Well, shit. We barely make it outside, before Mistress' blade cuts down an arsehole Darkspawn. Chirpy and some Templars were already fighting this lot, but I still suspect these Darkspawn were camped out here waiting for us. I suppose it doesn't really matter I decide, pouncing a Genlock idiot while he's trying to reload his crossbow and slamming him face-first onto a garden tile. I saw that, you bastard. You're lucky Mistress blocked that with her shield... or I might have killed you twice? Look, I would have done something worse to you. Templar... Pete, probably, mustn't have heard the head squelch upon contact, because he quickly stabs the Genlock's body anyway. No, no, it's better to be sure about these things. Good looking out, Pete! I bark in approval, which apparently prompts Pete's free hand to sneakily rub my ear while Mistress and the others check the remaining Darkspawn corpses.
Satisfied, Mistress glares out into thin air. I'm confused, too. Where are the pricks?!
"... The service tunnels" she murmurs, turning towards the tavern. Oh yeah, the smuggling hidey-hole. Too bad the city's on top, we can't just throw in one of King Kaboom's bombs. I mean, we could... no, Mistress probably won't agree to that. This place is already going to need a shitload of repairs, without sinking half the buildings on their stupid heads.
Some of the Templars surround the doors into the Chant Tree, but Chirpy and the rest move to follow us. Good idea, since there's no sign of Scruffy or Gorgeous. Hey wait! Damn, Pete's staying... oh well. Pete, I'm leaving you in command here. Keep the idiots from getting inside. You lot, with me! Hopefully you can all fight, and ear scratch, half as good as Pete.
"You're coming too?" Mistress asks, as Chirpy moves to walk alongside her.
"They know what they're doing" she replies. "So, did you speak with Dorothea?"
"She somehow got me to do most of the speaking" Mistress answers. "I see why you like her."
"Good, good" Chirpy nods. "I knew she'd help you."
"... Yeah, I think she did. Ask me again when this is over."
We're halfway to the tavern, when I hear armour clanking and someone shouting. "Boss! There you are!"
Yes! Gorgeous is still alive.. where the hell were you?!
"Sigrun" Mistress calls back, letting herself relax a little. "Nobody knew where you were."
"Sorry! I woke up before the sun-dawn, and the scouts hadn't seen anything yet, so I went down to the wharfs to see the boats... but apparently they're all gone. Had to race back, when the bells started."
"All the boats are gone?" Chirpy frowns.
"Yes – the locals got sick of waiting for Esmerelle or I to provide food, and assembled themselves a flotilla to go fishing up and down the coast en masse" Mistress sighs. Hey, you're not the Bann! It was her damned responsibility. One more reason she's dead and won't be missed. "One of the nobles still in the city complained to me about his private boat being stolen." What a moron. I hope you punched him. "Or I would have gotten people out to sea, with those boats yesterday..."
Gorgeous glances about. "Hey wait, where's Fire-Fingers?"
"He went to help secure the gate, I believe" Chirpy answers. "Before we knew they were already inside..."
"Good. He can do more there, than in these tunnels" Mistress notes, as she looks back at the Templars. "They likely have at least one Emissary commanding them. Look for fancier armour, or a staff. Any of you not engaged in combat, Smite that bastard into the dirt!"
They all grunt in agreement, while raising their swords. Hmm... I'd still like some more City Guards with us, but they must be with Scruffy. I guess you non-Pete Templars will suffice.
We step inside, and sure enough the Darkspawn are waiting. YES! I immediately smash the nearest Hurlock down through a table. I'm finally getting my tavern brawl! I kind of wish I had hands, just once, because that jerk with a bow hiding in the corner really needs a chair thrown at him. If only Braids were here. I follow his movements and eye-line, as he draws back the string. He's aiming at... Gorgeous. Luckily, she's close enough I manage to shove her to one side, and against a chair. Sorry, but at least I didn't knock you through it. Or the table next to us. The arrow still clips her axe, so close call. She quickly spots the creep, and grabs a bottle off the table while he's still nocking another arrow. And... nice shot! You got him right in the face! TAVERN FIGHT! I bark, tackling another Hurlock as it comes running out of the kitchen. What, were you stealing a roast chicken? I'll steal your chicken! I rip his throat open, while pondering if that was a decent retort. Probably not, but at least nobody heard it.
Looking up, I see we've cleared the room. A couple of the Templars are carefully removing an arrow from one's shoulder. Corner Creep did that, I bet. Speaking of, Mistress is standing over him to make sure he's dead. Satisfied, she steps back and crunches some glass under her boot. "So I did hear a bottle shatter. I'm not crazy." Well... "Shut up, Max" she wearily jokes.
"I think she hit it with that" Chirpy comments, tilting her head at Gorgeous. "You should get her a crossbow, with aim like that."
"Nah, bows are too... fingery? Give me a bottle or a rock, I'm aces" Gorgeous grins. "So, keg room?"
Mistress nods. "Keg room. Down the left corridor, everyone." She turns to the nearest Templar, and motions at the one getting her shoulder wrapped. "Is she alright to fight?"
