Disclaimer: I do not own Bioware or Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The following morning, they discovered a flyer requesting the aid of rescuing the viscount's son, Saemus. However, when Marian went up team to meet with Seneschal Bran he discover that someone else was on his trail.
He was talking to what he assumed to be a mercenary, who didn't have a very friendly face. In fact, she looked as if she would kill anyone, who as much as looked at her the wrong way.
"Insist if you must, but Viscount Dumar will not see anyone! If you have news of Saemus, I will relay it to him." Bran said.
"Fine. Tell Dumar my scouts have tracked the boy and his qunari captured to the Wounded Coast. I'm taking a full company after them, and when I return, I expect him to make a show of the reward." The mercenary sneered before she waltzed off.
"So many to deal with one Qunari seems… excessive." Bran noted.
"He maybe Tal-Vashoth. The Winters leave nothing to chance." She then walked off and nearly ran into Hawke. "Get out of my bloody way!"
Bran sighed when he saw Marian and Wanda. "Yes, what is it?"
"Looks like we're not the only ones, who saw the bounty posting." Marian noted.
"Apparently so, and I am regretting it." Bran nodded. "As I told the others, Viscount Dumar's son, Saemus, is missing. We suspect he was taken by Qunari. If you would like to try your hand at securing his safe return, feel free. I have certainly granted no exclusivity to the Winters and their violent approach."
"Shouldn't the guardsmen deal with it?" Wanda questioned.
"Yes, they should." Aveline nodded, crossing her arms as she raised her eyebrows at the seneschal.
"There is a concern of appearance." Bran said. "If we used guards, it would allow Viscount Dumar's opponents to say this admits the Qunari threat, because the city responded. In these times, public embarrassment is preferable to official embarrassment."
"Any leads?" Wanda asked.
"There is nothing known. He is gone, and there have been sightings of a Qunari." Bran said. "The only complication is that Saemus is known to be… of a sympathetic mind. He may have placed himself in danger, but it is danger nonetheless."
"The Qunari are not wild in the city. Petition their leader for the boy's return." Marian suggested, suggesting to appeal to Arishok.
"The Arishok has declared that it's not his role to do so." Bran said. "Apparently their rebels, the Tal-Vashoth, are hunted anyway-killed for what they are, not for what they may have done. That does not bode well for Saemus."
Wanda shivered. The Qunari started to sound more and more zealotic and extremist to her. They went on talking about Saemus's disappearance, Bran told them the boy was over sympathetic mind, and about the Winters' violent nature before heading to the Wounded Coast.
"The boy will be home soon enough." Marian promised.
"Declare it if you like, but the reward goes to whoever brings him back safe." Bran cautioned. "A discussion you're welcome to have with the Winters should you encounter them. On the Wounded Coast."
Marian along with Wanda, Aveline, Bethany, Carver, Varric and Isabela searched around the Wounded Coast and they found Saemus on his knees in front of the body of a dead Qunari. The Winters leader, Ginnis, was standing over him with a sword in and covered in blood.
"And the world's rid of one more Qunari. Easier than I expected." Ginnis said before turning to a man, who was dressed in city noble's clothes, falling on his knees. "Call the men back. We've got an appointment with the viscount. Isn't that right, Saemus?"
"Ashaad… you killed him. You… you vashedan bitch!" Saemus snarled, glaring as he got up.
"That one of their words! See, that's why you need to be dragged home. You're playing too nice with those things." Ginnis teased. "I'll wager you've gone even further than that. Haven't you, brat?"
The group had a feeling this Saemus was going way over his head and naturally they were right. Ginnis threatened to cut out his tongue and when they stepped in, she turned and fought them. Marian, Carver, Aveline and Isabela pulled out their swords as they engaged the mercenaries, while Varric shot them down and Bethany and Wanda deflected the arrows the mercenaries fired before they finished them off.
After the battle the young nobleman all but spat on Ginnis' corpse. "Dead and good riddance but… she said she was waiting for more. A lot more."
"Then we ready ourselves." Aveline said, like a soldier.
As soon as the rest of the Winters started down the hill, Wanda pulled them towards her and slammed them to the ground. Marian, Carver, Isabela and Aveline engaged them, crossing swords. Aveline bashed one of them with her shield, knocking him down before she cut down another, while Carver finished off the one that was on the ground. Isabela flipped back to dodge an axe before cutting the mercenary in the legs and then slitting his throat, while Marian threwdaggers, killing three of them as Bethany fired a bolt of electricity, finishing them off. Another wave followed soon enough but they were no more of a problem than the previous ones.
