After a long break, I'm back! The conclusion to the Sacred Ashes Arc begins now! Enjoy!
Chapter 36: The Sacred Ashes pt 1
Haven
Haven is a small village in the Frostback Mountains. It is not marked on most maps and is widely unheard of. Privacy is very important to the villagers of Haven and they do not welcome strangers kindly. While traditions in larger, less remote and more welcoming parts of Ferelden grew and evolved over time, Haven's intense privacy concerns means that they practice older traditions, specifically religious ones, that now seem strange to outsiders. For example, they have a male priest, which is not a convention allowed outside of the Imperial Chantry. The party went further into the village until they were stopped by men in armor.
"What are you doing in Haven? This is nothing for you here" one of them said.
"So that's the name of the village…strange no one's noticed a village of this size" Alistair said.
"I sense something in this village…it is…off-putting to say the least" Wynne said. "We should be on our guard…something is not right"
"Don't have to tell me twice…"
The soldier frowned. "What do you want?"
"Is there a Brother Genitivi here?" Jenra asked.
"Who? Perhaps Revered Father Eirik will know of whom you speak" he said. "Unfortunately, he is ministering to the villagers at the moment, and cannot be disturbed" Leliana frowned at this, there was no such thing as a Revered Father within the Chantry hierarchy. The actual priesthood of the Chantry is made up entirely of women, on the basis that Andraste was a woman. Men are only able to become true priests in the Imperial Chantry of the Tevinter Imperium; in the rest of Thedas they are judged by the betrayal of Maferath and found too passionate to lead in matters of spirit. At best the roles of men were to be Templars, chanters or scholars like Genitivi, men could rise to become High Chancellor but even then he worked below the Divine.
"Revered Father? I've never heard of this" Leliana said.
"It has always been thus in Haven, we do not question tradition" the soldier said. "Our ways are not the ways of the lowland cities"
Alistair crossed his arms. "Lowland? You Avvar now?" he asked dryly.
Jenra could tell that the soldier didn't want to be bothered any further and the party went on their way. The village was practically empty with only a few people around, the party could feel the suspicious stares and threatening glare…they were not welcomed here at all. As long as they party didn't cause trouble, the villagers wouldn't bother them…unfortunately Sten had other ideas.
"Interesting strategy. Tell me, do you intend to keep going north until it becomes south and attack the archdemon from the rear?"
Jenra looked back. "What are you talking about?"
"The archdemon is our goal and we are heading away from it. To find the charred remnants of a dead woman" Sten said. "I will not simply follow in your shadow as you run from battle"
"Really? You want to air your grievances now of all times?" Alistair asked. "I don't know if you've noticed but we are in a village that could turn on us if we so much as move the wrong way"
"I'm taking command" the qunari simply said. The party stood there shocked at the qunari took out his sword and charged the young lord. Jenra only had a second to think before he took out his own sword to defend. He found himself struggling as their blades clashed, the strength of the qunari was no joke...if it wasn't for the Taint now running in Jenra's blood he would have been overwhelmed a long time ago. Alistair and Leliana was about to take their weapons out to help Jenra but the young lord told them to stand down. From the beginning Sten didn't trust or respected him, no amount of talking would change that but maybe he would respond to strength.
"Is this existent of the Grey Wardens?" Sten asked. "It seems your reputation has been greatly exaggerated"
Jenra gripped his sword. "My apologies for disappointing you" he said. "Allow me to change that…" Jenra glowed purple, not enough of The Fade to draw from but this would be enough. With a roar he pushed the qunari back and attacked with the fierceness of a dragon, now Sten was on the defensive. The qunari fell back and swung his blade full force; Jenra stood his guard and took the full blow surprising the party and Sten. Jenra used the momentum to disarm Sten, with the qunari stunned the young lord swung around and hit Sten dead center in the gut with the hilt of his sword causing him to hit the ground. Jenra caught Sten's fallen blade and together with Night-fang had them at the qunari's throat before he could recover.
"Do you yield?" Jenra asked forcefully. Sten lay on the ground and gave a little smirk, surprising the party. The qunari almost looked impressed.
"I was wrong, you are strong enough" Sten said. "What now?" Jenra helped the qunari of the ground and gave him his sword.
"Get back in line, Sten"
"As you wish" The party breathed a sigh of relief, it was a good thing there were not that many people out. It would have been trouble if they were chased out of the village before they could find Genitivi.
"Sooo…you two good?" Alistair asked. "Cleared the air, so to speak?"
"Jenra has proven his strength, there for I shall follow him" the qunari said simply.
Shale snorted. "A bit anticlimactic for my tastes" it said. "But it will have to do" The party felt something wet and looked up, it was starting to rain as well as starting to get dark. They headed for the local in for some rest; they could continue the search for Brother Genitivi in the morning. As they walked two figures in the distance was watching the party…
"More outsiders? How long must we suffer this…?"
"They're looking for the scholar, Isaiah failed" the second figure said. "We must let the Revered Father know about this"
"What about the new outsiders?"
"They will be dealt with like all the other outsiders…" Inside the party was able to get their rooms much to the reluctance of the owner. They retired to their rooms, Jenra saw Shale just standing outside without a care in the world.
