"Verbal speech."
Notes or writing
'Thoughts'
"Speech via alternate communication."
Author notes
(SCENE OR TIME CHANGE)
Originally I had no interest in playing Dragon Age several years ago, I preferred sci-fi which is why Mass Effect had me utterly hooked. Upon completing Mass Effect 2 I looked to other games of the style and people constantly suggested Dragon Age. Since I knew it was a medieval fantasy style game I knew, without looking for confirmation that the game would contain magic, knights, dragons, and giant spiders. Unfortunately the fourth one was correct as well. Origins and Dragon Age 2… so many moments with them descending right on top of me… so many…
But aside from that I have immensely enjoyed playing all three of them over and over, my favourite for story would be Inquisition, for companions it would be Dragon Age 2, I just find Origins too long and tedious travelling back and forth to pick up and complete quests, sort of like Mass Effect 1.
Anyway, if you're still reading at this point, thanks, and disclaimer, I do not own Dragon Age. I claim my OCs and story.
People of Thedas, if you are reading this you must know the evil that is the Inquisition must be fought and stopped before all hope is lost. The monster known as The Inquisitor has orchestrated a scheme for world domination. His armies occupy land across the entire continent. His agents are in every court of authority. Tevinter magisters are falling into siding with him. Mercenary companies and assassin guilds are on his payroll. The former Templar Order now serves as a private wing of the Inquisition while mages, under the protection of the Inquisition, use their power for conquest and corruption.
Do not stop the fight. Join the Thedas Liberators before it is too late.
This note was taken from the body of a rebel agent. We are searching the area for any hidden bases.
Harding, Lead Scout of the Inquisition.
Long live the Inquisitor!
(SKYHOLD/INQUISITOR'S CHAMBERS)
"Protect the Inquisitor!"
The yell, whilst muffled through the stone walls, was more than enough to awaken Inquisitor Adrian Trevelyan and he sat up groggily in his bed, "What's going on?"
Loud clatters shook him from his state and he turned to see his former bed companion pulling on her armour in such a precise haste that by the time he had slipped from beneath the silk sheets and pulled on his robe she was already tightening the straps, "Stay down." She ordered.
Adrian seized his staff as the sounds of clashing blades reached them, "Cassandra?"
"They will not get past me." She swore and strapped her shield to her arm.
Whether 'they' could or not Adrian still moved to her side, bolts of electricity crackling along his staff, "Together" he smiled at the Seeker confidently.
She returned the smile, "Always."
The door broke open.
(10 MINUTES EARLIER/SKYHOLD/COURTYARD)
No-one had noticed. He had slipped in with the other merchants who had come to the legendary Skyhold to trade with the Inquisition. Since the defeat of Corypheus and the Breach being sealed the world had entered into a state of peace not seen for quite a number of years. The civil war in Orlais was over as Empress Celene, and Ambassador Briala brought an end to the conflict and worked to restore peace between humans and elves in the region.
While the merchants were noisily setting up their wares he lifted his box and strode confidently for a door at the rear of the fortress which led to the kitchens. It was early so chances were they would be in the middle of preparing breakfast and no-one would think twice about a fresh delivery of supplies being carried through.
A figure on the fortress battlement caught his eye, though he didn't look up for a better view. The red hair and purple cloak told him exactly who that was.
Lelianna, former Left Hand of the Divine and now the Inquisition's spymaster. If that was not enough of a resume she had also fought alongside the Hero of Ferelden during the previous Blight. She was the last person he wanted to be anywhere near.
Entering the fortress he did indeed find a full kitchen of people scurrying about while an elderly woman barked orders. He swiftly made his way across the kitchen and out the door on the far side. Remembering the map of the fortress interior which had taken months of these trips to create he quickly made his way to the door that opened into the throne room. As expected it was almost empty except for two sentry details, one pair standing at the door leading to the Inquisition's ambassador, the other standing guard at the door to the Inquisitor's chambers. This was the time the box would prove useful.
He had left it open by the kitchens with the door ajar. The rats should be swarming towards the smell of fresh bread and meat any second now.
"Rats!"
