Chapter 26: The Sanctuary
Maybe we should have waited for the Templars.
It had been Aveline's suggestion. If they were going to engage a coven of blood mages, then it stood to reason that they involve the Templars. The blood mages had taken their recruits; they would have a vested interest in stopping this Tarohne and her fellows.
None of the mages in the group agreed, Moira included.
Yes, the Templars would no doubt have helped, but it would have hobbled her ability to fight pretending to be just another mercenary. Plus, considering what she had heard about the knight-commander, she suspected that Meredith was the type to put everyone in the sanctuary to the sword and ask questions never. It would have ended the problem quickly, but at same time Keran, whose life they were trying to save, if he was still alive, would likely die in the crossfire.
Hawke hoped to prevent that, her deal was with the boy's sister, not the Templars, but as they encountered the first defenders of the sanctuary, she had to admit that Aveline's idea had had credence.
Maybe we should have waited for the Templars.
Moira thought that as a rage demon took a swipe at her head. The flaming demon howled in…well…rage while it slithered along the floor towards her, leaving a melted trail of sand and stone in its wake.
Not wishing to take any chances, she had summoned the full might of her flock for this attack. Considering what they had faced when merely speaking with Idunna, Hawke had no desire to be caught so off guard again.
Varric and Isabela had only just cleared the various mechanical traps that lined the entrance to the sanctuary when the first of the demons appeared. Most were lesser shades bound to protect the entrance against intruders. The shadow-like demons generated a cold that Moira could feel in her very bones. The heat generated by the rage demon leading these attackers caused Moira to sweat like she had been wandering for an hour through a burning desert.
She twirled her staff defensively and fell back. A shade emerged from the shadows, its freezing claws reaching for her. Moira swiped the monster's hand away with her staff just as the rage demon lunged, attempting to take advantage of the situation.
The creature yowled as a wave of freezing cold washed over it. Bethany stood only a few steps away, the chilling mist flowing from the tip of her old birchcore. Anders stood close to the younger Hawke, his magic bolstering the power of her attack, filling Bethany with its power.
Her sister's strike was just what Moira needed to get herself out of trouble. A pulse of force magic sent the nearly frozen demon tumbling back. She fired several shots from her own staff, reducing the shade that had tried to surprise her to dust.
Fenris charged in with a roar, his markings and great sword flashing as he engaged the wounded rage demon. His markings flashed with pale fire, burning any demon foolish enough to get too close. Bianca coughed bolt after bolt driving back the closest of the demons, giving their group time to form up and push forward, to drive the demons back.
Hawke shuddered as the light of their weapons revealed horrific details of what was going on here in the blood mages' sanctuary.
She had expected something like this, but that did not mean that it was easy for her to accept.
Several tables were set up along the back walls; upon those tables lay the bodies of both humans and elves all in differing stages of decay. Symbols had been carved onto some of those tables, symbols that were now glowing with absorbed blood and magic.
Across from some of the bodies were the remnants of suits of armor, some bearing the seal of the Templars. The sight did little to improve Hawke's spirits, they had come to this place to try to save Macha's brother, but from what they were seeing, it was clear that not all of the recruits taken had survived the experience.
Hawke flinched when she looked at those bodies.
Was Keran on one of these tables? Would she only be able to return a body to Macha?
Had she failed the girl and her brother…?
…Just like she had failed Carver?
Thinking of her little brother restored her resolve, not to mention fueled her righteous anger.
If Macha's brother was dead then the least they could do was avenge him, make sure that this blood mage, this Tarohne did not kidnap anyone else.
Such an act would not bring back the dead, but it would at least avenge them.
The last demon defending the entrance fell beneath Aveline's sword. She and Varric had only just caught up with them at the Hanged Man before heading down into this place. Aveline had admitted to have having to knock out Idunna as they waited for the Templars. The guard captain had feared that the girl was working up her courage to try something, to try and escape her fate.
"You should have slain her," Anders said bitterly, "It would have been a kindness, considering what that girl will now face in the Gallows."
"It was better that she live," Aveline retorted, "If she died, her secrets would have died with her. If these blood mages have more than one sanctuary, the Templars will determine that through the girl's interrogation. They will make sure that this madness ends here, and that no one else suffers because of these people."
The Guard Captain shook her head.
"These mages chose this path Anders," she reminded him, "Now they have to face the consequences."
The warden apostate snorted. Yet he did not say anything further.
He looked down at the crumbling bodies of the demons.
His fists curled into fists.
"It makes me so angry to see our brothers and sisters turn to demons and blood magic," he spat, "It all but makes sure that no one will see us as anything but dangerous, it all but guarantees that we will never be free."