"Shale…aren't you going to bed?" Jenra asked.
"I have no need for sleep or other…bodily functions" the golem said with distaste. "I only came inside to get away from the rain"
"Then what will you do?"
"I suppose I could watch it sleep…but then I might get bored and decide to crush it" Shale said.
"Uh…huh, why don't you stay and keep watch" Jenra said disturbed. "Anything happens, let us know"
Shale gave an annoyed sigh. "Very well, it's not like I haven't had practice standing around and watching for the last thirty years or anything" it said dryly.
"Well…that's the spirit, see you in the morning" Jenra went inside his room and shut the door, leaving an exasperated Shale standing outside.
"Meatbags and their functions…well I suppose its better than Honnleath" As Shale stood watch, it heard a sound downstairs and went to look to quell its boredom. To men came into the inn and talked with the owner, they were in the same armor that the two guards at the entrance had.
"Gentlemen" the inn keeper said.
"I bring news from the Revered Father; he is displeased that more outsiders have made their way to our Haven"
"Of course, I too am displeased…I've heard the strangers speak, they are looking for the scholar"
"He knows, which is why he is moving up the time of execution"
"What about the integration?" the keeper said.
"Father Eirik has gotten all he could from the scholar, once he dies knowledge about the ashes will be lost" one of the soldiers said. "Our brother and sisters are in position to deal with the strangers" Behind Shale was a dark figure coming up with a dagger, the assailant attack but broke his weapon on the golem. Shale looked back, unimpressed the rogue's attack and simply punched assailant, turn his head into a bloody mulch. The thud of the body caught the attention of the inn keeper and the soldiers; they went upstairs and found the golem standing over the body of their own. "Death to the outsiders! The ashes shall be lost to you!"
Shale stood there in annoyance as the soldiers just broke their swords on its shell, the golem swat them like flies knocking them out cold against the wall. The golem expected to the inn keeper to run after what he saw but in a strange twist decided to attack. It didn't do much, the attack was little more than gnats annoying an ox. Shale simply pushed the keeper and he tumbled down the stairs where a sickening crack was heard…the man broke his neck and died. "Meatbags…they break so easy" the golem said. "Well, better make sure my meatbags aren't broken"
Shale heard sounds of struggle in the room, and another soldier crashed through the door. Sten came out with a look of annoyance on his face; the rest of the party came out with their assailants either dead or knocked out. "Oh good, you're all alive"
"Don't sound too happy to see us…."Alistair said dryly. He rubbed his neck as he looked at the soldiers. "I knew this village didn't like us but to attack us out right like this"
"We need to get Genitivi and get out of here" Jenra said.
"Then you may want to hurry, I overheard that their priest is about to execute the scholar" Shale said. "Tonight"
Leliana frowned. "A man of the cloth favoring murder, this Revered Father is a charlatan"
"For the village and the Revered Father to attack us and try to kill Genitivi, we must be closer to the ashes than we thought" Outside the inn, the soldiers of the village were gathering…now that there sneak attack failed, they were going for a frontal assault. "Morrigan and Wynne, clear us a path" Wynne conjured up grease which made the soldiers slip off their feet; Morrigan cast a fire spell and burn the solders alive. Downstairs, Zevran and Alistair fought off the stragglers and the party got clear of the inn.
"Jenra, we have more of them…" Alistair said. "Looks like they are coming from the Chantry"
"That must be where Genitivi is, if they're fortifying their position" Chaos ensued as the party fought their way to the local Chantry. The villagers ran away from the fight that was good for Jenra as that would mean fewer casualties. Wynne shook the ground, giving the warriors the clear for a clean hit. A fireball struck the ground in front of them, the village had their own mages…Shale tossed a large bolder at the mages causing them to scatter. Alistair rushed the mages and blocked their magic allowing Sten and Fenrir to take them down. After more fighting, the path to Chantry was cleared. When they got inside, they were met not with more soldiers but a sermon. Talking to a circle of people was an old man, on his back was a staff…the Revered Father is a mage, The Chantry didn't allow mages into the clergy.
"…we are blessed beyond measure; we are chosen by the Holy and Beloved to be Her guardians" the Revered Father said. "This scared duty is given to us alone; rejoice, my brethren and prepare your hearts to receive Her"
"Lift your voices and despair not for She will raise Her Faithful servants to glory when Her…" The Revered Father saw the party and glared at them. "Ah…welcome, I heard we had visitor wandering about the village. I trust you've enjoyed your time in Haven so far?"
"Yes, the soldiers trying to kill us was so accommodating" Alistair said sarcastically.
"This, my brothers and sisters is what happens when you let outsider into the village, they have no respect for our ways and privacy" The party saw the members of the congregation rise, a murderous aura fell across the room. This was no act of blood magic, the villagers we ready to kill and be killed on the mage's word. Blood was about to be spilled.
"He will tell the others of us and what then? They bring war to Haven, brothers and sisters if you wish to preserve our sacred duty then prove your devotion to Her!" He said. "Kill the outsiders, kill them all!"
The Cult of Andraste attacks! Next Time! Review and Comment!