We're trudging along a well-beaten path to the Dalish camp when the silence becomes far too much to bear. Nobody's said a single word for hours and it's driving me insane! Finally, I turn to Leliana and strike up a conversation to keep me in my right mind. I can tell from her speech that she's from Orlais and her specialization is in the 'bard' section of being a rogue, so I decide to strike up a conversation about those two topics.
"Leliana?". The woman looks at me and goes 'hmm'.
"I heard that in Orlais, minstrels are often spies.". Leliana's face seems to light up at our conversation and a roguish smile crosses her lips.
"Where did you hear this?". I turn around in order to walk backwards and still talk to the woman while making progress.
"Someone told me that a long time ago.". Morrigan and Duncan fall back as Leliana and I keep talking.
"Do you believe everything that everyone tells you?". I decide to go along with the conversation and try to win some friendship points with Leliana. So, I nod and earn a laugh before our conversation progresses.
"Not all minstrels are spies, some are just singers and storytellers. But some of them are... are what we call bards.". Is there really a difference?
"What's the difference?". I see Morrigan mocking our conversation to Duncan, but she looks extremely foolish because she's literally talking to a dog.
"Many bards work alone, or in small groups, doing the bidding of a patron who pays for their services. If there is an organization behind it all, no one knows who they are.". I focus on my conversation with Leliana and ignore Morrigan making faces at me.
"What sort of services does a bard offer?". Leliana walks a little closer to me and seems to actually enjoy the conversation.
"They mostly do the bidding of their patrons. The patrons are the ones who really run the show. In secret they plot and scheme to destroy each other. It is a game completely meaningless to anyone but its players.". I'm getting the feeling Leliana was once a bard. She's an amazing rogue and her special talent is literally 'bard', so I think it's a safe guess. I decide to call her out on it and justify my musings.
"You were a bard, weren't you?". Leliana's grin splits her entire face as she keeps talking in her sing-song voice.
"I have revealed too much, it seems. But it doesn't matter what I used to be. It is the past.". The woman is walking closer to me and I can tell that this would be the perfect chance to earn a little more of her friendship.
"So that's where you learned to fight like that.". Leliana gives a sort of nod and shake combined.
"I learned many skills as a bard, but my fighting was picked up mostly during my travels and adventures.". Morrigan interrupts out conversation by loudly announcing our destination.
"Look! The Dalish! Looks like we can't talk any more! Oh well!". Morrigan practically yanks me towards the camp ahead of us. Duncan comes bounding after us and seems extremely happy, but I swear I can see Leliana glare at Morrigan as she trails after the group. We've barely entered the Dalish camp when three warriors stand in our path with their weapons drawn. My shem (and canine) companions instantly back up and allow me to do the talking. Probably for the best.
If I was a Dalish warrior, then I'd shoot every shem I could. The warriors in front of me seem to share my thoughts because they have their bows trained on Morrigan and Leliana; however, I'm not even threatened as the lead warriors comes up to speak to me. My fellow elf nods a little before speaking.
"Why have you come here? You're one of our kind, but you're not Dalish. Have you come to escape the shem?". She looks over my shoulder at Morrigan and Leliana.
"Did these shem force you here, or bring you here in hopes of some reward?". The other warriors yank their bows back a little tighter while their leader keeps speaking.
"Did the shem hold you hostage? Are you their slave? Shall we kill them and free you of them? Blink twice for 'no' and once for 'yes'.". A deep yearning for freedom and ease tempt me to blink once. The thought of Leliana getting hurt and the Darkspawn killing everyone bring me back to reality though. I ignore my fellow elf's request and instead begin speaking.
"I'm a Grey Warden and I've come to speak to your elder.". The warriors instantly put their weapons away and the lead one eyes me warily.
"I want to know what you want first. Shem, dogs, and domesticated elves aren't looked upon kindly here.". Clearly, I'm not going to tell someone just because 'they want to know'. Besides, this woman isn't important enough to know. She's an elf, but an elf who thinks I'm 'domesticated'.
"No. I'll only speak to your leader.". The other women sighs and relents to my forceful argument and stern gaze. Her warriors slink away as she motions for me to follow her.
"Alright, but this better be good.". My group and I are led through the heart of the Dalish camp. Quickly, I absorb as much information as I possibly can in my limited amount of time. Tents are erected everywhere, multiple fires are burning, and benches are pushed up around almost every fire. My kind seem to swarm and buzz around the area. Cooking, cleaning, skinning kills, or doing anything that keeps a camp's heart beating. I even see an armorer selling his wares outside one of the larger tents. However, the most amazing thing are the Halla that idly wander the camp.
