Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize from the game.
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay but I haven't been entirely well. I'm better now, so it's all good! This chapter's a bit shorter than usual but we should get back to normal from next time. This is mostly to in introduce a new character into the medley. Hope you enjoy the chapter and do leave your feedback.
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Chapter 25 – Backlash
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Actions in general are of two kinds, those that can be reasoned with and those that cannot. Take for example, Teyrn Loghain's betrayal at Ostagar. I feel safe in saying he truly was deluded into thinking he was doing the right thing. It was not a conscious attempt to cause an act of evil. I may, of course, be mistaken but his untimely death leaves no room for real answers. The question of course is whether he could be reasoned with. Perhaps yes, by someone sufficiently capable. He was after all, only mortal. The reason I say this is to establish something very different. The old gods are not like this. By virtue of being gods they are essentially incapable of blinding themselves. Of course, the obvious question that results is whether Dumat is aware of his 'evil' actions and willingly performs the same? You see, gods have no real concept or care for right and wrong as such. Morality is such a mortal concept that we do not see things through their eyes. But they see vengeance clearly enough. Beaten at Denerim, they had to strike back. It would have been ridiculous not too, especially when vulnerabilities are obvious.
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Alistair sheathed his sword and strapped his shield away. He took a moment to relax himself as he led the others towards the now open gates of Denerim. The demons were all gone as far as the eye could see. Wynne was exhausted from closing all the veil tears but assured them she would be fine with some rest. The templar stopped as a raven landed close to him and hopped in his direction purposefully. A flash of light later, he stared stupidly at the familiar old woman before him.
"I trust you were not expecting to see me." Flemeth said flatly.
"You're dead." Alistair muttered.
"Apparently not." The shapeshifter replied. "I come to deliver a warning to you. If you believe you are in the clear then you are mistaken. You would do well to turn your attention to that town called Redcliffe. Hesitate and the demons will already have taken everything."
Without waiting a response Flemeth transformed into a raven once more to flutter away. She had a daughter to find.
Alistair and the others stood around without a word leaving their mouths. Soldiers were emerging from the great city to scout around the area. The templar wondered if one could trust dead people. At the very least, this had to be discussed with Arl Eamon.
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The revenant drew his weapon as he stood at behind the demon force. He was proud; he had been chosen by the dragon gods to lead their forces. And he was a pride demon. Irony was not lost on a being of his intelligence. Most certainly not an ordinary revenant. His weapon was a staff with a blade at the end. Unique, just like him. He could see the town of Redcliffe at the base of the hill. He also spied a group of knights and archers holding position behind a bridge. A fairly motley group but he did not expect trouble. His attention was focused entirely elsewhere. He had heard the chittering cries of the Varterral in the distance. These humans had to be dealt with before the beasts arrived.
The dragon lord's plans were perfect. They were to assault and enslave as much of this town as they could. And when the army arrived to stop them, they were to depart and renew the assault elsewhere. The veil tears allowed for nearly infinite manoeuvrability, he would have these people dancing across the land helplessly. And all the while, the freedom of the gods drew closer and closer. He advanced towards the bridge and stopped just short of arrow range with the rest of the demons behind him. Still a significant distance to the bridge. He could hear the knight at the lead speak.
"Funnel them at the bridge!"
How... intelligent. The revenant spun his swordstaff as he made a pulling gesture with his other hand. Half a dozen of the knights flew through the air, landing amidst the demons that set upon them gleefully.
"Yes. Feast." The revenant said in a deep voice. "And when you are done, charge."
He commanded the hulking beast at his command to the front of the force and gestured the attack. As the other demons rushed, he walked forward casually. Electricity burst from his weapon, electrocuting one of the knights to death. The other defenders fell back at the leaders orders.
"Fall back." He shouted. "We have to buy time. Bann Teagan is assembling a force to drive them back."
Drive them back? What an abysmally foolish idea. He laughed though. These humans had been caught so off guard that they weren't even ready. He advanced and stopped as arrows flew at them from atop the walls of Redcliffe castle. The knights and archers stopped again, taking the advantageous position.
