Magisters regret.
Travel diary days 1 to 5, Magister Caius in search of Old Gods
9:40 Dragon, First day of Solace. My grand venture to the Deep Roads started with a good omen. As we left from Minrathous my little convoy was pampered with a mild tailwind and warm sunshine. The nice weather followed us through out our travel south in the Imperial highway. There were no incidents to speak of, besides weather being good and morale being high despite the endeauvour ahead. I admit, the men did not know our goal as I did not want anyone outside closed circle to know what we were out to achieve. We had horses and large carriages to hasten our trip on surface but those will be sent back at the arrival to the entrance and all the supplies will be carried either on the backs of men or on small one man pulled carriages. Small enough to fit in the tunnels. Our dwarven scouts were nervous under the open sky but managed to hide it quite well. Not many of the visit on the surface even being members of the dwarven ambassadoria. I assured Vartag that things would go smoothly, my old dwarven friend had one of his gloomy moments despite the weather being so nice to us.
After the unventful trip finding the the Deep Road entrance was suprisingly easy. It was well hidden though, between two hills covered with forest and debris. Without the map I am not sure if we would have found it. Only couple of kilometers west from the Imperial Highway, right where the old map told it would be. We reached it in the eve of the fourth day. Since it was already late I decided to camp for the night and take action in the morning.
Next morning after the sunrise I had the entrance cleared (old dwarven stone work had kept it open, partially), I also sent a messenger to Minrathous with a request that the Magisterium would send a army unit to fortify and secure the entrance because of its location so near the Imperial highway. Preferably have at least two mage apprentices take charge of it. It could prove problematic if darkspawn can enter the highway at will.
Anyway, I feel serene for the first time in a long time, as we descent into the Deep Roads.
Personal note: I also sent a private letter for my daughters with the messenger, should the worst come to be. I waited this long to send then so that my daughters would not get any foolish ideas. Young and hot headed as they are, like I was once. My esteemed wife will receive the news from them if necessary.
Did I do the right thing by coming here? This is something I ask myself all the time. Is this trip just one of my ways in trying to find peace within myself? I spent years in Seheron fighting those cursed oxmen honing my skills and for what? The only person whom I ever really wanted to kill died escaping my reach, so now I try to find another way to fill the emptiness inside me? This nightmare I have been seeing is part of it, a dark memento from my past coming back to haunt me. In the end it doesn´t matter, I too died long ago, what ever happens will just be a closure to it all.
signed,
Magister Caius Aquillius of the house Vaellanius
*written in a parchment and sealed with the Imperial Dragon seal*
Travel diary, days 6 - 10. Magister Caius in the search of Old Gods
There is a lot of being written about the Deep Roads, the highways of the old dwarven Imperium, but nothing in those writings actually prepare you for these majestic underground roads. First time is always such a spectacular event. As this is not my first time in Deep Roads I knew what to expect, still, it always impresses me.
Even in such decay the onlooker can see how careful engineering dwarves used to carve these roads and how much work it required to have them done. I admire the magnificent size of these dwarven statues looming over the road. In these roads at the height of dwarven power a company could march through these roads in combat formation. Now, there is too much rubble and debris for it. It is astounding to see all this and understand what happened to our most important allies. The rise and fall of the dwarven Imperium is a sad tale indeed. Something we all should keep in mind. If we come across anything valuable for our dwarven allies we will take it with us (small enough to carry that it).
personal note: I spoke with Vartag at dinner (or the equalent of it in these dark tunnels) about the dwarven history. He is be proud of his ancestors, despite what has transpired here. The Imperium could learn from our esteemed allies. So completely beaten, still keeping their hears high (figuratively speaking).
Days 6 -7 were uneventful, this close to the surface there were little to be seen. Dwarven scavengers and looter from the surface have picked all that was left long ago and darkspawn have taken the rest. There are ancient dwarven outpost ruins mixed with strange darkspawn constructions. I have ordered anyone to stay away from darkspawn structures. Blight is something I do not want have in the convoy now. Some marking of the passing darkspawn were also visible. Some of the men whistled while marching to keep the spirit up, but I stopped it right there. In this strange silence sound carries a dangerous message. Thought these roads are not completely silent. The rock "lives", in a way one would not expect. At times cracks and strange echoes can be heard from all around. Like whispers from ancient times. It is easy to mistake them for something living. My goal is to avoid the main roads and deserted thaigs as much as possible, it is of absolutely importance that we remain unnoticed as long as possible. So, onward silently and through the side tunnels.
