I changed some more things in this chapter because a really great reviewer named David Jonston, who pointed out some mistakes which I actually had to change in later chapters as well. So shout out to David Jonston for really helping me out with this chapter.
The last thing I remember was drunkenly texting my friend to give me a ride, then passing out in the back seat of her car. I opened my eyes and slowly sat up.
"Where the fuck am I?" I wondered to myself. I looked around and saw that I was laying in the snow. In the middle of the woods. I got up and started walking. I was freezing, I looked down at my clothes and saw that I was wearing an armored coat. It was familiar, but I couldn't think of what they were from. I wandered over to a puddle and looked in. What I saw was not what my face usually looked like, I had long hair, weird tree-like tattoos, and pointy elf ears. I reached back and tugged them. Real. Suddenly my vision went blurry, and I felt the sensation of falling.
When I woke my memory was fuzzy, I remembered climbing, a bright light, and the fear of death, but that was all. I looked around to see where I was; I was in a dungeon of sorts lit by a dim green light. My surroundings were familiar, but I couldn't figure out were I recognized them from.
I looked down to see that my hands were in shackles, and the green light seemed to be coming from my left hand. I looked closer, and saw a scar running down my palm from under my index finger then down diagonal to the opposite corner of my hand. I wouldn't have given it much thought besides: 'how did I get that scar?', if it wasn't glowing green, making weird nosies, and causing me a hell of a lot if pain.
I realized where I was.
The door flew open and Cassandra and Leliana walked in.
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now? The conclave is destroyed, everyone who attended is dead. Except for you!" Cassandra accused. I wanted to say something, but I was to busy freaking out in my head. I wanted to scream, cry, or punch a wall!
"Explain this!" Cassandra yelled grabbing my arm and thrusting it into my face, the anchor was glowing green on my hand. I really wanted to scream. This couldn't be possible! How is this happening!?
"I don't know how I got here let alone how I got that!" I hastily explained.
"You're lying!" She yelled and grabbed me angrily.
"We need her Cassandra!" Leliana warned. Cassandra turned around and started pacing. "Do you remember how this began?"
"I remember, running, there were spiders, and I thought I was going to die, and then, a... woman?" I tried to explain.
"A woman?"
"Go to the forward camp Leliana, I will take her to the breach.
The way to the breach went mostly as expected. We began to cross a bridge, but when we were halfway across, a green ball of fade energy stuff came flying at us, and hit the bridge. The bridge broke, and Cassandra and I were sent plummeting down onto the ice below. I hit the ground with a thump.
"Ughhhh!" I groaned, "that'll... leave a mark"
I stumbled to my feet to find Cassandra all ready up with her sword and shield in hand. A green ball of fade came crashing down and landed in front if us with a bang, it left a glowing goo puddle that began to bubble and make weird noises.
"Stay behind me!" She yelled as a lesser shade began to spawn from the green fade puddle. She ran forward, and began to attempt to kill the demon. I looked around, thinking 'I know there's a weapon around here somewhere!' When I saw another green puddle, rising out of the ground, with a demon beginning to spawn in it. I looked behind me and saw a staff (a wooden stick used for magic with a spiky metal tip). I grabbed it, ready to whack the demon over the head with it.
The demon rose out of the fade goo, and charged at me. Suddenly this kind of cool (as in cold), weird, calming sensation/feeling in my brain/mind that made me more focused (hard to explain) and my staff started glowing with this icy magic stuff. I instinctively pointed my staff at the shade and thought 'Stop!' Ice began to form at the bottom of the shade, it quickly spread up the demon, covering it in a blanket of ice. It was a kind of a "You're a wizard Harry!" moment, and I almost dropped my staff, but I quickly regained focus (the constant threat of death can do that) and lifted my staff up over my head like it was a greatsword, and brought it down as hard as I could on the shade's head (or whatever it is) the demon shattered into a bunch of little icy chunks of gross, black, gooey blood (at least I think it's blood).
I realized the huge advantage they scale down in the game that mages have. In the game it takes a long time to kill things, like, they keep fighting until you kill them, when truly, you can kill things quickly with a smart move. I looked over to see Cassandra stab her demon through the heart(?)
"Their dead, it's over," I said with a sigh a relief.
"Drop your weapon! Now!" She yelled.
"I was attacked! And you were off dealing with another demon!" I hastily explained, sure Cassandra would skewer me if I didn't answer soon enough.
