Deesh's group managed to reunite with the others after discovering what happened to Cailan's body. The crucifixion of Cailan's crushed body seemed rather extreme for such 'simple' monsters. Then again they've shown themselves to be far from simple. Especially when a genlock necromancer attacked by reanimating a few corpses to attack them.

Shadow kicked one of the skulls away, "I hate necromancers!"

Neria was quick to point out, "How can you hate them if magic doesn't seem to be in your world?"

Shadow looked to the elven mage, "I know the City and Earth doesn't have much in magic, but there's just this thing in the back of mind that just tingles, you know? The first trigger of this was when we…saw a…movie would mean nothing here…a play! Yeah, we watched something akin to a play and there was a necromancer that just brought out these flashes."

"Truly then these theatrical performances must have such stunning visuals to capture such a recreation…"

Shadow could see the whimsy in Leliana's eyes, "You could say that…"

Shade quietly adding to Shadow, "Don't you mean the animators."

Deesh made no comments about Cailan or Shadow. Theron suspected that the former wasn't something that Alistair or Wynne would appreciate given her own outspoken thoughts about the battle though he wasn't sure what was stopping her to say something against Shadow. They hadn't even shared the news to Morrigan yet or given her the grimoire. But the necromancer was carrying Cailan's helm and they would not leave without it.

They reached the Tower of Ishal as Deesh and her deepstalkers sniffed around. "There's fresh blood ahead. The beasts have probably set up new defenses inside."

Sanguine couldn't help but laugh, "Oh, that little necromancer is cheeky. Too bad there's no soul inside there for us to take, otherwise it'd be more interesting. Isn't that right Hermy?"

"Do with the carcass as you see fit, the magic that this one yields is far more interesting to me."

"But Hermy, isn't they why you took this plane from Peryite? A 'neutral' location for the three of us to watch our little mortal and experiment?"

"It's still crazy, don't ya think?" Sheogorath smiled as he watched the mortals cutting down spiders and a few more darkspawn. "A creature born from a non-magic able people wielding more magic than the average human. Or just how a lovely honey as a broodmother can make such a powerful little imp?"

"Despite what you are attempting, I will not allow such a blighted creature to corrupt any other realm as it has in Vaermina's." Even so, what gave the genlock the capability to use magic is rather curious. Then again, Vaermina and several spirits have been keeping many of Hermaeus' seekers from exploring the ruined libraries scattered throughout the Fade.

Deesh was right about the new fortifications, and an ogre near the entrance. They reached the tunnel the darkspawn had used to invade the tower during the battle and the lower chambers led them to where the majority of the fighting occurred.

The necromancer had brought them there for one reason in particular. The genlock used its magic to raise an ogre with two blades lodged into its chest. Alistair recognized the hilts of the two blades, though there was no time to mourn as the risen brute charged head down.

The ogre however wasn't the only one to be brought back to battle. The necromancer resurrected quite a few fallen warriors, both human and darkspawn, to help in the ogre's assault. Deesh looked back to the group, "Alistair, lead Kallian, Faren, Oghren and Neria against the ogre. We'll deal with the other corpses."

Daylen and Wynne stayed back to support everyone with their magic as the group disbursed. Alistair banged his shield, yelling to get the ogre to be drawn toward him and away from the other resurrected corpses.

Deesh however used Shadow's double-bladed staff to stop one of the corpses as she charged toward the necromancer itself. "Hey, I called dibs!"

Deesh ignored her, dropping her satchel behind before drawing upon her daggers. The necromancer tried to slow Deesh down with a noxious mist that seeped out of the staff. Even so Deesh slashed away at the genlock without being slowed down.

Jigsaw and the deepstalkers kept the ogre distracted as Faren went in low, cutting at the ogre's tendons and bashing the back of its knee with the mace. When the undead darkspawn fell to its knees Oghren chopped an arm off as Alistair ran in for the finishing blow, running his sword through its face.

Shadow cut down the undead with the claymore as she blocked the sword and shield wielder. "These things are worse than fighting the Hive."

"At least they aren't swarming us in mass."

Shadow kicked the shield to create an opening to cut the corpse down. "It's not the numbers, it's the remains. At least when the Hive die, their bodies usually burn up and turn to ash."

