X: Shadow of Tevinter
Seeker Pentaghast admired the sight of the sun breaking on the horizon; in awe of the brilliant colors that painted the sky and the creations that were touched by the Maker's hands. The Inquisition party, lead under the direction of the Herald, waited at the edge of the Hinterlands' wilderness for their journey into Redcliffe- and subsequently- rebel mage territory. She marched back to the campfire where the majority of the Inquisition's warriors gathered. She watched Iron Bull and Varric exchanging raucous stories in between fits of laughter and Solas meditating on a nearby tree stump. On the opposite side of the fire, sat the newer members of the Inquisition. A surly man dressed with a dark beard and dressed in worn furs, Warden Blackwall. An elegant woman of dark complexion dressed in white and a metallic horn headdress, First Enchanter Madame Vivienne De Fer. A blonde elven woman dressed in red and who spoke in perplexing riddles and a thick Ferelden accent, Sera. Within the last few days, the Inquisition had enlisted the assistance of each with Trevelyan's silver tongue. Blackwall was recruited from a cabin deep in the woods of the Hinterlands where he was living out of a cabin- and training recruits- near Lake Luthias. Sera was recruited mere days after the confrontation with the Templars in Val Royeaux, being the mysterious sender behind the arrow that nearly clipped Trevelyan's arm. As for Vivienne, Seeker Pentaghast was not present, since only the Herald was invited to meet with her at a function of Orlesian nobility.
The Inquisition sent the Herald and her party on a mission into the Hinterlands at the behest of Leliana. There were rumors of a lone Warden living in solitude in the woods and Leliana was interested in recruiting him for his cause. Kassandra crouched behind a tree a few feet from a wooden cabin, signaling to her party lingering a little while back to avoid being seen. Azure eyes cautiously observed a broad-shouldered, rugged man in Grey Warden insignias and plain clothes pacing back and forward in front of a small group of young men she suspected were from nearby villages. He was lecturing them as the Inquisition party walked up boldly; Kassandra at the head of the group hoped that this was the Warden that Leliana sought.
"Remember, how to carry your shields! You're not hiding, you're holding. Otherwise, it's useless!" The Warden thundered to his conscripts and one of them flinched slightly. He paced in front of them and Kassandra, unsure of how to proceed, halted a few feet away.
"Blackwall? Warden Blackwall?" Trevelyan inquired, and the Warden appeared visibly stunned by this random woman knowing his identity. He stormed over to her.
"You're not- How do you know my name? Who sent…" He trailed off and threw up his shield between Kassandra and him and an arrow. The arrow thudded into the shield harmlessly and a battle cry rang out from the tree line. "That's it. Help or get out. We're dealing with these idiots first." Blackwall growled and dropped his shield. His sword was removed as he shouted to his charges, "Conscripts, here they come!" His conscripts followed him into battle.
Kassandra removed her sword and shield from their dormant positions and leapt into the fray. Seeker Pentaghast caught up while Varric and Solas waged their assault of bolts and fire blasts from a distance. They focused on the archer while the armed warriors surrounded the three, armed aggressors. Trevelyan and Seeker Pentaghast encircled one of the warriors and batted him around like a training dummy. Their prey attempted to run away but a final shield bash from Seeker Pentaghast sent him tumbling onto the floor and finding Kassandra's sword impaled downwards into his chest. The two warrior women watched the archer collapse in an arrow-riddled, singed pile of flesh and glanced at Varric and Solas exchanging a victorious chuckle. Kassandra noticed the conscripts struggling against one of the aggressors, so she darted into the flight and brought the aggressor to his knees within moments. She snuck behind him and swept out his legs before lobbing off his head in a swift, one-handed swing. The conscripts gaped at her, which Trevelyan didn't mind as she walked back to her companions. Blackwall finished off his opponent not a moment later, a blow to the back of his aggressor's head sealing his fate.
Blackwall staked his sword in the ground and marched over to the bodies of the attackers. He kneeled and grimaced, "Sorry bastards…" The conscripted boys awaited his further instruction and stood attentive when he walked away from the body. "Good work, conscripts. Even if this shouldn't have happened. They could've- well thieves are made, not born. Take back what they stole. Go back to your families. You've saved yourselves."
"Warden Blackwall…" Kassandra approached him for the second time and maintained a fair distance. The last thing she wanted was to spook Blackwall and she needed the information he could give her about the Wardens vanishing.
"You're no farmer. How do you know my name? Who are you?" Blackwall questioned, the paranoia in his eyes.
"I know your name because I am an agent with the Inquisition. I'm investigating whether the disappearance of the Wardens has anything to do with the murder of the Divine." Kassandra stated relaxed as she sheathed her sword. She glanced up and watched his expression shift from worry to astonishment.
"Maker's balls, the Wardens and the Divine? That can't- No, you're asking, so you don't really know? First off, I didn't know they disappeared. But we do that, right? No more Blight, job done. Wardens are the first thing forgotten. But one thing I'll tell you: No Warden killed the Divine. Our purpose isn't political." Blackwall rambled, noting Seeker Pentaghast and Varric and Solas moving closer with a weary stance.
"I'm not here to accuse, not yet. I just need information. I've only found you… Where are the rest?" Kassandra questioned.