"Alright, keep the staff, but be warned, I do know how to deal with mages," she threatened. We moved on and faced more demons, with Cassandra tanking while I froze demons so she could kill them quickly. I tried to do some of of the cool staff twirly thingys and found that they weren't that hard (if you don't mind hitting yourself in the leg every 10 seconds). We fought our way to where Solas and Varric were, and saw Solas using his staff to combine magic and melee (like in DA2) and sending hunks of fade rock at enemies on occasion, while Varric did the same thing but without magic. I froze a lessor terror trying to sneak up on Solas, and Cassandra got enemies away from both of them. Eventually we killed all the demons, and Solas held my held my hand up to the rift, nothing happened for a bit, but after a couple seconds a beam of green light appeared between my hand and the green fade crystal in the center broke, shattering all over us.
"What did you do? I asked, although I already knew his answer.
"I did nothing, the credit is yours,"
"Really? That's good, that I can help, I mean,"
"Yes, hopefully your mark will be sufficient in closing the breach,"
"Good to know, here I thought we'd be ass deep in demons forever," Varric said. "Varric Tethras, rouge, story teller, and occasionally, unwelcome tag along." He winked, and Cassandra [disgusted noise]ed.
"Its nice to meet you Varric," I said.
"You may rethink that statement in a short while," Solas said.
"Oh Chuckles, I'm sure we'll all become great friends in the valley,"
"Absolutely not. Your help is appreciated Varric, but-"
"Have you been in the valley lately Seeker? Your soldiers aren't in control anymore, you need me,"
Cassandra "[disgusted noise]"
We went into the valley, and fought a couple more demons, and I got turned around (its the whole first person thing)
"So you are dalish, I presume," Solas said. Shit, I was wasn't I... Shit!
"What? Oh, well, I guess so," I replied clumsily.
"What do you mean by I guess so?" Solas asked, seeming very, very confused.
"I just, I don't know, I never felt as though I really... belonged, I just wasn't really religious I guess..." I said, making stuff up as I went along.
"Really? You are very different then every dalish I ever met then, why do you think you feel that way?"
"Well... I um... never got along with the ,uh, other children, and when my father died... I uh, blamed the keeper, so maybe, uh, that's why,' I said, some of it was true (the best lies are mixed with the truth), my father was dead.
"I am sorry, I did not mean to pry," he apologized
"No its fine, he's been dead for ten years, and I'm over it by now," with that we continued on to the forward camp, where we restocked potions.
We walked over to where chancellor Roderick was talking to Leliana I could hear him saying all this really rude, prick like stuff that just made me mad.
"Here they come," he said.
"Chancellor Roderick, this is-" Leliana said before she was cut off.
"I know who she is! I order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution!"
"Order me! You are a glorified clerk, a bureaucrat!" Cassandra scoffed, glaring at the Chancellor.
"And you are a thug! A thug who supposedly serves the chantry!"
"We serve the most holy, as you well know," Leliana chimed in, looking down to signify belief/faith/mourning.
"Justinia is dead, we must elect a replacement, and obey her orders on the matter!" He grumbled. Cassandra leaned forward and out her hands on the table, glaring furiously at him. He shook his head. "Call a retreat Seeker, our position here is hopeless!"
"We can stop this before it's too late, if we make one final charge with the soldiers, we can close the breach, it is the safest route we can take," Cassandra said.
"But not the fastest, there is a path through the mountain, it would mean getting to the breach faster," Leliana suggested, pointing towards one of the many mountain peaks,
"We lost contact with an entire squad on that path, it's to risky!" Cassandra said, turning to Leliana.
"Well we must agree soon!"
Cassandra turned to me. "How do you think we should proceed?"
I thought about it for a minute. "So, if we take the mountain path, soldiers will probably be lost, but the breach will be dealt with sooner. And if we charge with the soldiers, maybe a couple scouts will be lost, and less soldiers will be lost, but we will most likely get to the breach later... well... um... I think, we should charge, it seems to have more pros than cons," I said, finally coming to a decision. My memory was kind of fuzzy, and I couldn't quite remember what happened depending on the player choice, it was weird.
We climbed up to where the soldiers were, and joined them in the charge. There was a lot of demons, but we were able to fight through them and seal the small rift spawning them.
"Sealed as before, you are becoming quite proficient at this," Solas said.
"Lets hope it works on the big one," Varric said, nodding towards the breach. I looked over to see Cullen walking over to us, his armor gleaming in the sunlight.
"Lady Cassandra, you managed to close the rift, well done," he said. I felt a strange sensation of come over me, and I began to realize I couldn't remember what he was about to say, even though I knew most of the lines in the game (vaguely). I tried to remember what happened next but couldn't, I couldn't remember if I close the breach or not, I couldn't remember any of the missions or how the game ends even though I've played through the game a million times. I was about have a major freak out when Cassandra spoke.