Deesh was having some difficulty with this necromancer. Unlike most mages that she had encountered in Skyrim this one was just as physical strong, possibly a bit stronger than its blighted brethren. Even so Deesh managed to get a few cut in on the diminutive sorcerer. Deesh was ready to charge again, though she noticed the darkspawn become distracted for a moment, looking at something else behind her. She took this opportunity to strike, piercing her daggers through its neck and heart. Deesh pulled the staff from its hands and knocked it over before using the staff to stab the genlock through the face.

Deesh recovered her weapons and found Cailan's helmet on the genlock. She presented the slightly blooded helmet to Alistair, who had just retrieved Duncan's sword and dagger. She saw Shadow readjusting her helmet, assuming that was the distraction the darkspawn was looking at. With Cailan's armor, blade and shield found, along with the bonus of Duncan's weapons, they were nearly done with this frozen battlefield.

Returning to the king's body Leliana held a moment of silence while Oghren turning to Faren, "Not sorry I missed this. No king of mine, but still enough to put me off my drink."

"No kidding… Never imagined they'd care about trophies…"

"You haven't been in the tunnels long enough. They take trophies alright."

Wynne however was contemplating about the circumstances of her survival, "What is it they say? Only the good die young… I wonder what that says about the rest of us." Wynne turned back, "Alistair, are you all right?"

Alistair looked away in disgust, "They left him here to rot. We need to do something."

Aedan pulled out a knife and started to cut through the rope, "There's no question what should be done. We're going to give our king a proper funeral pyre."

"He was a good man who hoped too much and died too young. He deserves what little honor we can afford to grant him."

Shadow helped Aedan carry the body, "If only to ensure that these monsters aren't allowed to keep him."

Sten and Deesh had already started to gather wood for the pyre. As Theron, Kallian and Shale soon helped them gather wood. Morrigan and Zevran both opted to keep watch of the area, if only to avoid helping.

When the pyre was ready Daylen and Neria lit the flame as they stood and watched the fires grow. Even as most of the group shared in this moment of mourning, Shadow whispered to Deesh, "No snarky remarks about his flawed tactics?"

"His tactics were flawed due to underestimating his opponents and his misbegotten trust in his allies."

Sten agreed, "A lesson in examining your allies far more carefully than your enemies."

Deesh nodded, "Even so, he deserves a modicum of our respect. He placed the security of his nation above his one safety, as foolish as it was for a man in his position."

When the body burned away, Zevran and Morrigan returned having little care for what had occurred.

This marry band continued west toward Haven. The group set up camp for the night and Theron was able to give Morrigan the grimoire and outfit. The two of them retired to Morrigan's tent as things fell quiet in the camp.

Even as the group tried to sleep Deesh and her deepstalkers seemed rather restless as they passed around the camp. Shadow seemed to be feeling tense too as she couldn't get to sleep, "…Shade, come on you've gotta be picking up something…"

"I'm sorry, but my scans aren't showing anything."

"Come on, even Deesh seems to be picking this up."

Kallian rose from her bedroll in a cold sweat and Alistair having woken up moments before her. "You're awake! Did you…did you feel it, too? It was like the archdemon saw us! What does that mean?"

Without warning Deesh started to screech and clashing her sword and dagger together. The noises was even more annoying as her deepstalkers and Jigsaw joined her in making noise.

These noises were getting everyone up. Faren even tried to throw a cup at them to shut up, "Can't a guy get some sleep around here?"

Deesh knocked the cup away, "Darkspawn!" Everyone quickly grabbed a weapon as they looked around trying to find where the enemy was.

Jigsaw jumped and pinned a shriek to the floor that wasn't visible a moment ago. Deesh swung her sword, clashing against the blade strapped to another shriek's arm. Soon even more shrieks jumped out of the shadows to attack the camp. Oghren, who unfortunately for the camp was sleeping in the nude, rushed out with battle axe in tow and cleaved the head of a shriek in one fell swing.

A shriek tried to sneak upon Morrigan and Theron who had yet to leave the isolated tent. The darkspawn quickly slashed and stabbed into the tent only to find an empty roll and clothes. It heard the string of a bow tighten but was unable to respond as an arrow was quickly lodge through its ear before a cat nearby transformed into a bear that started to maul the downed shriek.

