Magic and the Inquistion

by Battleship Vytalia

Finding himself in a fucked up fantasy word, a wizard has to find a way to get back to his own universe. All that stands in his way, are demons, a mage-templar war, a great big fucking hole in the sky, a civil war in knockoff France, a female elf mage who finds him fascinating, and an ancient human mage who is in severe need of a makeover

30. Chapter 30 Back on Track

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Dragonage or anything else I may reference

Magic and the Inquisition

Chapter 30 Back on Track

Rain poured, hammering upon the magically reinforced glass Valeyna was made ever aware of just how much she liked the vehicle she was riding in for as the little beads of water taped continuously in both a rhythmic soothing sound that made her feel relaxed enough to close her eyes and fall asleep, it also sent a shiver down her side as she realised that the moment they came to a stop she would be out in this god's forsaken river as once again she and the others had to deal with yet another problem that inflicted the people of Thedas.

Thankfully she hoped it would only be a short matter however, they had only received the letter from Hawke that morning but it was enough to warrant the quick speed of their departure from the castle. Apparently, she had only just received word from her contact in the Wardens telling her that they would meet the Champion of Kirkwall in a place called Crestwood in a cave where they could be alone away from prying ears.

Initially, she had considered asking Hawke to send a message to this contact to head to Skyhold after all the battlements and wards around the fortress and newly built and continuing to expand town would most certainly be a far greater defensive area, but then her mind flashed back to the previous year, over a month ago where she had been at the mercy of mad elves proclaiming nonsense about her being a queen and the coming of some kind of god. She shivered in response at the memory, just what had overtaken their sanity and turned them into such mad things bent on power she did not know, but even now when she went to sleep safe in her bed protected not only by soldiers, and battlements but also by the protection of the person she trusted most of all, she still suffered nightmares of what could have happened.

Images of Thedas in fire, millions massacred, women raped children taken from their mothers arms when they were newborns and slaughtered as if it was nothing and all in the name of elves, it was wrong, vile, the type of thing that only the Darkspawn would dream up or that was how she would wish it so. She gulped quietly pushing down the vile feeling of bile as it tried to come up her throat, hiding her feeling from her driver as she attempted to resist the other feelings she felt, those brief feelings that may have existed only for a brief moment, but had existed all the time.

Agreement.

She did not know why and it disturbed her thoroughly, but for a moment when she had believed her friend had died, she had felt sympathy for her people, agreement with them even. After so long of being oppressed of being treated less than beings like cattle or slaves, butchered and massacred, their homes destroyed, them killed by nobility and only death to reward those who spoke out, could she not see an agreement with those elves who wanted to slaughter the humans and take everything away from them. By the gods, she hoped not.

She sighed deeply almost in tune with the pattern of the rain made all the more apparent with the silence within the car. Whether due to the greyness of the sky or for a desire for peace and quiet nobody spoke, not her as she sat down watching the strange black things wipe away the water in a relaxing manner not, Blackwall who even now looked around the car as though he expected the windows to vanish suddenly and leave him soaked in the rain and not Sera who also sat oddly silent, though she doubted the woman was so in her mind.

That left her driver who was focused purely on the road ahead his hands on the wheel only ever noticing slightly to adjust the strange level on the right or to press the odd button here and there something that was becoming more prevalent now that they had left the smoother main roads and had gotten onto the rocky and bumpy road off the main path. Left to right the car shook and it was also nowhere near the same peace that had so astonished Blackwall and Sera when he had raced so quickly on the highway as though nothing mattered. It was still comfortable though even with the rocking, and with an extra bit of weight and four wheels and whatever type of engineering, she was sure it was also better than being on a horse out here that would likely not be comfortable in this weather leaving them to have to rest and warm them to keep them comfortable, so that was something.

She shrugged her shoulders in a bored fashion and leaned backwards her eyes focusing on the giant blue shape that was beginning to emerge in front of them not far away. It was a bit harder with the heavy rain still lashing out, but she could see it, all the same, lying there seemingly peaceful, or it was were it not for the all to familiar sight of pale green light dancing merrily above the surface of the lake like little spirits enjoying themselves rather than the gate to the Fade that she knew it to be.

She glanced forward squinting slightly as she saw strange and darkened figures shambling up the paths and area, no doubt they were some form of undead or zombie. Annoying, but nothing dangerous, or at least she didn't hope so, with how these missions normally went she wasn't holding out much look.

With a slight bump, she watched as the car drove over the top of a hill and then began to make its careful descent, the large powerful lights making it far safer to navigate down and prevent getting lost in some kind of ditch. When they finally got down the car finally came to a slow stop on a rocky outcrop marked with the symbol of the Inquisition, a few brown tents and the ever welcoming and smiling face of that lovely dwarf scout.

Nodding his head in agreement that he had parked the car in a place that would not be an obstacle to the scouts, allowing for the fast and easy transportation as well as ensuring that the boot of the car was in a decent place to unload the supplies that they had brought with them, he pulled out the key, took another deep breath, pulled up the hood on his strange coat looking coat and then opened the car door and walked out to meet them, the others close behind with Sera being last.

"Inquisitor," Scout Harding said with a joyous smile as she walked quickly up to them for a moment getting them before then marching past as fascination glimmered in her eyes. "So this is it, huh, the famous vehicle I've been hearing" Valeyna nodded good-naturedly and yawned, it was surprising just how tired a drive could make you. "How strange, some sort of design like a cart yet I can't see how it moves, is it powered by Magic, Lyrium?"

"Diesel" Nat answered as he walked behind the scout and opened up the boot raising it high giving access to the supplies, shortly after two other agents approached quickly not daring to marvel out the car as they instead preferred to grab the supplied and stand back in the tent where it was dry and the rain was pouring on them.

"How does it work?" The dwarves eyes glimmered, even in the dark sky and pouring rain Valeyna couldn't help but feel respect for the woman who was seemingly so fascinated by this strange thing that she would happily look at the thing even in adverse weather. "And the metal, these curves are so perfect so precise, I've seen dwarves work with metal, but the quality here is outstandingly better than anything any dwarf has ever created, how is this possible?"

"It's just a car, it's nothing special" Nat replied casually.

"Nothing special-" Harding replied so quickly that for a moment Valeyna believed the woman was about to choke. "This isn't some cart" She sounded offended. "This is a piece of skill and craftsmanship, it must have taken years to make, to design, not to mention the quality of the steel no doubt it cost a fortune to create for just that alone. It has a story, the way the metal bends, the way the light reflects of the metal, yes I can see it now, it is a mastery of engineering, a passion of love." She turned to face Nat her eyes having lost that fascinated glimmer and instead replaced with utter awe as though she was facing a piece of art. "Do you have more of these; I would so love to examine it in father detail"

"No and I thought you said you were a scout and that you grew up in Redcliffe, why ever would you be interested in this thing," Nat asked as he hit the boot of the car gently. As he did so, however, the look of scout Harding turned into one of utmost horror her face turning pale in shock as she watched and heard the sound of Nat's gloved hand rasping against the metal body.

"Don't do that" She nearly screamed in panic hoping to stop Nat yet he did it again paying no mind to her words where without warning he then leaned against it keeping himself underneath the hood where it was dryer on one side, Sera quickly took the other leaving only a small gap for the solders to grab supplies. The scouts face turned to one-off quick horror once again before speaking hoping that he may leave the thing alone if she kept him distracted. "Just because I grew up in Redcliffe doesn't mean I can't respect magnificent things, I might not be an engineer or a miner or a jeweller who makes fine things, but I'm still a dwarf and as a dwarf, this thing still stands out as a thin of beauty. Truly to be able to design and create such a thing, your society must have appreciated engineers very much"

Nat raised a questioning eyebrow, for a moment he was about to respond and tell the woman the truth, modern western society did not venerate designers or architects, or painters or craftsmen, all things that the dwarves of Orzammar did instead they were often shunned, forgotten about and to his knowledge the only truly creative people that were treated as exceptional were musicians and actors, however, he had a feeling that were he to do so that the woman would have a heart attack and faint on the spot from hearing such a thing, as such he simply blinked once and then said something else entirely.

"What can you tell us about Crestwood?" The woman blushed suddenly at the question, the fact that she had been caught out of her duties and fangirling over the strange contraption was ever so embarrassing yet she was just glad that Nat did nothing but offer an amused smile. With a nod of her head in thanks, she crossed her arms over her chest and bowed in the typical Inquisition salute and then responded.

"We've got trouble ahead"

"I'm sure it's nothing the Inquisition can't handle" Valeyna responded confidently hoping to put the somewhat troubled face of the cute dwarf to rest, it seemed to work given the small smile that caught on Harding's face for a moment"

"Careful your worship that optimism might be catching"

"Are things that bad?" With a wave of her hand, Harding directed the Inquisitor forwards towards the edge of the camp. Guard by a crumbling stonewall, she was able to see through the rain somewhat clearer now onto the vast dark thing that she had just seen up the hill. Her eye widened in understanding and surprise as she gazed upon the lake, it was a vast thing, not so incredibly vast though she had seen the sea and how it stretched on forever and she had also seen Lake Calehad which was immense, yet despite how small this lake was in comparison it was still huge and even from here Valeyna could do nothing about the sinking feeling as she realised the problem that now faced her.

That rift the one that was causing so many problems in the local area was at the bottom of that lake.

"Oh," she said slowly as the sheer scale dawned on her. Glancing left she turned back to Harding hoping that the dwarf had some type of idea.

"Crestwood was the site of a flood ten years ago during the blight. It's not the only rift in the area, but after it appeared, corpses started walking out of the lake. You'll have to fight through them to get to the cave where Ser Hawke's Grey Warden friend is hiding."

"Have any undead attacked the camp"

"We've had a few shamblers, but most head towards the village below. Maybe someone in Crestwood can tell you how to get to the rift in the lake. Maker knows they'll want help. Good luck and please be safe" With a final nod Harding happily skipped away back towards the parked car were under the watchful eye of Nat she continued to admire it over, occasionally marking on those magnificent curves. She almost giggled for a moment at the way her friend seemed to watch her so carefully as though he were afraid that she might attempt to suddenly try something with it, after a few moments of quiet staring he shut the boot and with a press of the bottom he locked it and walked up after her joining her staring at the lake.

"Please don't tell me we have to go swimming?" He said amusedly his eyes glancing over the vastness of the lake.

"No there has to be another way to deal with it, perhaps if we speak to the people in the village that Harding mentioned we might find out"

"It's worth a shot anything's better than swimming in a dark lake infested full of the undead" Turning her head away from the Lake Valeyna walked back towards Sera and Blackwall both of whom had deflected to take cover under the shade of the tree seemingly trying to stay as dry as possible before they were inevitably marched through the wet squelchy terrain. Nat followed shortly though only after having shaken away the thoughts in his head, thoughts of the old war, of the old stories referencing the famous Harry Potter and one of his quests to recover a Horcrux. There may be no Inferi in the lake, but it was best just to make sure, one never knew in this day and age.

It didn't take long for them to move up the path, as rocky and hilly as it might have been, raining pouring down all over the place with thunder and lightning striking atop nearby cliffs only reinforced the belief in the group that the sooner they arrived at this village the sooner they could start to get this problem dealt with. Unfortunately, while it didn't take them long to move it also meant that after only a few minutes they heard the all too familiar sound of combat as metal struck against metal ringing out in the cloudy dark grey which was soon followed by a grunt of exertion.

Weapons drawn, they raced towards the inevitable conflict expecting the grunt to be from some soldier or spy of the Inquisition who had gotten caught out, instead however they found a sight they did not expect.

Clad in heavy plate metal decorated by the symbol of a Griffon and covered in royal blue mail that protected those places that were required for movement and a helmet with sharp metals wings attached, the group stopped in recognition as the group ahead fought. Quick and fast the small group of undead were quickly dispatched with swift slashes and plunging thrusts into the abdomen and arms, taking them down with a little hiss and strange sound that the undead always seemed to give.

"Grey Wardens," Sera said loudly recognising the group before then turning to Blackwall. "I thought they had all disappeared, so why is that lot here"

"I don't know" Blackwall admitted honestly. "But I think we best find out why" Curious, the group approached though, despite the seemingly friendly nature of the wardens, they still kept their weapons drawn and moved themselves into a more defensive posture than normal, Nat and Sera edging themself to the side just enough to give them the perfect angle to launch a devastating attack should it be required.

"Grey Wardens" The Inquisitor called, stopping them in their tracks and turning their attention onto the group.

"Inquisitor" The first one said in a surprised tone.

"What are you doing in Crestwood, the last that I heard nobody was able to get into contact with your order?" Valeyna glanced most subtly as she could towards the other wardens, there were surprisingly few of them out here, three by the looks of it.

"A warden named Stroud is wanted for questioning, we heard he passed through here but the villagers knew nothing. They have enough trouble"

"What have you been told about this rouge warden" Valeyna inquired her mind racing back to the name that Hawke had given in her letter, it had been Stroud but if that was the case then was this man a spy, had Corypheus or whoever was in charge realised that the Inquisition was after them or was there something else at play, perhaps desiring to kill the man before he became a threat then he already was, or perhaps his connection to Hawke made the man a more valuable hostage to Corypheus. The Warden shrugged his shoulders entirely unaware of the sudden yet shift in atmosphere that surrounded them, not noticing in the slightest how Sera's bow string became ever so slightly tighter not the angle of Black walls blade change in such a way that he could easily thrust through the exposed gaps in his armour and end his life there and then.

"Warden-Commander Clarel ordered his capture." The man explained peacefully before then shaking his head in an apologetic manner "I can say no more than that. I hope Sir Stroud comes with us peacefully, I trained under him for a time, he's a good man I'm sure of that"

"Will you stay to fight the undead here?" Valeyna asked.

"My orders forbid it. Crestwood was only a detour. If the Inquisition can help, I beg you do what you can help. The villagers have already lost too many"

"When did this occur" Blackwall interrupted, drawing a set of curious gazes from the other two men as the noted the symbol of the Grey Wardens displayed so predominantly upon his chest piece.

"Not too long ago, the rift is only a week old but from what we've gathered it took the villagers completely by surprise killing most of them before they even knew what had happened. They managed to drive them back but now they just keep coming. I wish we could stay if we could but I'm afraid that Warden-Commander Clarel informed us that finding Stroud was our top priority, we can't get distracted from our duty for anything, including this"

"Farewell" With that said Valeyna rushed forward with a great burst of speed quickly gaining a good amount of distance between herself and the wardens, once the others had finally caught up she shot a concerned glance at them and allayed her fears. "They're looking for Hawke's contact"

"So it seems, do we have any plans how to deal with this" Blackwall motioning towards the Grey Wardens as they carried on the path their cloaks and helmets up to deflect the incoming rain as best they could. "Aside from killing them" He then added hastily as he saw the small movement of Nat's arm about to creep up."

"It was only a suggestion?"

"No killing, we'll need the wardens as our allies, but we also need to know where they're located and just what they need Stroud for. If they think he has important information, I don't see them letting us get away with him that easily. Nat, do you think you could smuggle Stroud out if it came to it?"

"That would depend, If they have us trapped in a cave most likely not, on the other hand, if we're by the side of the lake it would be an easy enough job to get him across, although how safe that would be with demon-infested water" He shook his head and glanced back towards the ever-looming presence of the lake, like some kind of great statue that towered over everything the lake did the same for the local area, though with the constant sensation of rain it honestly felt at times that it was steadily rising, as though it was trying to drown them all in the basin.

"Right I'll keep that in mind, for the moment let's try to avoid conflict, they don't feel like their part of Corypheus corruption plan to seize the order and they didn't mention some type of new leader"

"Right because they would have said" Sera snipped.

"I hope Hawke's Warden friend has answers for us"

Turning left they smelt the sensation of battle before they saw and heard it, the all familiar sensation of blood and corpses was made all the fouler in this weather, the scent wafting through their nose as it combined with the wet smell of dirt something that when combined with the ever-present sensation of Ozone as lightning slashed against the sky striking against a cliff several miles away with such force and ferocity that large clumps of rock exploded and tumbled away, made it all the worse to deal with.

Pressing forward their weapons at the ready they then began to make out the noise of screaming and combat something that was soon made all the clearer to them as they got into visual range of the walls of the village they had seen earlier, only the gate had fallen and dead bodies lay atop the sharpened wooden palisades, impaled as demons began to surge forth.