"Forget the castle for the moment." The revenant barked. "Crush the town, enslave the people. Kill all who resist. And bring that damned knight to me."
The knights and archers outside the castle began a swift retreat towards the town as the demons ran through the shower of arrows, partially defended by barriers erected by the arcane horrors. The small group rearranged itself once sufficient distance had been put from the castle. One of the desire demons approached him.
"There are forces assembling in the castle. We are surrounded now." She said. "I do not believe this was an intelligent course of action."
The revenant calmly reached out his free hand and twisted the desire demon's head by a hundred and eighty degrees, listening to the satisfying snap. He tossed the body aside like a sack of rubbish. The other demons visibly withdrew a fair distance. He was smiling on the inside; this is the way it should be. Fear was the best tool a commander could ever have. And easy to inspire for a pride demon of his power.
"Do not question my judgment." He said in a soft and dangerous tone. "I am aware of the situation. Now take the town."
His forces did not hesitate as they assaulted the town. Archers fired on them as the knights engaged with everything they had. The enormous pride demon at the head of the force ripped through the soldiers as it began taking apart the archers. The revenant casually lobbed a handful of fireballs into the town. He watched with satisfaction as the buildings began to burn. He conjured a significantly larger ball of fire and catapulted it into the chantry. He laughed as the building exploded in a fantastic blaze of light. He walked into the town, his swordstaff raking against the ground. Two of the demons tossed the lead knight at his feet. He grasped the man by his throat and raised him off the ground.
"Your name?" The revenant asked.
"Maker damn you!" The knight choked.
"How... brave." The demon mused. He reached his magic into the knight's mind, clawing at it viciously. "Ah, so you are Ser Perth. Surprising that I don't actually care. Would you serve the old gods?"
"What good are your prayers that are inspired from fear?" He managed as he fought helplessly against the revenant's iron grip.
"Silly human, all prayers are inspired by fear." The demon laughed as it tightened his hold. Perth's last breaths left him a moment later as the revenant let the corpse fall to the ground. "Unusual, why have reinforcements not come from the castle?"
He turned and growled. The blasted Varterral had arrived. Three of the beasts were striding down towards them. Two of them leapt into the city as one of the beasts made a beeline towards him. Of course, the forces from the castle had not emerged because they were cautious of these monsters. He could see troops pouring out now. So much for this attack. If he intended to leave, arrangements had to be made. He turned to one of the arcane horrors.
"Can you disguise your presence from mages inside a human shell?" He barked. The Varterral was getting closer.
"Yes, lord." The demon rasped back.
"Can you ensure that the being you possess does not have its physical form mutilated?"
"Yes, lord."
"Can you behave in a non suspicious manner?"
"I believe so, lord."
"Then possess that knight's corpse. Be our spy. I will call for you to act when the time is right. Do not be found out." He ordered.
"Of course, lord Blazt. I will not disappoint you." Said the arcane horror as it gave up its own body to seize Ser Perth's corpse.
Blazt. He had not been called by his name in some time. Usually it was simply lord or great one. The other demons feared him and with good reason. The blade of his swordtsaff became red hot as he charged the Varterral with surprising agility. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the other two beasts making short work of his forces. Blazt leapt surprisingly high into the air with the aid of magic and landed comfortably on the beast's back. He slid down the creature with his weapon cutting through the Varterral's stony skin like a hot knife through butter. He proceeded to run beneath it, cutting comfortably through its underside. He dodged its appendages and brought the monstrosity down with an excess of spirit magic. Admittedly the exertions had been tiring and he could see soldiers rushing towards the town. He prayed to the gods in his mind and he felt a veil tear open behind him. He felt relieved; the gods had kept their promise. He began to walk through the portal.
"Help us, lord!" One of the demons shrieked from the village.
Blazt turned back and spoke plainly. "Do what damage you can to the village. Your sacrifices are an unfortunate necessity."