"If needed, but I've told her to stay at the back and focus on Smiting those mage Spawn you mentioned."
Mistress gives a noise of approval. "Good thinking. Let's move, then!"
The tunnels are much the same, but almost no furniture to smash Darkspawn into. Boring! I think I zoned out and fought by instinct, because we're back on the surface before I know it. I guess Scruffy's done his job well, since I don't see any Darkspawn. Can hear some fighting. And groaning... oh, those guys are dragging a ballista. Hmm, that's odd. We should investigate. Mistress is already running ahead, and whatever she saw around the corner has made her join the ballista team. Alright, what's going... on?! I peek around the corner, and there's the fattest Ogre I ever did see. With bits of armour strapped in random places. Huh... thank fuck it isn't moving, at least. I finally notice Scruffy and two other mages, sweating and grunting as they apparently hold it in place with glistening magic.
"Any... time!" Scruffy calls, digging his feet into the dirt. Whatever you're going to do, do it fast! I can see the Ogre's muscles straining, so the fat bastard might power out if you're not quick.
Mistress squints at the Ogre, while adjusting something on the ballista. The pushers stand back, and she sends the spear sailing. Right into his stupid fat neck. Scruffy and his buddies drop their arms, and let it collapse as the team reload a second shot for good measure. "Do it" Mistress orders. This spear also drives itself home, but now without a pained gurgle.
Mistress paces over, as Scruffy slumps down to one knee. "Good work" she comments, handing him a bottle of something. Oh, Morrie Herb Juice! Stamina pot, or whatever they call it.
He nods, before downing it in one go. "Ugh... so that's what they taste like." I think he flicks his tongue, from the weird flavour. "... Still an Emissary. Think Templars had it cornered" Scruffy points.
Mistress pats his shoulder, and waves our people forward. "Secure the gate!" She checks her pouch, and tosses two smaller Morrie Juice bottles to the other mages. "Here." Gorgeous is already leading the way, so I catch up. Yep, jerk with a staff. Smart little bastard, though. Whenever a Templar starts posing their hands to do a Smite or whatever, it jabs magic at them. If only Pete were here, he'd drop this fucker. Chirpy wings it with an arrow, which distracts it for some Templars to finally land their Smitage. Cue the stabbing. Stabbing... more stabbing. Okay. Guys, pretty sure it's dead. You can stop now.
Mistress closes her eyes, and slightly moves her head about. Is that what I look like, when I'm trying to figure out where food smells are coming from? "... It's over" she whispers. Opening her eyes, she turns to the nearest Templars. "We've won, I can't sense any more."
An exhausted cheer echoes, with the scattered villagers carrying pitchforks and such joining in. You mad bastards... I salute you for fighting, but still.
The bells sound again, but it's less insistent now. Yeah! You hear that, you subterranean fucks?! We win! You lose! Again. Again and again, until you get the point.
Scruffy joins us, wiping some sweat from his face. "What's the plan?"
Mistress sighs, before turning to Chirpy. "... I-"
"I know" she answers, with a reassuring expression. "Go, win this war. We've enough people who were at Denerim. We'll start the clean up until you can return." Some Templars, and Scruffy's mage buddies nod at Chirpy's statement. "But don't leave just yet. I need to confirm something" Chirpy adds, before heading back into the city.
"Is it true? Amell said another Emissary is behind all of this?" someone asks. Oh, hey Rylien! Or was it Rylock… no, yeah, Rylien is the polite one. Hello!
"A twisted, powerful one" Mistress confirms.
Rylien waves two shorter Templars forward. "Take Bryson and Donnell." I get it – they'll be faster and nimble enough to get off some Smites. And she probably wants the bigger guys to stay here and help do the lifting.
Dragonbone Wastes, Gorgeous says Chatty told us to go to. Before she finished him off. Hmm... That's out west from here, isn't it? Middle of fucking nowhere. Perfect spot for the Darkspawn, once you think about it.
Mistress is still talking cleaning methods with the various leaders, how and where to burn Darkspawn and so on, when a wagon appears. Wow, fancy! Especially those horses. Once it comes to a stop, Chirpy hops down as Mistress and I walk over. "We had Dorothea's carriage safe in a Chantry warehouse, and she wants you to use it." It's a nice gesture, but this is Mistress we're talking about. Dottie knows it might not get returned in one piece, yes?
"It'll get us back to the Keep, and from there we can take our chargers onto the Wastes. If they lived. Those wheels would never handle that terrain" Mistress quickly assesses. "Thank her for me?"
Chirpy waves her acceptance, letting Mistress approach the carriage. Gorgeous, Scruffy and the two Templars are quick to follow, as the Templar driver looks down at Mistress. "You said Vigil's Keep, Warden?"
Mistress gestures her affirmation to him, as we all start to pile in. "I expect we'll need the others, to finish this..." adding "I hope I'm not too late" under her breath.
Sorry about the delay, this chapter just wasn't coming together for a while and I got distracted with study.
Thank for waiting, and sticking with it if you have.