I do not own Dragon Age Inquisition - As much as I wish I could so I would make the damn sequel already - it belongs to it's original creators (who are amazing in their own right). The opening is 'When it Falls' by Jeff Williams ft. Casey Lee Williams and the ending song is CROSS GAME by Alice Nine.
I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 1: Crisis at Hand! The Mysterious Prisoner?
Opening:
Maybe red's like roses?
Maybe it's the pool of blood
The innocents will lay in
When in the end you've failed to save them?
Their dying eyes
Are wide and white like snow
And now they know
The cost of trusting you's obliteration
Mirrors will shatter
Crushed by the weight of the world
The pillars collapse in shame
There'll be no rest
There'll be no love
There'll be no hero in the end
Who will rise above
And when it ends
The good will crawl
The shining light will sink in darkness
Victory for hate incarnate
Misery and pain for all
When it falls
Swallowed by the darkness
Soon the moon is bathed in black
The light of hope is taken
And discontent is the contagion
The blinding eyes
That burn a yellow flame
The embers that remain
Will light the fuse of condemnation
Kingdoms in tatters
Hung on the brink of a war
The peace will succumb to flames
This is not a tragedy
It's not an accident
You placed your faith in fools
And now you'll smother in lament
They play the part of allies
Claiming peace their only goal
But once the fight for power starts
They'll eat each other whole
Their iron gloves point fingers
They'll wage a war of blame
And mankind will wilt in pain
There'll be no rest
There'll be no love
There'll be no hero in the end
Who will rise above
And when it ends
The good will crawl
The shining light will sink in darkness
Victory for hate incarnate
Misery and pain for all
When it falls
Pain. Envy. Grief. Loss
A handful of emotions rush around the hazy, unclear atmosphere that a young woman finds herself in. The green shades that consume her surroundings do nothing to obscure her ivory hair and crimson eyes nor her pointed ears that signify her as an elf.
She stands unsteady. Her knees ready to buckle in seconds. Her breaths are harsh and long as she struggles to come to grips with what has happened.
Where was she?
What happened?
Where is everyone else?
This questions linger until she notices a bright light – almost like a doorway – that resides at the top of a large climb. A figure – or something like it – lingers beside it, offering it's hand to the young elf who stared in amazement at the sight before beginning her ascent.
However, her attempts do not go unnoticed. For as soon as she is halfway up, noises and tiny screams cry out from behind her. As if out of thin air, an army of rather strange looking spiders of all different shapes and sizes start to chase after the girl as if to keep her trapped forever.
The woman does not stop though. She won't allow herself to be haunted by her fear. She continues pressing onward towards the top, to the figure, to the door. Eventually, her strength has nearly wanned fully as she stretches out her hand to the mysterious figure – clearly drapped in a golden light that then consumes the world that the elf inhibits.
(Hours later…)
Having finally woken up, the eleven woman sat calmly in her cell surrounded by guards that bore a uniform that she did not recognise. After everything that had happened in the past few hours, she had been locked away as a prisoner and was given no reason for it. But despite being a prisoner, she could move freely apart from her hands – which were cuffed together. Perhaps it was done to help ward off the strange green energy that was pulsing from the elf's left hand.
She moved it slightly, causing her left hand to spark with the strange green energy that it now possessed. From personal experience, the woman knew that it was not magic of any kind that this world should possess and yet it was now attached to her.
But why?
She was disturbed from her thoughts when the jail door swung open and two women walked in. One appeared calm and tranquil given what had only occurred hours before whilst the other was a torrent of anger and fury – clearly directed at the prisoner. The elf couldn't but tense up as her eyes wandered between the two women, almost daring them to try and attack her – something that she felt could happen depending on how the situation would play out.
The more aggressive woman walked behind her whilst the other watched from the side, her eyes almost devoid of any real emotion. The former leaned down "Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now?"
The elf blinked at the question but gave no direct response, permitting the woman to continue to speak "the conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead…"
She circled the elf with a cold harsh stare "Everyone…except for you!"