General note: Because of the nature of our journey I ordered my troops to have no more than short swords, short spears, and small crossbows as long range weapons. Small shields, breastplates and small helmets with leather support as armor. We have to be able to move fast and without too much noise. The deeper we go the more likely is we are being overhelmed in case of combat since I have less than 200 men in my convoy. however, all in my team are handpicked, well trained, disciplined and motivated. Even slaves have short swords, bucklers and leather armor. Everyone has to be able to fight if needed. I am not concerned.
Days 8 - 10 brought a change, and I am not talking about darkspawn but change in the spirit of men. The deeper we go the more fearful men seem to get. Side and rear guards keep leering in the black tunnels we pass and everyone seem to be a bit jumpy. I have cast some magical lights around the convoy and told my apprentices to keep them burning to keep the morale up (and also save the torches). Silence could be cut with a knife, and when we camp hardly any of the men make jokes anymore. A bit alarming news came from a dwarven scout and my old friend Vargal. He said that apparently we are being tailed. By whom he could not say. What that means I do not know. I would guess darkspawn would just charge us when close and not lurk in the shadows?
I ordered one of my apprentices to draw a map from our progress and distribute a copy of it for each ten men. In case men get separeted. I also made some magical markings on the walls visible only for specific spell in case there is a hurry to return through this route.
Personal note (and grievance): No more wine for me from now on. My only wine bottles I brought with me, all four of them, were broken when my personal slave dropped his backpack on the ground. I had him slightly whipped for it, not too much though. I need him at his best.
The boy is so young. I can see the fear in his eyes. Strangely not fear of his master but the fear of the darkness and monsters lurking in it. I have no such thing, there are only ashes left of my heart. I lost the ability to feel long ago.
signed,
Magister Caius Aquillius of the house Vaellanius
*written in a parchment and sealed with a Imperial Dragon seal*
Travel diary, days 11 - 17. Magister Caius in search of Old Gods
Days 11- 13. first contact. It all happened quite fast, as if the situation was somehow planned I suspect.
General note: For clarification, to improve our changes I had divided the convoy in three part segments where each unit has 33 foot soldiers backed up with 10 archers. Then each unit has three combat mages and one healer. Five slaves for the supplies in each front and rear group. Myself positioned in the middle group with four combat mages, both summoners and one healer with 10 slaves. My main idea was to have functional units self capable of fighting and moving to object with supplies in case of large darkspawn group separates us from each other. To my relief this attack was not a large one though it was fast and obviously intentional.
So the events unfolded as follows: We came to a large clearing, a wider cave that is, where a stone bridge crossed a underground river. A black river flowing extremely fast, anyone falling there would be gone before anyone can help bridge itself was narrow, no more than one meter wide and 10 meters long. The humidity from the river made the bridge slippery but I ordered one of my combat mages to burn the surface of it with fire as they crossed it. First team vent over easily as did the second one where I was. When the third team was getting ready to cross over a terrifying high scream echoed in the dark clearing, from the side tunnel (on the right side of the last team) 10 darkspawn charged with a horrifying howl. Eight genlocks and two hurlocks to be exact. Apparently there was a attempt to attack the rear guard when they were trying to cross the bridge.
I am proud to say however, that the men reacted exactly as I expected them to do. Foot soldiers arranged a shield wall and archers and combat mages started to fire and cast over them. Also my other teams offered fire support over the chasm. They made short work of the attacking darkspawn. Those blighted monsters could not even reach the foot soldiers before they were all cut down. Excellent work. Unfortunately there was also one shriek hiding in shadows on the left side. It attacked one of the soldiers who broke of the formation and went looking at the dead darkspawn before all clear was given. This monster pierced him with the blades it was carrying. One of his fellow soldier cut the monsters head off with a clean cut but was unfortunately sprayed with the monsters blood. Healer did the best he could, now only time will tell if he was infected by the taint. I went to look at those monsters, they have fascinating features. Grotesque form which faintly resembles human and dwarven form. The Shriek had elvish features if I am any judge of appearance. There seems to be kind of rotting layer on the creatures, the cursed taint.
Overall, even this attack was the first moment most of the men had ever seen a darkspawn it bolstered the morale despite the loss of one man. We buried the dead soldier with stones from dwarven outpost ruins near by and marked it in the map. Hopefully those monster will not find him.
Personal note: Nightmare again. I know why this dream keeps haunting me. It is just that in recent years it seems to have occured more and more. I have theorized that the blood ritual my father did on me has been waining. My memories are coming back, Maker I wish it would not be so.
Days 14 - 17. The unfortunate soldier was infected with the taint. As soon as he shoved any signs of the taint I ordered one of the combat mages to kill him as swift as possible. He begged for mercy but we do not have the means to carry him nor the will (and I do not want to risk any more infections). We buried him in a small stone cellar in a near by thaig.