"I haven't seen any Warden for months. I travel alone, recruiting. Not much interest because the archdemon is a decade dead, and no need to conscript because there's no Blight coming. Treaties give Wardens the right to take what we need. Who we need. These idiots forced this fight, so I 'conscripted' their victims. They had to do what I said, so I told them to stand. Next time they won't need me. Grey Wardens can inspire, make you better than you think you are." Blackwall declared, his initial defensive response transforming into a statement of Grey Warden pride.
"It's been a pleasure, Warden Blackwall, but this didn't help at all." Trevelyan remarked sharply and turned to walk away. Blackwall seemed taken aback by her response and watched her begin to walk away.
"Inquisition… agent, did you say? Hold a moment." He stammered, gaining Kassandra's attention. She kept her back facing him, so he wouldn't see the victorious gleam in her smile. She had a feeling he would be convinced to help the Inquisition. "The Divine is dead, and the sky is torn. Events like these, thinking we're absent is almost as bad as thinking we're involved. If you're trying to put things right, maybe you need a Warden. Maybe you need me."
Kassandra turned on her heel and contemplated his offer for a moment. She glanced at Seeker Pentaghast for her unspoken opinion and she nodded. She cleared her throat, "Warden Blackwall, the Inquisition accepts your offer."
"Good to hear. We both need to know what's going on, and perhaps I've been keeping to myself for too long. This Warden walks with the Inquisition." Blackwall declared and followed the Inquisition party back to their nearest encampment.
Kassandra fished her sword from the carcass of an ambusher and grunted as she wiped the blade clean. She and her party, Seeker Pentaghast and Varric, were following the instructions left in clues that were scattered across the Val Royeaux marketplace. What they discovered were a few random people lying in wait for those affiliated with the Inquisition. Dispatching the warriors was an easy task as they were inadequately trained and arrogant about their chances. Seeker Pentaghast and Varric regrouped with Trevelyan, who was surveying the scene.
"I'm itching to find whoever sent those notes. They have some explaining to do." Kassandra declared as her azure eyes scanned the perimeter for any signs of the mysterious sender. Her eyes did, however, catch on the door in the distance and she speculated about what laid behind the door.
"You think they are behind the attempted ambush?" Seeker Pentaghast questioned Trevelyan, but it was Varric who interjected.
"That or they knew about it and wanted to warn us." Varric suggested and Kassandra nodded, interested in the unique perspective. Seeker Pentaghast hummed in agreement with Varric's posited theory, a rare occurrence of agreement between the two.
"We need to find them, so we can make that judgment call. My guess is that they're waiting up ahead, but so could a good deal of more ambushers." Kassandra admitted. Her mind was already working on strategy for both scenarios at lightning speed.
"We can take them down… We always do." Varric gripped Bianca tightly and the two warrior women drew their swords. The Herald and her companions inched closer to the door cautiously with weapons drawn. Kassandra, darted forward, and shoved the doors open- only to narrowly dodge a blast of fire aimed directly for her. She noticed a masked man standing off to the side and he cackled at her fierce glare before shooting another blast of fire, which Kassandra ducked under and rolled to a squatting position.
"The Herald of Andraste, how much did you expend to discover me? It must have weakened the Inquisition immeasurably!" He smirked from underneath his mask and Kassandra cocked her head to the side in confusion. She straightened and, with her companions, entered the courtyard space.
"I don't know who you are!" Trevelyan scoffed at her opponent. She expended practically nothing and she had no clue who was even attempting to challenge her or the power of the Inquisition.
"You don't fool me! I'm too important for this to be an accident. My efforts will survive in victories against you elsewhere." The masked man babbled on, seemingly unaware that Trevelyan was rolling her eyes at his pompous monologue. From the way he spoke, she would wager that he was a noble of some lineage with something to prove and a knack for overcompensation. The sound of a guard crying out in pain interrupted the masked man and an elven woman with a bow emerged behind the soldier's corpse.
"Just say 'What'!" She taunted, nocking an arrow tight in her bowstring.
"What is the-" Before the masked man could finish his sentence, the woman fired the arrow and it pierced straight through his throat. The woman groaned in disgust and strolled over to fetch the arrow. Then, is when she addressed the Inquisition party for the first time in the altercation.
"Squishy one, but you heard me, right? 'Just say What'… Rich tits always try for more than they deserve. Blah, blah, blah… Obey me! Arrow in my face!" She mocked as she ripped the arrow out from the corpse of the masked man. "So, you followed the notes well enough. Glad to see you're…You're kind of plain really. All that talk, and then you're just… a person. I mean, it's all good innit? The important thing is you glow? You're the Herald thingy?"
"Sure, why not? I glow. What's going on?" Sera ignored the pointed sarcasm in Trevelyan's voice and shrugged.
"No idea. I don't know this idiot from manners. My people just said the Inquisition should look at him."
"Your people? Elves?" Kassandra questioned and Sera laughed amused by Kassandra's utter bewilderment.
"Ha! No. People people." Sera glanced around and leaned in, whispering conspiratorially to the Inquisition party, "Name's Sera. This is cover. Get round it. For the reinforcements. Don't worry. Someone tipped me their equipment shed. They've got no breeches…" Sera cartwheeled away and readied her bow at the sound of guards shouting in the nearby vicinity. Kassandra, stunned by the whole display, merely armed herself with her shield and twirled her sword in her grip. She'd be the first to admit that this was the last thing she expected to witness after finding and deciphering the clues left throughout the marketplace of Val Royeaux.
