I do not own dragon age series or characters, excluding my own. Please enjoy and leave comment.
1. Make a Good First Impression
I gasp awake from the shock from my hand. Cursing, I quickly sit up and notice that I was in the Fade. How did I end up here? Okay, let's just go over what you last remember. You arrived at the conclave, and were in the middle looking for possible adversaries, and escape routes when . . . Blank. Obviously something big and powerful happened if I wound up in the Fade. Regardless, best thing to do now is find an exit, and get as far from here as possible, before someone pins whatever that happened on me. Standing up, I did a quick look around, and noticed an intense light on a distant ridge. I couldn't discern a shape, but it seemed too small to be a portal. Lacking any better option, I made my way towards it. At the base of the ridge, and no closer to distinguishing the shapeless light, I heard a familiar chittering that filled the pit of my stomach with dread. Quickly glancing over my shoulder confirmed my suspicion of giant spiders approaching. Renewed with a sense of urgency, I charged up the ridge towards the light. Only a few feet away, could I finally see the shape of a female reaching out for me. Not caring what or how, I reached out, hoping for any kind of help. Her light grew more intense, I had to close my eyes, feeling a protective warmth envelope me. I was weightless, then I could myself stand on rocky ground. The warmth fading away with my strength, I collapsed in an exhausted heap. I could only vaguely register the world around me. Shouting, swaying, clanging, resting, more shouting, whispering, tingling, so much shouting. Another jolting shock shot down my arm, startling me awake. Son of a bitch! The fuck is going on with my arm? Sitting up, I noticed a mark on my hand, pulsating with Fade magic. So much so, it was glowing through the stock. A hushed command caused me to jerk my head up to a soldier by the door.
"Inform the seeker that the prisoner is awake." The soldier informed the person on the other side. Whoever was there could be heard leaving, most likely to bring this "seeker" to the prisoner. Which, judging from the situation, I could only assume meant me. Seeing no safe way to escape, I adjusted myself to sit on my knees, close my eyes, and listen, while waiting for the next move.
Leliana had been helping Cassandra coordinate troops, when the guard arrived to inform them that the prisoner had finally woken up. Finally, three days after the destruction of the conclave, after the death of Justinia, they finally have answers. Cassandra marched past the guard, grabbing her sword in the process, and swiftly descend down to the dungeons. The guard let us in, and I was slightly surprised by the prisoner's posture. According to our sources, she was an ambassador from clan Lavellan, here to observe the ruling on the Mage rebellion. Josephine even made an impressive comment about her, but looking at the elf now, poised and patient, you could clearly see she was a seasoned warrior. She had non-traditional elf features, which I found odd and unimportant earlier, but looking at her now, the elf could very well pass as human. She had a round face, a pink hue to her skin, and her long golden curly hair could easily hide her pointed ears, if she took it out of its long tail. The armed guards backed away from the prisoner, allowing Cassandra to circle around her.
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead, except for you." Cassandra explained. The elf opened her eyes, revealing them to be vibrant green, and regarded Cassandra.
"You think I did, that I'm responsible." The elf declared. Her voice was light, but clear and strong.
"Explain this!" Cassandra demanded, grabbing the hand that bore the mark. An apostate from a nearby village named Solus had studied it for three days, and was unable glean anything from it, except that it was killing her.
"I can't." The elf replied.
"What do you mean you can't?"
"I don't know what it is, or why I have it!"
"You're lying!" Cassandra screamed, grabbing the elf.
"We need her Cassandra." I interjected, pushing her away from the elf.
"I don't understand. What happened?" The elf asked.
"What do you remember?" I ask.
"I . . . Was in the Fade. There were giant spiders chasing after me, and there was a woman, reaching out."
"A woman?" I inquired. According to reports, there was a woman standing behind her when she fell out the rift. I wanted to know more, but Cassandra motioned me away.