"Undead by the gates" And with that, they charged. Blackwall clothed as he was in his heavy metal plate threw himself into the first skeletal archer he found, using his mass and momentum gained the skeleton was knocked over with frightening ease allowing the surprised skeletons to sit stunned for a few seconds as their nonexistent minds attempted to work out which of the villagers had taken them out only to then be slain mere moments later as a heavy slashes cleaved through their pale bones and a powerful kick to the other in the left leg splintered the entire design leaving it to fall in a heap on the floor. Not to allow the enemy advantage Blackwall pushed forward his shield held defensively forward taking the blow of a spell as it raced towards him, he grunted in pain as he felt the sensation burn through him, and then again as another spell struck, but it was not enough to slow him down and with a sharp thrust of his blades he killed the green spirit and then brought the blades in a diagonal slash killing the next demon who just attempted to take him off guard.

Not to be outdone by some grumpy bearded man, Sera rushed forward an annoyed and slightly perturbed look on her face as she advanced in the rain. Quietly as she drew the arrow placing it in the string and then pulling back her arms feeling the strain of energy as she held the arrow close to her face, she automatically adjusted for the differing weather conditions, accounting for how the heavy downpour would force the arrow down as it struck it mid-flight and how it would also slow down ensuring that she had to get closer to allow for the weapon to punch through the exposed bone of her targets head before loosing with a loud thunk. She drew her next arrow and chose her next target this time one of those ugly demon things with a black/brown/purples skin tone, not that she cared about what type of demon it was only so long as it died, and it did as her arrow flew true and struck it dead. Her next target was another of the same demons only this one had pushed back the gate and was rounding on a downed soldiers, she loosed her arrow and again the demon died and her attention rounded to the side as she shot another one flying mere centimetres by Blackwall's ear as it struck an undead who attempted to strike from behind.

Staff twirling around her head at incredible speed, the magic flowed from the Inquisitor with both incredible ferocity and subtly as she dealt with the demons and undead in both extreme speed and colourful grace. Going from element to element to allow her spells the time needed to recharge in the fight, the sky hummed and glowed as fire, ice, and lighting arched across the battlefield, blasting, burning, freezing and obliterating all who stood before her in a cacophony of death. Such was her speed that an arrow fired from an undead skeletons bow at her flank froze as with a twist she extended her hand and cast the ice all spell freezing not only that undead but also the three other in line with it and the arrow it had only just launched in a freezing icy shell. Despite already having lost their mortality and were now nothing but a mere shell of what they were and thus not affected by the freezing sensation of cold that would have gnawed their fingers off like it may for those alive, the skeletons had they even been able to feel it had no reprieve as without even stopping her twirl a quick thrust of her staff conjured up and set flying a giant fist of pure stone smashing into their frail frames and eviscerating them into pieces mere seconds later Valeyna rounded on a demon where with a flick of her hand she sent the demon hurling backwards with great force as the powers of the fade turned into a simple form of telekinesis throwing the demon away from its intended target and focusing its attention onto her. Angry the demon snarled behind it's stitched lips and focused upon its birthplace and upon the emotion that it was born off, raising its hand it got ready to unleash a torrent of fire only to explode as a bolt of lightning struck it full force. Valeyna still mid-battle went to attack the next enemy this time a set of five more undead archers that had already slain three of the guards but before she could even attempt to cast she barely had time to acknowledge the red beam of light that shot through the sky and then exploded with a resonant force.

With a sound not unlike that of thunder, the ground beneath the skeletons exploded upwards, bones splintered, flesh turned to ash, dirt and rock and grass were either eviscerated or sent sky bound with such speed that nobody had time to even notice it instead all that those guards could do was clutch at their ears tightly as the sound struck so loud that for a moment they heard a ringing in their ears and sound became a muffled thing before then returning to normal. Or it would have done were it not for in a quick succession of spells ten other blasts rocked the earth sending forming small craters and wiping the very presence of both the demons an undead from the world, but it was not over yet for as soon s the sound of explosions that obliterated the clustered groups of enemies ceased, the sounds of risking flesh being ripped loudly was made all the ever-present. Some the guards noticed we cleaved in two as though somebody had managed to take a broad sword, yet the cut was so clean so precise that it was as though it had been made with the lightest touch, others, on the other hand, had large holes blasted through them and yet others instead were impaled on a myriad of arrows and spears that struck them to the ground leaving them exposed for a still fighting Blackwall to take advantage as he gave a fateful and final strike with his sword or a firm storm with his metal-covered boots.

The villagers stood amazed their eyes shining in both fear and fascination as they stared at the strangers who had within the span of only a few short moments had done nothing short of massacre the entire threat presented to themselves, yet that awe turned to fear as now with their view no longer blocked by death they easily made out the symbol of a staff in the elf's hand and the smaller ones in the wizards. The first man gulped in silence and then steadily his fingers quivering barely managing to hold the bow in his hand walked forward and bowed his head and spoke in a muted whispering manner"

"Your holiness, I had not imagined seeing the Lady Inquisitor and Herald of Andraste"

"Never mind that, are you okay, are your people hurt?" Valeyna asked quickly her attention focused not on the young man before her his head bowed in respect but instead on those others who limped across the battlefield, seeing this she dashed forward and approached the nearest injured person. For a moment they froze in fear but in doing so it allowed her to start healing, giving forth a brilliant light as the wounds closed underneath her touch and some pain was relived allowing them to relax. Following her example, Sera and Blackwall both eager to assist the injured and escape the rain rushed to join her leaving Nat alone to speak to the guard.

"Are you alright?" He said in the most comforting manner he could. The man glanced around his eyes swollen and one of them blackened from a wound but other than that he didn't look too badly injured at least physically, despite this though and despite his calmer more placid tone he noted that now Valeyna was gone the man's face turned to one of quickly growing horror as he looked around the corpse-strewn battlefield.

"All right" He whispered his hands shaking, a moment later his legs gave way leaving him to collapse under him before he could do Nat caught and steadied the man before then walking him through the gates and towards the nearest bit of shelter and setting him down. The man continued to shake, not a single part of him able to seemingly focus as his eyes darted all over. "I'm okay," The man said in a half-crazed manner, "yes I'm all right" Nat shook his head, obviously the effect of seeing his dead friends had finally struck and light a light bulb the man's eyes fell shut and he slumped to the ground entirely unconscious. Nat rushed a finger towards his neck checking for a pulse, thankfully he found one and after making sure he was alive, he dragged the man into the nearest intact house using magic to open the lock and set him inside on the bed before then leaving him to sleep.

Nat sighed and left the house rushing to join with the Inquisitor who he saw had quickly arrived at the top of this hill where she had turned right apparently where another person was directing them. As he moved, however, he became aware immediately of how the people stopped and stared at him, he turned reading their face, for there was no joy or love in them, no relief, nor awe like they had for the Inquisitor as even in their state a few tried to make themselves look cleaner than they were, instead he noticed only one emotion become present.

Terror.

Not fear, he had seen fear before and he had inflicted fear before, no this was terror for all faces grew pale, all breath's seemed to hitch and every move he made sent a flinch and shiver down their spine. Most all focused on his right hand where his wand was gripped tightly and a faint glow of magic as he relocked the door to prevent looting, he marched forward noticing a mother with a child, a boy who seemed injured however as he approached the woman seemed to have a heart attack for she stopped there her eyes trembling and when she seemed to notice that his attention was on her son, she gripped him tightly pulling her behind her protecting him before then spreading out her arms as she made a brave face one that he could tell she knew would fail if he wanted the boy but one all the same that was disturbing. She was going to defend her son from him.

He was about to question why would such action be required, he was an ally was he not, one who had just saved them from the demons and undead yet they treated him as if he were the enemy and an enemy was most certainly how they saw him. Even now he could see that terror that had first accompanied them was morphing into hatred, a burning passionate hatred, that flared with the intensity of an inferno a hatred that they desired to see him dead, one man stepped forward and in response, Nat tilted his head ever so slightly, it wasn't much, but at that moment the one who had felt courage suddenly darted back into the crowd.

What had he done he wondered to himself silently as the rain poured and thundered down pelting the ground and turning the already soft ground into mud? These people hated him but not for his magic alone he realised, were that the case they would have feared the Inquisitor, no instead there was something else, something different, suddenly a loudly bell chimed from the village. It was not a loud bell nor anything special, but at that moment as he diverted his attention towards its source and found it hanging upon the building of a Chantry, he realised just what he had done.

A knowing feeling ran down his back, of course, he realised. Templar's.

They would have been guardians here, men of the faith who would guard these people from harm, not only from magic as it was so often displayed as evil but also from the real evils of this world, from the demons, and the undead that they inhabited. As the greatest soldiers in Thedas only beaten by the Chevaliers and even then only when they were on the back of their mounted beasts they were the ultimate protectors, the best defence against such a threat. No doubt that even had the Templar's not protected everyone that list of casualties would have been lower thanks to their efforts, or it would have been, had he not killed them all.

Ah it came back now, like a sudden tsunami striking him, he had not forgotten about this, he knew what he had done and he had not and did not feel sorry or apologetic for his actions, the Templar's were thugs, slavers, people who had to die, yet he had killed so many during that week of anger and rage, his emotions controlling him even if it were in a cold calculated way rather than a pure burning rage that roared brightly but slackened quickly. He had come in the late evening he remembered, driving without a care, stopping only out of the main halls and bust into the building. At the time the templar guard a total of four men had been in front of the chapel in front of a sister, praying, begging for mercy and salvation from their Maker, their beloved made-up entity. He had butchered them all, it had been quick painless even, one quick flick of his word and a large cutting curse had struck the heads off all of them whilst they were kneeling. They had been unarmed, un-armoured, defenceless and going by the wine cups that had been on a nearby table they had been merry and in joyous mood even as they did their best to ask for help for the people.

It had been easy, no effort made to defend against him, no guard or sentry, he had walked in and killed them, then he had wiped the mind of the sister returning her to her bed and impaled the templar's on pikes letting them hang in front of the Chantry door where the men and women of this village could only stare in horror as their defenders, some who had defied their orders to pull to their stronghold and instead continue to defend their people were massacred.

It had been so easy.

Returning from memory he locked eyes with the villagers, one by one taking in their features, from the young children newly born kept at the mother's embrace to the old who were likely luck to have survived the winter and demons.

Did they even know, could they even comprehend just how easy it was for him, how little the lives of their beloved protectors had meant for him, that he would do it again. He smirked cruelly and lowered his head giving off a small chuckle at the hilarity off it, oh how their faith had been misplaced. Where was their beloved Maker when he had come, when the demons had come?

Nowhere.

They had struck upon their village wiping them out both he and the monsters, and yet despite this a few he could see at the back of their minds that they desired to rush forward, without a weapon purely to kill, to grab revenge for what he had done, yet they hadn't instead watched fearfully and prayed silently to their maker that this would be over quickly.

He turned quickly away from them and headed up to where Valeyna was, it was best to leave these people alone he thought, best to allow them to rebuild without the memory of just how frail their lives were, best without him around, so without a word and not desiring to scare the inhabitants, he left and went on his way.

Reuniting with the Inquisitor quickly they were soon directed towards the Mayor's house, located at the top of this hill they were on, it was there that the frightened people placed their trust and faith given the death of the Chantry sister. Perhaps it was because of this why there was so much despair in the air, not a single ray of hope was to be found only grim determination to survive, and even that had likely been in doubt.

"It's repulsive" Blackwall snarled. "All these kings and queens, the nobility and yet where are their armies, it's their responsibility to keep the peace to keep their people safe, but instead they hide away in their castles doing nothing. Even if they did not battle the rifts directly they could still have kept areas contained, villages safe not simply leave them to this fate"

"We should find the local lord and kick his arse" Sera agreed violently no doubt imagining all the ways how she could turn whoever was in charge into a messy pulp and wine, behind her Nat couldn't help but agree mostly with her though he didn't say it, who was he to say such a thing when it was his actions that had no doubt helped cause much of the suffering that now befell those people.

"When we get back I'll speak to Josephine, see if we can't bring in whoever was responsible and make them stand trial," Valeyna said in a determined fashion quickly gaining an approving and bloodthirsty smile from Sera while Blackwall nodded his beard in thanks, with any luck they could send a warning that abandoning one's people to this foul fate would not be tolerated, not when Valeyna was in charge.

"Perhaps we should have a word with the King as well, King Alistair was a Grey Warden before all this began to disgrace the name by abandoning these people cannot be tolerated" More nods and cheers were met with the man from the two women obviously of the same thing, but when Nat said nothing they turned a questioning and burning gaze upon."You disagree?" Blackwall added sternly.

"I think before we pass judgement, that we should see what the King is doing, one does not need to provide military assistance to prove useful after all. Besides it does us little to think of such issues now, the sooner we deal with the rift the sooner we can deal with more pressing issues" Nat responded calmly his attention still focused on the primary threat of the Grey Wardens and just what they could accomplish under Corypheus.

"Very well, anyway this is the place let's go talk with the mayor" Pushing the door to the slightly bigger house open, the group were met with both protection from the rain and with an older looking man. He was the mayor of that was no doubt, the slightly larger than an average house filled with multiple barrels, some haystacks and other large space made that all too prevalent, as did the slightly better quality clothing that he wore designed to keep him warm in these lands.

"The Inquisitor? Mayor Dedrick of Crestwood village. At your service despite everything" The man seemed wary and despite this and his age the man still spoke kindly even offering a small bow, of course, his eyes widened in shock at the recognition of Nat but he stayed silent not desiring to kill the mood.

"Greetings" Valeyna replied just as kindly offering a small smile in hopes of lifting the man's spirit. It didn't work.

"Your worship. Is there any way to stop the dead from rising?" The man inquired his attention quickly fixing onto the young wizard at her side, and a loud gulp came down his throat, not noticing how the man looked at her friend however Valeyna took it as fear of the demons.

"The undead are arising because of a rift in the Fade. How can I get to it"

"The light in the lake?" The man's face flashed in recognition and something else the elf noted, what it was she couldn't tell but it vanished just as quickly as it appeared. "It's coming from the caves below Old Crestwood. Darkspawn flooded it ten years ago during the Blight. It wiped out the village, killing the refugees we took in."

"I saw a dam. If we use it to drain the lake can I get to that Fade rift" There it was again a flash of something, fear she thought it was, the sudden widening of eyes an almost rapid paleness, how his eyes looked away in shame as though he had done some terrible dead? She shook her head in sympathy the man was still struggling from the fact that he was losing his people and there seemed no solution.

"Drain the-"The man visibly quaked at the suggestion before then sighing in defeat and steadying himself under the rapidly withering glance of the wizard. "There must be some other way"

"Not unless you mean us to drown" Nat added suspiciously, the man was hiding something if he was this afraid of them going to the bottom of the lake, especially since they had not once even mentioned about taking them there. He gripped his wand tighter and listened closer

"You'd have to evict the bandits in the old fort to use the dam. I can't ask you to risk your life"

"Trust me I've fought worse than the bandits and the undead" Valeyna joked.

"Then... Then I have no choice" Under the ever-increasing withering view of Nat the man reached into his purse with his hand until he then brought out an old worn out key, made of iron and rusted the man reluctantly placed it into the open palm of the woman's hand and then gave a pitiful smile. "This key unlocks the gate to the dam controls past the fort. The rift must be in the caves under old Crestwood. But Inquisitor... I would not linger there."

"Thank you, until later than" With that said Valeyna led the group out of the house and back into the rain.

"Of course," The main said slowly as he shot a nervous look at the back of the wizard and going so far as to keep his eye on them until they vanished in the ever-increasing downpour that hammered upon his wooden home.

"Something wrong," Valeyna asked once they were out of earshot.

"The man's hiding something, something he really doesn't want us to know?" Nat replied quickly his attention flickering to the key that was still grasped in the Inquisitor's pocket.

"What are you talking about? He seemed good-natured to me"

"His story doesn't add up" Seeing their inquisitive looks Nat explained. "Well, first there's the fact that he said that the Darkspawn flooded the village except that's not how Darkspawn operate. Their dark cruel vindictive creatures who take joy out of causing pain and torture, they slaughter and rape and while they have intelligence to make crude weapons and operate some form of war machines, they are not the type to take such an action, not when they could have butchered a helpless village at the time."

"Well, maybe they had different instructions from the Archdemon," Sera asked as they strode along the wall towards where this so-called fort was.