For the briefest of seconds, Anders eyes began to glow, the lines of magic under his skin began to appear.
Bethany went to his side, and placed a gentle hand on his forearm.
He glared at her, but that angry look faded under the gaze of her soft brown eyes.
"They will answer for this," She cooed, "Anders…try to stay calm. We need you clear headed, if we are to survive this."
She gently squeezed his arm.
"Anders," she repeated.
"Please."
The spirit magic that bound the apostate faded, Anders blinked looking confused for a few moments, but then found Bethany's gaze upon him, the soft smile on her face.
He let out a shuddering breath and nodded.
"Yes," he gasped, willing his temper to cool.
"I…I need to control myself. I…I will try."
She nodded and let her hand drift down his arm, finding his fingers and giving them a reassuring squeeze.
"Thank you," she purred.
He took her hand in his and brought them both to his lips.
"You are welcome, Milady," he said in between kisses.
"More than welcome," he added.
Despite the dangers they had yet to face, Bethany giggled and blushed.
Moira watched the display with a slight narrowing of her eyes, and a rush of big-sisterly concern.
She was not blind. She was becoming more and more aware of Bethany's…warmth when it came to Anders, she had said nothing because the former warden had discouraged it in past. He had made it clear on more than one occasion that Bethany would be wiser not to look upon him with affection. Justice's presence…the spirit…it made him dangerous, and he knew that.
Now, if Moira was not mistaken, Anders seemed to be reconsidering that stance. His words and this one minor deed seemed to confirm that he no longer wished to keep his distance from the affection of others…
…Especially…her little sister.
Moira said nothing. In the end it was Isabela that reminded the two mages that they had come down here for a reason, a reason she would like to see dealt with quickly.
There would be plenty of time for doe-eyed stares after they had found out what had happened to this Templar recruit they were looking for.
The two backed away, though Moira could still see the rosy glow on her sister's cheek, and the gentle smile as Anders acknowledged it.
Hawke did her best to stifle a frown.
She would have to speak with Anders when this wall all over. Remind her comrade that she did not wish to see her little sister hurt. Bethany would likely complain that she was being overly protective, might even ask her sister to stay out of her affairs.
Still…Moira thought it would be better to be safe than sorry.
She would also ask Varric to keep an eye on Anders for her. She trusted him, but that did not mean that she would just stand by silently while he toyed with her sister's heart. Varric would keep an eye on things for her. He…
The shadowed chamber filled with hisses and snarls.
The group turned to see a group of undead emerge from a shadowed tunnel in front of them, while at the same time, several of the bodies lying on the tables also began to rise.
Varric and Isabela readied their weapons. Fenris snarled and prepared to charge the monsters while Aveline took up a defensive position in front of Moira, Merrill, Bethany, and Anders.
Again, Bethany and Anders struck first. He used his spells to bolster her own, while she summoned fire and ice down on their targets. Merrill used Dalish magic to ensnare the largest group of corpses.
Moira blasted away at them while Fenris and Aveline waded into the thickest of the beasts.
Once again the sanctuary filled with the sounds of battle. Once again, Moira and her allies engaged the blood mages' puppets.
And once again Moira thought…
Maybe we should have waited for the Templars.
She sent another blast of force magic into an undead archer, shattering the creature.
Too late to worry about that now, she thought.
Far too late.
IOI
The battle continued; more traps, more undead, and more demons sought to block their path.
Isabela and Varric did a good job of sniffing out the physical traps, and Fenris was more than up to the task of dealing with any undead that got in their way. Aveline kept Hawke and the others safe while they dealt with the demons.
Finally, they entered a large room, a room far larger than they had seen since first breaching this places defenses.
Moira shuddered.
If she had to guess, she would say that they had found the heart of the sanctuary.
The place felt….wrong; she had no other word for it. It reminded her a bit of the graveyard on Sundermount. The veil was thin here, very thin, almost two thin. She could feel the dark magic here, almost taste it, on her tongue.
Bethany and Anders both looked a little ill as well, Anders more than her sister, possibly because of his connection to justice, Merrill…the Dalish girl looked almost…pleased, in fact, like she was beaming, as a blood mage, someone who had dealt with a demon, the energies in this place likely no longer bothered her.
For Moira it was yet another why they needed to keep a close eye on their Dalish friend. Merrill always seemed so innocent what with her talk of getting lost, and her refusal to see the dark things in the Alienage, even when they confronted her.
Her reaction to this place, proved more than anything else why the girl needed to be watched.
Near the back of the chamber, they saw something. It reminded her a bit of a butterfly cocoon, a cocoon made of smoke and magic. She could just make out the shape of a person within it, but the glow it was putting off prevented her from seeing any details.