"Go to the forward camp Leliana. I will take her to the rift." I could see that some of the fight had left her eyes, and believed that the prisoner would be safe with Cassandra, for the moment. Giving the prisoner one last look, I turned and left.
During her time as seeker, Cassandra had fought many foes and faced many challenges. Because of such experiences, she discovered that the most dangerous enemy tended to be the one that donned the image of innocence. The woman's presence felt virtuous, but her eyes shown intense fire. Never the less, whether she had anything to do with what happened or not, it was possible that she could help seal the breach. I leant down to undo the stock.
"What did happen?" She asked, as I bound her hands with rope.
"It will be easier to show you." I replied, helping her up. I lead her outside, and showed her the massive hole in the sky. "We call it The Breach. It's a massive rift into the world of demons, which grows larger with each passing hour. It not the only rift, just the largest. All were caused by an explosion at the conclave."
"An explosion did that?" The elf asked in disbelief.
"This one did, and unless we act, the breach may swallow the world." Suddenly, there was another shockwave from the rift expanding, causing the mark to react, and shocking the elf. "Each time the Breach expands, so does your mark, and it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time."
"The key to doing what exactly?"
"Closing the Breach, whether that is possible. However it is our only chance, and yours."
"You still think I'm guilty, don't you?" She accused. "That I would willingly do this to myself."
"Not intentionally, something clearly went wrong, but you are our only suspect. If you want to prove your innocence, this is the only way."
"I don't really have a choice in this, do I?" She angrily inferred.
"None of us have a choice." I replied, matching her temper. I pulled her, and dragged her through the village. "They accuse you for what happened, they need it. It has been three days since the death of Most Holy, and they still mourn for her. The conclave was Divine Justinia's idea to bring the Templar and Mage leaders together, to talk of peace, and now." I trailed off, refusing to wallow in my own personal grief. We stopped outside the city gates. I pulled out my knife to cut her binds. "I can promise you a trial, nothing more."
"Where are we going?" She asked, rubbing her free wrists.
"We need to test your mark on something smaller, before we can try the Breach." I answer, leading her into the valley. We made our past the barricades, when there was another pulse from the Breach.
"Ah! Fuck!" The elf screamed, falling on her knees.
"The pulses are coming closer now, we must hurry." I declare urgently, helping her back up. "The more the rift grows, the more demons that appear. Even now, the entire region where the temple of sacred ashes resided is completely destroyed. Though, you will see it yourself soon enough."
We were passing over the bridge, when a part of the rift hit it, collapsing the bridge from under our feet. We recovered, just as a demon came up from the leftover energy. Ordering the elf to stay behind me, I charged forward. I made quick work of it, only to fail to notice another one, coming up from behind. Just as it was about to strike, it dissolved into smoke. It was then, that I noticed the prisoner holding a bow she did not have before. Striding over, I pointed my sword at her.
"Drop your weapon, now."
"Look, if we're going to survive through this, you're going to have to trust me."
"And what reason would you give for me to acquiesce such an offer?" I demanded at her incredulous request.
"Because my life is on the line." She retorted. Seeing her reasoning quenched some of my ire, but not all of it. With great reluctance, I put away my sword.
"You are right. If we are to survive, I cannot be expected to protect you always, nor can I expect you to remain defenceless."
"Thank you, I know that had to be difficult for you."
"I would be a lot more at ease, if I knew something about you." I explained, turning away.
"Saryssa." I pivoted at her sudden announcement. "My name is Saryssa."
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." I incline my head courteously. She return a small grateful smile in return.
"Well, now that that's all over with, how about we focus back on that giant hole in the sky."