I went through each team and let everyone know that if there is even a hint of anyone getting infected they need to be killed. We do not have means to heal such sickness, and a possible outbreak would destroy us. It was an act of mercy.
General observation: There are more dwarven ruins now to be seen. I regularly stop to take tracings from the interesting carvings.
It seems that now other dwarven scouts have also reported suspicious movement in rear and side tunnels. I´m starting to think there are darkspawn around us. Why isn´t there any movement in the front, are they trying to guide us in specific direction? I ordered everyone to pick up the pace. We marched on in silence.
Personal note: Do I hear a faint song? Could it be? Since I don´t have any wine with me anymore it could just be a side effect for not having my mandatory evening wine glass. Or not.
signed,
Magister Caius Aquillius of the house Vaellanius
*written in a parchment and sealed with a Imperial Dragon seal*
Travel diary, days 18 - 27. Magister Caius in search of Old Gods
Days 18 - 20. Our progress down the chosen route has not been as swift as I would have wanted. These maps I have seem to be rather old compared to the condition of these tunnels, which was expected. Though I didn´t think there would be so many alterations in our route. We had to divert our movement into areas which are not like in the maps. Good thing is that we were still able to get back on the original route with a little effort despite lost time. The only problem is that our supplies will last only so far. I spoke to our dwarven scouts for possibilities to use local resources, such as mushrooms for food, but they were hesitant to suggest that. It could be because there is a certain odor in the air which could indicate taint being present.
In recent days I have noticed also that besides the smell there is a certain feeling in these tunnels, I can´t really put my finger on it but it feels like we are being constantly watched. Feels like magic is being used. Best of my apprentices has mentioned similar feelings which would indicate that there is something or someone working behind this. Nevertheless we are pushing forward.
Personal note: I tried to scry this source of magic but it seems to evade all my attempts to locate it. Since none of my apprentices posses even partially the power I have I am alone in my efforts.
Days 21 - 23. This morning I received concerning news. Six men had disappeared from the camp during the rest period. Four from sentry duty and two who were sleeping among their fellow soldiers. It is quite alarming that trained men who were on their guard got snatched without a sound and even men who were sleeping among others. There has been some murmurs of discontent fueled by the fear of the unknown. I had to crush one of the archers for his impudency. He lost his nerve and wanted to return, apparently one of the missing men was his friend. I had men search for them (not too far away though) but found nothing, not even blood.
Days 24 - 25. It seems we are getting closer to the area where the map indicates Razikale, the God of Mystery is supposed to slumber. There are strange crystals in the walls and ground, a dim light seems to glow from them. I try to get a small piece with me for identification. There are also large veins of lyrium. The amount of it is astounding. I feel I could break into the Fade itself with all this. We will push ahead with greater determination.
Personal note: I was wrong about the sound in my mind, its more like whispers than the supposed song of the gods. Can it be caused by these crystals or is one of the Old Gods near by?
I also had one of my dreams again. I woke up, or more like recoiled from my dream. Sometimes I wonder, what kind of life would I have now if our plan would have worked? Happy, blissful? Then I ask myself, why do I keep tormenting myself? Maybe I am trying to feel something. Something besides this cold emptiness that fills me.
Days 26 - 27. There is nothing here. Of this I am sure now, but I don´t know how to react to it. I knew there was no assurance that this voyage would prove fruitful but I still had some hopes over it. As foolish as they now seemed to be.
We are now at the edge of the area where the maps says the God Razikale sleeps. I cast a really strong scrying spell over the chamber I felt resonated the most. And to my disappointement, nothing. If one of the Old Gods was here, it has either moved or was being moved. Either way there is nothing here anymore. Good thing is, there doesn´t seem to be any taint here. So if one of our old lords was here he is not tainted, where ever he is now.
General note: Bad news continue to manifest. When we were gearing up for return, the tunnel from where we had entered this chamber collapsed with a thunder and cloud of dust. According to map I have, we have to now continue deeper before we can trail back towards surface. Scout Vartag wonders why we have not encountered any more darkspawn. Whatever the reason is the way out is now the way down.
signed,
Magister Caius Aquillius of the house Vaellanius
*written in a parchment and sealed with a Imperial Dragon seal*
Travel diary, days 28 - 35. Magister Caius in search of Old Gods
Personal note: Today I had one of my nightmares again. It went through the old pattern, as I remember it. My hands are still shaking as I write this. I am again in the field with her...
