Question? Would you guys appreciate a companion archive to this story where it contains the list of known Original Characters? Because as this story moves along, I'm still going to accept character submissions and this would hopefully help you guys keep track of them. Because I already got about a dozen and a half characters in my archive and Maker knows I already have a little difficulty keeping track of them all.
Also, as to the chapter itself, one of the characters speaks bilingually in her sentences. I'll be adding an elven-to-common guide at the bottom of the chapter for the words and phrases used. Also, the elven words will be italicized.
Chapter 3: Crestwood
Part 1: Departure and Arrival
Collins, Day 1, 6:01 AM, Skyhold Bailey
It would be a long ride from Skyhold to Crestwood, five days to be exact. So everyone was ordered to pack appropriately for the journey ahead. The lad focused on his work setting up this horse's saddle until he finished. He then ran a double check on all his supplies, "Long sword, check, sleeping mat, check, flint stone, check, rations, check…"
Once Collins finished he heard a horse nay and turned his gaze to see Naleen struggling to put her saddle on her own horse, a Fereldan mare. The young elven mage cursed in what sounded like elvish until Collins walked up to her and offered his help.
"Oh… ma serannas," Naleen said as Collins readjusted the saddle.
"There we go," Collins announced once he finished, "Don't the Dalish have Horses to ride?"
"No, we have Halla, they're significantly more Atisha," Naleen explained, "and we don't ride them, we use them to pull the aravels,"
"What's that? Like a wagon?" Collins question.
"Ar am not familiar with that word, but Ar assume so," Collins noted the fact that Naleen seemed to use elvish words a lot, luckily he managed to deduce what she was saying for the most part.
"Well, let me know if you need any help," Collins assured, "My name is Collins by the way,"
"Naleen," the elf replied with a bow, the human and elf both parted to their respective mounts just as Captain Thamond and Lieutenant Ford road up to the front of the men gathered. Captain Thamond led a dozen plus half soldiers not counting himself, which brought the total travelling party to a large twenty seven strong.
Thamond himself was a professional soldier and leader through and through, as good at following orders as he is at giving them. Even though he officially outranked Ford, the two were to work as equals for the mission.
"Its three days from here to Crestwood!" The captain shouted, "So best make sure you packed well for the ride there and back! Now let's move out!"
V
Hall, Day 3, 8:18 AM, Crestwood Lake
"Did your archery match with Hall really last six hours?" Collins asked out of the blue as they continued on the road to Crestwood.
"Lasted six hours implies that the match was settled. It's just on hold until we get back from Crestwood," Aniel elaborated.
"And it's not an archery match when the other competitor isn't even a bowman," Hall added.
"My point is, if it's true, who did you two last so long?" Collins questioned further.
"One-upmanship, you'd be amazed how time flies by when you're trying to best someone," the elven bard explained as he twirled one of his many daggers between his fingers.
"What I don't get is how you managed to remain so accurate with your throwing knives," Hall questioned suspiciously.
"Hehe… just uniquely skilled is all," Aniel stated nervously, but Hall shrugged it off.
"Where we are!" Ford shouted form the front of the group as they reached over a hill and saw a large lake with a strange green energy coruscating from under its surface. Near the far side of the lake was a town with a fortress further down the ways.
With that the soldiers and agents of the Inquisition started setting up a campsite not too far off the path, but still secluded enough for them to avoid detection.
Shortly after they finished setting up, Ford and Thamond called everyone together.
"Okay, listen up," Thamond shouted to the men and women gathered, "We need to evaluate the situation right now, so we're going to be sending in some scouts to recon the town. So we need volunteers, no more than six,"
Hall watched as some of the soldiers and agents raised their hands or shouted out an offer to go along. Hall simply shrugged and raised his hand as well.
"Okay, Gerard, Aniel, McPherson, Hall, Collins, and Marks," Ford called out six names out of the volunteers, "You guys will recon the town and see what the situation is, question the townsfolk without giving us away, and watch out for Red Templars, do not enter the town with your Inquisition uniforms, weapons, or anything that can identify who you work for, now prepare and good luck"
V
Madeline, Day 3, 8:22 AM, Crestwood Village
"LOOK OUT!" Madeline shouted as she and Caedmon ran from the Templars. They soon lost them in the back alleys of Crestwood. Hiding behind some crates, the young teenager and her older companion took a minute to catch their breaths.
"We need to get out of here," The young girl stated as she looked around the corner to see Templars patrolling the street.
"I'll distract them, you make a break for it," Caedmon commanded as he stood up, the old mage moving towards the edge of the alley.
"NO, you can't!" Madeline shouted as she grabbed Caedmon's wrist to stop him. The mage turned around and put his hand on her shoulder.
"It's me they want, not you," he then kissed her on the top of the head, "I promised to protect you,"
"And I promised to look after you!" Madeline countered.
"This isn't a discussion," Caedmon stated firmly as he turned and ran out into the street.
"Hey, you want me you bucket heads? Then come get me!" Caedmon shouted as he cast a spell at one of the Templars before they could respond.
Madeline then reluctantly turned around to run, but as she rounded the corner she bumped into a Templar; who then grabbed her by her unruly black hair.
"Let me go-" Madeline stopped midsentence to having a knife held at her throat. She was then forcefully dragged to the main street where Caedmon was fighting the Templars.
"Stop now apostate!" the Templar holding Madeline shouted, "Or her throat gets cut open!"
Caedmon looked Madeline in the eye, then his irises turned red as his expression turned dark. In the blink of an eye he was standing before Madeline and the Templar, his throat slashed by demonic claws.