Solus was fairly positive now, that everything was going to be razed, by the end of the week. Though, despite that fact, I still felt the need try and make things better. Which is why, instead of running as far away as possible, I was now fighting demons in the valley with Varric. Failing to seal the rift with my own magic, the two of us were now fighting off a hoard of demons. I thought back to the elf in the cells, and the mark on her hand. If it was, what I thought it was, then I should have been able to transfer it onto myself. Every time I tried however, the mark rejected my magic, as if to protect the female. It was even stranger that she possessed no magic, which removed any motivation for how and why she had the mark. Nearly avoiding a swipe, I focused back to the fight. We were about to be overtaken, when a volley of arrows vaporize a couple of shades. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cassandra charging towards us, a fair-haired archer behind her. Making quick work of the rest, I turned around in time to see the archer march towards the rift, and thrust her hand at it. A stream of light shot of out of the archer's hand, and into the rift. She seemed to be empowering the rift, when she suddenly pulled her hand away with a grunt, sealing the rift in the process.
"How did you know to do that?" I asked, already recognizing the archer as the prisoner. She faced me, and I caught my breath. During the three days of studying the mark, I had also, occasionally, studied the rest of her as well. After such time, I came up with the assumption that she was comely, even with the scar on her forehead. The vallaslin she bore was a simple Mythal design, two branches under her eyes leading from her nose to the sides of her face, coloured light-blue to highlight, what I assumed were blue eyes. Nothing I could've ever thought would have done justice to the amazing creature before me. To start, her eyes were not blue, but green, Fade green. And the vallaslin didn't highlight her eyes, no it intensified them. So hypnotic and alive, with such fiery determination. And the way she held herself, proud and strong. To think of her as comely was an insult. The woman was nothing short of stunning.
"Instinct?" She replied, shrugging. That response broke me out of whatever trance I was under. If I'm not careful, I could get in a lot of trouble tangling with her.
"In any case, it appears that my theory on the mark was right. It does have the power to seal the rift."
"Then it could also seal the Breach?" Cassandra asked.
"Possibly." I answer, turning my attention back to the archer. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation." The archer gave me a droll look, clearly unimpressed, leaving me feeling a bit self-conscious
"Good to know! And here I thought we'd be ass-deep in demons forever." Varric announced, sauntering towards us. "Varric Tethras: rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tagalong." He winked at Cassandra, earning a scowl from the seeker and an amused smirk from the archer.
"Nice crossbow you've got there." The archer commented.
"Ah, isn't she? Bianca and I have been through a lot together." He said, giving the crossbow a look of nostalgia.
"You named your crossbow Bianca?" The elf asked, crossing her arms and arching her brow.
"Of course, and she'll be great company in the valley."
"Absolutely not!" Cassandra shouted. "You're help is appreciated Varric, but-."
"Have you been in the valley lately Seeker?" Varric interrupted. "You're soldiers aren't in control anymore, you need me." Cassandra let out an angry growl.
"My name is Solus, if there are to be introductions."
"Saryssa, but most everyone calls me Ryssa, and occasionally Rhys." She introduced, continuing to surprise me.
"Saryssa like the poem?" I asked.
"You know it?"
"Saryssa, forever fair and bright, she guides lost souls out of darkness into light." I recite, before bowing my head in greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am also pleased to see that you still live."
"What he really means is 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept'." Varric stated.
"What all do you know about it?" Saryssa asked me.
"Not much, only that it is related to the Breach, and it requires a great deal of magic. Far more than I've ever seen." I answer.
"Solus is an apostate, well versed in such matters."
"Technically all mages are now apostates, Cassandra." I point out before returning my attention back to Saryssa. "My travels through the Fade has left me with far more experience, then that of a regular Circle Mage. I came to offer whatever help I could give to close the Breach, since we are all doomed if it isn't, regardless of origin."
"That's a commendable attitude you have." She commented, sounding impressed.
"Merely a sensible one. Although sense seems to be in short supply around here. I would also like to point out that, since our former prisoner here has no magic, it is unlikely that she was the cause of the explosion. Something else is at play here, something I've never seen before." I tell Cassandra. She nodded in acknowledgment.
"We've lingered here for too long. We must head towards the forward camp." Cassandra announced taking off. I quickly followed suit.