Kassandra darted out from her cover and chased down an archer while blocking all his arrows with her metal shield, the arrow tips clinking off harmlessly. She resisted her jaw slackening when she realized that, true to Sera's word, the reinforcements were missing their breeches. She overheard Seeker Pentaghast splutter astonished and Varric snickering from behind her, but she halted her reaction as the reinforcements charged straight for them. She blocked a hail of arrows from two archers lingering in the shadows and chased after the lone warrior. Seeker Pentaghast stayed behind with Varric, remaining a guard in case any unexpected enemies got too close to the dwarf. From her peripheral, Trevelyan observed Sera and Varric engaging in an all-out war of arrows; they showered the enemy in a torrent of crossbow bolts and arrowheads at rapid fire speed. Chasing after the warrior, she tripped him up with a sweep of her legs and bashed her shield against his helmet. A resounding clang and the enemy crumpled to the floor, alive but severely disoriented. Kassandra flicked her sword and pierced through his abdomen for the final blow. He wailed dramatically and twitched before going still. Kassandra removed her blade with a grunt and strode back over to her companions, noticing the enemy archers riddled with shafts and bolts sticking out of their skin. Sera joined the Inquisition party with a beaming grin.
"Friends really came through with that tip. No breeches…" Sera snickered while walking towards the gate before stopping and facing Kassandra "So, Herald of Andraste… You're a strange one. I'd like to join."
"Could we take a few moments for sense to reassert itself? Who are you people?" Kassandra questioned Sera. The elven woman fidgeted, figuring out how to explain to the Herald of Andraste about her friends.
"I sent you a note to look for hidden stuff by my friends, The Friends of Red Jenny. That's me. Well, I'm one. So is a fence in Monefort, some woman in Kirkwall… There were three in Starkhaven, brothers or something! It's just a name, yeah? It lets little people, 'Friends', be part of something while they stick it to the nobles they hate. So here, in your face, I'm Sera. 'The Friends of Red Jenny' are sort of out there. I used them to help you… plus arrows." Sera explained, speaking at a rapid fire pace that it was almost difficult for Trevelyan to keep up, but she managed.
"The Inquisition already has a network of spies at our disposal. How could you add to that?" Trevelyan inquired.
"Here's how it is: you 'important' people are up here, shoving your cods around. 'Blah, Blah… I'll crush you, I'll crush you! Oh, crush you…" Sera mimicked kissing sounds and Varric snorted, earning a quick elbow from Seeker Pentaghast. Kassandra raised her eyebrows until Sera cleared her throat and resumed her point, "Look at that noble asshole we fought…and what took him down? Just some houseboy who doesn't know shite, but knows a bad person when he sees one. Like those guards, I stole their… Look, do you need people or not? I want to get everything back to normal. Like you?"
"All right Sera. I can use you and your 'friends'."
"Yes! Get in good before you're too big to like. That'll keep your breeches where they should be. Plus extra breeches, because I have all these… you have merchants who buy that pish, yeah? Got to be worth something. Anyway, Haven? See you there, Herald. This will be grand." Sera cheered and bolted through the gates. Seeker Pentaghast appeared baffled and Varric whistled inconspicuously while rubbing a blood stain off Bianca's body.
"What did the Inquisition just agree to?" Seeker Pentaghast wondered and Kassandra walked up to her side, slapping her hand on the taller woman's shoulder.
"I have no idea, Cassandra…" Trevelyan shrugged and Seeker Pentaghast gaped at her, but said nothing as the trio searched for any usable items before heading on their way back to Haven.
Emerging from her tent, an exhausted-looking Kassandra ambled toward the warmth of the fire and the luring scent of a warm meal. As she seated herself on a rock with a hearty meal, she glanced up warily to the concerned glances of her Inquisition companions.
"What?" She growled, scattering the gazes of her companions. Trevelyan was embarrassed by the glimmers of pity she saw in their eyes. She pointedly focused her attention on her plate of food and her companions resumed their concerned glances. They noted the pallor of her skin, coupled with the dark circles under her eyes, with apprehension. That past night, faint screams and crying could be heard from her tent while she was sleeping and when she was awake, she opted to take a watch shift alone. Needless to say, most of the watch shifts were performed by Kassandra the previous night.
"We were just discussing our strategy to approach Grand Enchanter Fiona while we waited for you to wake." Seeker Pentaghast cleared her throat.
"I see." Kassandra flicked at her braid whilst she finished the small portion she allotted herself to eat. "So, the way I see it: we see what deal the rebel mages have to offer the Inquisition before returning to Haven. A simple plan and it doesn't automatically link the Inquisition to the rebel mages- allowing us more time to decide if we want to pursue the Templars." She rose from her seat and observed as the others bristled to a seated position of attention.
"I agree, my dear. However, we must consider the idea that these rebel mages are setting a trap and we are walking right into it." Vivienne mused to some murmurs of assent from various members of the gathered party.