"Perhaps, but then there's also the key, if the Darkspawn were the ones who did flood the area, then they would have had no need for a key, they would have instead bashed the door down and that's if they were feeling tactical. Had they truly wanted to flood the village then they could have far more easily just destroyed the dam outright, only the dam isn't destroyed." Valeyna's eyes widened slightly as she realised just what Nat was hiding.

"He really didn't want us to go down there, he tried to stop us several times, had he wanted to stop the undead he would have helped us instantly" Nat nodded.

"So we have a key to a door that would have been destroyed had it been Darkspawn that kept secure a dam that would have been destroyed had it been Darkspawn, but even then that leaves one major question?"

"And what's that?" Blackwall asked in a concerted manner, not at all liking where this train of thought was leading.

"Even if the Darkspawn had done all of that, that they had secured a key, politely walked in and then pulled the level, why didn't the mayor drain the lake? I mean he's had ten years since the blight ended and while I can understand not wanting to desecrate the dead, surely there must have been a great demand for the ability to properly dispose of the dead and send them to the Maker. I don't imagine it being much of a problem, not unless of course that he wanted to hide something"

"You think he flooded the village" Sera squawked in surprise her attention zipping back in the direction that they had come in. Nat nodded grimly and focused his attention on the lake and then back to where Valeyna had said where this fortress was, there was no doubt that the ability to flood the village had been intentional, were it not there would have been no way to drain it, instead, it was likely part of the defensive structure, trapping everyone in the area, then opening the dam and drowning them in a torrent of dirty gushing water.

"Perhaps not him directly, maybe somebody he knew. All the same, the man is terrified of allowing others to see what's at the bottom of that lake" Sera growled in response, her anger starting to make itself aware and soon she sent a glare and a raised finger to the mayor as she began to swear loudly, she wasn't stupid and this was exactly what some noble shit would do to save their own skin.

"Well, I guess we'll discover what happened when we drain the lake" Nat nodded in agreement, they would get to the bottom of this sooner or later.

The keep wasn't too hard to find, with the rain pouring down the large imposing dark shape in the foreground made it incredibly easy to locate and keep an eye on, though what immediately grabbed their attention setting all of them on edge was just how quiet the roads were. It was the constant state of battle they were in they knew, it made anything that was peaceful seem like a trap when it wasn't it was strange the fact that the area lacked danger was more off-putting and concerning than an area where demons or undead were crawling about something that was only confounded when they approached and noticed the incredibly lax security around the castle

"Hmm, no patrols, gate left undefended and nobody on the walls, this lot will have to be the worst bandits I've ever seen, or this is an obvious trap" Blackwall commented as he noticed the complete absence of anyone that had been posted on the walls leaving those inside with no way of knowing that they were there. They could burst in there and then they knew, one explosive spell from Nat would have the entire front door turned to splinters Allowing them to rush in, weapons raised and kill any and all who were nearby, but at the same time one needs to only glance at the walls and the sheer scale of this castle to realise that such a plan was not a good idea. More than likely the very moment they rushed into the courtyard would be the moment they would be peppered by archer fire on all surroundings.

"Nat take Sera and climb up the rear walls if you can, Blackwall and I will see if we can find some sort of back door" Sera glanced at Nat and then turned her head away as she realised just who she was going to be dealing with, despite this though she nodded and quickly ran off to the side making sure to stick towards the side of the wall, hugging it closely just in case there were any sentries that nobody had spotted yet, finally when they approached the back wall, an area that was on the very thin ledge, far too small for anyone who did not have either of their small physiques, the two turned and glanced up inspecting for a way to climb.

Sera went first, throwing herself upon the stone wall using the cracks and crevices and those other stone blocks that jutted out a bit to use as a makeshift ladder as she quickly made to scramble up the side, all the while as she made sure to keep a sturdy grip as the rain poured. When Nat didn't follow her up instantly however using the same method, she turned down a grin on her face and about to mock him only to be silenced as a second later as with a quick flick of her wand she watched as the stone to her side, the same wet stone that she had been clambering suddenly jutted out in a continuous pattern of clean dry stairs. With a small smile, Nat stepped on the first one and walked up to the top of the wall where, with another spell, he commanded the wall to go back into its normal position leaving Sera still holding onto the wall with an angry face. Moments later she heaved herself up and landed with gracefulness back on her feet shooting Nat an irritated look before scanning the area.

It was a good job they had decided to outflank the enemy he thought quietly as he gazed into the courtyard, just as he had imagined the space where the Inquisitor would have rushed into had she gone through the front gate was surrounded on all sides with several archers who were lounging as best as they could while they took shelter from the rain. There were about thirty in total and most were in the actual building itself as they took their time off inside while the others froze in the pouring rain and howling wind that forced their soaked through clothes to stick to them like a second skin. Sera 's nose shrivelled as she noticed a few of the fatter guards and just how much fat they had was made apparent by their now see through clothes.

"Find an advantageous position, I'll deal with the leader" Before Sera could even interject or argue Nat had already left his wand glowing lightly as he subtly cast a more powerful rain spell, It didn't cover a large area, only slightly larger than the area of the castle itself, but as soon as the weather was cast, the rain that had previously been pouring down in an utter torrent now became an entire flood, that blasted so quickly and so repeatedly that it became impossible to hear anything under the constant sound of rain. She sneered at Nat and his complete dryness, Magical asshole.

Opening the door to the largest visible room with an unlocking charm, Nat walked in casually his wand raised and utterly silent and locked onto the leader and then loosed the spell, so distracted by the current downpour or their work the leader didn't even notice anything, one moment he was alive and the next he was a red paste splattered all over the inside of the rooms, coating everything. The guards only heard the sound of thunder.

Those guards fell quickly for even as Sera using the advantage of the heavy rain quietly snuck behind them loosing arrows at point-blank range into their throat's the metal tips slicing open flesh and muscle to the blood veins forcing them to collapse and bleed out unable to scream while the water diluted their blood and washed it away, Nat dispatched other guards though far faster as his spells were unheeded by the water. Within minutes the guards entirely unaware were all dead and Nat and Sera moved into the castle itself quietly dispatching the other guards until they finally came across a door.

"3,2,1" They heard and with a mighty push the door, smashed downwards on its hinges cracking loudly on the stone floor, revealing the armoured form of Blackwall, sword and shield t the ready, mid-strike only to stop as he noticed his two companions the only ones in the room.

"Where are the bandits?" Valeyna asked rushing inside the shelter.

"Dead" Sera answered.

"Dead, but you were only gone a few minutes"

"What do you want me to do, resurrect one so you can stab at them" Nat mocked and turned his attention upwards, then with another wave of his hand, he cancelled his spell reducing the rain down back to what it had been.

"Well no, but" Blackwall began

"Their dead, let's get a flag up and invite Harding over, I don't trust her enough not to try something on my car" A shiver ran up his spine, what was it with dwarves and machines, even Varrick had been unable to resist approaching the car asking about it with a critical eye., thankfully it had been far less so than the other dwarves who had noticed the thing on that journey North. Not that it did Cullen any good seeing as his guards had gotten tired of repulsing dwarves who had come demanding to see the thing and inspect it, and Josephine was expected to get a letter any day from Orzammar demanding that their craftsmen could inspect it, No doubt spies would be sent soon to gather info.

"Good, have you located where the dam controls are" Valeyna replied as she quickly cast a flame spell and held it between herself and the others enjoying the sensation of heat on their bodies while they could.

"Not yet, we only just disposed of the guard-" Suddenly a pitiful moan erupted a few metres to the left, turning as a group they watched as one of the bandits began to crawl away on his hands and legs away from the group. "Never mind, Sera you missed one"

"How do you know it was mine" The elf woman demanded angrily.

"Because he has an arrow coming out of his back"

"Then I didn't miss"

"Whatever, I'll finish this"

"NO," Valeyna said loudly stopping Nat from fully withdrawing his sabre. "Keep him alive, that way he can lead us to where the controls are"

"Got it" Pulling out his sabre fully and his wand put away, Nat walked slowly towards the man, making sure to keep a good distance between them while he kept the edge of the sword directly at his back ready to thrust in a moment's notice if required until he had gotten around the front and stopped the man entirely. "Okay, here's the deal, you tell us what we want and we'll let you live, refuse and... well you get the idea," Nat said as he casually pointed to several dead guards who littered the floor, mostly those who were killed by Sera as they were intact whereas his kills... were mostly bits and pieces on the floor such as noses, fingers, half a torso with two legs and another half a torso with arms, some even had large hole in their body from a cannonball. Suffice to say the bandit stopped where he was glanced up and revealed that he had defecated himself as the sound his stench wafted down the corridor.

"Eww gross" Sera said.

"Tell me, where is the mechanism to open the dam?" Valeyna demanded harshly.

"The Pub, the pub, it's in the abandoned pub, please don't kill me please "Valeyna blinked, that had been surprisingly quick, normally that type of stuff took a few hours. She glanced back to Nat seeking whether he was lying, when he shook his shoulders she focused back on the man. "Let him go" With a sigh Nat nodded and took a step away from the bandit, seeing his chance the bandit quickly rushed up onto his feet and ran.

One metre, two-metres, three metres, he got to the nearest door, opened it took a step outside and a sudden pain slammed into him from behind. He blinked once and then died as a spear impaled him to the ground.

Spinning at the sudden sound Valeyna and the others turned a horrified look as they saw the dead man and then to Nat as he lowered his wand and turned to them, seeing their faces Nat simply shrugged his shoulders.

"You said to let him live, you never said for how long" Without another word he brushed past them and back up the stairs the others joining him as they replaced the flag at the top of the pole before then heading towards the pub.

It was an easy enough building to find, past the castle and having killed a few more bandits who had not been in the area at the time, the group quickly came across the only building that could be said it was on the lake. Built on top of the actual dam, it was quite clear that it had been placed there when the dam had initially been built, likely acting as a safe location to hold the mechanism as well as store other produce. Now however as the group walked over the dam their attention brought to their flanks by the vast and deep lake that surrounded them on two sides, they began to question just how deep it truly was and in Nat's case how advanced the dam was.

Perhaps it had been built by the dwarves he wondered, but the sturdiness of a proper full stone dam, the smooth design of it the strength of its concrete and structure did not exactly strike him as being anything modern, instead, it must have been something else, and that left to another question, precisely what had been initially found here to mandate the building of such a vast dam. Had there previously been a wealthy mine in the area, if so it would explain the structure and if not, well something on the scale he was imagining pointed in the direction that a random group of citizens would never have the money to pay for such a thing and neither was it likely that a king would have much money to build something so grand, which pointed to Tevinter? Before he could say anything, the sudden sound of a harsh laugh grabbed his attention.

There on Blackwall's face with a humorous look, he laughed again and then pointed at the sign of the pub, Sera laughed also and even Valeyna cracked a small grin as they approached. Nat shook his head at the joke and took the lead at the door his wand still in his hand about to unlock the door before he stopped dead silent.

A low moan echoed from within, it was soft and faint but it was there all the same. He looked back and signalled to the others to be prepared and then cast the spell quietly opening the door before then with a burst of energy a cutting curse at the ready he raced forward past the wooden barrels into the main room ready to slay whatever was in, he turned the corner and then threw himself back again. Deeply concerned Valeyna rushed forward ready to unleash a spell only to then freeze as she saw where the moan had emanated from, Blackwall followed and so did Sera only to stop as she did as yet another moan echoed causing Nat to push himself against the back of the wall his eyes darting towards the entrance as he gripped his wand as firmly as he could. The reason for this, was because they're in the middle of the dirty decrypt old pub, overrun with cobwebs, the stench of old booze that had never been washed out and other things was a young couple having sex in the middle of the floor.

"Maker's balls" Blackwall exclaimed loudly.

"Wha- oh shit" The man swore loudly his entire body going limp in fear as he turned towards the direction of the three adults as they stared down at them weapons still drawn having expected to fight another demon or something of similar ilk. On top of him, the woman also froze not able to get a single word of instead just stopping as she did her best to cover what little modesty she had with her hands, but it was too late the damage was done.

Blackwall looked down amused at the couple as the couple quickly disentangled themselves a small twinkle in his eye as he stroked his beard, Sera meanwhile gained a shit-eating grin and laughed as loudly as she could, never taking her eyes off them even as they raced to grab their clothes and dress themselves in a quick but messy fashion. Valeyna in contrast just raised an eyebrow and gave an admiring look at the two young people, giving them a teasing hungry look before then chuckling mirthful.

"I'm sorry, did we interrupt something," She said in a mocking tone.

"Uh, shit, uh, please don't tell anyone we were here," The girl said as she finished covering herself up, it was rather hilarious Valeyna thought, the way that they blushed so heavily their faces turning as bright as a cherry. They stammered loudly for a while and she could see that they were thinking of the best possible excuse in the world for why she shouldn't tell anyone, about why their secrecy was so important to everything. Blackwall grinned.

"And why would we do that, you look like you enjoyed yourself" The teenagers withered like plants without sun or water, falling into themselves fearing for what their future was going to be like.

"Please, My father doesn't approve of him, please don't tell, we'll do anything" Sera snorted and glanced at the still amused look on the Inquisitor, expecting her to comment. For a few more seconds the woman savoured the feeling, enjoying how the teenagers seemed to be so frightened, no wonder her Keeper had enjoyed disrupting it, the looks on people's faces were absolutely hilarious. Soon though she smiled good-naturedly and spoke in a soft reassuring.

"Don't worry, we won't say anything. Just make sure to find somewhere a bit cleaner than some mangy old pub"

"Yes thank you," The man said bowing his head before gripping the girl by the hand and rushed out of the building into the pouring rain, so quickly did they run they didn't notice the still hiding Nat as he had since walked outside staring into the vastness of the lake, once they had passed he came in wand flickering rapidly commanding the tables and chairs to clean themselves followed by removing every stain until after only a couple of minutes the place had been scrubbed entirely clean leaving the pub in a better than new condition.

"Now that's one way to spend your day," Sera said amusedly noticing the very quiet form of Nat as even with extensive cleaning charms, he seemed to tiptoe his way across the pub as though it was entirely infected with some sort of disease.

"Ah the young, always getting up to things" Blackwall chuckled.

"Did you see their faces, ha, utterly priceless"

"And the way he just shrivelled up, poor girl, lad can't even keep it up" Roaring in laughter the two other companions grabbed a chair and sat themselves down, laughing the entire time as they mentioned things from what they had just seen, all the while Valeyna cracking the occasional joke entered the room where the mechanism was, pushed as hard as she could.

"Ha, the Inquisitors struggling with a piece of Hard Wood," Sera said taking pleasure as she watched the woman throw her entire body weight against the thing only for it still not to move.

"It's not my fault, the dam things stuck. Blackwall come over here and" Before she could finish her sentence Valeyna was only barely able to recognise the spell that flew mere centimetres past her face and struck the mechanism. A loud creak echoed from the mechanism and then faster then she imagined the device span round quickly opening the dam. No sooner than it had happened a roaring sound as thousands of litres of water poured forth, rushing out of the dam and to the area below. It happened with such incredible speed that by the time the group left the pub which was only a few moments and looked down they could already see that at least a hundred metres of water had already drained and several metres more until it then hit a stable level as it left revealing a myriad of broken houses down below them.

"That... that was deeper then I expected it to be" Nat commented as he peered down. It had been incredibly deep he realised, deep enough to have swallowed skyscrapers back home, at least the smaller more residential ones anyway and the speed in which the dam had worked, the amount of water that had left was also terrifying, that amount of pressure alone would decimate smaller buildings, ripping them off their foundations. It was more like a tsunami than a flood. His eyes narrowed at that, yet more clues that something was off here, looking down he saw with the water now gone the ever-familiar sparks of Fade energy as lightning sparked harshly against the land giving birth to a number of demons and undead skeletons that very quickly began to march up the hill soon joined by rage demons as they were no longer impeded by the water drowning them.

"All right let's get moving" Valeyna cried commanding them to cross the dam back onto solid land, however before her next sentence began she was cut off as Nat rushed forward leaping ahead grabbed the woman tightly and forced her down with a heavy slam, narrowly dodging the razor-sharp talons above them. A loud and echoing roar emanated from the great scale horned winged beast a roar that reverberated in the land and got all to look at it in fear and awe.

"A fucking dragon" Blackwall yelled watching as the creature flew away into the distance roaring as it did so. Nat stood up and offering the inquisitor his hand he sighed loudly and pinched his nose.

