit the fade physically. This is the source of the mages' power, however it is also the source of a great danger, that they have to face. Most mages learn to control their powers under the stewardship of the circle, they are taught how to fight the demons and protect themselves. Under the chantry's order all mages in Ferelden are taken to the tower. Those, that break the chantry's rules are killed in order to prevent the mages from ever creating another evil like the darkspawn. Although the darkspawns were created only by a few mages, it is a burden they all share and in the circle many of them pay for it in blood. Those mages who exist outside the chantry are apostates, hunted for their gift and feared across Thedas.
Kass is one of them, protected by her father from birth in fear of losing her to the circle.
As Kass laid in her bed, still shaking from the ordeal with the desire demon, her mind rested on the thought that it was all over. Little did she know that her life was about to change forever.
A few hours later Kass casually strolled out into the main room of her fathers hovel. They were neither particularly poor, nor rich by elven standards, but that still made them almost destitute by human standards. Zaltan gestured his daughter to sit by him for breakfast. She did not dare to tell him of her visit to the fade. When he found out, that she possessed magic skills, he told her, that she would be sent to the circle for her own protection if it ever posed her danger. Usually the girl would be expected to complete her various chores before breakfast, however today was a special day, a double wedding took place in the Denerim alienage. Not only that, but news of a Shemlen Grey warden's arrival had everyone on edge.
Dressed in her best rags Kass followed her father through the desolate and ruined streets. Few humans had ever seen how the city elves live And fewer even cared. Yet there was joy to be found in this rough life. Kass had never been to a wedding before. Her father was not always keen on taking her outside lest it be discovered she was a mage. As they approached the square, it became clear, that something was awry in the alienage. A human stood over the unconscious body of one of the grooms, screaming slurs and demanding their obedience. His men pulled the bride away alongside several other guests. "I want them to be taken to the estate especially the one that bottled me!" Elder Valendrian begged the Shemlen to reconsider his oppressive demands: "Please sir! Let the guards deal..." he was interrupted by a slap and a swift fall to the ground "Do any other knife ears fancy arguing?... I didn't think so"
Kass's father tugged upon her shoulder in an attempt to urge her away, but she found herself unable to move, simply shocked by the event unfolding in front of her. "Who is this Mabari bitch staring at me?" he barked out loud... It took a few moments before to Kass's misfortune she realized he was talking to her. "Kassabell Toljen, my liege. Please, she meant no harm, she is only a young girl." Zaltan nervously uttered in bated breaths. "Why not let your insolent whelp of a girl speak for herself?", snapped the nobleman. As soon as her mouth opened, she felt a gauntlet slip across it. The Shemlen's hand had drawn blood from his spiky armor's contact with her face. And then... blackness.
As she awake, Kass found herself on a cold, hard, stone floor. The blood on her face now dried and darkened in color, but the bleeding had stopped. She looked around the room. Its many chairs and tables aimed toward a warm fireplace at the other end of the room. This single sitting room was at least as large as Zaltan's and her home. She felt an ache all over her body and an intense fatigue. Though spell casting had always been difficult for the young mage without any proper teaching, there was never a better time to try than now. Pressing her palm against her chest, Kass closed her eyes and cleared her mind of all distractions. Eventually she felt the energy building up inside of her its warmth filling her bones, and she felt well again.
Just a moment later the nobleman and his thugs entered the room, throwing the body of an elf onto the floor. "Now for the staring knife ear..." He said with a smug grin. Kass pulled herself to her feet and considered running, but the door that was now blocked by her aggressors was the only escape. She slowly stepped backwards toward the fireplace, as the Shemlens pressed even closer. Her heart steadily increasing in speed and her calm ever crumbling into fear, Kass did not know what the nobleman would do to her, but considering the dead girl on the floor it couldn't be good. As her back reached the fire, almost close enough for it to burn, she knew there was no escape. Her panic now all consuming in its might. "Please don't let this be real... wake me up form this please... let it be another dream" she thought to herself. But alas it was no dream.
The nobleman raised his hand towards her neck, ready to grab the Mage's throat. Not knowing what to do, she began to feel the warmth inside of her again, but this time... different, it was not comforting like before. the heat inside of her felt painful almost uncontrollable but she could not stop herself now. She closed her eyes and forced her hand up, meeting the noble's own at his wrist, and by the time the contact was made, it was over. As Kass opened her eyes again, she saw only charred bodies, all killed... by her. Exhaustion took over the poor elf and she fell onto her knees. Somehow she has casted a fire strong enough to decimate the city's finest and it had taken all of the energy from her bones. As she looked upon the dead Shemlens she began to cry softly, knowing this was the end for her. Unable to walk, she sat near the fire, awaiting her fate.
The next few days were spent inside Denerim's filthy prison, The cell Kass found herself in was not much bigger then 10x10 feet in size. Dark, windowless and dirty, the only company being the occasional rat that would scurry into the young mages view, only to dart away again. Time flowed slowly with nothing to do, except contemplate the horrific events of the past few days. Drying her newest wave of tears away on the sleeve of her rags, the elf began to hear the sound of footsteps and the voice of 2 humans faintly echoing through the hollow hall outside of her cell. Although words were hard to make out through the thick stone walls, her name was distinctly mentioned. Fearful of what may come, the elven girl huddled into the corner, as the footsteps slowly grew in volume and the voices became ever more clear. A face came into view that of the jailor a man who had few interactions with Kass, past giving her food and checking the locks now and then. A second later came another face. This one was new. The man who owned it stood tall and prideful, clad in expensive armor and carrying a hefty sword. He moved with precision and deliberateness each stride firm but, gentle making little noise upon the hard ground. His voice was powerful, yet soothing, with a strong sense of wisdom about it. "My name Is Duncan, I'm here to talk to you."