Lothering: The Search Begins

Lunar stirs and awakens to a voice he vaguely recognizes. "Ah, your eyes finally open. Mother shall be pleased." He sits up in the bed and realizes who it is, Morrigan, the woman that he met in the ruined tower in the Kocari Wilds. "I... remember you. The girl from the wilds"

To which Morrigan responds " I am Morrigan, lest you have forgotten. And we are in the Wilds, where I am bandaging your wounds." "How does your memory fare? Do you remember Mother's rescue?" "Rescue?..." Lunar asks himself in Ancient Hylian. He looks up at Morrigan and asks her about what happened to the King and the rest of the army. To which she responds with grim news "The man who was to respond to your signal quit the field. The darkspawn won you battle. Those he abandoned were massacred. Your friend... he is not taking it well." They speak for a few moments more and Morrigan tells Lunar that her mother would like to speak with him when he is ready. He finds his gear and gets dressed, then thanks her for tending to his wounds before heading outside, where he finds Alistar waiting with Flemeth.

"See, here is your fellow Grey Warden. You worry too much, young man." Morrigan's mother says as Lunar walks out of the shack. Alistair turns to face Lunar, surprised to see him alive. They talk for some time trying to decide what to do about stopping the Blight that is affecting the land, but Alistair leaves the decision to lead up to Lunar. As the duo get ready to leave Morrigan exits the shack to inform Flemeth that her supper is ready. But Flemeth tells her she is going with them, something that Morrigan is none too happy about, but reluctantly agrees to. The new trio leaves Flemeth's hut and makes their way north to Lothering, they hit the half way mark when our unlikely heroes find an animal running toward them, being chased by darkspawn. It just so happened the animal was the same Mabari that Lunar got the plant for in the Kocari Wilds.

With the Mabari now in tow, they continue their trip north and begin crossing the bridge into Lothering, being stopped by a small group claiming to be toll keepers into the town. "Wake up, Gentlemen! More travelers to attend to. I'd guess that fellow is the leader." says the bandit. The bandits talk among themselves while our heroes approach. "Greetings, travelers!" the bandit begins. Alistair and Morrigan both comment about them being highwaymen fleeing the darkspawn and then preying on travelers, while Morrigan suggests taking them down and moving along. Lunar steps forward and tells the lead bandit to listen to his dimwitted friend because they are not refugees, but they do not want to listen and claim that the 'toll' applies to everyone. Lunar glances back at Alistair then turns to the bandits. "I'm only going to warn you once..." he says drawing his katana. "I think it's time for you and your men to leave." "A shame you feel that way. We're not inclined to give up our spot just yet, right gents?" The bandit leader says has his crew attacks. Our Heroes respond in kind and kill the group that was extorting travelers running from the darkspawn. After dealing with the bandits our heroes enter Lothering.

"Well, there it is, Lothering. Pretty as a painting" Alistair says dryly. "Ah. So you have finally decided to rejoin us, have you? Falling on your blade in grief seemed like too much trouble, I take it?" Morrigan responds, in her usual snarky tone. Lunar, amused by their banter, stifles a smirk and finally asks Alistair what was on his mind. To which the trio discusses their next move. They have a few choices of where to start because of the documents that were found in the crumbling tower in the Wilds. The Wardens can ask for help from the Mages Circle, the Dalish Elves, and the Dwarves. The trio talks a few moments more and then head into the town. It is overrun with people trying to flee from the darkspawn. They make their way through the town and enter the tavern, and are approached by a small group of soldiers. "Uh oh, Loghain's men. This can't be good." Alistair says. Two of the soldiers begin commenting to each other about how they just spent all morning questioning people about our heroes whereabouts when a young woman approaches them.

"Gentlemen, surely there is no need for trouble. These are no doubt simply more poor souls seeking refuge," she says, but the soldiers are having none of it. Threatening her if she tries protecting our heroes; the soldiers then attack but just as quickly as the fight started it ended with three of the four soldiers dead; each with a Sheikah dagger in their throats. The final soldier gives up and the woman comments: "Good. They've learned their lesson and we can all stop fighting, now." Lunar agrees, and tells the soldier to leave and deliver a message to Loghain "The Wardens are coming for him."