"What do we have here?" a shrill voice called out from the chamber to their left. A woman in mage robes emerged, flanked by three or four of her fellows, all similarly garbed. The brown haired woman smiled at them, even though her right eye twitched nervously. Even if she had not had such a nervous tic, her eyes would be enough to disturb anyone, they almost seemed to glow with a strange light, a wild eyed stare that took in everything, but gave nothing back.
"More fodder for our experiments," she said clasping her hands with joy. Her expression turned to a sneer as she noticed Moira's staff.
"Perhaps one of the demons will find you suitable."
Hawke sneered right back.
"Tarohne right," she inquired, "I don't suppose I need to ask you 'what in Andraste's name is going on here?'"
The blood mage grinned.
"You will discover girl," she growled, "That demons can do so much more than possess mages and corpses, with a little help, they can control anyone I ask, any Templar, any noble…"
She giggled.
"Any well-meaning meddler."
"Always demons," Anders spat, his voice filled with both venom and sarcasm.
"Can't you fools ever say no?"
Tarohne took exception to that.
"I'm not some helpless waif that went running to a demon. I sought them out, like the mages of old."
Her grin returned.
"There was a time that magic ruled Thedas. The Tevinters wielded absolute power; demons were their allies, held in check by power and knowledge."
The woman glared at Hawke and her friends.
"I can do more with a wave of a hand than a single Templar could do in a lifetime, and yet they command us, us!"
The blood mage shook her head.
"It is absurd!"
Tarohne crossed her arms over her chest.
"We should rule this city. We should rule you all!"
Moira snorted at the woman's rant. For all their power, the Tevinter Imperium had been helpless against the Blight, and then when Andraste had begun her march, they had realized how far their power had waned.
Hawke shook her head.
The world was no longer a collection of tribes and peasants that mages could dominate, it had grown, and in that growth had become a danger to anyone who wielded magic. It was a world where they were outnumbered at least a hundred to one.
You could not turn back time. The days of magical rule were over.
If only fools like these blood mages would see that.
"And this is supposed to be better?" Hawke asked, pointing at the cocoon, "I saw what you did to that Templar boy Wilmod, whatever you put inside him did not seem that interested in obeying orders, it fled as soon as it got the chance. Whatever you had hoped to accomplish, you have failed, this is madness…simply madness."
Moira sneered at her.
"Maybe it is a good thing you're bonking mad," she said dryly, "It makes what we have to do next that much easier."
Tarohne's confidence seemed to fade for a moment, but then returned quickly, along with her grin.
"Good," she cackled, "Good the demons like spirit."
She drew her staff; those behind her did as well.
"Kill the vessels only if you must," she ordered.
Hawke and her fellow mages shielded their party the best they could.
Tarohne and her minions struck.
The shield held as against the blood mages' stunning spells and mind blasts. Once again Fenris leaped forward, his sword swung with the purest of desires, to deal death to these demon summoning fools. More shades emerged, along with a powerful looking demon; it looked like a woman, but with violet colored skin and long delicate horns.
"Desire demon," Anders called out. "Deal with it quickly!"
The mages focused their attack on this powerful foe, while the rogues and warriors dealt with Tarohne and her shades. Varric fire Bianca, while Isabela danced in and out of battle, her blade finding weak spots on their opponents with every strike.
Anders bolstered their power, Moira felt a wave of soothing energy wash over her, empowering her body and her spells. Ice, fire, and force magic overwhelmed and crippled the desire demon before it had a chance to bring its more powerful spells to bear.
Fenris was a terror. He struck down two of Tarohne's followers before they barely had a chance to react. The leader herself fell back, twirling her staff defensively, but against Fenris, she was a leaf caught in a tornado.
"You must be stopped," the elf snarled.
"You will be stopped!"
The blood mage snarled and unleashed a mind blast against him. Fenris staggered, but the attack only seemed to fuel his rage.
He lunged at Tarohne.
She back handed him with more strength than she should have been able to use. Fenris flew back and struck the wall hard.
The woman laughed, it was a laugh that was far deeper and more powerful than it should have been.
Tarohne began to change. Her robes tore, her flesh seemed to bubble and stretch, like something far too big was trying to squeeze under her skin, something dark and dangerous.
The weakness of the veil, in this room proved her undoing, her willingness to work with demons had left her open to possession, now a demon rushed in.
The blood mage was becoming an abomination!
The Tarohne thing raised her hands waves of magic shook the sanctuary bringing down dirt and stone from above them. The mages that Fenris had slain twitched and began to rise, summoned by the call of the monster that had been their leader.
"You are mine," the abomination crowed.
"YOU ARE ALL MINE!"
Aveline charged the creature, it hissed and swung its long clawed fingers at her, the metal of her shield squealed as they raked over its surface.