When it was over, they went to check on Seamus. He found the young man kneeling next to the the dead Qunari. "Ashaad never lied, never coddled. You were worth his time, or you were not." Saemus said as he got up. "They are not the brutes others claim they are. Take me to my father, and I will try again to make him see."
They accompanied Saemus back to the Viscount's Keep, reuniting him with the Viscount Dumar, who seemed relieved.
"Father…"
"My son. I thought I'd lost you." Dumar said.
"Enough, Father." Saemus interrupted him.
Seneschal Bran intervened. "Uh, allow me to present one Serah Hawke, Excellency. He fulfilled the bounty."
"You have my gratitude. I hope you encountered no great difficulties on my son's behalf." The Viscount said gratefully.
"There were complications, but I am privileged to keep your son from harm." Marian said.
"I was told the Winters had involved themselves. Was there no way to avoid an incident?" Viscount said.
"They murdered my friend. Where is the concern for that?" Saemus snapped, crossing his arms.
"It was my understanding you were captured alone, foolishly traipsing about the coast as you do." Viscount said.
"I was not captured, I was with Ashaad. The Qunari. They are not monsters to be feared." Saemus snapped. "If you would just try to understand, others would see as well."
"Better that you were thought abducted than to have their influence suspected in my own family… benign or not, it's too much."
"I… think we should stay out of this." Wanda suggested, not wanting to involve herself into this family drama, especially of a politician.
"I agree. This is a private concern. Excuse us." Marian said, leaving as Aveline and Isabela nodded in agreement.
"Your actions are appreciated. The seneschal will see you out." Dumar said.
Afterwards, Isabela left them and they met up with Fenris and Varric. They were wandering through the marketplace when they heard a man arguing with the city guardsman.
"What you mean you can't help me?"
"This is a domestic matter, serah. If your wife has chosen to leave you, there's nothing we can do."
"Ninette is my wife! She's legally bound to me. Bring her back!"
"We're done here." The guardsman said, leaving as the man glared, stretching his arms furiously.
"Useless! Why are we still paying those sluggards?" The man shouted.
"Your wife is missing? I can try and find her if you like." Marian offered.
He quickly turned to Marian with relief. "Yes! Oh, I've been waiting for someone to say that. That foolish woman has caused me nothing but embarrassment. She needs to be dragged home."
They shook their heads, the man was acting as if his wife was more of a pet.
"The guards disagree." Aveline said.
"She's your wife, not a dog!" Isabela said.
"I can't imagine why she would run away." Fenris added sarcastically as the man sighed.
"Yes, yes, my wife and I don't get along. But that's not the important thing! Her family is getting suspicious. They think I might have… done something to her. Even if—Well, I just want to make sure they know I didn't do it!"
'Of course he cared more about himself than his wife's well-being.' Wanda shook her head, crossing her arms, with Carver and Bethany reacting the same.
"You're more concerned what her family thinks than what happened to her?" Marian asked.
"Ninette keeps the company of other men and makes no secret of it. I'd be better off with her gone. Well, as long as her family knows I had nothing to do with it. They'd ruin me otherwise."
"What kind of a husband doesn't care about whether his wife might be hurt or dead?" Wanda demanded, glaring at him in disgust.
"You've never lived with her! It wasn't always like that. We were in love once. She defied her parents to marry me. Sometimes I wonder if I dream to those years." The man said.
"I'll try my best to find Ninette and bring home." Marian promised.
"You should talk to Jethann at the Blooming Rose." The man said, but clearly he was angry. "I didn't know she visited whores. Until Jethann sent a letter. To our house! He even sent flowers once. Lilies—her favorite. Bah. Talking about it makes my head hurt. Good luck to you, serah." He said, frustrated.
They went straight to the Blooming Rose and met Jethann, who told them about a templar named Emeric, who had been looking for Ninette and was currently in Darktown. As they went to Darktown, they saw him ambushed by some thugs.
Marian, Aveline, Carver and Fenris pulled out their swords, engaging them and quickly disposing of them before Bethany and Wanda used their powers. The templar got back to his feet, and gave them a respectful nod. "I thank you, serah, for coming along when you did. I am Emeric."