The bitterness and anger in her was clear to see just through tone alone. But that didn't phase the prisoner in the slightest, instead the elf narrowed her red eyes "You think I'm responsible? That I'm the one that caused it to happen?"
The woman snarled and roughly grabbed the prisoner's hand "Explain this." The green energy once again radiated from her hand, causing the elf to pull away in shock and confusion "I can't."
"What do you mean you…can't!"
"I don't know what that is, or how it got there."
The human woman almost glowed with rage as she roughly grabbed the eleven woman "YOUR LYING!"
The other woman pulled the former from the prisoner. She stood in between the two woman, almost as to stop one from killing or harming the other "We need her Cassandra."
The elf dropped her head to the floor, somewhat dazed by the talks "I never imagined that this would happen. All those people…are dead?"
The other human moved away from Cassandra, who stood back from the other two. She kneeled down to the prisoner's level and asked calmly "Do you remember what happened? How this began?"
"I remember running. Things were chasing me, and then…" the elf trailed off for a moment as she tried to unscramble her mind "I think there was a woman…"
"A woman?"
The elf met the woman's curious gaze "She reached out to me, like she was trying to save my life, but then everything…"
Cassandra moved between the two, her eyes still focused on the eleven prisoner as she spoke "Go to the forward camp Leliana. I will take her to the rift."
The other woman, Leliana, complied as she exited the cell in a rush. Cassandra instead went down to the prisoner and with a key, began removing the shackles she wore on her arms. The elf looked at human with worry "What did happen?"
Cassandra's lips formed a thin line "It be best if I show you."
Once the elf could move her arms freely, Cassandra helped her stand and began to direct her out of the jail. The guards opened the doors without any complaint allowing for the elf to witness the 'rift' that Cassandra had referred to earlier and perhaps what she'd been meant to be shown.
"We call it the Breach." Cassandra spoke plainly as her gaze was focused on the large attorcity that was located in the sky "It's a massive rift that into the world of demons that has been growing with every passing hour since it appeared."
"Its…massive."
"It's also not the only such rift. Just the largest." Cassandra continued "All of them were caused by the explosion at the Conclave."
The elf raised her eyebrow's "Can one explosion really do that?"
"This one did." The woman spoke as turned around "And unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the whole world."
A loud thundering sound almost immediately struck from the Breach just as Cassandra had finished speaking. The shockwave was massive, many felt the effects of the wave. But the Elf felt a pain strike her hand like no other pain than she had felt before in her life. it sent to her knee's gasping for breath as her left hand struck out to the Breach, almost as if it was calling her towards it.
Cassandra kneeled down beside her "Each time the Breach expands, your mark spreads…it is killing you."
She took the elf's green hand "This may be the key to stopping this, but we don't have much time. It may be our only chance and yours."
That irritated the elf "So…you still think that I'm responsible for all of this?"
Cassandra shook her head "Not intentionally. Something clearly went wrong."
The elven woman narrowed her eyes "And if I'm not responsible?"
"Someone is, and you are our only suspect." Cassandra's tone was serious "You wish to prove your innocence? This is the only way…"
The elf took a deep breath "I'll do what I can. Whatever it takes…"
Cassandra gave a small smile "Thank you."
She then helped the elf up once more but before leading her further, she asked one more question "What is your name elf?"
"my name?"
"If we are going to be working together…I should know your name" Cassandra responded bluntly "or do you prefer being called 'prisoner' the entire time?"
The elf was slightly taken aback at the sarcastic tone the human had used given how she seemed rather aggressive for such speech, but with a small smile of her own she introduced herself "I'm…Astharoshe*. Astha for short…"
"I'm Cassandra, as your probably aware, and I'm a Seeker for the chantry" the woman gave a small nod before taking Astha's hand "But we can save the formalities for later…we need to get you to that breach."
Cassandra looked Astha up and down "Given that I won't be able to constantly protect you...will you need a weapon? Like a Bow or Sword or...Staff?"
Despite flinching at the obvious contempt in Cassandra's voice when she mentioned the weapon of a Mage, the Elf managed to form a thin smile "I'll be just fine. As long as I have my own abilities and this dagger..." Astha flashed an iridescent and jagged dagger that was hidden under her waist to the Seeker "I should be able to protect the both of us on our way up."