He hurried through the door and pointed frantically towards the kitchen, "Rats! Huge rats!"
The four guards exchanged glances.
"You two come with me." One guard gestured, "You stay here."
Once the guards had left for the kitchens he crossed the hall to the other guard, slipping a concealed knife into his hand as he did. The lone guard opened his mouth to raise the alarm while reaching for his sword but the blade imbedded in his throat preventing the guard achieving either of those actions. The only sound was the gurgle of blood as it spurted from his throat.
"I regret this." The assassin whispered as he dragged the guard's body through the door to hide it from sight.
He closed the door and stared up the stairs before ascending. With luck no-one would find know he was here until the body was discovered.
"Stop!" a voice rang from below.
He peered over the banister, and then jumped back hastily as an arrow flew past. Obviously he had been seen.
"Protect the Inquisitor!" the archer yelled.
Armoured boots clanked below and he turned to see three Inquisition soldiers with swords drawn rushing after him. His lip curled at the thought of needless violence but he drew a pair of daggers and engaged them. The soldiers were at a disadvantage in that the enclosed space of the stairs meant they were unable to defend against his shorter weapons, though to their credit they used their numbers to intercept his attacks, clearly attempting to delay him until reinforcements arrived.
He saw an opening and stabbed one soldier in the leg then shoved him. As the soldier started to fall his buddy was knocked off balance and hit the third soldier so that all three were tumbling down the stairs while he ascended.
At last the door that stood between him and the monster.
He kicked the door open.
(10 MINUTES EARLIER/SKYHOLD/ TAVERN)
"Ugh" Sera groaned, "I'm so fed up with this shit."
Her large drinking companion roared with laughter and drained his tankard, "You should try this."
"No thanks." She made a face, "It's probably dragon piss."
Iron Bull peered thoughtfully at his finished drink then shrugged and ordered another one, "Tastes good."
"What did happen last night?" the elf frowned as another throbbing headache started, "How much did I drink?"
"You tried to beat me in a drinking contest." He grinned, "Then you entered the archery contest."
"Did I win?"
"Harding won. You were eliminated after the first round."
Sera let her head fall onto the bar, then instantly regretted it, "Shit."
"Don't feel so bad, you at least managed to make it halfway up the stairs to your room before you passed out."
Lifting her hand she made a rude gesture, though couldn't be sure it was aimed anywhere near him. With a sudden craving for breakfast she slid from her stool and staggered for the door. She crossed the courtyard and up the stairs leading into the main hall, vaguely becoming aware her bow and quiver were still strapped to her back from last night. As she entered she watched three guards dashing towards the kitchen and a new face cross the hall to the remaining guard.
"Rats in the kitchen, again." She announced to no-one, "Though how they keep getting here I've no idea."
She glanced down at the merchants in the lower courtyard then looked back into the main hall. The stranger was pulling the guard through a door, and blood was flowing from the guard's throat.
Sera drew her bow and hurried across the hall. Bursting through the door she looked up to see the assassin racing up the stairs towards the Inquisitor's chambers, "Stop!" she called, fitting an arrow into place.
The stranger peered over the stair rail and she fired her arrow. She immediately blamed her hangover for missing as the assassin jumped back. Hurried footsteps signalled the three sentries returning from the kitchen and they rushed over to her.
"Protect the Inquisitor!" she shouted, believing that phrase would get through to their responses far faster than an explanation.
The three guards rushed up the stairs with thunderous clanking of their boots on the steps, Sera wincing with each one.
"What's going on?" Josephine, the Inquisition's ambassador emerged from her office, "Is something wrong?"
"Some shithead killed a guard and is heading upstairs." Sera winced as her headache flared up again, "Also, volume, not so loud."
Both women looked up at the sound of heavy metal crashing which, was the three guards falling down the stairs.
"Shit." Sera muttered weakly, both hands delicately covering her ears.
(INQUISITOR'S CHAMBER)
He burst into the room and stared up at the fearsome female warrior in full armour waiting for him.
"Seeker." He hissed, "My quarrel is not with you. Stand aside."
She settled into a defensive stance, "Not a chance."