Marian glared at Bethany and Wanda for using their powers in front of a templar. They were likely to get arrested but the templar did not seem to be bothered. Perhaps it was becaouse of Aveline, the Guard-Captain being in the company.
"Just the person I'm looking for, I need to speak with you about Ninette." Marian said.
Emeric nodded. "Ah. Ghyslain de Carrac's wife, Ninette. Her disappearance interested me. I tried looking into it. However, the investigation has been a waste of time."
"Did you learn nothing?"
"Most people just say she left her husband. This all started when Mharen—one of our Circle mages—disappeared. I found it odd. She was a bit older and hardly adventurous. Then I heard about Ninette and two other missing women."
"I had a friend who disappeared once." Varric said. "Turns out he was under my bed, drunk." Varric glanced up at the looks they rest were giving him. "What?"
Emeric just shook his head. "I think the disappearances are connected, and I suspect foul play is involved."
"Doesn't the Circle use phylacteries to keep track of its mages?" Marian questioned.
Emeric nodded. "We followed her phylactery to a foundry, but found nothing. I had heard of sympathisers smuggling mages through Darktown, so came here hoping to pick up the trail. But no trace of Mharen. And, as you've seen, asking the locals hasn't made me very popular."
"Mages routinely flee the Circle. Perhaps Mharen just wanted freedom?" Marian inquired.
Emeric shook his head. "She had always been loyal. She received lilies from an unknown suitor, and some of us thought she may have gone to meet him. Perhaps her disappearance was linked."
"Lilies?" Wanda asked.
"When you were at home, we've been investigating this serial killer. He's always left behind bone remnants of a woman, with lilies as his calling cards." Carver explained as Wanda shivered. A serial killer hunting beautiful women. Great.
"Can I assist your investigation?" Marian offered.
"It's no longer my investigation, serah. You may take over, if you wish. This battle showed that I'm no longer the warrior I used to be. I know when to walk away." Emeric said as he handed them a small parcel. "Here. Take my findings. Perhaps you can make more use of them. I'm going back to the Gallows. I'm too old for this."
"I think he might have noticed that you are mages." Marian noted, turning to Bethany and Wanda, who both groaned.
Aveline sighed, and nodded. "I think he may also have noticed you are trying to help."
"At least he didn't seem too concerned with us." Carver noted. "The last thing we need is a templar trying to take you in."
"We should go look into this foundry, then?" Marian suggested.
They found the foundry and Marian caught sight of someone slipping away. However, before they could apprehend him, they were attacked by demons as Wanda noticed a purple woman, who was not wearing any top, her upper half naked, with chains wrapped, as if the woman was a concubine.
"Shades and a desire demon." Wanda remembered.
"Summoned by another mage, no doubt." Fenris agreed.
Anders and Bethany used their magic to daze the demons before the rest engaged them. Marian cut the head off the desire demon, while Carver and Aveline sliced through the shades and Wanda ripped them apart.
They searched the area before they found a bag left by the man, who had run earlier but gasped upon looking inside.
"Well… that's…" Marian stopped.
"Oh, my God…" Wanda groaned, trying not to vomit from the smell.
"Bones. And a severed hand." Aveline said.
"We should take the ring to Ghyslain. It may be Ninette's. And let Emeric know what we found." Marian said.
They met up with Emeric in the Gallows.
"You might want to see this. This was left in the foundry you mentioned in your notes. I was also attacked by shades." Marian handed the templar the bag.
"These are human bones." Emeric sighed. "Then there is no chance of finding Mharen alive—or any of the others."
"We might have seen the culprit at the scene but he managed to escape. Sorry." Wanda said.
"It was more than I accomplished." Emeric said.
"My people have been slow to react, but this needs official support." Aveline said.
"I will bring this to the city guard immediately. It should be enough to convince then the disappearances are worth investigating." Emeric said. Needless to say, Ninette's loved ones did not take the news well and they decided it was best not to tell them the details of her death.
Present
"I've heard of this Kirkwall Killer. And now we know the Champion's link to the Viscount Dumar." Cassandra said.
"Sadly both tales have a tragic ending. Though I believe were getting off track." Leliana nodded.
"Indeed, I wonder how long the dwarf's tale is."
So, what do you guys think about it?
Please review and let me know if you are enjoying this so far and want for me to continue.