"That is a possibility, but I am willing to make that risk for the Inquisition's goals in closing the Breach for good and restoring order." Kassandra remarked and Vivienne appeared satisfied by the Herald's response. "If everything is in order, I am going to prepare the mounts for the journey to Redcliffe. Bull, Solas, and Varric are coming with me to meet the mages." Kassandra headed to the opposite side of the camp where the mounts were temporarily housed and the group dispersed. Iron Bull, Varric, and Solas went to grab their weapons and travel packs while the others sought out activities to do while waiting. After fixing the mounts for her companions, Kassandra strode up to her personal mount Aria, a Free Marches Ranger. As if sensing her mood, Aria nudged Kassandra's open palm with her armored snout and whinnied softly. Trevelyan smiled and stroked her horse's snout with a gentle caress of her thumb; remembering the day that a messenger of the Trevelyan house arrived with a letter from her parents and Aria in her custom riding gear. She thanked the Maker that she chose to leave Aria back home to recover from a riding injury while she traveled to the Divine Conclave. Master Dennet and Harritt worked together to craft a set of armor for Aria to wear and thus, to demonstrate the ever-growing reputation of power and respect the Inquisition commanded.
"If I could have a moment of your time before you embark, dear?" Vivienne rounded out from the shadow of a tree and swayed over to where Kassandra stood alongside the mounts. Kassandra sighed audibly and leaned against the nearest flat surface.
"What is it?"
"Might I suggest that I brew you something calming when you return from Redcliffe for sleep? You need rest and many of us are worried about you after the events of last night, my dear. I am not here to pry, but to tell you I can discreetly assist in remedying your lack of sleep." Vivienne questioned with concern and that took Kassandra aback. A clear moment of genuine emotion was rare as Vivienne stood behind a reputation and a wall of defense from any emotion for the sake of the Game. Ever since she met Vivienne and recruited her for the Inquisition, Vivienne was the epitome of level-headed and rarely displayed vulnerable emotionality.
Kassandra shoved open the doors of Chateau Ghislain and tentatively stepped into the foyer of the estate, marveling at the timeless elegance of the décor. She wasn't expecting any physical confrontation yet carried a sword by her side. Orlesians were unpredictable… at best. However, she was looking forward to the game of unpleasant small talk and faking her way through a flippant conversation with nobles who grossly estimated their prowess at politicking. It always entertained her to manipulate the nobles who assumed they could manipulate her first. Walking up the stairs into the main level, Kassandra observed the squire drop his list of names and scrambled to reach it so he could announce her.
"Lady Trevelyan of Ostwick, representing the Inquisition." Upon his announcement of her name, Kassandra strode forward into the crowd and ignored any reaction her name might have solicited from the crowd. She scanned for anyone that could be the Vivienne who invited her here, yet no one stood out from the gathered crowd. She sauntered forward to the indoor fountain and approached two masked nobles who she discerned were watching her with a level of excitement.
"A pleasure, my lady. We so rarely have a chance to meet anyone new. It is always the same crowd at these parties. So you must be a guest of Madame de Fer. Or are you here for Duke Bastien?" The male inquired and his female companion interjected eagerly.
"Are you here on business? I have heard the most curious tales of you! I cannot imagine half of them are true." The woman's voice piqued in excitement and Kassandra smiled coyly. She knew that Orlesians were fond of tales of theatrical heroism and that worked to gaining alliances and advantages for the Inquisition. Besides, the stories they heard might not be far off from the reality.
"Everything you've heard? Completely true." Kassandra declared conspiratorially, her voice soft as a waxing flame on a candle wick.
"Better and better! The Inquisition should attend more of these parties." The woman gushed to Trevelyan and her male companion, the latter agreeing with a simple nod of his head.
"The Inquisition? What a load of pig shit!" Kassandra's head swiveled towards the stairs where some random noble descended and sneered at her presence. "Washed up sisters and crazed Seekers? No one can take them seriously. Everyone knows it's just an excuse for a bunch of political outcasts to grab power." The nobleman walked straight past her before rounding to face her.
"The Inquisition is working to restore peace and order to Thedas." Kassandra stated firmly, resisting the urge to roll her eyes at his grandstanding and desperate peddling to start a fight. Years with stubborn and agitating family members tempered her patience and tongue to know the ideal moment to strike for maximum damage inflicted on one's character.
"Here comes the outsider, restoring peace with an army. We know what your 'Inquisition' truly is. If you were a woman of honor, you'd step outside and answer the charges." He leaned in close to her face and hissed like a wounded animal, the sign of a desperate man wanting to prove his worth in a brawl. Kassandra nearly laughed at the thought of this man attempting to engage her in a battle of the blade. She would have disarmed him before he could even speak another pompous word. The nobleman, realizing that his words alone wouldn't provoke Trevelyan, he reached for his sword and his fingers gripped the rapier hilt. However, an icy sheen overtook his body and the nobleman froze with a pained grunt. From the staircase, a woman in all white descended the stairs slowly and a fog of frost surrounded her hands.
"My dear Marquis, how unkind of you to use such language in my house… to my guests. You know such rudeness is… intolerable." She spoke calmly, but her tone was as sharp and cold as a shard of ice.
"Madame Vivienne, I humbly beg your pardon!" The marquis wailed fearfully as she drew closer to him.
"You should. Whatever am I going to do with you, my dear?" Vivienne cupped the marquis' chin before facing Kassandra contemplatively. "My lady, you're the wounded party in this unfortunate affair. What would you have me do with this foolish, foolish man?"