"Do not congratulate me commander, this is the prisoner's doing," she said.
"Is it? I hope the're right about you, we lost a lot of people getting you here," he said, turning his gaze to me.
"I uh, I can't promise anything, but I'll try my best," It felt weird, saying that, I couldn't remember any of the dialogue options, but that line sounded so familiar! Urrrrgh!
"That's all we can ask," he said before turning to Cassandra, "the way to the temple is clear, and Leliana should meet you there."
Cassandra looked him in the eye and said, "then give us time Commander,"
"Maker watch over you, for all our sakes," he said looking at me. Cullen walked back towards where we came from, and began to help a man who was limping walk. We turned around, starting our walk to the temple.
We made our way towards the temple, an as we neared a horrible stench filled my nose and I gagged, I could see burnt human bodies all around the temple. I fell to my nees and threw up all over the ground. When I was done emptying my stomach of the few contents already in it, I got up and wiped my mouth on my sleeve. Cassandra wrinkled her nose and shook her head, but Varric gave me a friendly/concerned look.
We began to walk into the temple. There were more bodies inside the temple, each with their mouth open in a silent scream, forever reaching out with twisted limbs and melted flesh.
"Good, your here!" Leliana said, entering behind us.
"Leliana, have your people take positions around the temple," Cassandra replied. Leliana nodded and motioned for her people to follow her. Cassandra turned to me and gave me a stern: 'don't mess this up' face.
"Are you ready?" She asked.
"Yes, I'll try my best, but that breach is a long way up..." I said, very worried that it wasn't going to work.
"No, that breach was the first, seal it, and perhaps you seal them all," Solas said as if he could hear the doubt in my voice. I nodded at him and we walked down toward the breach.
"Now is the hour of our victory, bring forth the sacrifice," A ridiculously deep voice boomed from an unintelligible location in the temple. Cassandra looked around in shock.
"What!- who was that?!" She asked, looking at us.
"At a guess, the person who created the breach," Solas replied
Solas told us what we had to do, and we prepared, I opened the breach, and out of it came a pride demon. I started to shoot ice at it, and Cassandra went up and started tanking (but with more dodging and blocking) Varric started shooting it and Solas put barriers around us. The barriers were nothing like in the game, he waved his hand towards us, probably focusing on which of us needed the barriers most, he cast them on Cassandra and some soldiers fighting up close to the demon, I didn't know what to do besides keep shooting ice at it, so that's what I did, eventually the demon used it's power to cast a shield spell upon itself, and I had to disrupt the rift to break the spell. More demons came through, and two came at me, Solas cast a barrier on me and I slashed one of the demons with my staff, channeling fire so the demon melted away, then froze the other in ice and smashed it as hard as I could with my staff. It broke into a bunch of pieces, and both were dead. I felt so cool, I had just done that! It was awesome. I knew how to fight, I've been in a couple street fights before (someone tried to mug me with a knife) but I've never defeated two demons (shades) within less than 20 seconds, and done it that awesomely (the magic added to the coolness). I turned around and started to attack the pride demon again. Finally after having to disrupt the rift another 2 times, the pride demon finally faded away and back into the rift.
"Close the rift! Now!" Cassandra yelled.
I stepped forward and reached out my hand, concentrating on closing the breach. Suddenly my head exploded with pain and I almost fell to the ground, but stayed standing. My headache kept getting worse until the breach made a loud bang, and I crumpled to the ground, and my vision went black.
(Third person point of view)
Sophia was carried back to Haven by some soldiers, and was put in a small cot in the Chantry for a while. They eventually moved her to a small house (that no one was living in) when her fever passed and it was evident she would wake up soon.
(First person POV)
When I woke up I was once more in an unfamiliar setting. I was in a house, in a bed. I sat up and looked around, it was a nice, 1 room house with several candles lit with green fire (probably magic) and 3 or 4 crates with what looked like elfroot and embrium and a couple green potion bottles next to some glowey blue lyrium looking potions.
"My lady! I didn't realize you were awake, I am so sorry," she stuttered.
"It's ok, you don't have to apologize," I assured her.
She dropped to her nees and said, "I beg your forgiveness my lady, for I am just a humble servant!" She said before getting back up. "You are back in Haven m'lady, they say you saved us!"
"You mean, we're safe? What happened to the breach? Is it closed?" I asked.
