Chapter one- The Black Book

The Deep roads... They say that when the fifth blight ended, when the hero of Fereldan destroyed the Archedemon, that the surviving darkspawn call their homes in the deep roads.

The deep roads were homes to dwarves many centuries ago, but since the first blight, has long since been home for the dreaded, bloody dark spawn. The place has become destroyed and disgusting, full of dark spawn fumes.

"So then why do all my friends wan to go to the bloody deep roads?!" Anders proceeds to yell out after their battle with a few of the these dreaded darkspawn.

In front of him was Hawke, Black hair, red paint over his nose and pale skin. Hawke simply turned to Anders, a wide grin at the dirty blonde's comment. In his hand was a exquisite looking bow and on his back, flaming arrows.

Next to Anders was Merrill and Varric. Merrill was looking over at Hawke and Varric was checking on Bianca. In front of Hawke was Isabella, Aveline and Fenris, wiping blood of their persons and weapons. Off to the side of them, near the wall was Sabastian, looking ahead of the group.

"I do not see any more Darkspawn" Sebastian spoke up, walking over to Hawke.

"We should make camp then. We will have an early start tomorrow" Hawke's grin turned to Sebastian, "Keep scouting ahead and I will relieve you in a few hours"

"I'd pay to see that!" Isabella cat-called them, waving her arms about.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and began to walk away from the group. After he vanished into the rubble, Anders began asking around the group who needed healing.

"I have a scratch and itch, Healer" Isabella coaxed Anders over to the rouge and two warriors.

Fenris scoffed, "I have no wounds to note" he glared as Anders walked over.

Anders sighed, "Elf, we are in the deep roads"

"Your point, Mage?"

"I have to make sure those up front do not have the taint. Example" Anders jabbed his index finger towards Fenris, "You"

Fenris grumbled but allowed the healer to begin his taint search on the three of them.

Aveline was finished first and quietly moved to Hawke, "Let's set out the bed rolls and get dinner started" She suggested.

"Good idea" Hawke put his bow back on his back and looked behind him to Varric and Merrill. "Hey Varric, mind cooking for us?" He waved to the dwarf.

Varric shrugged, "Sure, roasted nug sound good?" He laughed out and then turned to Merrill, "Come on Daisy, Lets get these working people something good to eat"

"Of course Varric. I brought meat and herbs" she began to discuss what she had brought with her in a large bag.

Hawke and Aveline began to set out bed rolls and Anders Moved Fenris and Isabella to the rolls.

He made Fenris roll up his leggings and began to heal the sole's of his feet. Isabella sat next to their rogue leader and began to whisper sweet nothings in Hawke's ear.

Within a few minutes, they each heard something that made all of them Look up.

"Hawke... I think you should see this..." it was Varric, his voice stern.. yet shaken underneath.

Hawke knew if Varric's voice was stern, it meant trouble for the team. He looked to Anders and Fenris, who were now looking at the backs of Varric and Merrill.

Hawke stood up, being followed by Isabella and Aveline.

They walked over to Varric and Merrill, Hearing Fenris complain lowly about wanting to see if there was Danger too, and looked over Merrill's shoulders.

In her hands was a large, black, leather bound book with a round symbol in silver. The symbol reminded Hawke of the Chantry symbol with crab claws at the end of the appendages.

"It kinda looks like the Chantry's sun" Anders walked up behind Hawke to look over their crouching shoulders. Fenris stood next to Isabella, staring down to the book in Merrill's hands. Merrill turned around, showing the book to the group.

"I feel magic Hawke.. but not blood magic... it is dark magic though.." Merrill whispered to him.

Hawke raised a brow as Varric touched the leather of the book. "Is that... skin? Hawke, it feels like human skin!" Varric pulled his hand away, appalled.

Isabella raised a brow, "It doesn't look to be worth ten coppers... no one is going to buy that"

Aveline looked around, "Why would a single black book be here in the deep roads? The dwarves haven't lived here in centuries... shouldn't everything by them be eroded to dust by now?" she asked.

Hawke grumbled, taking the book from Merrill.

Fenris Immediately puts his hand on top of the book's silver symbol. "Wait... wait a moment..." He begged of Hawke.

"What is it, Fenris?" Hawke raised a brow.

Fenris' features had him unsure, he was staring at the book, but he was slightly scared of it. "I feel... a calling... a pull of sorts... It want's us to open it..."

Merrill and Anders shot each other a curious look and then back to Fenris.
"I don't feel anything" Anders began as Hawke flipped open the book to a random page.

The pages were a off white, dirty for the most part, used. The writings were a mix of ink and blood. The symbols incomprehensible.

Hawke's brow was raised further as his friends scooted closer to him, getting a good look at the book.

"What are those symbols?" Anders asked aloud.

"Is that Blood?" Aveline asked after Anders.

"That is not any blood magic I have seen" Merrill responded.

"This could be valuable..." Verric began as Isabella responded to that.

"Not a chance. The thing is weird looking and made of Human skin.. no one will want that" She told him, sort of disgusted.

Fenris snorted, "There are magistars who would disagree"

Suddenly, The book Felt warm in Hawke's hands, and a green flash blinded him a bit. When he was able to see again, he could see blackish green tentacles reaching for him and his friends. Hawke yelled, trying to get away, but before he could, he felt the tentacle wrap a hold of his chest and pull him towards the book. Hawke shut his eyes, not seeing where he was heading, all he heard was his friends yelling and screaming and suddenly silence.