"The marquis doesn't interest me. Do whatever you like with him as it is your party, Madame." Trevelyan shrugged, rather ambivalent to what fate the marquis met. He attacked the Inquisition but failed at getting her angry. Besides, she would rather not soil the tile with his blood since she despised that Orlesian quirk of temper and would rather the hostess deal with the trouble as she pleased.
"Poor marquis, issuing challenges and hurling insults like some Fereldan dog lord. And all dressed up in your Aunt Solange's doublet. Didn't she give that to you to wear to the Grand Tourney? To think, all the brave Chevaliers who will be competing left for Markham this morning… and you're still here. Were you hoping to save your damaged pride by defeating the Herald of Andraste in a public duel or did you think her sword would end the shame of your failure?" Vivienne, with grace and poise, skillfully tore down the marquis for all to see. When he had nothing to say in response, she chuckled, "Run along, my dear. Do give my regards to your aunt."
"I must say, that was a sight to behold." Kassandra, being diplomatic, remarked emotionless while her thoughts rejoiced in the humiliation of the marquis in such an effortless manner.
"I'm delighted you could attend this little gathering. I've so wanted to meet you." Vivienne gestured Trevelyan to follow, which Kassandra did. They passed through the chateau and sparse groups of nobility until they stumbled upon an empty hallway. Vivienne stopped beside a window overlooking the majestic courtyard in the sheen of the moonlight. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Vivienne: First Enchanter of Montsimmard and Enchantress to the Imperial Court."
"Charmed, Lady Vivienne. I assume you already know who I am."
"Yes… Ah, but I didn't invite you to the chateau for pleasantries. With Divine Justinia dead, the Chantry is in shambles. But the faithful flock to your banner, pinning their hope on you to deliver them from chaos. As the leader of the last loyal mages of Thedas, I feel it only right that I lend my assistance to your cause."
"The Inquisition will be happy to have you, Lady Vivienne."
"Great things are beginning, my dear. I can promise you that."
"I'll think about it. It's been years since I had nightmares as horrible as last night's, but with everything going on- I wouldn't be surprised…" Kassandra trailed off when Varric, Solas, and Iron Bull appeared around the bend of trees ready for the journey. Vivienne quickly dismissed herself with a wave and headed back to camp.
"We ready to go, Boss?" Iron Bull inquired, mounting the Avvar war Nug, and while the other companions mounted their horses. Kassandra lead her horse further out before she mounted Aria in one swift motion.
"Yes, let's go." She commanded, guiding Aria down the slightly steep hill by the reigns. Her companions followed on their own mounts and the Inquisition party departed to Redcliffe. Within a matter of moments, they were passing through the Crossroads- now a thriving hubbub of activity- as a shortcut to Redcliffe. Many of the former refugees waved and hollered cheerfully when they noticed the Inquisition party trekking through the encampment. Kassandra, despite her weariness, smiled at the brightened faces knowing she did some good for these people. She led her group up the trail towards the east, where Redcliffe resided in the northwest direction from the Inquisition camp on the outskirts of the Hinterlands.
"Hey Varric, are you going to write me into one of your stories?" Iron Bull inquired, riding up alongside the dwarven author.
Varric chuckled, "How could I not?"
"When you do, make sure you describe the muscular tone right, 'cause this isn't just endurance work. There was a lot of strength training to get here. You wanna use words like: rippling, ripped… ripped is good too." Iron Bull declared, grinning at the thought.
"Huh, the Iron Bull belly was prone to rippling after every meal. He rarely wore a shirt as they ripped under the strain." Varric mused jokingly, holding back a bark of laughter after seeing Bull's grin fall flat.
"That hurts, Varric. That's hurtful." Iron Bull stated and the two laughed it off.
Up ahead, banners fluttered in the wind and marked the entrance to Redcliffe, but a little farther up the road, a Fade Rift sat and blocked the gate separating the Inquisition party and the rebel mages. Kassandra dismounted from Aria and stealthily maneuvered closer to the Rift. Upon her closer proximity, she felt the power of the mark on her hand throb. Iron Bull, Varric, and Solas dismounted their personal mounts and followed the Herald. At a certain point, the familiar energy of the mark burst open the portal and a slew of demons poured forth from the gate. Kassandra drew her weapon and rallied her companions into the fight. She and Bull charged directly into the horde of demons while Varric and Solas were providing support from a distance. Kassandra launched after a Terror, a green and limber foe that used portals to trap its prey, when the world slowed around her.
"What in Andraste's name?" She glanced down and she foolishly entered a field of yellow energy. Her movements were slowed drastically like she was swimming through an ocean of honey. She had no time to react before a Terror teleported just outside of the time bubble and swiped at her. Kassandra flew across the battle and hid the ground roughly.
"Trevelyan!" Varric hollered concerned, casting a cloak of shadow over himself and racing to her. Kassandra pushed up onto her forearms and grabbed her sword that skittered out of her hand. Varric helped her back onto her feet and in the next breath, took out one of the Terrors with a perfect shot.
"I'm alright for now. Thank you." She raced back into the fray and shouted loud enough for all her companions to here, "Beware the yellow circles! I think its manipulating time!" Kassandra bellowed and attempted to cut off the power source of the demons, using the mark.
"Time? That isn't possible!" Solas proclaimed in disbelief as he launched an orb of frost and froze the Terror that was dueling Iron Bull close to the Rift.