The white deer have tremendous silver antlers gracing their heads. I'm aware that the Halla let elves ride them occasionally, but I don't want to push my luck. Those horns (and the Dalish arrows each elf here carries) look like they could pack a punch. I'm still admiring the Halla when the Dalish warrior finally leads us to her keeper. The bald man is wearing colorful robes, has a silver staff strapped to his back, and intricate tattoos adorning his entire face. The warrior motions at me and explains the situation to her keeper.
"This woman claims to be a Grey Warden and she arrived claiming she needed to speak to you.". The keeper bows his head to the warrior and she disappears into the vast camp. Finally, the keeper turns his attention to me. That's when a deep, thunderous growl from Duncan startles everyone. My hound has his ears flattened, his fangs showing, and is pressing himself into a 'fighting' position. All of his rage is aimed at the keeper.
Suddenly, my dog begins barking, snarling, howling, and growling like wild. The keeper cringes a little as Duncan moves closer and begins snapping at the man's feet. I whistle to get my Mabari's attention. It fails and I'm forced to grab him and yank him into a tight hug against my chest. Instantly, my pooch is the lovable furry mess that I met outside of Lothering.
The keeper begins talking while I try to keep Duncan calm.
"Wonderful, another hound. Like we haven't had enough trouble with them already.". He shakes his head at Duncan before continuing.
"What do you need? If you're here to warn us about the Darkspawn coming up from the south, then don't bother. We've already been warned.". I shake my head and fish out the Dalish treaty from my pocket. I hand the scroll to the man and quickly explain the situation.
"The Blight has arrived and that treaty binds you to the Grey Wardens in their time of need. We need all of your warriors fit to fight for us at a moment's notice.". The man instantly shakes his head and gives me an excuse.
"I'd like to help you, but I have more important concerns at the moment.". I'm about to scream and start cursing the man for breaking a vow, but the keeper motions for me to follow him. I put Duncan down, pat my dog's head, and follow the keeper. We arrive at the healer's area and I instantly understand why he can't help. All of his warriors are on cots and wounded. Deep scratches, bite marks, and some mauling wounds make up all of the injuries. Each warriors is heavily bleeding and looks like they could die at any moment. A single, desperate healer is attempt to staunch the bleeding on a dying man's chest to no avail.
I walk over to one of the warriors and gently run my fingers along a thick, wide tear that goes all the way from her left shoulder to right hip.
"What happened here?". The keeper walks up beside me and explains the situation as quickly as he can.
"A werewolf pack nearby has been harassing us for months. They attack, kidnap, or turn any elf they possibly can. We're forced to kill the ones who survive their attacks and begin to turn. The ones here are the lucky ones who haven't gotten the curse yet. However, even they will change in time. We've tried to move, but the pack attacks us whenever we try to travel.". My chest tightens and my vision begins shrinking. Looks like I found where all that battle rage was going. Something is attacking my people. Not my true people, but my 'technical' people. Werewolves are killing and/or turning my elven brethren into monsters. I turn to the keeper and ask a simple question.
"What's the cure to this?". The keeper points into the thick woods beside the camp and tells me what I need to get.
"The heart of their leader, Witherfang. He's a male white wolf who lives in the heart of the forest. Getting to him won't be easy...". I puff out my chest and try to share my confidence with the man.
"Don't worry, I've done 'not easy' things in the past. I'll get this heart for you.". The keeper looks at me with a relieved expression, but I don't hang around very long to look at him. Instead, I begin heading into the deeper part of the forest.
Duncan, Leliana, and Morrigan all stay close beside me. The area our path leads to has a wooden bridge over some water in front of us, a dirt path up a hill to our right (my sight is obscured by a ridge after that), and the way leading back to the Dalish camp behind us. I scan the area once for interesting things, then when I find nothing I decide to take the path in front of us. The wooden walkway gently goes to the right and the bridge keeps us a few feet above the water.
Finally, the bridge ends and we're on solid ground again. A sparkling white flower is to my left a little further left up the path while the main trail keeps going straight after that. I strut over and pick the flower form the ground. A loud, shaking roar comes from behind me. I flip around and yank my sword out in time to see a gigantic bear charging. Duncan begins snapping at his heels; Morrigan transforms into a smaller bear (that's really, really amazing); and Leliana begins firing at its side.
I do my part by deflecting its snapping jaws and aiming for its head. It takes us a few minutes and I get a new rip in my armor, but in the end we're victorious. I'm kneeling down to loot the bear when another roar greets me. I look up and see four bears charging down the hill towards us. Well, shit.