Companion recruitment: Sebastian Vael. Please don't just add to favs or alerts! Please review!
Umber, Azure and Esmeralda belong to me. Dragon Age belongs to Bioware, Sonic belongs to SEGA.
Recap: Sonic and Umber hope to join on the Deep Roads Expedition for some treasure. So far, they've recruited a Dalish blood made, former pirate rouge and an ex-slave, mage hating warrior.
"Robert, stop this madness!" cried the weary and elderly voice of a nine-tailed fox adorned in Chantry robes. She approached a hedgehog dressed in shining white armor with golden trimmings that looked like they had just been purchased from a smith. A black hood covered his head, leaving only his face visible while a bow and quiver were strapped securely on his back. "The Chantry cannot condone revenge, Robert!" she scolded.
"It is my right – no, my duty – to show these cowardly assassins that there is nowhere in all of Eurish for them to hide," Robert replied, walking away from her and the Chantry message board.
"This is murder!" she shouted, tearing the bounty off the board before an arrow swiftly whizzed by her, catching the paper as it went and securing it back on the message board. She looked back at the board before turning back to Robert, who had his bow firmly gripped in his left hand and his right hand relaxed, having just released the arrow.
"No, what happened to my family was murder," he said, turning away and marching off aggressively, narrowly nudging Sonic in the shoulder as he moved.
"Whoa, what was that about?" Sonic asked.
"Yeah and who were those people?" asked Azure.
"Well the woman is Grand Cleric Esmeralda, she's the head of the Albion Chantry and I'm pretty sure the archer is a Chantry brother," Rotor replied.
"Let's take a look at that note he left," said Sonic.
"Sonic, we don't have time for that. We have to go meet that Grey Warden in darktown to get the Deep Roads maps," said Umber, crossing his arms in frustration.
"Let's see… Whoa, check it out, that guy's a prince!" Sonic exclaimed.
"A prince? No way!" Sally shouted, tearing the parchment from Sonic's hand to read the message herself.
"Yup, says so right there, 'Prince Robert O'Hedge,'" Sonic added.
"Whatever, it's not important! Deep Roads map? Anyone?" Umber shouted, but failing to grab anyone's attention.
"It says he's placed a bounty on some assassin's that murdered his family. Oh no, that's horrible!" Azure cried, placing her had over her mouth.
"It's sad, but we can't do anything to change that," Sally added, placing a consoling hand on Azure's shoulder.
"It's like none of you are even listening to me, are you?" Umber asked, only to receive no answer. "Yeah, I thought so."
"Hey, since this guy is a prince, I bet we can get some big coin if we get these assassins for him," said Rotor.
"I like the way you think, Rotor. Let's go!" beamed Sonic, grinning with excitement.
"Hold it! Are we seriously putting off getting the Deep Roads maps from that Warden again?" Umber shouted, finally getting everyone to turn around a look at him.
"Relax, Umber. We've got the time," Sonic replied.
"How do we know that? What if the Warden is there today, but tomorrow he's not? How long do you think it's going to take to hunt a whole mercenary band across Albion!"
"Ok, how about this: You, Azure, Rotor and that new friend of yours go get the maps from the Warden while Sal and I grab Knuckles, Rouge and Amy and handle this bounty. We've got enough people to split up for the day and handle both tasks. That sound good to you?" Sonic asked.
Umber silently thought for a moment before answering, "Yeah, I suppose that'll work. We'll meet up later at the Hanged Man when we're done. Come on, Azure, let's go get Shadow and head to darktown."
"Wow, a prince, right here in Albion! I never thought I'd ever meet a prince!" Sally exclaimed after the others left.
"And yet it turns out the Warden that became King of Northamer strolled right through Knothole!" Sonic added.
"Yeah, what are the chances? We didn't even see him when he passed through with the Hero of Northamer and Knothole's a pretty small place to begin with!"
"Sally, if I didn't know any better, from the sound of your voice, I'd say you have a bit of a crush on princey over there," Sonic sneered.
"What? Me? You don't know what you're saying!" Sally joked back.
"S-so what do you like about him? I mean, you barely know him. Solaris, we haven't even spoken to him yet!" Sonic asked, walking aside Sally as they made their way to lowtown.
"Well I can tell a lot of things about him already. He's royalty, so that means he's polite and proper, he loves his family – otherwise, why would he bother with getting revenge for their deaths – and his skills with a bow would put your sword work to shame," Sally giggled.
"My sword work? And what exactly is wrong with my sword work?" Sonic asked, feigning distress.
"Well, compared to Robert's quick, graceful and dexterous shooting, it makes you look really sloppy and unorganized."