"With demons, anything is possible." Iron Bull grumbled as he bashed in the head of a Terror between a rock and his two-handed axe. Kassandra chased down the first Terror that emerged from the second wave and sliced it into ribbons out of anger. Through all the blood and guts of demons, her mind was trying to scramble for an answer and none would come. Something was very wrong in Redcliffe and she needed to know what was responsible. Bull cleanly sliced the head off another demon in a single swing and in the next; he sliced one down the middle. Above her head, the Rift went still and Kassandra leveled her hand and sealed the Rift. Her companions tepidly drew closer to her with expressions needing an explanation.
"Maker, have mercy! It's over! Open the gates!" A female guard jogged past the Inquisition and the people on the opposite side worked to open the gates. Kassandra crossed through and was approached by one of Leliana's men.
"We've spread word the Inquisition was coming, but you should know that no one here was expecting us." The scout, breathlessly, relayed to the Herald and her companions. Varric, Kassandra, Solas, and Iron Bull glanced at each other nervously.
"No one? Not even Grand Enchanter Fiona?" Kassandra questioned and was suddenly beside herself in complete shock… and then fury. The Breach was no matter to take lightly and she was getting fed up with all the games the mages and Templars were playing; the Inquisition seemed like the only institution in Thedas that was taking the possibility of impending doom with even the faintest bit of worry.
"If she was, she hasn't told anyone." The scout shrugged and it was definitive to Trevelyan that there was something very suspicious happening in Redcliffe. "We've arranged use of the tavern for the negotiations."
"Agents of the Inquisition, my apologies!" a new voice chimed in and Kassandra faced a wiry, elven man in brown robes. "Magister Alexius is in charge now, but hasn't yet arrived. He's expected shortly. You can speak with the former Grand Enchanter in the meantime." Trevelyan huffed disappointedly, but progressed with her companions to Redcliffe after gathering their mounts. On horseback, Kassandra galloped easily on the downhill path and was greeted to a quaint port village with wooden buildings and a thriving atmosphere. She dismounted Aria and tied her bridle to a post on the outside of the village, cautiously watching for any signs of danger. The Inquisition party wandered through town and asked the locals for directions to the Gull and Lantern, the tavern where negotiations were slated to take place.
"Time magic, the Grand Enchanter not telling people about the Inquisition coming, and magister… it doesn't take a genius to realize that something fishy is going on here." Varric hissed as the group moved through the village to Kassandra, who nodded.
"I agree. For now, we keep on our guard and remain wary." Kassandra whispered back and straightened her posture. The Gull and Lantern was in her sight. Entering the dark, empty bar, The Herald came face to face with Grand Enchanter Fiona.
"Welcome, agents of the Inquisition. What has brought you to Redcliffe?" Fiona greeted neutrally but Kassandra wasn't going to play games. She strode forward a few steps and squared her shoulders off.
"We're here because of your invitation back in Val Royeaux. Does that little reminder ring any bells?" Kassandra snapped, and Fiona blinked in shock.
"You must be mistaken. I haven't been to Val Royeaux since before the Conclave." Baffled, Fiona racked her brain and wondered who the Herald of Andraste might be mistaking for her. She knew that Val Royeaux was somewhere she avoided after the Circles disbanded for her own safety.
"Well, that's very strange, because someone who looked exactly like you spoke to me in Val Royeaux a few days ago." Kassandra blinked, her gaze boring holes into Fiona. She waited for any sign of faltering but there was none in Fiona's visage.
"Exactly like me? I suppose it could be magic at work, but why would anyone… Whoever or whatever brought you here, the situation has changed. The free mages have already pledged themselves to the service of the Tevinter Imperium." Fiona admitted hesitantly and the temperature in the room crawled into an icy chill. Kassandra's jaw clenched, and she bit back her tongue; the absolutely last thing they needed was a scheming magister from Tevinter meddling with the Inquisition's goals of restoring Thedas.
"This right here is why you can't trust mages." Bull gruffly stated and gestured to Fiona and her revelation. Kassandra was still reeling and wondering how that could be possible when Varric interjected.
"Andraste's ass… I'm trying to think of a single worse think you could have done. And I've got nothing." Varric mused bitterly at a loss for word.
"I understand that you are afraid, but you deserve better than slavery to Tevinter." Solas seemed visibly upset by the announcement, an undiscernible emotion crossed his face but vanished as fleeting as the gust of wind.
"As one indentured to a magister, I no longer have the authority to negotiate with you." Fiona remarked plainly, responding to the sharp opinions of the Inquisition's agents defensively. Kassandra's tone was as cold and sharp as a blade of ice.
"Very well, who's in charge now?" Kassandra crossed her arms over her armored chest when the door to the tavern opened. An older individual in a red hooded robe walked in and greeted the Herald and her companions with a jovial expression.
"Welcome my friends, I apologize for not greeting you earlier." He declared boisterously, and Kassandra's eyes narrowed. She suspected this was the Tevinter Magister responsible for the mages newly aligned status.
"Agents of the Inquisition allow me to introduce Magister Gereon Alexius." Fiona shuffled back and allowed Alexius the commanding position he newly attained.
"The Southern mages are under my command. And you are the survivor, yes? The one from the fade? Interesting…" Alexius leered at Trevelyan, his grin turning on a slight predatory edge. Kassandra grunted under her breath disgustedly and Varric itched to aim Bianca at Alexius where the sun didn't shine.