"They do say we're safe but the breach is still in the sky, you stopped it from growing," she replied, backing up a bit, "lady Cassandra wanted you to see her at the Chantry when you awoke, at once she said!"
The girl ran out of the room. I took a moment to bury my face in my hands and just cry. My family probably thought I was dead, I was stuck in a fantasy world filled with magic, demons and dragons! I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and stood up.
After I was pretty sure my eyes weren't red and puffy, I walked out of the door, and was met by a crowd of soldiers standing in two groups across from each other, creating a path for me up to the chantry. They all had their hands over their hearts in a salute with their heads held high. I walked towards the chantry, feeling super awkward. When I got to the chantry doors, I shoved them open.
"The elf failed Seeker!" I heard the Chancellor say. I walked angrily down the hallway and threw open the doors to the war room. "Chain her! I want her prepared for travel to the capital for trial!" He said to two templars.
"Disregard that, and leave us," Cassandra said.
"You walk a dangerous line Seeker," he grumbled.
"You still think I'm a suspect? Even after we stopped the breach from growing!?" I said, I really hate Chancellor Roderick.
"You absolutely are!" He growled.
Cassandra glared, "No. She is not."
"Someone was behind the explosion at the conclave, someone Most Holy did not expect," Leliana said, looking at the Chancellor.
"I am a suspect?!" He asked.
"You. And many others," Leliana said.
"But not the prisoner?" He grumbled.
"I have a name you know, don't call me the prisioner like I'm not here!" I said. That guy is a prick!
"I heard the voices at the temple, the divine called out to her for help!" Cassandra said. I had forgotten how religious she was.
"So you think what happened at the temple, the mark on her hand, all a coincidence?!" He demanded.
"Providence. The maker sent her to us in out time of need,"
"You have no authority-"
Cassandra grabbed a book and threw it down on the table. "You know what this is, Chancellor. It is a writ from the divine granting us the authority to act!" She said. "As of this moment, I declare the Inquisiton reborn! We will close the breach, we will find those responsible and we will restore order! With or without your approval!"
She was so badass, definitely on my list of top 5 characters in this game. Chancellor Roderick stopped arguing, and stormed out of the room.
"This is the divines directive: rebuild the Inquisiton of old. Find those who will stand against the chaos. We aren't ready. We have no leader, no numbers, and now, no Chantry support," Leliana said.
"But we have no choice, we must act," Cassandra turned to me, "with you at our side." I thought about it for a second. I didn't really have a choice, if I didn't, then the breach wouldn't be closed and I would be most likely possessed or eaten by a demon, If I stayed with the Inquisiton, I could learn more magic, how to control it, and possibly be harrowed. Maybe I could get home.
"Of course Cassandra, I'll help in whatever way I can," I said. I thought I saw Cassandra smile for a second. She held out her hand, and I shook it. Now officially part of the Inquisiton, wow. "Cassandra, before you leave I have a question," I said, stopping her on her way out. She nodded. "Are you sure the Maker sent me? A teenage mage with pretty much zero experience?"
"It is not for me to decide what the Maker does. If he sent an elf what am I to deny him?" She put simply.
"Oh. Well... um... thank you," I said awkwardly.
"I believe you should find your quarters, there should be better armor on your bed," she suggested. I cocked my head and she gave me directions.
"Well, thanks, and uh, bye!" I said, running off towards my room.
My room wasn't very big, but I wasn't complaining, at least the bed was comfortable. And as Cassandra said, there was some nice leather armor on the bed, the mages outfit you get in the game. It had a blueish tint, and as I looked closer, I could see that it had lyrium sewn into it. It was basically a long coat with a large belt that protected my gut (and held up my pants) with leather leggings and hardened leather (if you've ever played Runescape you know what I'm talking about) shin guards, nee pads and I could feel a chain mail patch where my heart was. It all fit comfortably and perfectly, they must have fit it while I slept (weird). I tested it out by jumping on the bed, it was easy to move in and light, but it felt strong and well protecting. Hopefully good enough against demons (and probably bandits).
I walked back down to where I could see Cassandra, Cullen and Leliana waiting for me at the front of the Chantry. Cassandra nodded at me when she saw my armor. I looked out over Haven and saw the new recruits training, and felt a little nervous twinge in my stomach. I was terrified, I couldn't remember anything if how the game played out. It was like I had a block in my mind, and if I tried to remember, I hit a mental wall or something.
I was overwhelmed, and needed desperately for someone to talk to or something. I wasn't meant for this, I'm a fucking 22 year old girl with no experience stopping wars or sealing giant demon holes in the sky! But if I fail, if I die, I might never go home.