A Note from the Author:
This story is rated M for violence and eventual sex. I'll alert you to either in individual chapters, and speaking of which, this chapter contains descriptions of violence.
A first draft of Varric Tethras's "Tale of the Herald: Demons Everywhere":
And so, the brave Inquisition set out into the Hinterlands to close the sinister rifts that were opening all across Thedas. (Punch this up, obviously—departure from Haven, hopes of all on our shoulders, etc.)
Accompanying your humble storyteller were Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast (add description, incl. "severe" and "hard"), the apostate mage Solas (try to add more than "bald"), and the Herald of Andraste, a grand title for a rather unassuming mage from the former Circle at Ostwick.
Her name is Evelyn Trevelyan. I was a bit disappointed when I met the woman, because other than the glowing thing on her hand, there's not much that stands out about her, but I'll add some description in later to make her more interesting. What's important, and maybe what's actually interesting, is that this mage can fight.
On our way to pick up this Mother Giselle woman, we got into it with some of the Templars who've been roaming around the Hinterlands fighting rebel mages. One of them got through Cassandra's guard and managed to get close to the Herald, and hit her with a nasty shield bash. She hit the ground a few feet away. I saw her put her hand up to cast a spell, when he raised an anti-magic field and started to bear down on her, his sword up. I got a bolt into his shoulder but he kept coming, and that was going to be the end of that, except...
It happened so fast, it's hard to process, and I was fighting my own Templar, so I'm not quite sure. I'll adjust later to make it really exciting (Might make a good opening, except for the whole bit with the Breach. Maybe Chapter 2? We'll see).
She just...watched him running at her. Pushed herself up on one knee, her staff behind her, calm as could be for a mage who couldn't even put up a barrier. When he got close enough—far too close for a guy with a sword to be to a mage, Hawke taught me that—she whipped the staff around, hooked that nasty curved blade around the backs of his ankles, and pulled. Before I could even figure out what was going on, she'd sliced through his tendons, pulled him off his feet, and then lunged up and cut his throat with that little dagger she uses to gather herbs.
When the fighting was over, she immediately went over and knelt next to this tree. The woman was absolutely covered in blood; fighting real live people isn't the same as demons, that's for sure, and I honestly thought she might be throwing up.
That's not going in the book, I thought, and I went over to check on her.
"You all right, Herald?" I asked.
"Hm?" she said, glancing up at me. "Oh, yes. I've just never been in this part of Ferelden before. It's frustrating."
"What, the Templars trying to kill you on your first vacation out of the Circle?"
"No, no." She gestured at the base of the tree. "I just can't identify this plant. It's similar enough to an elfroot that I'd like to know if it has any medicinal properties."
It would have been more normal if she'd been throwing up. My editor is going to hate me after this one, if I don't just cut it entirely.
A letter from Seeker Pentaghast to Sister Leliana:
Leliana:
Enchanter Trevelyan continues to be surprisingly proficient with combat magics for someone who has supposedly lived in a Circle her entire life. Many mages I have known tend to be drawn towards one particular element that they find complimentary to their nature, but she does not seem to have an area of specialty. When I questioned her about this, she said, "Use the right tool for the right job. Overspecialization can get you killed."
We located Mother Giselle yesterday in the Crossroads region of the Hinterlands. Our party was able to soundly defeat the mages and Templars we encountered, and the Herald placed the Crossroads under the protection of the Inquisition. For whatever that is currently worth.
I can at least attest to the efficacy of her barriers, but cannot help but wonder about her background. While many Circle mages have encountered conflict since the war began, she has obviously been training for much longer, and even seems accustomed to fighting alongside non-mages. I am at least grateful that she does not complain incessantly about sleeping outside, unlike Varric.
I assume that you have been able to determine through your own sources if she has, in fact, achieved the rank of Enchanter at the Ostwick Circle. She does appear to have the technical skill and knowledge, but what other attributes does she possess? I do not know. She has certainly promised to help many of the people in the Hinterlands, but I cannot discern her motivation, or if she even truly intends to follow through. Much remains to be seen.
Per your instructions, I will continue to better acquaint myself with the Herald, to learn of her personality and background and attempt to discern why she attended the Conclave. I will be the first to admit that I am not skilled at…making friends or drawing people out.
I must clarify—she attempted to explain her work at the Circle to me one evening at camp. I may have become frustrated by an overly technical explanation and eventually suggested that the Maker damn every last mage. She laughed at me, told me to get some sleep, and has pushed aside my subsequent attempts to inquire.
As a former Templar, perhaps the Commander might be able to comprehend and perhaps coax a bit more understandable information from the Herald? His presence does not seem to upset her.
In fact, the Herald has volunteered to take over the Commander's scouting reports from Scout Harding. You might want to look at these to get a glimpse into the way she thinks, but you know your business better than I.
Maker smile upon the Inquisition, and us all.
Cassandra
A letter from Enchanter Trevelyan to Commander Cullen:
Abstract
Mother Giselle departed six days ago for Haven. Team continues to close rifts and work towards establishing credibility with community in Crossroads. Researcher recommendations for future activities and request for additional Templar assistance also attached.
Researcher's Observations
Scout Harding passed along the Commander's request for weekly updates on the activities the Inquisition's forces here in the Hinterlands, specifically the small group comprised of Seeker Cassandra Pentaghast, Varric Tethras, Solas, and the researcher, Enchanter Trevelyan. The Scout seemed relieved that the researcher volunteered to take this task, and it is hoped that the Commander will not be displeased with the results. The researcher's writing experience runs closer to submitting tedious proposals to Templars for approval of magical research, not field reports. If the time is available, please provide the researcher a document in the proper format and future reports will endeavor to follow the appropriate style.
The party has spent twelve days in the Hinterlands. To the researcher's best understanding, the party was tasked with several duties: talk with and gain the support of Mother Giselle, ascertain the availability of high-quality mounts, and close any rifts that had appeared.
As to the first, Mother Giselle is on now her way to Haven with some of the Inquisition's estimable troops. She was caring for the large number of refugees who have gathered in the Crossroads area seeking solace from the ongoing conflict between the mages and Templars here. The party has placed the Crossroads under the protection of the Inquisition and done small missions to improve their situation, which will hopefully also engender goodwill. A list is available upon request.
To that end, three days ago the party entered the Wildwood and cleared out all of the apostate mages there. It appears that most of the mage operations in the Hinterlands were based out of this camp, so it is theorized that their attacks will subside.
Details on mounts is provided in Future Actions section, below.
Work continues on rift closures. Process becomes less painful with each subsequent closure.
Additionally, the researcher continues to experience abbreviated sleep patterns and dreams of the Fade of a more vivid nature. As these phenomena were not an issue for the researcher previously, one can assume that they are linked to the nature of the mark.
Researcher's Recommendations
The Templars continue to perpetuate irrational violence against all in the area, even noncombatants, so the party should probably investigate further to see if both sides can be pacified for the safety of the Hinterlands populace.
Future Actions
Tomorrow the party will go to Master Dennet's farm to enquire about horses.
Pertinent Data
Days in the Hinterlands: 12
Rifts closed: 4
Demons killed: approximately 46 (bodies vanish)
People killed: approximately 27 (several shattered)
Request for Templar Assistance
Attached please find a small drawing of an herb the researcher was unable to identify. Data on name and potential uses would be appreciated. Potential sources might include Arancia's The Botanical Compendium. Researcher's copy was lost at Ostwick.
Respectfully submitted,
Enchanter Trevelyan
[At the bottom of the report is a detailed sketch of an herb.]