I'm here to get mages to close the Breach." Kassandra proclaimed, dryly and showing that she was in no mood for grandstanding. Her lack of sleep coupled with the suspicious events taking place in regard to the rebel mages was shortening her patience and aggravating her temper. Magister Alexius swallowed roughly and noted the dangerous glint in the Herald's eyes.
"Right to business! I understand, of course." Alexius waved Kassandra to follow him and the two sat, face to face, at a table. "Felix, would you send for a scribe please? Pardon my manners, my son Felix, my friends." A young man in yellow robes walked up to the table and bowed to the Herald before walking away. "I am not surprised you're here. Containing the breech is not a feat that many could even attempt. There is no telling how many mages would be needed for such an endeavor. Ambitious, indeed."
"Well, when you're fighting a massive tear in the sky, you can hardly afford to think small." Kassandra leaned back in the chair informally, but her tone retained the sharp edge of her cunning wit. Magister Alexius had no clue who he was negotiating with, she prided herself of being the type of woman whose opponents underestimated them.
"There will have to be-" Alexius trailed off when he and Kassandra spotted Felix limping back over to them with a glaze over his eyes. He barely reached the table before collapsing right into Kassandra and she, on instinct, caught him. She felt him place something into her hand, but the sensation was gone as quickly as it came. Magister Alexius rushed over to his son, "Felix!"
"My lady, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." Felix apologized to Kassandra and she wanted to say something, but Magister Alexius was all over his son like a frenzied mother hen. Genuine worry was plastered across his face, unlike the mask he wore when greeting the Herald and her companions.
"Are you all right?" Alexius questioned, panic evident in his voice.
"I'm fine, Father," Felix assured Alexius, unconvincingly, and the magister refused to leave his son. Without thinking, Alexius left the table and headed toward the exit of the tavern.
"Come, I'll get your powders. Please excuse me, friends. We will have to continue this another time." Alexius started to take Felix away from the tavern, but not before Felix shot Trevelyan a meaningful glance. Alexius past Fiona, "Fiona, I require your assistance back at the castle."
"I don't mean to trouble everyone." Felix coughed, clutching his abdomen as he limped after his father and Fiona.
"I shall send word to the Inquisition. We will conclude this business at a later date." Alexius declared finally, leaving the Gull and Lantern. Gradually, people re-entered the tavern and the typical ambience of the place was in full swing. Kassandra glanced down at her hand to find a crumpled-up piece of paper, a note. She opened it, azure eyes widening. She signaled her companions close to her and swallowed roughly.
"Come to the Chantry. You are in danger." She read. Her face was pale like it had been earlier that morning, she walked into a trap. Her head jerked up in the direction of the Chantry. Her companions followed her to the exit of the tavern when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She glanced to her left, noticing a young man with a symbol on his forehead wringing his hands.
"Excuse me, are you the Herald of Andraste?" He was purposely adverting his eyes from Kassandra's. He wore warm robes like that of a mage, but something in the back of Kassandra's mind that told her that he wasn't a mage.
"I am. Is there something I can help you with?" Kassandra inquired, her display shifting to a calm and friendly demeanor as not to scare the man off. He looked like a spooked halla, ready to bolt.
"Sort of. Ever since the free mages have allied with Magister Alexius, Redcliffe hasn't been safe and strange occurrences are going on. I am a Tranquil and Magister Alexius has been forcing the Tranquils to leave as we serve no magical purpose. I have heard about your Inquisition and want to help. Although I am a Tranquil, I am an alchemist and can use my services to benefit the Inquisition." He explained in a jumble of words flowing from his lips at an unhuman speed. The pieces clicked in place when she recognized the symbol on his forehead as him being stripped of magical abilities- a tranquil.
"Very well…" Kassandra faded off when she realized that the Tranquil never introduce himself. After a moment he caught on.
"Oh, my apologies, Herald… My name is Clemence." He introduced, and Kassandra nodded.
"Head to the Crossroads and they will provide you with safe passage to our base camp. Welcome to the Inquisition Clemence." She instructed and received a relieved smile from Clemence.
"Thank you, Herald!" Clemence bowed his head and took off. She glanced back at her companions and shrugged; there was use in recruiting agents while they investigated. The Inquisition party exited the Gull and Lantern and marched to the Chantry. At once, the Herald and her companions charged into the Chantry and they witnessed a Fade Rift and one man fighting off Shades. He sliced through them with the blade on his staff and Kassandra realized that he was a mage. Piercing eyes observed the Inquisition party enter the Chantry and there was a hint of hope in his voice.
"Good! You're finally here! Now help me close this, would you?" He suggested with an ironic twist to his fruity voice. He leaned on his staff and inspected the Inquisition party, the Herald specifically, with great interest and fascination.
"Avoid the circles!" Kassandra commanded as she raised her sword. Her companions roared individual battle cries and they darted into the fray. Several shades and terrors formed from the Rift and slithered over to the gathered warriors. Iron Bull and Trevelyan met them, head-on, with their acquired steel. From the back, Solas and Dorian unleashed hell in match frost and lighting attacks respectively. Varric would vanish throughout the Chantry and emerge from the cloak of shadows with every successful arrow piercing through a shade with a hissing wail. Iron Bull was a fearsome sight; he frightened all demons who stared him dead in the eye into Kassandra's waiting blade. For her part, the Herald of Andraste ripped through demons as if they were straw training dummies. The two waves blended together as the Chantry floor became slick with blood and the innards of Fade monsters.