"I made this for you" she says with a soft voice, showing a necklace made of sea shells and crystal stones, threaded on a brown string in her delicate hand. With a shy look she looks at me. She has crystal blue eyes, they are covered partially with her long blond and slightly curly hair. She looks deep into my eyes. There are just two us in this world of ours, everything could come to an end around us and I still could only see her eyes. She wears a plain robe, like all the slaves working in the kitchen, but somehow it is the most beautiful cloth I have ever seen. World is full of scent as we sit on a flowery field. I reach out and take that necklace from her hand. With a small move I brush her long lock of golden hair behind her pointy ear. "Thank you my love, I will cherish this forever" I whisper and lean to her planting a soft and gentle kiss on her lips. They taste like the nectar of the Gods. I put my arms gently around her delicate shoulders..."
Then I wake up again, sweating. I reach up to my neck, to touch the old necklace, like always. The pain and loss feels so live again. And I can´t stop thinking how it all went down. Those painful memories, vivid as ever...
"No, you vile monster!" I can hear myself screaming and the sound of it echoing in the old stone chamber as the shocking truth is revealed in all its ugliness to me. I release my magical power, everything I have, at my father. The scene I have witnessed drives me beyond sanity. As I learned that my father had found out our plans to elope and had taken her with him I knew everything was lost. I ran, faster than I have ever ran, to find them in time. Servants and slaves looked at me as I passed them, with sadness in their eyes, they knew. Oh Maker how did I run, and I prayed all the gods. But I was too late... In that old stone chamber, in the deep and dark cellars of my family tower my life, my world was destroyed.
I saw her laying there on the stone table. Candles around her. her broken eyes still kept looking at the door, for me, to save her. My father stood there, blood in his arms. Those cold eyes looking at me too.
And I unleash my power, all of it, to kill him and bring end to this nightmare..
And again I pull myself out of those horrified memories with a deep gasp. It doesn´t help at all, it is in the past now. She is gone, long ago, and all I have left are my black memories.
Am I doing all this to get away from my life? I know my father defeated me and made a blood ritual on me, that is for certain. How hazy those days now seem to be. I have lived my life like he wanted, I became the Magister he wanted, married the right girl like he wanted. A scion of the House Vaellanius. And now I am here, in the Deep Roads, looking for long lost gods. Who knows, maybe deep inside I thought that one of the Old Gods could unite me with her. A fools hope, last grasp for something lost. But the again maybe it will happen anyway, maybe I will see her once again. In my heart I feel we are not going to get out of here alive.
Days 28 - 30. As we traveled deeper and deeper there were fewer and fewer of those strange crystal concentrations. My summoner, Cadral, theorized that these concentrations of crystal somehow attract Old Gods. He thinks they provide these Old Gods something exceptional. I have now a small shard with me, chipped it from one of the huge shards. If we can figure it out then it might become easier to find our gods before darkspawn do. But in order to do that I need to reach the surface.
The air is hotter and harder to breath here and occasionally we pass more open areas where lava rivers flow. Currently there is no need to use magical lights. Some of the dwarven ruins down here have strange looking design in them. I will take tracings from their carvings just in case our dwarven scholars could shed some light of their existance.
Days 31 - 33. We were attacked again. This time with much larger force and with more cunning. As we were passing a narrow tunnel suddenly the walls from both sides collapsed releasing new side tunnels, and darkspawn who were hiding there charged our ranks. One of the hidden tunnels had a huge Ogre in it, and that monster wreck havoc among the men before I was able to contain and destroy it. There were atleast 50 darkspawn in this group. For a moment things were very chaotic and we suffered many casualties. My most promising summoner Cadral perished in the hands of that Ogre. Bodycount 32 men. We didn´t have time or place to bury them all so I had their bodies burned.
Personal note: I almost broke the old necklace as I woke from my nightmare again. It horrifies me to think that I could loose my last memory of her. Kalya, please forgive me. I don´t want to let you go.
Days 34 - 35. We are being hunted. Each day, each hour, there are barely any moments to rest. Darkspawn harass us in every turn. It all started in the early hours of day 34. The bloodthirsty howl echoing through the tunnels all around us alerted everyone for what was to come. They came at us and now we fight each step we take forward. I have ordered most of my remaining apprentices to front to keep the road clear with massive area effect spells. We need to be able to move swiftly. I will not let those blighted creatures pin us down. Archers are assigned mostly to cover our flanks and rear to save arrows. Supplies has been distributed among all men so running is easier. We move in haste but I am now certain that darkspawn have somehow alerted their fellow monsters of our presence.