As he watched Solus and Cassandra, Varric took the moment to regard the woman named Saryssa. At first glance she was a strong, independent young woman, but I could sense more to her. Putting the thought to the side, if I didn't catch up with the others, they would probably leave me behind.
"Well, Bianca's excited." I announce, before jogging after the others. After another bout of demons, I decide to ask the question on everyone's mind. "So, are you innocent?"
Saryssa shrugged. "I don't remember."
"That answer will get you every time. Next time, just spin a story."
"That is what you would do." Cassandra scolded
"It's more believable, and less likely to result in premature execution." I retorted.
"Thank you for the sound advice. Unfortunately I can't lie." Saryssa explained.
"What? You have moral issues, or something?" I ask.
"No, I just can't think of anything to say on the spot." She replies, grabbing her bow to shoot. Making quick work of the demons, we continued up the path, past turned over flaming carts and numerous bodies.
"I hope Leliana made it through all this." Cassandra commented in a worried tone.
"She's resourceful seeker, I wouldn't worry too much." I say, mostly to reassure the concerned look on Saryssa's face.
We came across another rift, and sealed it just as easily as the first. The doors opened, and you could hear Leliana arguing from the other end of camp. I head over to the supply cache to restock on potions. Grabbing Solas' attention, I toss him a lyrium potion, which he gratefully accepts. It had been a long day of fighting for the two of us, and it wasn't going to be over anytime soon. As we approached Leliana, I recognized the person she was arguing with as Chancellor Roderick. Leliana tried to introduce Saryssa, when the Chancellor interrupted.
"I know who she is. As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution." Not a smart thing to say there pal.
"'Order me'? You are a glorified clerk, a bureaucrat!" Cassandra shouted indignantly.
"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the chantry." Roderick retorted.
"We serve the Most Holy, as you well know." Leliana pointed out.
"Justinia is dead! We must elect a new replacement, and obey her orders on the matter."
"Not to be rude, but don't we have more pressing issues at the moment? Like say, a giant hole in the sky, threatening to tear the universe apart?" Saryssa interjected sarcastically.
"You brought this on us in the first place!" Roderick retorted. "Call a retreat, seeker. Our position here is hopeless."
"So let me get this straight. I get blown up, and rendered unconscious for three days. During such time, the chantry decides to let some petulant dumbass be in charge?" Solas and I share a look of impressed surprise.
"I beg your pardon." The Chancellor began to splutter.
"Beg pardon all you like, but do it off to the side, while the grownups try to solve the problem." Saryssa declared, pointing to the opposite end of camp. The Chancellor's mouth continued to gape for a bit, before he closed it and moved away. "Do we least have some sort of plan here?"
"We grab what remaining soldiers we have, and charge for the temple. It's the quickest route." Cassandra suggested.
"But not the safest. Our forces can charge a distraction, while we go through the mountains." Leliana proposed.
"We lost contact with an entire squad that path, it's too risky." Cassandra let out a frustrated huff, then faced Saryssa. "What path do you choose?"
"Why do I get the deciding vote?" Saryssa demanded.
"Because you bear the mark." Solas pointed out.
"You are not helping." Saryssa grated at him.
"Our success hinges on your survival, therefore, we'll follow your lead." Cassandra explained. Saryssa put her hands on her hips, and huffed out a sigh.
"I vote mountain path. It's as you said, the longer the Breach remains, the more demons that appear. We can't afford to be delayed, by being caught up in a massive battle."
"Understood, Leliana, round up the forces." Cassandra ordered. As we began to make our way, we passed the Chancellor.
"The consequences be on your head, seeker." He declared. Saryssa turned around, and gave a rude hand gesture, that made the man splutter so profusely, I laughed out loud. I'm going to enjoy writing about her.
As we trudged up the mountain, the Breach let out another pulse. Another shock went through my arm, but at this point, I'd gotten used to the feeling, that I no longer fell to my knees.
"Frigging hole in the sky." I mutter, shaking out my hand.
"You alright?" Varric asked.