"Graceful? I'll have you know that I have a lot of grace! And have you seen my run? I beat Knuckles at the cross town race during the Knothole festival every year!" Sonic boasted.
"Sonic, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous…"
"Me? Jealous? Don't be silly! What would I have to be jealous about?" Sonic asked. He snapped his head towards Sally when he heard her scoff angrily and hurt before she marched off down the stairs to lowtown. "What? Sally! What did I say?" Sonic cried chasing after her.
Sally ignored him the entire walk to the Hanged Man, where they found Knuckles fervently arguing with Rouge. Knuckles was apparently accusing Rouge for cheating at cards, a feat that by this point came to no surprise to anyone else. Although, the fact that she still managed to get away with it and cheat Knuckles out of some coin infuriated him. Rouge only laughed in that deep feminine voice of hers that felt like thick honey dripping slowly out of a container while unleashing several teasing remarks that made the echidna's cheeks blush a brilliant red like his own fur. Amy was with them, gleefully witnessing the one-sided shouting match while Rouge taught Amy how to better play cards. Amy's honesty made her too easy to read when it came to playing cards.
With their party of five, they set off in search of the mercenary band known as Flint Company. They managed to find a group hiding in the docks area and Rouge managed to get the last mercenary to let slip that two more groups of their men were located near the Gigan Mountains and along the Wounded Coast. They found the second group just before the settlement where Amy's clan were and the third they found just past the returning path to Albion. By the time they made it back to Albion, it was already progressing into the evening. Everyone's stomachs were growling, demanding to be fed, but Sonic insisted they stop at the Chantry to collect their reward first. They entered through the large doors of the Chantry and spotted Robert's gleaming white armor.
"Your family can rest easily now. I've taken care of the Flint Company," said Sonic.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what you- Wait, do you mean my post on the Chanter's Board? Did Her Grace let is stay up?" Robert asked, gently glancing over to the Grand Cleric, who was conversing with another Sister. "I didn't think anyone would even take the time to read it, let alone return to me on the same day. You say that you've killed them? I don't mean to be ungrateful, but do you have proof of this claim?" Robert asked, crossing his arms.
"I pulled these seals of the leaders of the three bands we encountered," Sonic said, pulling out three seals from his pocket and placing them in Robert's hand.
"Then that is proof enough," Robert said, carefully examining the seals. "You have my eternal gratitude, serah! It is comforting to know that my family can now find some peace knowing that their killers are gone."
"So who are you exactly?" Sonic asked.
"I am Prince Robert O'Hedge of Mercia – but everyone calls me Rob, though Her Grace might prefer that I introduce myself as a brother of the Chantry. But after what happened to my family, I could not simply stay as I had before," Rob answered.
"Mercia? That's where the Circle Tower just burned down, isn't it?" Sally asked.
"Yes, I believe that was another part of the same strike against my family. In a single moment, we lost our mages, our templars – everyone my parents called on for protection."
"So how'd you manage to escape?" asked Knuckles, eyeing Rob suspiciously as he often did so with the people Sonic got involved with.
"Knuckles, that's not really an appropriate question to ask, is it?" scolded Amy.
"It certainly isn't," added Sally.
"Do not worry. I am not offended. My father, mother and brothers were all in Mercia when they were attacked; I was here. It's actually why I decided to take the offensive, much to the dismay of Her Grace. But thanks to you, those Flint Company assassins are no longer a danger to the O'Hedge family. I am now the last of my line…" Rob added sadly, "Unless I survive, my family will have no justice."
"Do you have any idea who sent these mercenaries?" asked Sonic.
"My family has ruled Mercia for six generation. We have enemies, as any ruling family would, but none who would identify themselves openly. A distant cousin of mine claims rulership now, but he is… a bit simple, in my opinion. I suspect he is nothing more than a clueless pawn in this plot."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Sally, Knuckles and I all lost our parents when we were kids. We grew up together," Sonic said, gesturing to Sally and Knuckles beside him. "I hope this brings you some peace."
"Thank you. I truly did not expect anyone but me to take up this cause." Rob reached into his coin purse and poured four sovereigns into Sonic's hand. "Consider this an advance. When I have reclaimed my homeland, you will be paid royally. What is your name – so that I may know who to make this payment to?"
"Sonic, Sonic the Hedgehog."
"Sonic," Rob repeated, "I shall not forget you nor what you have done for me. Now if you'll excuse me, I must meet with the viscount and petition him to aid a fellow city. It may be some time before you and I meet once again."
Next Chapter - The Healer and the Spirit: While Sonic aids Prince Robert O'Hedge, Umber sees to acquiring Deep Roads maps from the Grey Warden in Albion, but the Warden won't be as generous as they hoped.