Finally, the Rift stopped spewing forth creatures and rippled into a glassy mirror state. Kassandra lifted her arm and with the mark, sealed the Rift as she learned how to do. Watching the Rift shatter into nothingness, the mysterious mage turned to look at Kassandra. He cocked his head to the side as he admired her. For a Southerner, she was quite the intriguing sight, "Fascinating… How does that work, exactly? You don't even know, do you? You just wiggle your fingers, and boom! Rift closed."
"Who are you?" Kassandra demanded, gripping the hilt of her sword in preparation to unsheathe the weapon, and put it between the Inquisition party and the mysterious mage.
"Ah. Getting ahead of myself again, I see. Dorian of House Pavus, most recently of Minrathous. How do you do?" Dorian bowed to Kassandra. She released her grip on her sword when Bull leaned over from behind.
"Watch yourself; the pretty ones are always the worst." Iron Bull growled to Trevelyan, raking his eyes over Dorian suspiciously. Kassandra raised an eyebrow at Bull but remained focused on Dorian. She was still cautious, as it was her nature in potentially dangerous situations, yet she believed Dorian was there to help her.
"Suspicious friends you have here." Dorian chuckled nervously, imagining what the Qunari could do to him if he suspected any tricks going on. "Magister Alexius was once my mentor, so my assistance should be valuable- as I'm sure you can imagine.
"Are you the one who sent that note, then?" Kassandra asked, and Dorian nodded, his lips drawing into a taut line.
"I am. Someone had to warn you, after all. Look, you must know there's danger. That should be obvious, even without the note. Let's start with Alexius claiming the allegiance of the mage rebels out from under you. As if by magic, yes? Which is exactly right. To reach Redcliffe before the Inquisition, Alexius distorted time itself." Dorian exclaimed, nearly causing Kassandra to laugh at the absurdity of the whole situation. The one alliance that presented itself as 'straight-forward' just became the most ludicrous one.
"That is fascinating, if true… and almost certainly dangerous." Solas mused, his mind imagining the endless possibilities and the power of the magic involved.
"I hope that's less dangerous than it sounds." Kassandra grimaced, her mind attempting to wrap around the concept of time-distorting magic. Were there any boundaries to magic's reach?
"More…The Rift you closed here? You saw how it twisted time around itself, sped somethings up and slowed others down. Soon there will be more like it, and they'll appear further and further away from Redcliffe. The magic Alexius is using is wildly unstable, and it's unraveling the world." The somberness in Dorian's voice echoed through the Redcliffe chantry and the Inquisition party exchanged glances of varying degrees of worry.
"You're asking me to take a lot on faith." Kassandra declared, the whole issue with the rebel mages becoming more complicated by the minute.
"I know what I'm talking about, I helped develop this magic." Dorian scowled at Kassandra's quizzical eyebrow raise, "When I was still his apprentice, it was pure theory. Alexius could never get it to work. What I don't understand why he's doing it? Rippling time to shreds just to gain a few hundred lackeys?"
"He didn't do it for them." Felix emerged from the shadows of the Chantry and walked towards the group. Kassandra, glad to see he was alright, was perplexed by Alexius' motivation. If not for the mages, what did Alexius seek to gain?
"Took you long enough. Is he getting suspicious?" Dorian inquired to Felix. In his eyes was genuine worry for his health. Kassandra examined the exchange with great detail and her mind wandered through all the possibilities.
"No, but I shouldn't have played the illness card. I thought he'd be fussing over me all day." Felix admitted, then turning back to the Herald and her companions. "My father's joined a cult- Tevinter supremacists. They call themselves 'Venatori'. And I can tell you one thing: whatever he's done for them, he's done it to get to you."
"Alexius is your father… why are you working against him?" Kassandra questioned, and Felix sighed.
"For the same reason Dorian works against him. I love my father, and I love my country. But this? Cults? Time magic? What he's doing now is madness. For his own sake, you have to stop him." Felix glanced down and that made Kassandra's heart wrench. He cared so deeply about his father that he was willing to go against him. It made her think about her own father and she could never imagine having to fight against him.
"It would also be nice if he didn't rip a hole in time. There's already a hole in the sky." Dorian drawled sardonically, a plain contrast to the complex emotion behind Felix's inspiration. Despite the strength of his biting sarcasm, Kassandra could see pain in him clear as day. Whether for Felix or Alexius she was unsure, but it was there. There was a depth and a lingering sadness beneath the bravado and grandiose character that Dorian presented, she could sense it. "You know you're his target. Expecting the trap is the first step in turning it to your advantage. I can't stay in Redcliffe. Alexius doesn't know I'm here, and I want to keep it that way for now. But whenever you're ready to deal with him, I want to be there. I'll be in touch… And Felix? Try not to get yourself killed." Dorian disappeared into the shadows of the Chantry after addressing Felix and the Inquisition.
"There are worse things than dying, Dorian." Felix murmured as he wandered out the opposite side of the Chantry, leaving the Inquisition party alone in the Chantry. Kassandra sighed yet silently led her companions back the way they came. They would return to their camp and debrief the others on the new developments. Kassandra had made her decision.