Theron quickly turned around as he sensed another one approaching from behind. As he aimed his next arrow however he loosened the tension, "Mercy of the gods! It can't be!"

"You…lethallin…" even in the dark of night Theron could see Tamlen's sickly face, "Don't…don't come near me! Stay away!"

"Wait!" Theron had become completely oblivious to the danger around him as Morrigan saved him by transforming into a spider and tying a shriek down in webbing.

Even as the rest of the camp was embroiled in battle, Theron continued to chase after Tamlen, "Don't…look at me! I am…sick…"

Theron reached to Tamlen, "We can help you Tamlen. Don't be afraid."

Talmen slapped Theron's hand away, "No help. No…help for me." Tamlen's fingernails were covered in dried blood as he followed the scars along his head, "The song…in my head, it…calls to me. He sings to me! I can't stop it!" Tamlen looked to Theron, "Don't want…to hurt you, lethallin. Please…stop me…"

"I have to try and heal you, Tamlen!"

"Too far. You cannot help me. I'm…so sorry, lethallin. Never wanted this…" Without warning Tamlen tackled Theron to the ground, fighting with him tooth and nail. Theron was doing what he could to keep Tamlen from getting hurt, however Tamlen didn't seem to care as he was trying to claw out Theron's eyes or chock him.

"Tamlen, please…"

Even as Theron was slowly losing his resolve to win, he didn't want to give up on his friend. Fortunately, he wouldn't have to worry about that as Tamlen's strength faded from his arms as he looked back to see Deesh burying a dagger through his back. "Th…thank you…Deesh…"

Deesh grabbed Tamlen's head to end his suffering swiftly with one snap. When his body fell limp Deesh tossed his body aside and offered Theron a hand. Theron looked around to see the camp littered with nearly a dozen shriek corpses.

Deesh was genuinely trying to help Theron through this though Alistair was the first there to try and help too. He looked to Tamlen's body, "Who was that?"

Theron looked away, "His name was Tamlen."

"Tamlen?"

Deesh looked to Tamlen's body, "A clansman who was infected and thought lost…"

Alistair stopped, "I…I am so sorry. This is what happens when the taint is left unchecked. It…it's better for him, to have it end. It was a mercy."

The dead darkspawn were being piled to burn as Oghren went back into his tent, "Can't get a bloody night's rest."

Deesh saw Theron return to Morrigan's tent as she handled Tamlen's body separated from the darkspawn corpses. Shadow tried to offer her hand, "Want some help?" Deesh completely ignored her, pushing past and continuing on. "What's your problem?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"Oh really? You're talking to someone who was an oddball even amid revived warriors fighting a losing battle. If anything I think we have more in common than you'd like to admit. Strangers in a land not of our own with most who couldn't see past our muzzles. But at least you have a history, a past. I have nothing but a name and a blade and still no clues about where I come from."

Deesh started to prepare the body, "And unlike you, death is permanent."

Shadow rolled her eyes, "I can see why that might be discouraging, but you avoid everyone at camp. You don't ever eat around them or say anything that isn't condescending or talking strategy, except for Theron." Deesh finally stopped for a moment. "I can't imagine what you're going through with this loss of a friend, but you'll eventually need someone to talk to. Just letting you know that I'm here when you need it."

Before Shadow left Deesh grabbed her arm. "A while back, something happened that I've tried to push out of my mind. The actions of a Daedric Prince while in her realm. A vision of this world's past."

"Alright, was something wrong or unusual about it?"

"An aedra, like a guardian spirit, said to have been the creators of my world Nirn was working with a daedra to create dragons. Those closest to what one might consider as heavenly beings. However, they were creating dragons in Vaermina's realm, a realm directly connected to this world…"

"And if it is under this Vaermina's control, why can't you just return?"

Deesh shook her head, "Unfortunately I've gotten on her bad side, destroying one of her staves she occasionally leaves in the mortal plane. She was lenient the last time due to my being forced into the Fade by a demon. She will not be so generous if I dared to enter her realm of my own volition outside of the dreamscape. To make matters worse, one of the daedra I've been bound to has an unquenchable thirst for knowledge of any kind. He will use me to find these world, learn from them then move on. And Sanguine probably dragged you into all of this to speed up our progress and to keep me alive and out of Nocturnal's clutches."