"Yeah I'm, used to it now." I answer as we approached the mine entrance.
"What kind of cave is this exactly?" Solas asked.
"It's a mining complex, which runs through the entire mountain." Cassandra answered.
"And somewhere inside are your missing soldiers." Varric commented.
"Along with whatever is most likely detaining them." Solas added.
"You know, if everyone is going to complain about which direction I decide to go, I can handle going alone." I state, pulling out my bow to shoot some demons.
"We're not complaining, just merely going over the facts. Like, how does a young Dalish woman claiming to be an ambassador for her clan, become the centre of a conspiracy?" Varric expressed as we finished up.
"And what is your point exactly?"
"For starters, last I checked the Dalish didn't have ambassadors. That job set resided under the position of 'Keeper'." He pointed out.
"It's the official title for 'person who tolerates and prefers human company'" I quipped, heading into the mine.
"Oh man, your clan must love you." He announced sarcastically.
"They do, but not for that reason. Their greatest irk about me is due to that fact that I'm half human."
"You're half human?" Solas asked.
"I thought that was fairly obvious." I answer.
"One mustn't make assumptions." Solas replied.
"Doesn't stop people from thinking them though." I responded.
We continued through the mine in silence after that. Eventually, we found our way out, and a few dead soldiers. According to Cassandra, it wasn't the entire squad, and therefore, the others must be nearby. I pressed forward, not about to go looking for them, but that didn't mean I was too callus to help if we came upon them. And sure enough, we did, along with a rift. When the demons were dealt with, I pulled onto, what I could only assume was, muscle memory. Thrusting my hand towards the rift, connecting to it, imagining it being sewn shut, feeling it do so, then pulling away to close the connection.
"You're quite proficient at this." Solas stated from behind. We regarded each other, before I focused my attention on the soldiers.
"Lady Cassandra, thank the Maker you arrived when you did." The lieutenant exclaimed.
"You should be giving your thanks to the pris-to Saryssa here. She was insistent that we come this way." Cassandra declared.
"You have our thanks, my lady." The lieutenant bowed in gratitude.
"It's during dark times like these, that we need compassion the most. Is it not?" I announce.
"In any case, the way back is clear of demons. You should return as soon as possible." Cassandra notifies them, watching the remaining squad go back to the mine.
"The path ahead seems to be clear of demons as well. We should hurry." Solas remarked, heading down the path.
"So holes in the sky don't just happen, right?" Varric asked.
"They can if there's enough magic." Solas replied.
"But there are easier ways to make things explode."
"That, there is."
"We can contemplate what happened, after we seal the Breach." Cassandra emphasized.
"You know, you never really did clarify how you wound up in the middle of this." Varric reminded me, as we walk through a dense smoke.
"I just put under my ever-growing list of misfortune." I replied.
"How do you have a list, when you look barely old enough to be considered an adult?" He asked, disbelieving my excuse.
"Well, to start, there's my curse of crashing, my Mage parents that summon a demon when I was ten that kills them, from which I barely escape, the mercenary band I join after their deaths that sell me to a wealthy merchant with a penchant for small girls, that I also barely escape from, there are the Templars that hunt me down for being my parents legacy, that I also barely escape from, then there's clan Lavellan whom after eight years still think it's okay to occasionally try and stone me. So after hearing all of that, do you still think I'd be fazed to find out that I survived an explosion, with a mark on my hand as a souvenir?"
"'Curse of crashing'?" Was Varric's only response.
"Yeah, I crash into things like you wouldn't believe. Usually because I'm too distracted to actively watch where I'm step-ING!" I trail off, as my foot slips. I feel myself rolling downhill, until my back solidly crashes into a solid wall.
"Are you alright?" Cassandra calls out worriedly. All three of them rushing towards me.
"I'm fine." I grunt out, accepting her hand up.
"The Temple of Sacred Ashes." Solas says in a low voice.
"What's left of it, anyway." Varric points out.