He strode through the portal as it closed behind him. Time to find a new target.
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Morrigan sighed as she looked up into the sky. She couldn't bring herself to fall asleep. She could see Leliana sitting by the fire to keep watch. Eventually she gave up her futile quest to find rest and got up. She saw the bard's eyes turn to her.
"I'll take watch instead." The witch said. "I cannot sleep."
"I barely sleep these days so I'll have to turn down your offer." Leliana replied as Morrigan joined her by the fire.
"And why is that?" The witch asked.
"Because sleep only brings dreams of the old gods." The orlesian replied shortly. "Now, since neither of us can sleep, maybe you would like to do something more... interesting."
"You are impossible." Morrigan snapped as she glared at the bard. They stayed silent for a time till a question occurred to the witch. "What happened to that woman you wanted to confront in Denerim?"
"You mean Marjolaine? She's dead. The death I gave her was... torturous." Leliana replied. "I ended it short though."
"She deserved it, according to your story." Morrigan mused.
"I don't recall telling you the entire story."
"Alisa confided the missing details to me after you left." The witch said softly. "She was affected... badly for a time."
"I really should clear things up with her." Leliana said softly.
"Are you going to beat her half to death as well?" Morrigan asked. The bard smiled in response.
"Oh no. That was specially for you."
"Your anger with me was understandable I suppose."
"Maybe I just wanted to feel you. Albeit a bit roughly." The orlesian smirked.
"I swear that you will die one of these days." The witch muttered. She then noticed something unusual. "That raven is awfully close to the fire."
Leliana turned her attention and surprise flickered on her face for an instant. "You should say hello to your mother, Morrigan."
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"Father, more demons are coming!" Tiberius yelled as the doors of the chantry shook again. Father Roysten's magic could only hold the demons off for so long.
"We will leave through the back entrance." Roysten commanded. That special exit was for occasions such as this one.
Roysten, Robert and Tiberius followed the others who had already run into the tunnel. The old man slammed the opening shut as he strode down the tunnel as quickly as his age would allow him. He did not understand exactly what was going on at this stage. Leliana had left but he was not concerned. Her actions were surely to be in the name of the Maker. The demons had unnerved him slightly but he had put that away. Only a means to an end, it hardly mattered. Yet now, the demons were attacking them. And Brother Adrian had betrayed them. There was no time for thinking at this stage, escape was the priority. They emerged from the tunnel into the light. The passageway had led beneath the hill.
"Two demons." Sister Elaine shouted as she pointed.
Roysten spun around and froze the rage demon, destroying it instantly. A shade advanced on them as the old man found his supply of magic had run dry. He ran out of energy far too soon these days. He pulled a dagger from his robe and slit his palm. He felt the energy flow through him as he dispatched the other demon.
"To the temple of the dragons." He commanded. "We shall deliberate once we are safe."
Without waiting for reactions he began to walk. Things were not going quite as he had intended it.
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Blazt is reeling in pain. The world is shaking with their rage.
You failed. You were told to destroy everything. You hardly did any damage.
"Forgive me. The Varterral interfered." He begs as the old gods assault his mind.
There were three. You slew one. You had time to cause additional damage before you fled.
"The army was emerging from the castle. I couldn't have stopped them all." He screams.
You could have killed their leader. You are worthless.
"I managed to plant a spy!" He chokes hopefully. His essence is being slowly crushed.
The only reason not to call you a complete failure. If pride demons of your calibre were not so hard to find, you would be dead. Next time, use your calibre.
"Of course, please give me another chance."
Very well. A small village this time. Destroy everything. If you are successful, then we shall move back to bigger targets.
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Author's Note: Ah, I was a bit sad about killing Ser Perth but what can I say. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Do leave your thoughts. Next update should be soon.
To my reviewers:
interesting2125: Thanks! Dumat's nature will, I think, be mostly revealed through the flashback chapters. There should be more of those coming in good time :)
Nightwish11606: Thanks! Yes, it will go down eventually. But not for a while I think. Still, lots to do!