"You honestly think he brought me here just to help 'speed things along'?"

Deesh looked to her, "Sanguine is debauchery incarnate…that and lust. Your weaponry and powers can obliterate almost anything that might try to attack you. As long as you have the ammunition for it. As you can tell, he's more spur of the moment. The only planning he does involves leading one down his path of sin."

Shade then popped out, "It sounds like a very unusual situation we've found ourselves involved in."

Shadow shrugged, "That business with Oryx was worse. Though I think I'm a little more worried about the idea that so many worlds are connected through these supposed gods, or demons, or whatever they want to call themselves. With our luck there might even be a link to the Darkness that we eventually run into. But since we've already been dragged into this mess, I don't see why we can't at least become friends until our paths finally parts way. Though from the sounds of things, this is going to be one long venture."

"This will be an unyielding endeavor; one I doubt I'll see the end of with my current lifecycle."

"I've survived the Crucible and the Iron Banner, fought against the abominations of the Hive and Taken, the unyielding firepower of the Cabal, the time bending Vex, and the Fallen. If we work together, I don't think there'll be too many challenges we can't defeat."

Shadow offered her hand to Deesh again, though the Argonian was hesitant to accept her offer so readily. "Just remember, you're volunteering."

Before they rested that night they collapsed the tunnels the darkspawn used in their ambush attempt. Their travels eventually had them following a mountain trail where a village guard stopped them, "What are you doing in Haven? There is nothing for you here." The guard wasn't all too pleased to have visitors even before asking anything.

Kallian looked around, "So this is Haven?" almost disappointed in what she was seeing in the unassuming little mountain village.

"What do you want?"

Remembering their encounter with 'Weylon' and the men at the Spoiled Princess inn, Kallian took a more cautious approach. "We would like to explore Haven for a while."

"We do not appreciate lowlanders 'looking around' our home as though it were some sort of zoo."

"Very well. Excuse us."

The guard pointed to a building to his left, "You may trade for supplies at the shop if you wish. Then I suggest you and your companions leave."

Alistair sarcastically admitted, "Did it just get a lot colder? Or is it just me?"

Zevran however shared his own opinion, "Ah, quiet, insular communities. There's always something nasty going on behind closed doors."

Wynne knocked her staff against his arm, "You always think there's something nasty going on behind closed doors."

"That's because there often is. I hope it involves chains. I also hope they ask me to join in."

Yet as they continued into the village Sten suddenly stopped, forcing the others behind him to as well. Faren complained after ramming face first into Sten's leg, "What's with the giant now?"

He turned to the Wardens, "Interesting strategy. Tell me. do you intend to keep going west until it becomes east, and attack the archdemon from the flank?"

Aedan approached the tall Qunari, "This is necessary," almost with anger as he tried to command the soldier.

Sten wasn't intimidated, "Is it? I see. I was mistaken, then. It seemed to me that we were climbing a mountain in the middle of nowhere on some frivolous whim of yours," his gaze turning to Alistair. Sten had never really back talked anyone like this before, though that wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Deesh managed to calm him a bit, "Then what do you think should be done?"

Sten pointed back to the east, "The archdemon is our goal. And we are heading away from it. To find the charred remnants of a dead woman. We haven't thought this through."

Deesh was the closest of their group to Sten, and she had the best shot of keeping him in line. "Consider this training for what's to come."

"There is only so much one can prepare, kadan. Eventually one must step forward and accept what comes. I trust you with my life. But this is not my life at risk. It is our goal."

Deesh assured him, "Then trust that this is something we have to do to reach our goal."

Sten nodded, "I have spoken my mind. Let us waste no more time here."

A/N: I know I had an earlier chance to talk about it, but genlock emissaries just confused me. They made no scenes lore wise, and with the redesigns of the darkspawn that they're sticking with from DA2(still hate) the genlock's gorilla-like proportions would make spell casting awkward, if not impossible. And now we're at the footsteps just outside of Haven. I'm close to a scene I've had on the backlogs since starting this.