"There, is where you fell out." Cassandra pointed at the spot. "They a woman was standing right behind you. No one knows who she was."
I was barely listening to her though, as I couldn't look away from the remaining bodies. Flaming, meaty, skeletons, completely frozen in position. It was disturbing, that they remained, when everything else could barely be considered rubble. I wondered what sort of magic could do this, and whether it reacted this way because it touched the Fade. Eventually, we found our way to the centre of it. It was here that I could see the Fade itself, seeping out from the sky, like a wound. Worry filled me, as I realized that, even if I seal the Breach, part of the Fade will be dying. And that loss will be reflected back onto this world. If this was on purpose, whoever did it intended to destroy everything.
"You're here." Leliana's voice brought me out of my thoughts.
"Leliana, position your men around the temple." Cassandra ordered, before turning her attention at me. "This is your chance to end this. Are you ready?"
"Do you have any suggestions on how I get up there?" I question.
"This rift was the first, it's the key. Seal it, and you might seal the Breach." Solas theorized.
"Then let's get down there, carefully." I think she emphasized that last word for my benefit.
"Now is the hour of our victory. Bring forth the sacrifice." A deep voice boomed out nowhere. I couldn't help, but feel that I knew it from somewhere.
"What are we hearing?" Cassandra inquired.
"If I had to guess, I would say we are listening to the voice of whoever opened the Breach." Solas deduced. We continued forward, coming upon a red stone substance.
"You know that's red lyrium, right Seeker?" Varric questioned Cassandra.
"I see it." She replied.
"But what's it doing here?" Varric asked, sounding a bit nervous.
"Magic could have drawn it from underground, and corrupted it." Solas guessed.
"Well it's evil. Whatever you do, don't touch it." Varric stated firmly.
"Keep the sacrifice still." The voice boomed again. This time followed by a woman's voice.
"Someone, help me!"
"That is Divine Justinia's voice." Cassandra announced. I stumbled a bit, as bits of memory flashed in my mind, overwhelming me.
"Are you alright?" Solas asked catching me, his voice etched with concern.
"I'm, remembering. I think." I answer, rubbing the spot on my forehead where pain was building.
"Anything helpful?" Varric asked. A hallway and a door kept flashing in and out. Then the feeling faded away.
"No." I answer, shaking my head. We pressed forward, arriving at the rift, when my voice suddenly rang out. I could barely feel the energy in my hand, as I instinctively waved it across the air. The echo began to play, as I saw the memory in my mind. I was walking down the hall, when I heard a cry for help. Running, I burst through the door to see the Divine, magically bound. Standing before her was a dark figure. I couldn't see him clearly, but I know he doesn't look human, possibly a corpse. I notice something in his hand, but look away as the Divine screams at me to run. The thing orders my death. The echo burst, sending away the memory with it.
"You were there! And the Divine, is she-? What are we seeing?" Cassandra demanded.
"Whatever that thing was, I don't think it was human." I respond.
"We're looking at echoes of the past." Solas explained, before facing us. "This rift is sealed, albeit temporarily. I believe we could properly seal it by first opening it, then sealing it again."
"Like resetting a broken bone." I offer as a comparison.
"Exactly! However, doing so will bring forth spirits from the Fade."
"Which means demons. Everyone take position!" Cassandra commanded. I watched, as everyone took a position around the rift, ready for whatever to come out.
"Here goes nothing." I mutter, thrusting out my hand.
I imagined pulling out the stitches that held it together. I could feel it begin to thrum, and pulled away, just as a massive pride demon appeared. I immediately tried to seal up the rift, but the demon had other ideas in mind. Occasionally, shades would appear, to make it more challenging. Finally, as the demon faded away, I thrust my hand back at the rift, finishing the stitch up. I pulled my hand away, and was thrown back by a shockwave. I felt my head crack against something solid, and could see black spots fill my vision. I saw that the rift had sealed, before the world faded out completely. The last thing I felt was my cheek hitting the ground.