"This complicates matters"

"Complicates matters?" At the idea, a wide and bloodthirsty smile stretched menacingly across her mouth as she watched the dragon finally vanish. "We get to kill a dragon, this is brilliant"

"Kill the dragon?" Nat said slowly making sure he had understood her correctly, "You want to fight against that fire breathing death machine?"

"Why not it'll be fun"

"I beg to differ, more like painful, very, very painful" He shivered the memory of that Archdemon and the feeling of powerful winds smashing into his body as he barely managed to survive once again fresh in his mind. At least that time he had been on his own allowing him to use his magic, but fighting it with the others, that meant no apparation, and he doubted Valeyna would be too happy if he just threw a grenade down its mouth as a sensible person would, nor would she want him to conjure a battery of cannon and turn the fucker to Swiss cheese, no she wanted to fight the dragon, close up with magic and a sword and shield. He pitched his nose and sighed loudly, this was a really stupid idea.

"But fun, I can mount a dragon skull on my wall when we get back," The blonde girl said with repeated enthusiasm.

"Right and the rift we're trying to close" Valeyna's look soured.

"Fine we do that first but straight after we kill the dragon"

"And if I don't want to fight the giant flying flame thrower?"

"Oh come on it can't be that bad it's just a dragon?"

"Just a"- Nat wanted to tell her then and there that Dragons were considered a dangerous race for a reason, that they were dangerous that even experienced wizards had problems with them, that it took about twelve working in unison with stunners to down the bloody things and that was back home. Dragons here were bigger far fucking bigger and since they too were also magical death machines, it would mean even harder work trying to kill the fucker. The worst thing was that he knew the Inquisitor was only holding back on what she was saying since Sera and Blackwall didn't know what he had gotten up to in the Deep Roads if they had then they also would be giving knowing glances at him. He glared at the inquisitor, there was no way he wanted to fight another flying gecko, not unless he could fight it in his way, by using the most underhanded tactics in history that would not gain him any glory or gold or recognition but instead call him a pathetic loser who was too chicken to fight a dragon properly.

"What are you afraid Nat, don't tell me that you're scared of a little dragon"

"I'm not if I can fight it my way; give me an enclosed area and poison gas, or artillery"

"But where's the fun in that?"

"Exactly we deal with the rifts and the bandits then I'll drive back to the Haven grab Bull, drive him here and he can fight the bloody thing with you, I'm not doing it," Nat said sternly.

"Oh come on, grow a pair do something a man would do, didn't you just hide enough when those two kids were fucking, the least you can do is redeem yourself" It was meant as only a semi-serious joke, something Blackwall had only meant to try and inspire Nat, give him some words of encouragement make him feel brave, the last thing that anyone had expected was when Nat had simply turned slowly meeting the man with a scathing look.

"Grow up"

Not waiting a response Nat carried along down the dam and quickly made his way down the grassy and dirty path, as soon as the demons at a nearby rift noticed him they went to attack charging forwards only to find themselves eviscerated within an instant, the corpses turned to physical ash as a blasting spell obliterated them leaving the pathway for a very concerned Valeyna to follow and close the rift. As they moved onto the next town, she quickly shot angry glances at Blackwall however instead of the man feeling sorry for the action he simply crossed his arms and shrugged his shoulders.

"He's not a kid, he can't keep hiding in the other room when trouble happens or blush when he sees a set of tits or cock, he's got to man up" Valeyna merely pointed towards Nat as he approached the ruined town and then quietly she moved up to him giving an understanding yet also mocking face, he was going to regret that he knew.

"Fuck you," Nat said casually as another spell raced through the rain sending an explosion curse into an undead ripping his bones from his body. "Fuck you" Another spell this time a cutting curse, effortlessly sliced through a tree in a certain angle the sheer weight then crushing upon the unlucky rage demon who had thought it was invincible. "And fuck you" This time a set of four chains slithered across the soggy ground to a pride demon, quickly they rushed up its body like a set of snake before then wrapping around its legs and wrists squeezing so tightly that it cut off the circulation, then with a subtle twist of his wand, the chains yanked as hard as they could in the opposite direction. With a horrifying realisation, the Pride demon could only look afraid before the sounds of bones physically being pulled out of their sockets followed then by the muscles and skin, in a terrible and sickening noise spread through the air as the limbs were hewn off the body, the sheer force and prompt blood loss killing the monster nearly instantly. Blackwall quickly touched all of his limbs ensuring that they were all there and that they were all functional.

The next lot of demons and undead approached whether they had noticed their fellow demons die or simply did not care, Nat didn't know, all he did know was that he dealt with them in as swift a manner as possible his wand moving so fast that it became a blur. Soon enough, the pitiful attempt of these rather weak demons was soon put to rest with not a trace of them remaining allowing him and the others to walk into the graveyard of the city.

Nat walked towards the nearest hand his gloved hand gripping the soaked wood firmly only for it to crumble and fall to the ground for the wood had rotted entirely on the inside. Walking into the building father he ignored the loud complaint from Sera as she noticed the growing stench of the long-dead and the even murkier smell of the mud. Bone was easily visible and bodies lay everywhere, some were huddled together, men and women hurled together, some of them clutching at one another as they had no doubt drowned together, others, in contrast, had a small thin cut across parts of their bone-in various places. Suicide he realised, these people had killed themselves before drowning, he shook his head no doubt it was the fairer of the two fates that could have befallen the people here, none the less it was still tragic and one that demanded an explanation.

These people should have long since been buried or burnt, yet they hadn't been, instead, they had been abandoned here under the waves, not forgotten but distant. He blinked once as a theory came to mind and then stepped back from the corpse, could these people have been infected with the blight? Could the blight even last that long? He didn't know, all he did was that these people may have been refuges and if so that could very likely have meant coming from a place where the blight had been active and wiped out scores of the local population.

If that was the case, then why these people- did ah it made sense now. The Darkspawn hadn't flooded these people, somebody else had, somebody who had wanted to keep the Darkspawn or something just as bad if not worse away. The Blight, it was infectious he had heard during well times of Blight, if that was the case then perhaps the Mayor had sought to keep those healthy away from the infected, save those who he could. He would have faced resistance though, those either infected or disbelieving or those who thought it best to save everyone if possible. But there was no evidence of such an act, no evidence that anybody had murdered them and certainly none that the Mayor had been the one to kill them.

He rose to his feet his eyes falling upon the rest of the village, perhaps there might be clues in this place, he doubted it after all if the dam was anything to go by, this had been a quick flooding, something that had happened quickly and people had never stood a chance. Those who would have need down here would be dead and any written counts destroyed by the water which left only those in the village.

"Nat come here" With a sigh, he came to the elf coming inside a destroyed building to where the others were waiting; he blinked as he saw the contents. Inside was a spirit only it was unique, the thing was red of all colours. That was certainly odd, spirits were normally white or blue and sometimes even a very pale green, but a deep scarlet red was strange yet despite this it didn't seem aggressive instead only angry. As soon as he entered he watched the spirit as it focused its attention on him.

"What are you" Valeyna demanded. "Anger, fear" The spirit snorted.

"Ha, nothing so pathetic and meagre"

"Love," Blackwall asked, when noticing the looks from the others he simply shrugged his shoulders, how was he supposed to know what this demon was.

"Annoyance" Sera added only to receive a glare; Sera simply stuck her tongue out.

"And you strange one" Nat raised an eyebrow.

"You're not a demon, but you're also not one of the kinder spirits, too harsh, too demanding, I would say order, but no, you're something that by the sounds of things is used to power, If I remember what Solas said, I would assume something along the lines of Authority"

"Close, I am command boy and I despise this world, I do not know how you can stand it"

"How so" Valeyna inquired subtly reaching for her staff in case this spirit tried anything.

"When I am home I can command those rocks to do as I wish, I can command the sky to quieten, here nothing obeys my command, and it is irritating I do not know how you mortals can stand it"

"You get used to it" Nat smirked at the thing. "But why you are still here if you hate it so much why not returning to the fade." Even though there was no face on the spirit, the group easily detected the sneer as it looked at them, judging them and their apparent worthless existence that could not control every single thing around them with a simple flick of his hand.

"I will not leave this world until at least something obeys my command" It responded indignantly at them, judging them. Valeyna closed her eyes and thought the matter over in her head, if the spirit simply wanted someone to do it's bidding then perhaps she could get it to rest peacefully and she could-. It was too late before she got any further the familiar sound and sight of Nat's wand flashing was made apparent as a spell slammed into the spirit and destroyed it there and then killing it with a look of shock and anger or that's what the sound that briefly echoed out.

"Nice" Sera said appreciatively thankful that the thing was gone and could no longer attempt to control them or their actions like it would have wanted to.

"Better dead than give it anything" Blackwall agreed. Valeyna nodded her head slowly, they were very likely right, if that spirit had been one of command and authority then who knows what it would have ordered her to do, she might have been forced to kill an innocent person simply to sate its desires, still, it might have been interesting to learn about the spirit there may have been some small chance that it would have known about Corypheus's plans, plans that she might not learn about now. But that was of no consequence there was a rift they had to close and soon if they desired to meet Hawke's friend.

"Come on the entrance to the caves is bound to be in this direction" With that said, Nat quickly led the group forwards past the destroyed fractured remains of the building of old Crestwood only occasionally stopping to fling off the occasional spell as a demon would jump out of the ground or a corpse would rush towards them with its weapon raised. There was hardly any trouble for them, and soon enough after reaching the edge of the still drenched cliffs they managed to find the entrance to the caves of Crestwood. It was a small wooden door, bent of its hinged the thing didn't look in the best condition, but the smell it gave off was repulsive as anything.

Blackwall staggered back at the scent. Unlike the smell down here, festered as it was with dead bodies and soaked earth, bones popping through dirt and rotting corpses littering the ground from where they had drowned, floating in the water before then sinking, the entrance to the caves was like that but only far, far worse. Every rock, every bit of dirt and wood combined to truly create a smell of horrifying proportion s, one in which they could already tell that many people had died in here.

"It's down there," Valeyna said suspiciously as she looked into the dark void of the caves, entirely unlit and without a single light of the sun illuminating it, the insides of the place was like a dark void ready to suck everything in and swallow it whole. But it was not the black void that seemingly sucked in all light that had grabbed her attention, instead it was the feeling of the fade around this place.

She felt it everywhere there was a rift near, the foundations of the veil that held back the horrors and demons of the fade, ripped and torn, weak and fragile, how magic seemed to pour forth through this crack into the mortal realms with glee now that it was no longer restrained. The same was true here, she could feel the presence of demons on the other side of the veil, moving, closer peering, laughing as they realised that they could finally have their chance to cause terror and scare all who would dare oppose them into the grave, wipe them all out and make them regret never taking their offer. Most were weak pathetic demons, ones that were easily killed if they did not have a mage to piggyback in, but others were approaching, fear demons, those with the long crooked legs that seemingly had spikes for hands and long lanky frames that towered over everything, gleefully impaling everything they came across on those hands and then holding up the corpses, taking ultimate pleasure as they watched the fellow people of their dead person scream ion anguish or have their hearts quicken.

She gritted her teeth and looked over to Nat; they were annoying bastards to fight. Pride demons were strong and powerful and could take more than their fair share of damage, unless of course one had a ball the size of a person's head and then fired off at incredible speed directly towards the skull of a pride demon where it would then be eviscerated but even so they pride demons were slow, large, fate even from gulping on their preferred emotion. You did not want to fight one at close range as they tended to pick men up and trying to eat them whole, but you could avoid one, generally, run if you must, but they were avoidable if you were smart, but those bastards. She sighed and stretched herself for the oncoming fight and gave Nat a look informing them of what was ahead. He nodded silently towards her and pushed ahead, his wand in hand as he pressed into the cave, followed shortly by a nervous-looking Sera and astute Blackwall.

"How are we meant to see in here?" Blackwall asked with a somewhat nervous tone, obviously the dark got to him and unlike Elves and dwarves who could see in the lack of light as shown by the slight and creepy glowing of their eyes as though they were like a cat making themselves the only visible thing, humans did not have such an advantage.

Luckily for the gruff man, the feeling of the walls and shadows crawling in ready to consume them all vanished as without word a bright brilliant light leapt from the tip of Nat's wand and span merrily towards the ceiling of the cave floating above him contently. Blackwall grunted his hand held out in front of him as he got used to the brightness of the light, it was no dim thing like he had seen Dorian used before, but rather it was as though the very sun was shining above Nat illuminating his entire form with a crisp white outline giving him the appearance that he was the form of some type of spirit. After a short time, his eyes adjusted to the light comfortably and now able to see just as well as the others he lowered his hand to his sword where he then kept it there quietly ready for whenever the demons came charging at them.

"So these are the caves, tragic way to die, drowning not at all pleasant, slow painful and you're aware of every possible thing. No doubt when the people tried to escape they were left in utter terror as they attempted to escape only for all the lights to go out." Nat said calmly as they walked forward, passing over only a few remaining corpses that were left, most they assumed had likely already been brought back to the dead and then sent upwards to attack their old neighbours and slaughter them all it was kind of disturbing, there were so few in here especially when they had expected perhaps hundreds of corpses.

"Stupid demons" Sera growled in as best the way she could, but it did nothing to hide the ever visible shiver that ran down her back as she so. Even her happy and sometimes angry expression was replaced with a more terrified and wary look, soon it wasn't long before after stepping on the first bits of remaining bone, hearing them crack loudly under Blackwall's feet as the metal ground them against the stone did she draw her bow and an arrow and kept them firmly in her grip, nothing would sneak up on her.

"It wasn't demons," Nat said. "Remember the village drowned back in the blight, these people were escaping Darkspawn" Sera winced.

"Please tell me you don't sense any of them around do you and don't lie to me, I know you can do that whole sensing thing with magic where you know if people are there, it's freaky"

"No Sera be assured that there aren't any Darkspawn in the area, trust me if there were I would let you know, the only things that set my sensing as you call it off more than anything else are Darkspawn and Demons"

"Good" Sera nodded.

"How come," Blackwall asked? "I mean, what does it feel like, these things you can detect how does it work, how are you able to tell what everything else"

"Well that's difficult, how would you describe a person visually to a blind person, how do you describe the shape of their nose, the contours of their skin, the colour of their eyes to a person who has never seen, who cannot even comprehend such things? I could use words to say things, but without being able to sense them yourself Blackwall, you would have very little clue as to what I was talking about. However as you asked and I would prefer not to stare at the remains of the dead, I will say what I can" Blackwall nodded thankful for the escape. He may have been a soldier and he had done terrible things, but even with the lack of bodies, this place reeked of death and not just the smell, but the entire atmosphere here felt heavy as though some sort of pressure that placed and forced him to the ground was stronger, forcing him to take shorter more hesitant steps. Each time his food struck the stone it was as though a loud echo, belted forth with a ravenous fury and then returned to him, angry, whispers were now shouts and behind every rock and every bone his heart pumped more and more blood as he swore he heard demons or something else. He looked up towards the blazing light of Nat's light and gave a quick prayer to Andraste that he had allies with him in this place.

"My sensing works very much like a sonar, which is to say that there is active and passive. Most of the time I'm passive which means that I wait for other's presence I guess is the best term for it is detected, I can then detect that and going by the differing sense that come back to me I can tell it's race, the gender and even the age of things as well as whether it has magic or not and the strength of that magic. Active on the other hand is when I send out a pulse of magic"

"Pulse?" The man questioned.

"Think of it as two stones in a pond, one is black and one is white. Let's say I'm black, passive is the white stone moving and creating ripples when those ripples reach me I can determine facts about them. However a pulse is the opposite I actively create a ripple, but how that works is that when the ripple reaches the white stone, it will hit it and then come back to me and again like with normal ripples I can determine facts about based on that ripple"

"I see, but wouldn't that mean then that whenever you send an active pulse that you would alert everything nearby?"

"Yes it does" Nat replied calmly as he pressed on stopping only when they got further in, there was a large chasm in front of them, one which went several metres down into untold darkness, pulling back Nat directed the ball of light above them to move downwards. Soon after only a few seconds they saw the bottom, it wasn't that far down, well by how often these things went down into bottomless pits but it went far down enough that without the aid of either magic or a rope, bones would be broken and bodies splattered over the cold grey stone.

"Then why would you ever send an active pulse, what's the point of them" Valeyna inquired pulling her head back from the deep chasm and instead pointed towards another tunnel to their right.