There was no time to convince her, already more soldiers would be charging up the stairs to protect their beloved Inquisitor.
He twirled his daggers and jumped high into the air. Cassandra turned to watch him land behind the Inquisitor, with the mage standing between her and the intruder now.
"Aside!" she lunged, her sword stabbing forward while she swept the Inquisitor out of the way with her shield.
The assassin ducked aside and thrust his dagger towards her waist. The blade bounced off an invisible wall and his eyes darted to Adrian, who had just cast a barrier around Cassandra.
Protected by the magical shield Cassandra threw herself on the assassin, using both her body weight and heavy armour to tackle him to the ground. One dagger clattered across the floor but he tightened his grip on the other and tried to bash its handle into her face but the arm was seized by a fist of solid stone conjured by Adrian and pushed against the floor.
"Inquisitor!" a squad of soldiers raced into the room, led by Cullen, swords drawn.
The assassin turned his head and bit down sharply on a small water skin around his neck which was not filled with water. The skin burst and he swallowed a mouthful of the poison inside, it killed him in seconds.
"He's dead." Cullen helped Cassandra up after checking the assassin's body, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." She fixed her gaze on the assassin, "How did he get here?"
"We'll explain downstairs…"
(10 MINUTES LATER/WAR ROOM)
"I thought we were on good terms with the Antivan Crows?" Adrian stroked his chin thoughtfully.
Josephine consulted her notes, "We are. They have pledged that, as long as our operations do not interfere with theirs, they have no wish to make us their enemy. That reminds me; the Crows have lost several members and were wondering if we had discovered anything. It seems a group of elves have simply vanished."
"I doubt they would run off for no good reason." Leliana mused, "But perhaps they are somehow linked to this attack, I will investigate." Her eyes gleamed under the shadow of her hood cast by the sun shining through the window at her back, "In the wake of our rise many small organisations have banded together and expanded unhindered while we focused on the Breach."
Adrian Trevelyan stared down at the map. Almost everywhere on it was some noble or person of influence that owed the Inquisition a debt. Many were happy to arrange mutually beneficial trades, others needed to be 'persuaded' by Leliana's spies, whether by blackmail or… other tactics.
Inquisition soldiers were welcomed by villages and cities alike as heroes who saved the world from the brink of chaos and destruction. The sight of the Inquisition banner was becoming more well-known than the Grey Wardens… speaking of which…
"What is the status of the Grey Wardens?" his eyes landed on Adamant Fortress.
Josephine glanced at her notes, honestly it amazed the Inquisitor just how much information she always seemed to have at hand whether by her own hand, or by Leliana's.
"They are continuing to rebuild and taking recruits to restore their numbers. A large garrison of our forces are there both to assist and also to maintain an eye on them for now. The Hero of Ferelden will be arriving within the week to take command. King Alistair has already expressed his support of this action. It will go towards strengthening the trust between the Inquisition and Ferelden." She concluded with a happy note.
His eyes moved on, briefly landing on the capital of Orlais where its empress and her elf lover were in residence, both of whom owed him a personal debt and one to the Inquisition itself.
"What of the Qunari? Is it possible they sent the assassin?" the thought was unappealing. Powerful as the Inquisition was he did not want to take on the followers of the Qun, not yet anyway.
"I do not see why they should feel the need to intervene." Josephine frowned, "The only mention of their involvement was when they tried to form an alliance. Their ship was destroyed and no alliance was made. Apart from that, nothing."
"Yet tension between them and Orlais continues to rise." Leliana mused, "Despite Celene's best efforts many nobles are pushing closer to war with the Qunari. She is sending a representative here to confirm the truce with her. I believe she is desperate for it, which gives us the advantage. In the event of a war both sides will be looking to the Inquisition to join them."
"Two powerful nations on the brink of war." Cullen folded his arms with a sigh, "Just when we solve one problem we get another."
"When do the delegates arrive?" Adrian asked.
"Two days, your worship." Josephine answered.
Adrian rubbed his brow wearily, "Continue with the search for these rebels. I want to know who is trying to kill me now."
"Yes, Inquisitor."
That will do for now. Please review and let me know if this story is interesting enough to continue.