"O-Of course..." Cassandra replied, dumbfounded that she had missed the previously unseen weapon on Astha during her imprisonment "Shall we get a move on?"
"Let's not waste any time then."
"Commander…we have more wounded coming up the mountain."
Cullen turned to face the panicked scout, a grim look on his face as eyes travelled over the entire makeshift camp that they had managed to set up given their circumstances. However, it was just bad luck that the elements were not in their favour as the small band of soldiers attempted to make it further towards the giant Breach in the sky.
"Do we have any healers on standby?" Cullen asked as the wounded began to enter. He couldn't help but be disappointed and annoyed when the scout shook their head "Tell any of the healers that are looking over the lesser wounded that these men need more aid."
The scout moved off and the former Templar sighed heavily as he looked over the rough map of the mountains that had been constructed. It felt like they were getting nowhere whereas the Breach was only getting bigger and bigger with every minute. And to add insult to injury, the Breach was sending demon's of all kinds down to hinder their progress further.
"By the maker…what are we going to do."
"CULLEN!"
The Commander perked up when he heard a familiar voice call out to him. At the entrance to the camp was Leliana, looking like she had been in a few fights on the way here, who ran over to the commander somewhat more relieved that when he had seen her hours ago.
"Sister Leliana what is it?" Cullen asked thoughtfully as Spymaster took a few seconds to catch her breath "Have we made any progress further down."
"I've got good news and bad news" Leliana responded honestly "Which would you rather here first?"
"The bad news…"
Leliana sighed "A few of my scouts went missing earlier on when they investigated the mountain path, no one has heard from them in hours."
"Then's its likely their either dead or near so…" Cullen admitted gravely "It was my mistake for allowing them to take such a risk."
"No the fault is mine…but I would feel better if we could spare some men to go search for them when the option is available."
"I'll see to it sister." The commander responded as he watched another batch of troops begin to assault the upper peaks "And what of the good news?"
"Cassandra should be joining us soon…she managed to enlist some help I believe as well."
"Help?" Cullen questioned whilst rolling his eyes in disbelief "I doubt anyone is willing to help right now…who did she get?"
"The…prisoner."
The blonde blinked in confusion before his jaw dropped "Did you just say that Cassandra is bringing the prisoner here? The very person she blames for the Divine's death?"
"I at least hope that Cassandra was able to bring her here willingly" Leliana replied before heading further down the camp "She shouldn't be much longer…where is our guest waiting for us?"
"Keep heading straight and then turn right!" Cullen called as another shock wave sent many soldiers to their knees and making him reaffirm his footing "Roderick should be waiting…"
Leliana nodded as she continued on her way. Cullen looked the Breach with contempt, he tried to imagine the formerly unconscious prisoner helping end this madness but found only a small chuckle of disbelief in place. However, he knew that they needed to end this soon…so with a proud look he took his sword and shield and headed up to join his men currently fighting whatever monstrosity was causing so many injured.
Ending:
What we swore as we admired where the light shines upon
is the future we will build upon that's ours and ours alone
Where even the light of dawn pierces far and bright,
in the wonderland that's awakening
A wave of emotion that flooded in are drawing near
and in a world unsolvable with algorithms
should you ever lose the light
the hourglass behind your heart will never reset
So, let the dice fly, get out and follow the light!
May you soar into tomorrow, faster than your heart can beat,
through your journey with no end in sight
There are no meaningless tears here
so, let this reach you, voice out there.
So I hope you all enjoyed this new story of mine. I hope to continue it and finish it very soon!
PS. Here are the links to what Astha looks like (currently) and the dagger mentioned (All rights below to the original creators):
. /typemoon/images/1/1d/Rule_ /revision/latest?cb=20130616225056 - the dagger.
. .full. - Astha
PPS. Don't forget to review, favourite, follow or PM me if you feel like it!
Notes:
*Astharoshe is named after a character from the anime/manga/light novel series Trinity Blood - I love this show so much and the manga is even better! If you wish to know more, I am also writing a fanfic on said series as well.