"Passive detection is weaker for one, while I can detect things that are nearby, it is limited to maybe about a hundred-metre radius for me personally, so unless something is particularly strong I won't detect anything that much further away and it requires far more attention being focused on it. Now a pulse, on the other hand, will go as far as I put magic into it and it requires far less concentration allowing me to chase after people. And before you think that means you can shoot an arrow at me from further away Sera in an attempt to kill me Sera, I'll just let you know that I have other safeguards as well"

"You're no fun, I was hoping to throw a pie in your face" Nat raised an eyebrow, why would the girl want to throw a pie of all things, unless it was a horrid thing made of leftovers she did realise that a pie had likely taken a long time to make, and by throwing one in his face a person had gone through a lot of effort for no reason. He was about to question why before he then shook his head and decided not to, he knew better than to question Sera on a serious topic.

"But still if an active pulse alerts things, why use it?"

"Most of the time I don't if I want to stay hidden, but if I know people are hiding and they know where I am, it cuts out their ability to attack with stealth. It's far easier to hide one's emissions then it is to hide when someone is doing the equivalent of shining a bright light in the entire room. In other words, it's useful for detection or when you know there aren't any mages nearby who can detect such a thing and rush towards you. Only mages and demons can detect magic so I can pulse all day long in a city and nobody would be the wise"

"Eww, you can do that" Sera complained. "That' disgusting, though that is hilarious, just the idea of Mr. angry pants here pulsing all day long, I wonder what that looks like" Suddenly her eyes sparkled with interest and turned into a massive grin as she stared at the Inquisitor. "Oh the Inquisitor will know what a pulse can feel like, I dare you to give out one of these pulse thingies so she can tell me what it's like. Go on Inquisitor tell me what his magic feels like".

"Are you alright Sera" Valeyna questioned with concern. "I thought you hated magic "Sera giggled and wriggled her eyebrows at her.

"Yeah, but I want to see if his magic can make you "react" do you know what I mean" Valeyna blushed slightly at the idea her face turning a faint red at the idea however when she turned to Nat hoping to see that if by some miracle he had decided to like the idea, she noticed an odd nasty grin on his face. She gulped.

" Yes Sera if I sent an active pulse, the Inquisitor would react, but do you know else would? The demons and undead in these caves, one active pulse and I bring running the entire lot and very likely bring in more demons from the fade as they realise they're being attacked. So Sera do you still want me to pulse Valeyna? Make her react?" With a sour face at having realised she had just gotten played, Sera shut up quickly and skulked her way all through the caves, even when they found the remaining undead she still fought with less than her normal vigour and only was it that after a long walk through the caves and eventually reached the bottom did she as the others look on surprise as they saw what lay before.

"Dwarven architecture," Valeyna said surprised. "This must have been part of the Deep Roads" Flashes rushed into Nat's mind and a loud gasp escaped him as the memories came flowing through him, Elyria, Gerald, the Architect, the Arch Demon, the Darkspawn, he glanced around in the least nervous way he could think of his eyes scanning every crevice for any sort of possible clues at their Dwarven buildings.

If this place had Dwarven architecture then that meant it was connected to the deep roads and if it was connected to the deep roads then there was a major possibility of Darkspawn. He gripped his wand tightly a number of spells reaching in his mind in how to best kill the creatures only to force him to repress a grunt of anger as he remembered where he was. He was underground in a place that was under a lake, he normal repertoire of dead explosion spells were far more of a hindrance then help here, if he hit the wrong place he could cave in the entire lot of them or worse he could doom them the three of them to a watery grave and even if they didn't drown outright they would face the major problem of having undead soldiers being able to pick them off as they moved through the flooded halls.

Looking around I'm he saw that his companions were also of the same mind, one wrong move here and they were all dead, it was only made worse when Blackwall noted that still after how many years of abandonment by the dwarves when the Darkspawn had driven them all the way out to Orzammar, that the old lights still worked. Laval still flowed behind those walls; giving forth a constant light source as at perfect intervals the sheer light formed would glow out of small patches of glass and illuminate the entire area.

Despite this, it was a bit dim for Nats tastes, the dwarves were a people who lived underground and as such could deal with the less light but he and Blackwall on the other still stuck the floating ball of light above them that bathed the entire area around them, ensuring that no place was there any room for anything to hide in. No demon would be able to avoid their sight, no undead, no lingering spirits; nothing would be allowed to leave this place, not without their permission without having killed the thing first.

"Amazing isn't it," Valeyna said awestruck. Gently she moved towards the sides of the halls gingerly placing her hands on one of the entrances to the stone doors. "All this time and yet they still stand here, the dwarves really know how to build their stuff" Hitting the door hard suddenly she felt an idea come to mind. "Wait isn't it said that the dwarves built their things to last, doesn't that mean that there could still be things left in these old buildings"

That's what they say, but how would you get in" Blackwall asked not entirely sure.

"I'm just thinking that if we could open these houses, and get whatever's left inside then we could give that stuff to Orzammar, if that happens, then we could gain favour with them, maybe something that we could use for a better trade deal".

"Right because me killing their old king, and then ending the civil war that popped up in a single day and then putting the new king in place and negotiating a deal isn't enough" Sarcasm poured from his mouth yet despite this Valeyna could dense a sort of unease in Nat, it wasn't visible like always Nat never showed any far never once allowing anybody to notice a weakness yet she had come to observe him over their time together and he was acting strangely. His wand was pointed in a more defensive position and she swore she had seen him practising his shield spells when she thought she wasn't looking. Even now as he stood apart from them, in the centre of the deep roads away from both the walls and the ceilings she could see he didn't like being here not in the slightest.

She opened her mouth about to call him out, ask him if he was okay with things before she then closed it tightly and said nothing and instead nodded her head in respect. It was the Deep Roads that was the problem or Crestwood she didn't know which not that it mattered, he was on edge and had been ever since the dragon, combined with now seeing a familiar sight he was very likely lost in the deep roads of memories that he would rather not think about and now being confronted again.

"Nat if you could open these houses I'm sure you could do a lot of good" Nat looked down at his feet towards the perfect stone of the cut dwarves, it was smooth after all this time the perfect stream for blood to roll down after having being butchered. And these tall wide halls, far lager then dwarves would normally use given their smaller stature also reminded him of all those places archers could be placed taking shots at enemy leaders and commanders that would no doubt from time to time attempt to snipe the enemies commander just like he had done. "Nat" Valeyna's voice cried out again cutting through his voice and sending his head careening up towards the Inquisitor. "Nat" She repeated softly her eyes full of worry. "Are you okay?"

"Fine" He answered angrily. "Just fine" Valeyna leaned back hurt at the response and the anger that was entailed in it before then taking a deep breath and nodded. "

In that case, open the doors and take everything that you can we'll give it Orzammar when we next get chance" Without a father word said, Nat, got to work opening the doors with incredible efficiency and the use of a single spell. It was a bit of an eye-opener for Sera, she was not the greatest lock picker o ever exist but she took pride in her work at times joking with Varrick about who was better, her or him with his stubby little dwarf fingers, yet despite this, she couldn't help but call Nat a cheat as with one single spell even the most complex Dwarven locks, designed to keep out even the most skilled and adventurous of thieves opened itself freely under the command of Nat, something which was more disturbing since the sheer use of the spell on none magical detecting doors ensured that any potential booby traps were not set off allowing them to quickly raid the contents of all its books, weapons, armour and anything else leaving the doors open for whoever wished to come here next.

Once everything was taken the group finally emerged into a vast room, surrounded on all sides, there was some sort of altar or stage in the middle, though it was hard to tell as it was entirely open apart from the green cackling of fade energy as the rift swayed its strange energies moving as though there was a breeze even when there were none nearby. Getting into their normal positions, Blackwall in the lead with his sword and shield, Nat behind ready to give close magical support and also provide the defensive line between Sera and Valeyna who remained on the raised plinth away from the demons and undead who would no doubt charge their positions the moment they got closer.

"Be careful, there are terror demons on the other side of the rifts"

"Those green ones with the spiky hands" Sera commented with a snarl, one of them had snapped her bowstring one when she had been doing a scouting mission, luckily she carried spare but it was annoying and she had noted that particular demon-killing it slowly by pinning it to the floor before then beating the shit out of it with her bare hands when it was defenceless.

"Yes"

"How many," Nat asked

"More than normal, about twenty" He nodded.

"I must be the fear of the old villagers, no doubt the Darkspawn and flooding terrified them enough and the demons hear are feeding off it. Sera cover my back; whilst we're in here I'm at a disadvantage"

"How come"

"Well unless you want me to collapse the entire place around our heads" Sera nodded.

"Don't you have any other spells you can use?"

"Qualified professional duellist, of course, I know other spells, it's just that explosive spells are my preference, and with the magic resistance of those terror demons, things could get ugly really quickly"

"Why explosive spells" Blackwall inquired curiously.

"Because I'm a teenage boy and therefore I like explosions, now back to focus" Valeyna smiled and made a mental note to file that information away for later, perhaps if she could find something regarding explosives she might be able to get his attention, the question was how and where to get that type of stuff from.

"All right let's do this, Blackwall advance" With a small grumble at being the bait, the man took the first few steps towards the giant floating ball of green energy wincing only when the familiar booming sound of thunder that the rifts made followed by the shattering of glass and throng of magical energy as streams of green light sped away and slammed into the ground giving rise to the familiar appearance of the lesser demons as they poured out to defend their entrance into the mortal realm.

"Here we go" Blocking the first strike from the demon Blackwall was able to quickly manoeuvre around the first demon and then thrust his blade into its unprotected flank, spinning on his left leg he then took the blow of the second demon its claws scratching against his reinforced shield only for it to cry out as with a sweeping slash Blackwall cut off its right arm and left in a single stroke when he then took advantage and slashed as it's exposed gut turning it to ask before them moving to the next demon.

With a duck and a weave Nat easily avoided the strike of the first demon, where with a flick of his wrist he conjured the floor just in front of the demon, to lash out suddenly forming into a stone spike and impale the demon through where it's heart would have been, then with another flick he cut off the end of the spike and sent it flying through the air towards the next demon that attempted to advance towards Valeyna and Sera before he could move onto the next demon tough he was forced to throw himself to the left as he heard the screeching of the terror demon as it appeared beside him.

Lanky and the second tallest of the group, the terror demon was by far the most hated out of all the Inquisitions foes that they had encountered. Fast and surprisingly resilient, their crooked and serrated forms often would grab up soldiers, with their claw-like hands easily punching through even the steel armour and straight through into their guts. Flinging a sharp cutting spell that the creature Nat barely had time to conjure up a shield spell blocking the creatures next attack holding it off than with a powerful push spell, he sent the creature flying back several metres but it was not enough to send it crumbling to the ground instead the creature paused and then towered over its brethren and gave that shrill deafening scream and advanced again.

"I fucking hate these things" Drawing his sword with his right hand and moving his sand hand to his left, he blasted away a sloth demon who attempted to slice at him and advanced towards the demon in a careful approach. He had to be careful he knew, his magic would not do much against the dammed creatures, apart from holding off the attack with a shield spell and knocking it off guard leaving him able to tear through its defences with his sword. He supposed it was some form of demon meant to slaughter mages in the dozens, most demons were resilient to physical attacks and had some resistance to magic. Most of the time he dealt with the resistance merely by making his spells more powerful than average and then by smashing past them entirely, but terror demons were something else, they were far more resilient to magic then they were to a blade. They could take a few hits from a blade, but against magic, it was almost like a walking shield, it reminded him of back home when people would talk about nundu's and dragons, both were dangerous and both required a large number of mages if one wanted to take it down without physical force.

He advanced quickly over the ground blasting another sloth demon to oblivion only then to bring his wand up casting another shield spell as the terror demon brought its two clawed hands to strike swiftly in a flurry of blows. His shield held strong however and once the demon lost its initial speed he thrust his blade towards its unprotected thigh, the spells helping slightly to help amplify the damage though unlike most targets that would simply split at such a sharpening spell, this didn't do much instead the whole caused the demon to cry out in pain and lunge at him again. Again he shielded but the towering demon soon grew smart and attempted to reach over him and attack his unprotected back. It was a mistake, the moment it tried to do so Nat threw himself to the ground once again this time turning it into a roll between its exposed legs, ad in a single action stood up and thrust into the creatures exposed back causing it to shriek in pain again where he then lopped off its torso in a single powerful strike.

The battle was far from over and once again the shrieking sound of more terror demons, made itself known and like always they attempted to teleport behind their enemies. Hearing the sound Valeyna gasped as she tried to duck but it was too late, the sudden arrival of four of them on each of her flank meant that while she just avoided being grabbed she did not avoid their ripping talons as they slashed open her back, tearing the supple flesh to ribbons leaving a large red mark. She cried out in pain and summoned her magic into a powerful ball, blasting upwards she knocked the four of them back a few metres, not much be enough for her to down a health potion and sprint away from where she was to the opposite corner where she started to rain down magical fire on them slowing them down long enough so the others could rush into them slaying the group with coordinated attacks.

The battle lasted another ten minutes, despite the speed at which they fought in, the sheer danger of the terror demons became the greatest threat and it was only after each one had been systematically killed and slaughtered leaving the other far weaker and more pathetic demons alone was the Inquisitor then finally able to attempt bringing the rift to a close. When the battle had finally died down, the group stopped and stepped on the stairs, their bodies exhausted with sweat.

"I fucking hate those things" Nat repeated as he conjured a cloth and began wiping away the still clean blade before putting it back in its sheath.

"Yeah I don't get why people hate Pride demons so much, it's those things which are the actual threat," Sera said as she downed her health potion, sighing in relief as she felt a series of scratches mellow out and her body recover incredibly quickly. Once she had she looked at Nat suspiciously, all of them were downing health potions, well all of them bar him, She blinked why did he seem relatively uninjured, against those things nobody ever escaped yet he seemed in the best condition and looking at his clothes they also appeared undamaged.

"How come you're uninjured," Blackwall remarked also noticing the state of affairs"

"My clothes are enchanted; anything that isn't magical in nature, won't do anything. You could run at me with that sword and it won't do anything. However were that sword to have runes on it and they were stronger than my current enchantments, then the runes would do damage but the blade still wouldn't"

"Cheating bastard," Blackwall said, Nat chuckled and leaned back father taking in another deep breath. "Hardly, it's useful for daily things but this stuff is not designed for what we get into on a daily business. The truthful mater why I'm uninjured for the most part is that I'm good at dodging,"

"Why's that?"

"You've seen me fight, how my spells fly, it's the same for my people when we fight you have to have quick reaction times, you need to be able to dodge, weave, duck, my old teacher said it was once called a deadly dance which is somewhat true."

"Really," Valeyna asked curiously.

"Oh Merlin no, were I staying back then yeah, but I'm not a CQC guy the only reason I look unhurt is that I'm wearing several layers of armour under this which is enchanted to the best of my ability and my clothes are self-repairing. I didn't get hurt true, but I did get hit. My armour stopped it" and before you ask, Blackwall, the armour is also enchanted which makes it far less like your and more like the regular shirt as well as lighter than a feather so I don't notice it"

"Ha, I'd love to see you fight the nobility," Blackwall said spitting out a small amount of blood from his cut lip.

"Fight's a subjective term" Nat replied causing the man to laugh. "But anyway we need to move, we have a mayor to speak to and Merlin knows what will happen if those Templar's get to Hawke's friend before we do"

"Oh, shit I completely forgot about that, "Valeyna said standing up ignoring the desire that even with the health potion that she just wanted to lie there and rest. It would be a nice feeling she knew, even now she could feel a cold breeze on her back from where the terror demon had scratched open her armour and just looking down she could see that the front of her blouse was starting to sag by the lack of structural support. "Nat could you" With a nod in response Nat repaired the broken clothes of Valeyna and then repaired the chipped sword of Blackwall and then recovered the spent arrows of Sera before helping them up to their feet, then slowly so as to regain their strength they walked back the way they came and headed back up the hill towards where Hawke had said their friend was.

When they approached it was still raining and much to their amusement, that was when they noticed the familiar face of Hawke as she sat beneath the entrance of the cave doing her best to remain as dry as possible, when she saw them approach she smiled in relief and waved them over bidding them join her in the shelter. Not daring to refuse and enjoy some shelter that with any luck wouldn't also double as the graveyard for countless more dead people the group joined in.

"Glad to see you here, I only just got here myself," The woman said as she tracked the group and chuckled slightly.

"What is it," Valeyna asked noticing the woman's face.