Personal note: I didn´t realize how much I miss the sun.
signed,
Magister Caius Aquillius of the house Vaellanius
*written in a parchment and sealed with a Imperial Dragon seal*
*written hastily in a torn piece of parchment*
We are doomed. Last day we have been chased by a large groups of darkspawn relentlessly. Tunneling in this area is narrow which worked in our advance for a moment. These monsters could not attack us in a large group. All they could do was to send about 20 monster at a time to face us. I have left a number of runes on the floor to slow them down, according to the explosions and screams we hear it is working. However just a 20 minutes ago our luck ran out.
We came running into a huge clearing. It seems this cave is of natural origin but these beasts have carved it even larger. There were several layers of platforms in different heights visible, surrounding a pit like center. In this center were at least four if not six (Couldn´t count them well in the speed) broodmothers. Those grotesque blobs of rotting meat screamed and howled at the sight of us. Around them was a sea of darkspawn, it responded with equal howl. Their hungry screams echoed in the gigantic chamber. I have no idea how many of them were but I could guess there were thousands of them. Even more would pour into the cave from holes in everywhere like a black river of death. I made a split second decision and commanded everyone to turn around. If we would have stayed there we would have died there and those broodmothers would have feasted on our flesh. The overwhelming superiority in numbers of those blighted monsters would have crushed us matter of minutes, if not seconds.
I took the lead and we pushed back into the tunnel we just came out. The darkspawn group chasing us was not expecting such a move, and not the power I wield. I smeared the walls with those filthy creatures as I advanced and my soldiers followed me close by.
We were able to bypass several darkspawn strong points but found ourselves stuck in a dead end tunnel while running blind. It ended up in a small open area with small platform raising one meter above the floor in the other end of the hall. There is a dwarven statue standing there looming over the cave. Here we will make our last stand. One of the men started crying and I punched him in the face. We are men of the Imperium. We will not die on our knees, we will go to our deaths proud and holding our heads high!
I will seal this parchment with the rest of letters and items I have found in this journey in a magical sealed strongbox, in case someone ever comes across the place of our last fight.
signed,
Magister Caius Aquillius of the house Vaellanius
*he closes the box and casts strong locking spell on it. Then he covers it with several stones in hopes to avoid darkspawn finding it. He turns to his men.
"Now is the moment when you can redeem yourself. How you will meet your death will be defining factor. Gods are watching and only the worthy one can have a place at their side!"*
*Darkspawn pour into the cave like a black oily smoke, filling it from one end to the other. The air is filled with ominous whispers, as if spirits were wailing over what is to come. For a moment darkspawn just stand there howling at the cornered men. He sees how several large ogres force themselves through the sea of smaller monsters closer to the front line. In the background there are couple of emissaries ready to cast spells.*
*he steps forward, slamming his staff to the stone ground sending shock waves through darkspawn ranks. With a spell enchanted booming voice he shouts,
"I am a Magisters of Tevinter Imperium, come and meet your death!".
*For a moment the situation stands still, but then darkspawn charge with a roaring howl. He doesn´t waver and starts casting. Massive fiery eplosions rip apart darkspawn ranks, ground shakes and defeaning lightning strikes with a stunning strength. All of his remaining men join him in this desperate last fight. They know what is to come, there is only determination, these monsters will have to pay a huge price for their victory. Destruction is tremendous, black blood and body parts fill the air and ground. Smoke and smell of burning flesh fills the air. Still darkspawn advance. Ogres stomp forward roaring, leap up to the platform and ram through the thin lines of Tevinter soldiers. In the infernal fight men scream and monsters roar. He stands there like a rock in a river of darkspawn and they have to give in to his power. Power roars around him but he doesn´t seem to notice.*
*Time slows down. A silent thought fills him. So, this is where it all ends. Finally a conclusion for a life long torment. He feels numb. There is no fear. All these years of scheming, plotting. Losses and victories, gaining power and prestige. Living a life that didn´t belong to him. Throwing himself into pleasures of flesh and wine. Countless lives ruined in the process. All of the things that filled the empty place in his heart. All that was so meaningless, a fools attempt to imitate a life.
And then the first moment he met her, a vivid memory as ever. He was studying magical theories in the library. A soft touch on his arm, followed with a coy voice. "Master, I brought your dinner". He turned to look and the first thing he sees is her crystal blue eyes, and a stunning smile. "my name is Kalya master, I brought your food". And that moment he knew he was taken.
*he sees those screaming grotesque rotting faces with sharp teeth, they are so close now.
"I wonder if it hurts, did it hurt my love? I am so sorry for not saving you, please forgive me."
For his last show of defiance he reaches deep inside him and finds the source of his power. Gigantic energy burst shakes the cave, large cracks fill the roof and it starts to give away. The ceiling comes crushing down burying both the monsters and the men alike and sealing the cave.
Only silence lingers now in the darkness.