Moira and Bethany worked together to shield their allies as the ceiling continued to crumble. If the creature that had been Tarohne did not stop, it was likely that it would bring down the very ceiling down upon their heads.
Anders and Merrill struck at the monster; Dalish and circle taught magic pounded the Tarohne thing ceaselessly. Isabela dealt with the undead trying to aid their former leader.
Moira strained under the assault. She managed to hold her shield spell, but it would not take long for it to weaken under the demonic assault.
Her eyes narrowed.
She had no more time.
They needed to stop Tarohne now, or they would all likely die down here.
Hawke pushed out with her shield, using her will to strengthen it, but also to send it higher, up into the damaged ceiling. She could not stop the rocks from falling, but…
She smiled grimly.
Perhaps she could redirect them.
She drew deeper into herself, summoning more mana and guiding it with her will, the shield she had summoned changed. Force magic warped it as it dug into the stone above them.
It was at that moment that a large section of the roof caved in, it struck Hawke's shield spell and slid off, rolling down faster than even she had intended. The abomination, so lost in her attack and her own madness did not even try to flee as Hawke's power did its work.
Tarohne stood straight and proud as the first of the heavy rocks struck her, staggering her, the creature hissed and tried to move, but it was struck again, and again, and again.
Moira released her shield she blasted at the weakened ceiling above them, the section that still held over the head of the demonic creature that had once been a blood mage.
The weakened ceiling collapsed, dropping heavy stone and wooden brace down upon to Tarohne. The creature shrieked but had nowhere to go.
Heavy stone came down hard on her body; the abomination's cries were drowned out by rumble of falling stone.
When it was over, another cave in had buried a section of Darktown. Beneath it somewhere lay the body of the abomination that had been Tarohne.
Those above had likely retreated, escaping the fate that had befallen the sanctuary's now fallen mistress.
Hawke reached out with her magic, trying to determine if the abomination had survived.
She felt no trace of the creature's presence.
The monster was dead.
The threat had ended.
Slowly her companions began to emerge from the rubble, Bethany and Anders had managed to protect them the best they could, they were all dirty and bruised, but they were all still alive.
"Uhhh," Isabela groaned, shaking her head.
"Let's not do that that again, okay Hawke?"
Merrill tried to help Fenris, but the Tevinter elf pushed her away, He looked wounded, but was clearly not in the mood to accept healing just yet.
Anders stood close by, waiting for the elf's anger to cool, so that he could help him.
Moira made her way over the rubble, toward the cocoon the blood mages had created, with Tarohne dead it should have been simple to free the lone prisoner from his or her captivity.
Varric, now limping slightly, made his way over to her.
"Can we get him out?" the dwarf asked.
Hawke raised her hands and began to gesture, she felt weak, and her heart and head were both pounding, but in this she thought that she had just enough strength.
She could free the prisoner and then.
POP!
The cocoon shattered, spilling its prisoner out onto the broken stone floor. Hawke had been standing to close, the prisoner inside fell right on top of her.
She struggled against the weak and whimpering form. She managed to shift position enough so that the poor soul's head was now resting in her lap.
Moira's voice caught in her throat.
The young man…looked familiar. Both his blond hair and nose were similar enough to Macha's to hint at who he was. His shoulders were broad, his arms strong and well-muscled.
Hawke reached down and touched his chest; his heart was fluttering like a scared bird, his breathing harsh and irregular.
Moira gently touched his face, letting healing magic flow into the poor boy, though the term 'boy' was probably not correct. He looked about her age, maybe a year or so younger, no more.
This was no boy; this was a man…as handsome in his way as Macha had been pretty.
Hawke glanced down; she saw no sign of outward injury. He looked fine.
Her eyes widened in shock.
He was also quite naked.
She blushed furiously, and looked away, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.
The young man groaned, and opened his blue eyes. They found hers and seemed to focus.
"Keran?" she asked.
He nodded slightly; clearly the young recruit was still weak from his ordeal.
The others had joined her then; Isabela smirked at the sight of their leader cradling a naked Templar recruit.
"Need a hand their Hawke?" the pirate asked.
Aveline told her to shut up, but Moira only heard the words in passing.
All her attention was focused on the wounded man before her.
He gripped her hand, even as healing magic flowed out of it.
"Can you hear me," Hawke asked, "Say something if you can?"
Keran's fingers left hers; he lightly stroked her chin, looking up at her with a mix of gratitude and awe.
When he spoke, his words only deepened her blush and the sense of awkwardness she felt.
"Beautiful," he murmured, lost in her eyes.
Moira snorted slightly.
The boy was clearly delirious, but still…still.
She smiled slightly.
Oh my.