"Oh it's nothing it's just seeing you lot, the absurdity of it, makes me think of when I arrived in Kirkwall."

"I mean how do we remind of that?" Hawke smiled and gave them all an appraising look.

"Well let me see, a young elf"

"Hey" Sera shouted

"A Grey Warden" Blackwall nodded his head hiding his shame.

"A mage child"

"Child? I assume you're relating to Merrill" Nat asked slowly just wondering what this mage was getting. Hawke nodded.

"And a young mage who has no idea what to do and is saddled with immense responsibility," Hawke said finally as she nodded towards Valeyna.

"Well I had more help, I mean I have, Leliana, Josephine, Cullen and Nat here to help" Hearing that, Hawke turned her attention back to Nat for a moment, her previous nostalgic face turning to one of pure interest as she looked him up and down curiously.

"So you're the one they call the Templar butcher. Odd, until recently I was the Templar's number one target but ever since you came along they're all they can rant about"

"You have contacts in the Templar's," Nat said.

"Yes and believe me when I say that they will stop at nothing to see you dead. It's rather funny in a way actually if you're reputation is true it makes me wonder how things in Kirkwall may have gone down."

"Probably not well"

"No, but I do think Anders would have liked you though"

"I can't tell whether that's a compliment or not given that the man willingly allowed himself to play host to a spirit" Hawke blinked and the leaned in closer her attention piqued.

"Oh, that's what caught your attention, not the fact that he blew up the Chantry and sent the entire continent into a civil war between the mages and Templar's" Nat shrugged his shoulders.

"Meh, fuckers had it coming in all honesty"

"Can't argue with you there. Anyway glad you made it; my contact with the wardens should be at the back of the cave"

"A group of wardens were protecting a villager from corpses near Crestwood" Hawke's face turned sour at the news.

"They were likely hunting my friend. I'm glad they didn't come looking for people to help here. They might well be good men, but they've been given bad orders"

"Then let's go in" With a nod of her head in recognition Hawke stood to the side allowing Valeyna to pass in front as she led the group further into the cave.

Walking through the wooden door at the end of the cave, Valeyna emerged into a larger space that had been used for inhabitation. On the sides some candles had been hammered into the wall where small fires were burning sending small shadows flickering across the walls, pots and even the odd small creates were visible where she assumed whoever was in here was keeping their supplies, and a small fire located on a raised area she could see had been lit not only recently, but a supply of firewood not that far away indicated that the person who was living here had likely just returned from gathering wood.

She walked forward not noticing anybody, perhaps the cave went on a little bit and this area may belong to some thieves or something familiar. Suddenly she heard a noise behind, spinning round rapidly she was forced to stand still as she heard the familiar sound of a sword drawn and a then the sight of a sharp blade pointed at her blade, yet despite this, she gave out a sigh of relief as she noticed the symbol on the owners armour.

The Grey Warden

Before she could say anything though she heard the man grunt as faster than he could blink a fast light bloomed from the man's hand and the sword flew from his grip and raced through the open-air towards the door where Nat stood his wand directed in one hand and in his other, the grey wardens sword.

"Don't try it" He warned.

"Yeah, definitely memories" Hawke muttered from behind him. Snatching the sword, she sighed as she walked through the door showing the Warden a familiar friendly look as she held the sword by her hand. "It's just us" She warned. "I brought the inquisitor" The warden looked to Hawke's left where Nat still stood wand directed at him. "And her companions" Hawke added.

"My name is Stroud and I'm at your service inquisitor," The man said gracefully accepting his sword back from Hawke and placing it into his sheath.

"Sorry about Nat," Valeyna said. "But I'll take all the help I can get; I know the Wardens have troubles of their own. I wonder though Nat has a theory that those troubles have to do with Corypheus, specifically some type of fake Calling"

"And how would he know that," The moustached man said directing the full levity of his attention onto the wizard.

"You may call back every warden in the South, but there was one that may not be a Warden, but would still likely have a unique insight."

"You spoke to King Alistair," The man said with recognition. "Of course, I should have known such a thing may have been possible, no doubt the man has been confused since all this began"

"Angry is more like it, from what we've heard it's driving him slightly mad"

"Slightly" Valeyna questioned remembering some of the reports of what was occurring in Denerim...

"Okay it may cause small political trouble"

"That's one way of describing the entire kingdom falling apart as there is no heir" Nat shrugged his shoulders, it was a problem, yes, but Ferelden was an elective monarchy, true he would be missed and it would cause a crisis that could throw the kingdom right into a civil war at the worst possible time, but it was preventable, especially as they knew the thing was fake.

"I fear that Corypheus is involved. When my friend Hawke here slew Corypheus, Weisshaupt was happy to put the matter to rest. But an Archdemon can survive wounds that seem fatal and I feared Corypheus might possess the same power"

"Thank you" Nat yelled. "A person with some actual fucking intelligence for once, why are you lot always missing when this shit happens?" Stroud ignored the comment yet Nat detected an ever slight grin on his face before it vanished later.

"My investigation uncovered clues but no proof. Then, not long after, every warden in Orlais began to hear the calling."

"Maker" Hawke gasped loudly as understanding dawned on her face. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was a grey warden matter. I was bound by an oath of secrecy"

"Okay, what is the calling exactly" Valeyna asked. "I mean I've heard Nat mention it before, but he never said what it was"

"The calling tells a warden that the Blight will soon claim him. Starts with dreams, then whispers in his head. The Warden says his farewells and goes to the Deep Roads to meet his death in combat."

"And every Grey Warden in Orlais is hearing that right now? They think they're dying" Hawke lead back against the side of the wall her face pale with understanding.

"And other then you, not a single other Grey Warden questioned this, they all thought doomsday had come for them, that's interesting" Stroud glared at the wizard.

"The feeling calling is not something that can be described to someone who does not know the duty of the Wardens, it is not something we thought that could be faked" Nat still raised an eyebrow.

"Yet it all happens at the same time, right when there's a hole in the sky and demons are pouring forth? Not one other person?"

"Yes, likely because of Corypheus, If the warden's fall, who will stand against the next blight? It is our greatest fear" Valeyna glanced towards Nat but a glare shut her up before she sad anything.

"So Corypheus isn't controlling them, he's bluffing them with this calling and they're falling for it"

"Hook line and sinker" Nat added. "Well we need to sort this out quickly if Corypheus is willing to use an army of demons, I do not doubt that he won't turn to Darkspawn next if he fails."

"So the Wardens are making some last desperate attack on the Darkspawn," Valeyna said finally understanding just what the threat was.

"We are the only ones who can slay Archdemon's, without us the next blight will consume the world. Warden-Commander Clarel spoke of a blood magic ritual to prevent Future Blights before we all perished. When I protested the plan as madness, my own comrades turned on me" Finishing his pacing for a moment, Stroud walked up to a small table, on it lay a map of the entirety of Thedas, it was a less decorative one that the members of the inquisition were using but it worked, all the same, Stroud soon pointed to a place in Orlais, surrounded by dessert and then spoke again. "Grey Wardens are gathering here, in the Western Approach. It is an ancient Tevinter ritual tower, meet me there, and we will find answers" Then with his back turned to the group Stroud walked out of the door they had come in and towards the exit of the cave, no doubt the man was either preparing for a visit towards the place he had just seen or heading there now, whatever the cause was, the man had just left them without even bothering to say goodbye.

"Rather rude" Nat muttered before then turning to the two women in the cave with him. "So an ancient ritual tower guarded by a whole host of Wardens as well as no small amount of demons if old reports on Warden activities are to be believed. Do we have a plan?"

"I was hoping that we may be able to talk to them, see if we can speak to this Clarel and convince her that Corypheus was the one in control if however she is being controlled, then it is very likely that there could be a battle ahead" Valeyna answered though her mind was on just the consequences of what would happen if the Wardens truly came under the sway with Corypheus, with nobody able to combat the blight, there was nobody able to kill his pet Archdemon and there would certainly not be the forces to hold off another blight, not when the entire continent was in civil war with itself and a war with the demons and all the old power structures were either destroyed, there would be no grand alliance, there would simply die.

"This wouldn't by any random battle," Hawke said suddenly. "I've seen Wardens, they'll put up a fight and if you walk into that tower on your own, whatever agent Corypheus has there will have you killed the moment you step in. It's highly likely that we'll be looking at an actual battle"

"A battle" Valeyna turned her head suddenly towards Nat as her eyes became serious at the sheer thought of such a conflict.

"Are we ready for such a thing?" Nat stroked his chin slowly in thought, on the outside he looked calm, but internally he was completing incredible equations at an extreme rate as he worked out the size of the military they could reasonably pull, the amount of time it would take them to march to such an area, the resources than required to sustain that army on food, how much Skyhold would be left undefended to a possible counter-attack, the training of the troops and the quality of their arms and armour, the number of commanders they would have available, all of this had to be coordinated with supplies and horses for wagon carts. Soon though while it wasn't any expert thing, he shook his head slowly at the woman and then answered clearly.

"No, we have no siege equipment built as of yet, apart from my cannon and even then numbers are low, about ten so far, muskets are higher I can likely send in five thousand men armed with them and about thirty or so men with rifles if we had to deploy immediately, but it won't last long, ammo stocks are rather thin."

"Why so low, I thought you hired new blacksmiths"

"I have, and I even updated the system to be more streamlined when possible, the delay is that we just do not have the resources. With respect, I want my army with muskets and cannon but Cullen desires his armed in the traditional method, sword, shield, armour. It's the armour which is the major problem; Cullen has the majority of the resources I only get about a quarter of what comes in resource-wise"

"Then what if I gave Cullen your resources," Valeyna asked not noticing the angry look Nat sent her way at the mere mention of taking away his troops. After all, that hard work in creating new weapons, finding resources of black powder, training people how to make the stuff and all that time sent drilling men how to march in formation and now she simply wanted to take that all away, and for what so a bunch of people who only had a few months training could rush against professionals. The Inquisitions forces were stretched thin and a decent amount spent at Skyhold with no experience, in contrast, the training of the Wardens gave them an incredible edge in battle, one which could be used to devastating effect against them if they so wished. The only proper way to counter that would be either through magic which was doubtful since as Grey Wardens the quality of mages here would be far higher than anywhere else or through sheer mass of numbers like Darkspawn which they didn't have, superior training, which again they didn't have or finally and the easiest to achieve superior technology.

Cannons were that superior technology, they weren't new to Thedas, and the Qunari had them for a while though they were instead to his knowledge laced entirely on their dreadnoughts where they would then use them at sea to blast away at Tevinter ships and fortresses. They were powerful and deadly but their size and rather primitive nature so far meant they were unable to be used inland forcing the Qun to rely more on subterfuge, discipline and the far more dangerous physical traits of their Qunari kin. In contrast, he had the advantage of history books, problems for the Qun would not be his problems, already his small factories were beginning to churn out what was required, five thousand muskets since the beginning of Winter was good and the amount of Cannon he had was admittedly lacking, but if he shifted production from musket to cannon he could change that, maybe he could get up to fifty guns if he was given an amount of time to prepare.

"Not much would change" Nat admitted." Cullen could produce a few more swords and pieces of armour, but their resource-heavy" Valeyna sighed.

"And If I increased your resources"

"Replacements for the standard inquisition soldier would go down, however, give me more resources and I can assure you that your arsenal of weaponry will most certainly devastate the enemy"

"And that means?"

"More muskets, rifles, cannons, rocket artillery, ammunition, clothing and other materials"

"What about armour, I assume that would go down/" Nat nodded

"My soldiers do not wear armour Inquisitor, at all unless they would be of a special detachment like heavy cavalry"

"No armour," Hawke said incredulously her eyes raising to a rather high level as she tried to imagine an entire army purposefully having their soldier un-armoured, it was utterly suicide. "Then how are they meant to fight, if they go against Wardens they'll be butchered"

"I can show you later at Skyhold if you would so desire, doing so perhaps could be used as a demonstration of just how and why I could use the resources better then speaking, but suffice to say is this truly the plan we are committed to so far, to go into an actual battle with the Wardens. Doing so will most likely destroy the Orlesian Wardens"

"I would prefer not, but unless we can somehow sneak into the tower and speak to this Warden-Commander and not be either attacked or imprisoned then I see of no little choice" Nat nodded towards the Inquisitor and hid a small strange feeling that ran down his back.

So a proper battle he thought to himself with no small amount of interest. It would soon be upon them, men charging at one another, trebuchets, knights and everything else, all those memories of seeing the hundreds of old castles that had dotted the English countryside and long since destroyed due to countless wars, now he would actually see the process, smell the scent of battle, the taste of death in the air and hear the wailing and screeching. It was strange and his stomach reacted oddly dancing and quivering at the same time, as though he was both simultaneously excited for such a thing and terrified to his absolute core of what was going to happen. A proper medieval battle, it was certainly something he could say was unique to him if he ever got back home. He shook his head quickly and returned to the matter at hand, if a battle was going to happen, word would need to be sent, soldiers trained, equipment made, Cullen could handle most of it at least on his side anyway and Leliana would also need to begin preparations, the sooner the better.

"Inquisitor given the sensitivity of the information that we have just received and the fact that our main objectives have been completed, I was going to suggest that I return now back to Skyhold, let Cullen and the others know of what was discussed and though it is still early, let them know that there is a chance that the equipment for a siege will soon be required. Lelliana would not like to be kept waiting on this, the sooner she can scope out the area the better" Valeyna chuckled lightly at the comment an amused expression becoming very clear as she looked at her advisor.

"Trying to get out of killing the dragon Nat" She spoke in a knowing fashion, when he didn't blush and instead shot her that same serious look, she knew she had him. "Come on it's meant to be a team-building exercise it'll be fun. Tell me one bad thing that could happen if we fight the Dragon"

"Bull will be angry. He has always wanted to fight a dragon and this could be his opportunity to do so, are you going to take this moment from him"

"Well no but..." V

"But what" Nat insisted.

"But I won't feel as safe if I don't have you around. I mean you're the only one of us apart who killed a dragon, a high dragon in fact, and it was on your own"

"What" Came the collective cry of everybody else in the group their attention firmly hung onto Nat s their minds raced with that type of information. Nat had killed a high dragon and it was on his own, how in the Makers arse had he handled that that, Blackwall thought with both a doubtful look and one of rising fears. Dragons were incredibly dangerous creatures on their own, especially high dragons so for a kid to have killed one, he blinked and looked around noticing the shocked face of Sera as she also had a disbelieving face front and clear.

"Not what you're picturing" Nat reprimanded the other groups. "I didn't so much as fight it as I did hang for all dear life as it flew, and it took me along with it, I barely managed to stab my swords through its eye and even then that nearly killed me"

"You killed a dragon while it was flying" Blackwall roared. Nat facepalmed and then took in a deep breath before then exhaling, in and out a few times before he then emerged from his trap and looked at the two in front of him and shook his head.

"No the thing crashed; while it was still recovering I stabbed it through the eye and into its brain killing it. It wasn't really a fight" Valeyna chuckled at the mental image, she didn't know why but the very idea of Nat clinging for all dear life onto the tail of a dragon as it flew in the sky performing all kinds of tricks was an incredibly entertaining one, no doubt he had screamed at some point, that would have been a sight to see. Yet despite the amusement, she couldn't help feel a bit of jealousy and awe, whether through magic or physical strength Nat had soared above the heavens, seen the world in a differing light and had done things most could only dream off. Yet despite this, he had no desire to fight another high dragon, well to fight one she supposed given that his story did not make him out to be a hero in the slightest. She just needed to find a way to keep him with her, make sure that if anything went wrong he could keep her safe, yes that was it, not at all because she might want to impress him, after all, what was killing a dragon through crashing then killing a dragon through fair combat, showing the sheer strength of her magic as she pummelled the beast into submission before it died a long and painful death where afterwards she would mount its skull above her bedroom or maybe above her throne. She grinned wouldn't that be the ultimate show of domination, the dragon the most powerful creature in Thedas placed above her forcing all others to kneel to her and be hers to command.

"No I'm going to have to refuse Nat, you could do that, but if you did then I won't even consider giving you extra resources after all you want to bring untested weapons of war into a siege against one of the most powerful forces on the planet"

"Fine let's kill the bloody thing then" Valeyna blinked shocked, she had expected some sort of reprimand, him telling her that she was engaging the world via her petty games, yet he had instead accepted and so easily. She frowned, that was no fun, where the bit where he had to confront himself as he vied for whether he would be dominated by her decision or not, eventually she knew he would accept after all he wouldn't allow the Inquisitor to fall victim to a dragon, yet despite him accepting it had been so fast so easy, there was no pleasure in it. With an hmpf, she said farewell to Hawke and led the party out the cave towards where they had seen the Dragon flying off to.

It took several hours of hiking through horrid soaked grass, already she felt a shiver on her body even as the rain let up giving birth to a beautiful day, but the cold winds were still there and as such she felt every breeze as it wrapped her up and felt like it was going to freeze her solid in it's icy grip.

None the less they discovered the flying monster in the remains of some old looking building, they could not tell what it had been used for however, most of all the alls had all crumbled down with only the occasional brick lying here and there and only two broken towers remaining. Despite this though from their position the group could quite clearly see the dragon.

It was not the most terrifying dragon, in fact, much to Valeyna's disappointment it was not even a High dragon, it was still large, however, it's thick and muscular body was pronounced as it's dark blue scales occasionally glittered when the sun's rays struck them causing a small dancing of light on the floor nearby. Valeyna concentrated on the fact of the dragon, holding back her growing excitement at the sheer idea of fighting a monster like this. All those tales of the Hero of Ferelden, of the brave man having killed dragon after dragon had like many other Dalish elves simpered them to believe that they could do the same, truthfully she knew this would be no easy fight, as Nat had stated dragons were annoyingly resistant to everything and that its power was incredibly dangerous, yet even with this knowledge she felt her heartthrob in anticipation. Yet she couldn't allow her heart to race ahead of her, she needed to approach this tactically, deal with the creature how it was meant to be dealt with, otherwise one wrong move and they would all be dead.

"Nat, get as close as you can, scout the thing out and find its weakness. We'll hide behind this rock so the dragon can't see us, don't worry I'll cast a spell so you're sent won't travel"

"So my scent won- and she's gone" Nat muttered to himself as he watched the long hair of the Inquisitor vanish behind a remaining stone wall of some type of ruined building leaving him alone and exposed in a large area to get closer to a dragon. He sighed to himself, all the teasing for calling him a coward and they were the ones who ran away at the first hint of trouble, he raised his eyebrow at the creature and then conjured up some binoculars to inspect the dragon as best he couldn't.

It wasn't a high Dragon thank Merlin it was much smaller, at most perhaps about the quarter of that old god he had killed, it was basically a minnow yet even so it was still larger than the dragons back home. Thick armoured scales guarded it's hide, leaving it no doubt highly resistant to standard weapons if not impervious, the nose was also pronounced on the dragon, though why it hand attacked him yet was due to the spells he already had around him preventing his scent from escaping. As for its talons, it reminded him slightly of those of a dinosaur only far, far larger, black and still coated with blood or something else going by the slight shine. As for its teeth, well they weren't exposed as the dragon so far just rested where it was not quite sleeping, but instead seemingly getting ready to sleep.

He glanced behind him to where he could feel the others still hiding waiting for his clue, no doubt they were waiting for him to tell them when it was asleep so they could sneak up on it and gain some sort of advantage. It was a bad mistake, waking up sleeping dragons was not only bad because you were waking up an apex predator that had no problems eating you, but because dragons had a tendency to like their beauty sleep and got quite cranky, or so the book he had read on the topic said. He couldn't even speak from personal experience because when he had awoken old grumpy take over the world dragon it had been due to the fact that he had detonated a large number of explosives in a contained area causing a massive build-up of energy that allowed for a much more dangerous blast.

He stopped and grinned menacingly.

Valeyna had said he wasn't allowed to trap the dragon and gas it, she hadn't said anything about explosives.

Thinking methodically he pulled out one of the many homemade grenades he had and pulled it up to the light. It wasn't a large thing, most certainly not as it had been designed to deal with more humanoid targets, were he to throw it against a dragon, the blast would likely hurt a bit but do no more damage, but on the other hand, he didn't want to waste his grenades in such a manner. So with his wand, he quickly pulled out a series of test tubes and his powder-horn which had been enchanted to constantly refill itself like the spell used to make copies of already existing food. Then he quickly cast the space expansion spell on the inside of one of his casing of grenades and then poured and continued to pour for the next few minutes.

When he was finally done, he tightened the lid of the grenade as much as he could and then covered the entire thing in as many protection spells as he could ensure that whatever happened, that the casing could not be destroyed from the outside, when that was finally done, he smiled waved his wand using his magic to transform the small looking grenade into a familiar shape, then with another flick of his wand he commanded it to walk towards the dragon.

The dragon was trying to sleep, it had been a rather boring day, there was nothing of any quality to eat, at first, she had tried to eat those strange things on the floor, they walked on two legs but when she had grabbed the first one she had been angry to discover that it was only bone and when she tried to eat the big red thing next to it she had then discovered that it had no substance instead vanishing entirely as it's measly little life vanished in an instant. She had tried other things as well, but again to her anger the animals around her usual prey was missing leaving only a few humans who only ran away and hid, but when she then tried to catch them they fought back with bows forcing her to incarnate them and continue to leave her hungry. She clutched her eyes and curled tightly onto the ground that she had warmed up with her breath getting ready to sleep, that was when she smelt it.

Rich, succulent, the familiar and delicious scent of this strange four-legged animals that the humans kept in pens, it was odd she hadn't smelt any before but at the smell, her stomach growled hungrily forcing her to focus on the scent. It was getting closer, she realised. Perhaps she should get up, but the thought then escaped her, no she was too tired to get up it had been a long exhausting day and the amount of effort required to eat one tasty thing was not worth it, not unless it got closer. To the dragons surprise and growing joy the tasty nugget was getting closer soon it was so close she bothered to open her eyes open to watch the strange and stupid nugget as it walked happily towards her. She twisted her head, that was odd tasty nuggets did not like the scent of their kind yet this one was deliberately walking towards her, its eyes were fixed on her with those dumb eyes of her. Curious she sniffed the air and blinked when she detected the sheep, it had magic on its person.

That was odd why would a tasty nugget have magic on it, was it a magical nugget, and that foreign texture was unlike anything else, was it a foreign tasty nugget. She shook her head in confusing and watched raptly as it came closer towards her, stepping without fear through the wet grass all the while making that stupid sound with its mouth, finally when it got to her it stopped right in front of her confused face and simply sat and watched.

BAAAAA

The little poof nugget just smiled at her, the dragon blinked, it was a very strange nugget yet she couldn't help but feel her instincts become more prevalent as it waited there mere centimetres from its mouth. There was something odd about this poof nugget, something strange that made her want to investigate yet as she concentrated on her senses to inspect the magic a sharp hunger pain shot through her, why was she so curious about this poof nugget anyway. She growled at herself only to lean back in fear as she realised that the sound would have scared the poof nugget to run away, only it didn't.

Baaaaa

Very strange floof nugget. Without another thought, the dragon quickly grabbed the animal with its teeth feeling the pathetic creature's body break in its jaws. Bones snapped, blood poured and not a single noise escaped the thing and then with an effortless throw the dragon moved its head back and allowed the floof nugget down her throat into her stomach. The moment it had passed into its throat however she felt something strange. The rich creamy texture of floof nugget that she had been eating was now something absolutely small, and metal tasting. She sneered at the taste especially as the sense of magic became far more prevalent, this was a very strange floof nugget she realised.

It wasn't a floof nugget

With an echoing roar the explosive now lodged inside the inside of the dragon detonated upon Nat's commanded. The sight was truly spectacular, the sheer force of an explosive inside the dragon caused by the ignition of black powder easily destroyed the entirety of the casing allowing for both the small fireball and more vital the sheer force that was created, to blast the creature part. Blood boiled turning into steam and gas in an instant, bones were sent hurling out of its skin at tremendous pace like rockets into the sky and entire quantities of the once strong and hard scales and flesh of the most, untouchable by sword were rent from it' body and sent skywards as a red and orange explosions physically forced all the tissue to rip apart. As the body shot off in all directions the rain that had only just left returned only instead of clear liquid it was instead a deep crimson red that fell from the heavens as though some great god was crying bloodied tears on the world as a great calamity.

From behind the rock, Valeyna and the others rushed out weapons bared ready to join their coward only to stop short as they witnessed the once proud and mighty dragons entire skull fly off the rest of the body like a ragdoll into the sky until it then passed out of sight only for a few seconds later for it to reappear crashing down to the ground with such force that the head then shattered sending even more fragments around the place. In horror they stopped and stared, making no effort to keep themselves dry as the organs and blood of the dragon fell from the sky landing all around them in one big bloody mess, to the side Nat grinned.

"And that is why you don't accept food from strangers. Stupid Gecko" He then chuckled darkly his eyes transfixed on the sky as it still continued to pour down and then directed to the Inquisitor "Maybe I should use explosive sheep more often, it definitely seems to work"

"You did this" Valeyna roared so angrily that her magic flared around her. "This was meant to be a fight, to test our skills to have fun"

"Nat rolled his eyes. "Right because killing a dragon inc combat is a fun and not at all dangerous experience." He locked eyes on her. "You said you wanted me around so you could feel safe, I take that responsibility very seriously Inquisitor, I was not about to allow the safety of an entire continent vanish just because you wanted to fight a dragon in close combat. And besides its better this way, at least the dragon felt no pain"

"Felt no- The dragon is quite literally in pieces, how could it have felt no pain?"

"Because I killed it quickly. Now no going back on what you said you still have to consider my soldiers and their resources"

"I said if you fought" Valeyna responded her feet marching angrily up the hill to a still quite smug-looking Nat.

"You said no poison gas or artillery; you didn't say I couldn't blow the thing up from the inside with suicide sheep". Nat responded.

"Where the fuck did you get a sheep," Valeyna asked nor completely curious as just to where Nat had of all things managed to bran hold of a mammal when they hadn't seen anything at all.

"I made one" Valeyna nodded.

"Of course you did. Well that settles it I'm never taking you to slay dragons with me ever again"

"Fair enough, "Nat said hiding the smile that threatened to take over his face. She had fallen for it so easily, not that he was complaining, at least now he didn't have to go on more stupid dragon hunting incidents when all they wanted to do was have fun and allow him to concentrate on his work.

"In that case let's get back to the village, talk the mayor and then sort out whatever else in Crestwood before we head back and meet with Hawke's friend" Nat nodded as he did so he noticed the slightly irritated look the Inquisitor shot him combined with a mention about how Bull was going to be so disappointed in him for not having fought the dragon properly and instead killing it via a cowards method.

"Well, that's going to be one interesting tale," Blackwall said as he walked alongside Nat. "Can't say I've sever seen a dragon explode before though it's bound to increase your infamy even father" Sera chuckled loudly and laughed at the idea.

"What you think those noble twats will now think that he can simply make a dragon explode simply by thinking about it" Sera grinned even more at the idea, she may have hated magic but once news of this spread the fearful looks that were sent at Nat would skyrocket, she couldn't wait to see how the children ran off at the merest mention of his name.

"I wish," Nat said. "Though admittedly it would be cool, at least now people will leave me alone, as it is I have enough people asking me how I survived in Orzammar, now they can focus on one dead dragon".

"Not much of a song though" Blackwall commented. "I mean the bards love telling great stories, what are they going to sing about now, that the dragon ate one bad sheep and then had died, hardly the story of legend" Sera snorted.

"Are you kidding, the dragon died of diarrhoea, that's like absolutely hilarious"

"Indeed" Valeyna grinned. "Though it does make you think"

"Think what," Blackwall asked noticing the coy smile that the Inquisitor wore as she shot looks at Nay.

"Nat just killed a dragon with a sheep, an explosive sheep mind you, but if he could achieve that then I think we might just stand a chance against Corypheus. And what makes me scared, is that I truly do feel sorry for our enemies, if we have to fight the Wardens, I don't think it's going to be a short thing" Blackwall nodded.

"Makes you glad he's on our side, could you imagine if he wasn't" Valeyna paled at the very thought, Nat was not as powerful as Corypheus she had felt the magic pour from both but Corypheus was something else, yet despite that she couldn't help but feel at that moment Nat would have been a greater threat then Corypheus ever was. Corypheus liked to hang back sending mindless minions to do his dirty work; he formed convoluted plans to cause problems with deception. In contrast, Nat was more direct, finding what needed to be done and doing it that instant, curious she turned to Nat a small amount of fear burning.

"Nat, how would you have dealt with the Empress, I mean had you been working for Corypheus and not us" Nat blinked but answered regardless.

"That's simple, bribe the guards to get access to whatever underground space there was and fill it full of black powder, then when the empress and the rest of the nobility are all gathered in one spot, I'd then detonate the powder and blow them all to kingdom come, quite easy actually." Valeyna nodded; yep Nat was by far more dangerous than Corypheus was.

"Yeah but how you have dealt with the remaining nobility"

"Co-ordinated attacks and assassinations, with the nobility in Orlais gone, the social order would break and there would be chaos, to keep the peace the Inquisition would be forced to stretch they're thinned down resources to cover the area, then I would take them out bit by bit. If I was facing you lot, then I would have simply found a decent rift, lured you there and planted explosives underneath the ground, then once you arrived I would have detonated them and killed you all there and then. That would leave the Inquisition helpless and the war won as demons could then pour forth, and the rifts never closed" Valeyna gulped, definitely more terrifying. At that moment she made note again to never do anything that would turn Nat against the Inquisition. "I assume you're asking to make suitable defences "

"Yes," Valeyna wandered. "Yes defences for Corypheus" She continued slowly, perhaps it was best to leave certain things in place, Nat had no loyalty no people and nothing to lose if he wanted to? She shivered and pushed the thought away, it would be best not to think of such a disturbing scenario she figured.

"Don't worry Inquisitor I have no intention of ruling the world or anything like that, do you have any clue just the sheer amount of paperwork that would be required"

"Right, anyway I hate to ask but will you be using explosive sheep," She asked hoping not to have to witness more dragons exploding in the future, already she was coated head to toe in red her face so plastered in it, that it required every instinct not to vomit."Sweet Merlin no, the sheep were only used because it was easier, I seriously doubt that that the wardens would just take in spare sheep, not when they likely know we're coming for them. Instead, I was implying going to make a giant wooden horse and they'll bring our force in."

"Seriously," Sera said doubtfully.

"It worked at Troy"

"You're telling me that a castle under siege accepted a giant wooden horse into their city?" Valeyna continued. "That's bullshit" And so the group continued discussing random things until they got to the village, quickly after telling the mayor that all was fine and Crestwood was safe, there was a small celebration held in the inquisitions honour, it was nothing fancy and there was no food given out, given the damage dealt, all the same, it felt good to be appreciated Valeyna thought.

Crestwood was yet another victory against Corypheus, soon they would bring their armies against him in the western approaches, but she would try negotiation first, that route had to be taken at the very least.

Days later

The Western Approach

The group came to a firm stop outside a strange stone building. Gazing up Nat looked on in concern, he had expected a fortress, some sort of easily defendable location, somewhere that they might have to make siege on, ye according to the scouts the tower was simply a tower. There were no great stone walls to defend the wardens, no large host of demons he could only sense a very small amount of people up ahead, nothing to concern about a few weak easily killable demons and some mages.

Shaking his head he followed Valeyna forward to the edge of the bridge where both Stroud and Hawke were located, just how they had managed to traverse such a distance was something known only to them, that or they had used some nonexistent horses.

"I'm glad you made it inquisitor I fear they've already started the ritual.

"Do we know what's inside?" Valeyna asked looking to Nat.

"Nothing of any serious threat, there's one mage more powerful than average, but again nothing the six of us can't handle"

"It's blood magic I reckon, you can smell it if you can't feel it"

"So that's what it feels like, interesting" Nat thought to himself, it was indeed a curious thing he was finding the sensation of blood magic, it was entirely different to what he was used to where mages would draw upon the strength of the fade, here blood magic had a different texture, far more personal as though somebody was screaming their names whilst they performed their works. It also felt far rawer; the sensation of magic had a buzzing almost addictive quality to it, one that he guessed was like a drug, hooking you in early and pulling you down a path that you could never escape from despite your best tries.

"You take point, I'll guard your backs," Hawke said cautiously her eyes flickering towards the direction that the magic was pulsing from.

As the group approached they easily detected the telltale signs that something was going horribly wrong, the first was the terrifying abundance of dead wardens who littered the ground, blood pooling from their bodies, their necks sliced open allowing for their blood to pool across the floor as magic then used that sacrifice to weaken the veil making it even easier than it already was to pull demons across from the other side. The stench of death was horrible but what was even more concerning what how the veil flickered, hovering as a demon pressed against the veil, Nat stopped for a moment and gave a slight shiver at the strange sensation.

The veil was something he could detect, it was hard to put into sensation but it was like a wall that only his magic could detect, however that was it, he could detect the wall, see where it was weak but no more than that. This time, the sheer weakness of the area and the pressing of the demons topped him as he felt past the veil, his magical presence slipping through one reality into another touching it for the first time since he had fallen through that hole into the Fade and then back out. It was all strange, power on an unrivalled level, oceans of currents of magic, moving back and forth, spirits and demons, that he could sense the very vestiges of as his magical power got caught up sending him far until with a sudden shove he pulled himself back to where he was his face pale and his hand clutching at his wand.

"Nat, are you okay," Valeyna said quickly noticing her friend's pale complexion. Nat nodded slowly giving himself a few moments to regain his strength as he fought to keep down the desire to vomit at the sensation. Nothing had made sense for a moment, all the laws of physics and magic he had ever known, vanished in an instant the laws decided entirely by something else. He took in a deep breath and then swallowed hard bitterly tasting that sensation in his throat but continuing onwards.

"Just the veil, it's so thin"

"Right," The woman said before continuing up the stairs to where they heard loud speaking and felt the veil twist and turn as a surge of blood magic weakened the veil again and the familiar sensation of a demon escaped into the mortal realms. Valeyna gritted her teeth and continued up the stairs emerging at the top to where they finally detected the person responsible for this.

"Inquisitor" The man greeted them with a mix of a sly smile and fake enthusiasm that sent a repulsive shiver down the back of the Inquisitor. "What an unexpected pleasure. Lord Livius Erimond of Vyrantium, at your service" The man, bowed mockingly.

"You are no warden" Stroud sneered.

"But you are" Livius sighed loudly. "The one that Clarel let slip. And you found the Inquisitor and came to stop me. Shall we see how that goes?"

"Wardens, this man is lying to you, he serves an ancient Tevinter Magister who wants to unleash a blight," Valeyna's voice rung thought the blasted remained halls hoping to warn the wardens, yet even as she spoke she detected no change instead the eyes of the wardens glowed a baleful red almost like a demon, observing her like a puppet with interest and then ignoring her.

"That's a very serious accusation, let's see what the wardens think" The man smirked turning his attention towards them. "Wardens hands up" At his words the group watched silently as the wardens followed the man's command their left arms raising in the same pattern and performing the same shape as the Tevinter lords did. "Hands down" And so fell the hands laving a rather smug lord sneering at them as he kept his arms behind his back, yet even as he did so the man was not idle instead his attention seemed focused on the wizard. He tilted his head and smiled. "How rude, thinking of interrupting a conversation with an attack, My Inquisitor are all your companions so ill-trained in diplomacy? Perhaps you should keep your pets on a tighter leash"

"I'm going to rip your cock off and shove it down your fucking throat" Nat responded with a nasty grin, as he moved himself into a far better position to shoot at the bastard before things got ugly, he could stun that bastard before he even had a chance to get away, there were so many spells that he could use, collapsing the tower above him, freezing they are in ice, perhaps he could even hold him still with telekinesis.

"Corypheus has taken their minds" Stroud stated ignoring the rather rude comment from Nat.

"They did this to themselves. You see, the calling had the Wardens terrified. They looked everywhere for help"

"Even Tevinter" Stroud glared but Nat chuckled.

"Wow, they must be scraping the bottom of the barrel if they got you" Livius glared at the wizard however Nat only chuckled, he was enjoying this, for the first time in a while he was able to insult nobles and get away with it, oh how exhilarating it was, idly he wondered if he shouldn't kill the man, and instead capture him and make him talk. There were so many ways to make a man scream with magic.

"Yes, and since it was my master, who put the Calling into their little heads, we in the Venatori were prepared. I went to Clarel full of sympathy and together, we came up with a plan... Raise a demon Army, march into the Deep Roads, and kill the Old Gods before they wake."

"Ah. I was wondering when the demon army would show up" Valeyna quipped all the while the story of Nat's last venture when he had gone off played in her head if it were not for the fact he had nearly died she would have laughed at the man. Instead, she was forced to move herself t the left purposely blocking Nat's path before he attacked and ruined this conversation.

"You knew about it did you?" Livius looked confused but quickly recovered. "Well then, here you are. Sadly for the Wardens, the binding ritual I taught their mages has a side effect. They're now my master's slaves. This was a test, once the rest of the wardens complete the ritual, the army will conquer Thedas.

"Do you really want to see the world fall to the Blight? What do you get out of this" Valeyna demanded angrily?

"The Elder one commands the Blight. He is not commanded by it, like the Mindless Darkspawn. The Blight is not unstoppable or uncomfortable. It is simply a tool. As for me: While the Elder One rules from the Golden City, we the Venatori will be his god-kings here in the world"

"God-Kings" The incredulous tone escaped from Nat's lips then suddenly without expectation something happened that stunned all those in the area, Nat laughed. Not a small chuckle laugh but a full-on hilarious laugh an incredibly loud raucous laugh that went on for several minutes, Valeyna turned her face one entirely of concern and worry, she was about to speak when after a few moments Nat stopped and faced the Tevinter. "God-Kings," He said slowly his voice humourous. "Of course, what else would it be. Hey look at me everyone I'm a mage and I want infinite power so let's play with the blight because everything will go right" He mocked even going so far as to put on a silly voice and do a small miming action that was mixed a joke.

"You dare mock us" Livius roared angrily.

"Yes," Nat turned towards the man his attention fixed purely onto the piece of filth in front of in front him. "You and your master are apathetic creatures, living in a personal fantasy, dreaming about infinite power and pretending that the blight does not affect. You are both weak pathetic little creatures, playing with magic that you do not even seek to understand or test cautiously instead rushing about commanding it without any father and calling yourselves Masters. The very concept is laughable hilarious even, you will not be god-kings; you will simply be another pawn as all things to the blights are. And before you speak your pathetic lies you insufferable arrogant little wretch think carefully, if this blight was so powerless so easily swayed by you and your master making you lords of heaven and earth, then tell me why have others not also gained this power, because you are not the first to try. You like the rest of your pathetic and weak culture is nothing but piss poor replicas of the elves of Arlathan, copying history and proclaiming yourselves gods, believing that in your dominance you cannot be touched, but that is not the case. Have felt the blight, like I do in the wardens and it is not some paltry disease to be put down, it is a force, an inherent part of this world no different to the void. All who have tried to tame it, make it their slave have failed and you and your master are no different, mere pawns in a great game beyond understanding, not even the elven gods were able to resist it. You can claim all you ant you pathetic little man, and I can debate you as much as possible, but the fact remains, you will not win. Your demon army can clash against this world all it wants, in endless hordes if that is what it requires, but that does not equate to victory, for I will stop you and your pathetic blighted pawn of a master, for that is what you are in the end... nothing. Not a god, not a lord not some infinitely better being, you are a weak pathetic shell of a man and trust me when I say that you shall not see your goals finished, your dreams idolised in stone, you shall be nought nothing but ash, wasting away, forgotten by all, and the same will be true for the Imperium, a pitiful remain"

"You dare threaten me, boy, I will kill you" Nat chuckled darkly the very sounds reverberating in such a way that all around whether Warden, person or demon felt a cold sensation strike their soul and their hearts seemingly turn to stone and fall in their hearts.

"I'd like to see you try" The man pushed his hand out forwards his eyes blazing red, as he did so a vicious grin appeared on his face as a cry of pain interrupted from the Inquisitor sending her sprawling to the ground screaming. Valeyna gasped her hand felt as though it was burning freezing and being shocked at the same time.

"Try it and she dies," Livius said with a smug grin. Nat glanced to his right not daring to lower his guard against Livius, could he save her or should he fire off the spell. An attack would most certainly break the spell, but it could also kill her. He gritted his teeth, could he risk it, he wanted to by Merlin he wanted to fire that spell, capture that smug bastard alive and then make him scream and beg for death, but the Inquisitor was there only chance of stopping Corypheus, if she died here, was there any hope left. The rifts would get wider and even though in theory if given enough time he might be able to hold off the untold legions, he could not do so now forcing a full massacre of the continent. "Go on boy, what do you care more for, you spoke such fancy words a moment ago are you sure you can't pull off such a move, you did slaughter the Templar's after all, yet you're not able to sacrifice your own. What was it you called me, oh yes pathetic"

Nat glanced back down to the Inquisitor, and shook his head in angry reassignment, he couldn't risk it, and there was no other known way of closing the veils, if she died, the war was lost Corypheus won, and that would be it. Thedas would be destroyed and his chances of returning home vanished in an instant as he did his best to hold off the forces of demons forever, he would be stuck here forever and even if he did he would be executed if he did return home as him not assisting to recover the situation when he could would put the world at risk. He growled internally and simply glared at the man.

Livius was going to die he would make sure of it before he could carry on through a wave of magical force exploded from the inquisitor and with her eyes glowing a burning green, magic from the fade bursting thought the sound of smashing glass burst in the air sending all the things in front of her flying back several metres landing on to the floor,

"Wha" Livius barely had time to come to his senses and conjure up a barrier spell as a series of incredibly powerful spells slammed into him a second later with such force that the entire building shook, crumbling the foundations of the tower above sending it down with a mighty crack around their feet. Stone stairs catapulted into the air and the dust seemed to clog everyone's throats for a bare moment before coalescing into the shape of a sword and racing towards the still downed Livius smashing against the barrier and careening to left.

"Die" Nat shouted angrily advancing upon the downed Tevinter mage his wand a constant blur as spell after spell flew out and smashed against Livius with such strength that were it not for the barrier is the only thing to keep him safe then he would have died a hundred times. Throwing himself to his feet, then his own blast of magic at the wizard a powerful fireball only for the moment to strike Nat caught the spell with his wand and then redirected back at the man. "Die" Nat yelled again and then broke off in a run following the retreating Livius.

Livius had to die if he didn't then the ritual could still go off and that meant the fall of the Wardens. He couldn't allow that and so still sprinting over dirty and abandoned temples Nar rushed after Livius all the while blocking and sending his own spells back at the man with such ferocity that even after a few minutes when Valeyna and the others had dispatched with the demons and dealt with the new rift they could still hear the sounds of rolling thunder. She dashed forward only to watch as every couple of seconds a blowing light struck an area sending a big plume of sand and stone in every direction moments later the sound of constant blasts of thunder echoed back to them.

"Getaway" Livius roared sending an ice spell towards Nat only for the duellist to dodge it effortlessly. They had come to the end of the ruin now, the only thing behind the Tevinter was a several hundred sheer drop yet that didn't stop Nat instead spell after sell kept raining forth, blasting against the man's barrier spell, it was going to drop soon he knew and when it did one of his many spells would strike and take the bastard down. Blasting spells, freeing spells were fired at the Tevinter mage, so many spells in fact that the man gulped as he realised just what he was dealing with, combat wasn't his forte and now he was trapped alone against one angry mage destined to kill him.

"Get back "The mage roared flinging a large stone first the same size as his head towards the boy but Nat effortlessly dogged and replaced it with another blasting charm exploding the are beneath his feet, Wide-eyed Livius couldn't even scream as with that spell the foundations that had held them both up collapsed around him and sent him tumbling towards the ground as a great hail of smoke kicked up. Nat threw a spell around himself protecting his body from any extra spells that might have come, but none did. Minutes passed and just as the cloud of was about to vanish allowing him to find the remains, he instead heard the sound of feet smashing against the stone floor.

"Nat" Valeyna screamed not able to see the protected form of Nat as he stayed in the dust instead rushing towards the edge.

"I'm still alive don't worry"

"Nat" She cried throwing herself towards him forcing him to catch her and hold her close to him.

"I thought you were dead"

"Nope" Nat then turned towards Hawke and Stroud as they approached the group; the concern was easily seen on their face.

"We have discussed things, the Magister will likely retreat to Adamant fortress and complete the ritual, Hawke and I will scout the area, once we are sure of things, we will send word, when we do you must be ready to bring the full might of the Inquisition down upon them"

"Right, good luck then," Valeyna said.

"And to you as well Inquisitor"

Later

Skyhold

"Attacking Adamant won't be easy the castle is old and its walls are crumbling true, but it's still a fortress. How much time do we have to prepare?" Cullen paced around the room his head bowed deep in thought.

"Not much, a few days at most a week most likely from what Stroud said in his letter is the latest we can march by" Valeyna admitted, to her side she heard the muted sigh of Josephine as she mentally began to calculate just how long this was going to take as well as the cost.

"A week isn't much time, we can get some siege ladders made and perhaps a battering ram, but for a proper siege, it won't be enough. Perhaps if we had more time?" Cullen added thoughtfully glancing to his left, Leliana shook her head vehemently.

"No we have to move soon any longer and Corypheus will not only bring his demon Army into existence but will also gain full control of the Wardens, we have to act as soon as possible"

"But the amount of me we'll lose, we might be able to bring a couple of catapults but we would have to take them from what we already have assembled here and that will leave us defenceless, not to mention it will take too long to gather our soldiers from their current patrols, by the time they arrive they'll be too exhausted to march"

"How many do we have?" Valeyna asked slowly her gazed locked firmly on the head of the Inquisitions forces.

"Currently, about ten thousand five thousand of mine and Nat's regiment" Cullen spoke scowling at the mention of Nat's regiment.

"And how many would that leave for the defence of Skyhold and reinforcements for our patrols?" Nat said slowly his own attention locked onto the map. There were many more soldiers, at least double so far what the Inquisition could field, but five thousand of those were still in training and the other five were split between various patrols and fortresses all around the continent.

"About a thousand maybe, six if the current recruits can get to a decent standard in the next month or so but it's more likely to take another two" The man replied cautiously.

"Not good enough, for all we know this could be a trap, lure the vast majority of the Inquisitions forces out to Adamant, have us kill the Wardens, exhausting ourselves in the process where soon after an attack either on our main force or somewhere else will be able to whittle us down. We can't afford to send our entire army" Nat added thoughtfully carefully tapping the table, as he stared at the spot that the Magister now resided in.

Adamant was located in a dessert, one that had been formed when the blight had come and wiped out all life to such an extent that not even microscopic life existed preventing courses from decomposing.

"And what would you suggest," Cullen said turning grimly.

"We take my regiment and that's it. I don't have that much cannon only thirty guns, but I have enough to tear down those walls and my muskets will easily punch through the steel coat of Grey Wardens, especially in long confined areas where volley fire can shred through enemies, not to mention any enemy targets can be picked off with my Rifles and the remaining Cavalry can sweep up what remains and warn us if anything comes."

"Five thousand men," Cullen said doubtfully. "Is it enough?"

"Normally I would be cynical as well, but trust me we need to move fast and punch hard. At the same time, we need to be able to reinforce any remaining positions and our flanks. My men can do the former; yours can assist in the training of us and be ready to march if the enemy decides to show itself in force. Besides... tearing down a castle? That sounds like fun." Nat grinned before then returning to his normal serious expression "So long things don't drastically change for the worse by the time we arrive, with any luck Adamant will fall in less than 24 hours by the time we start the attack"

"You sound disturbingly confident" Valeyna quipped.

"I have access to artillery and whatever mages decide to assist us, trust me when I say that Adamant will fall. Whether there will be any survivors, on the other hand, is another story"

"Very well then, Cullen get those towers and ladders made, Nat get your soldiers ready to march, Josephine alert Gaspard and Celene that we'll be marching, the last thing I want is to be intercepted by their forces and Leliana make sure that at the first hint of trouble that you let us know"

"Yes, Inquisitor," The four said at once.

"Good in that case, as soon we're ready, we march on Adamant"

---

Hi me again, first I want to say thank you to everyone, I honestly was not expecting the response I did in all honesty, it was far nicer then I was expecting. As you can see I've decided to carry on with this story so far though hopefully on a more streamlined method. I know this is a filler episode again, sorry about that, but I wanted to get this stuff out of the way with so I can do next chapter which for the first time I actually know the name for before I've even put word to well Word. So yes Chapter 31 is the Attack on Adamant where much longed for information will be revealed.

Anyway, I want to say thanks for all the support it really mean a lot and since the day of this upload is Christmas.

Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year

Yours's sincerely

Battleship Vytalia