Following the directions that Mervis gave them, they found themselves in the Wending Woods; the moment they turned the corner, they found bandits along with some burnt caravans.

The bandits saw them at once, and they began to panic; they immediately drew their weapons and charged at them. However, they seem to be rather disorganised, and none of them appeared to be leading.

Ragnar was the first of them to respond; he rushed forwards and sidestepped to avoid the blade of the bandit in front of him. The moment he was behind immediately spun around and snapped his neck. Then flung a dagger at an archer, and when the third bandit tried to strike him down with his sword, he pulled his own sword and its sliced right through the sword and the bandits head.

"Quick work," said Nathaniel.

"I'm glad he's on our side," said Anders.

"That was indeed most impressive," Justice agreed.

"Aye, he didn't become Warden-Commander for nothing," Wartihog smiled.

Ragnar smiled back at them. "You think I'm good. You should wait until you see Hiccup in action."

Anders looked at the bandits. "Do you think these bandits of the reason why our supply lines have been attacked?"

"I doubt it," said Ragnar. "Did you see the look in their eyes? They were frightened, and the way they fought was disorganised. Plus three bandits, hardly enough to attack a convoy."

"So we have to keep searching, huh?" said Wartihog.

"So, what do you think could have caused these attacks?" Nathaniel asked. "Darkspawn?"

"It's possible, but my gut is telling me that something else is afoot."

They made their way over the bridge, and that once they saw a bandit came running towards them. "Out of my way! I need to get out of here!"

"What's wrong? Can we help?" Theron asked, moving to block his retreat.

"No!" cried the bandit. The man ducked and tried to hide behind Wartihog, peering out to look back up the path.

"Who's after you?" Ragnar asked.

"The elf?" he cried. "She makes the trees come alive! All we wanted was some easy money from the caravans, but—"

The tree leaves rustled as the wind shifted. He gave a plaintive wail. "Maker, help me! She's here! Got to get away." He shoved Nathaniel aside and ran.

Roots and branches shot out of the ground on the bluff above them and then vanished, revealing a Freefolk Elven woman. She glared down at them but stopped when she saw Ragnar. "I recall you from the last gathering of the clans," she said. "Your keeper is Marehari, is she not?"

Ragnar took a step forward. "She was when I left. I haven't seen my clan for a while."

"I see…" she said, looking down. "I… understand. I was with our Keeper Illshae when she spoke to Marehari. I am Velanna." She then began to study the area. "Watch your back around these parts; there are darkspawn, and the shem settlements do not look kindly on the Freefolk Elves." Ragnar frowned. "So why haven't you left?"

"I have a score to settle with the shems who march through as though the woods were theirs," she said bitterly.

Ragnar looked at the others and then back to Velanna. "What score?"

"They stole my sister and likely sold to merchants. I will not rest until I have her back," she yelled at the top of her voice. "You should go. I have no quarrel with you, and I would hate for that to change." The branches and roots enveloped her again, and she vanished.

"I think we may have found the problem," said Nathaniel.

"Indeed, but I have a feeling that this problem goes a lot deeper than we believe," said Ragnar.

"We should seek justice for those the elf have killed," said Justice firmly.

Ragnar turned on the spirit. "We should at least investigate."

"You're the elf; you lead us," said Wartihog gesturing to the road.

They began exploring the area, and they were immediately attacked by trees every now and then. Fortunately, Anders' was able to burn them to a crisp with some fire magic.

"Why are trees attacking us?" Nathaniel asked.

"Because Velanna has possessed them with demons," said Ragnar. "We need to stop before she kills anyone else."

"And how do you suggest we do that?" Wartihog asked. "She didn't seem to be in a rather talkative mood, so killing her might be our only option."

"I'm hoping there'll be other options, but I think first we need to find out what's causing her to go on such a rage," said Ragnar.

They climbed up the hill towards an ancient ruin and found the Freefolk Elf camp ransacked. The weapons were just lying around as if they'd been discarded at random. Ragnar exchanged a glance with Nathaniel, and the archer bent to look at tracks and then shook his head.

"This looks like a Freefolk Elven camp," said Wartihog. "Think they are hiding, watching us?"

"They're dead," said Ragnar, gesturing at the burial mounds. "But something isn't right."

"What do you mean?" Anders asked.

"For starters, this is far too small only count half a dozen tents," said Ragnar. "Also, we wouldn't actually set up camp inside a ruin like this; there are only one means of escape in case of an attack. Also, these weapons are out of place."

"Indeed," said Justice looking at the discarded weapons. "They are certainly out of place."

He then examined the mounds of earth and brushed some earth way to see the face of a young Freefolk Elven man.

"Death," he said and looked at Ragnar. "We spirits know no more of it than you do. What lies beyond is obscured, even to us." He then looked at Theron. "Can you tell me who these people were? You bear the shame markings."

"We're called the Freefolk Elves," said Theron.

Justice pondered for a moment. "The body you inhabit was familiar with that name. My memories say the Freefolk Elves were cast out, unwelcome in almost every land. Why is that?"

Ragnar had to think long and hard about how to answer that question.

"We choose our own path," he said simply.

Justice frowned. "Hmm. An odd path to choose." He then looked at the mounds of earth and then back to them. "How odd that mortals find so many differences to hate when you have so very much in common. To once such as is I, it is difficult to tell you apart. Are these similarities not worth rejoicing in?"

Ragnar rubbed the back of his head. "We're not as similar as you think."

"It seems I lack a key understanding of your world. But then, I do not even understand demons. My entire existence is spent seeking out wrongs to do right."

"You can decide for yourself, you know."

Justice nodded. "Perhaps you are right. But what else am I if not a seeker of justice?" He took one last glance at the mounds of earth and at the Freefolk Elven man. "Enough. I wish to look at this no more."

Nathaniel used his tracking skills to fall the trail that led to the Freefolk Elven camp and hopefully to answers.

"Find anything?" Ragnar asked.

"These bodies were brought here. You can see drag marks," said Nathaniel, pointing out the tracks. "Here and here. Someone was trying to hide them."

"Our Freefolk Elven friend displayed her kills quite openly." Ragnar looked over the pit. "No weapons."

Nathaniel nodded. "Because they were left at the Freefolk Elven camp."

Ragnar then suddenly sensed something close by. "There… I think I sense something close by."

They sensed the tainted wolves before they attacked. They quickly took up their positions and fended off the wolves without any real problem. Nathaniel bent to retrieve the arrows, then nodded and followed. They found a soldier, his flesh already blackening from the taint.

"Don't look… don't look at me!"

He watched Ragnar approach the man and nocked an arrow, keeping it ready. "What are you doing here?" Ragnar asked.

"Olaf… my name. Came with friends to… to drive out… away the elf. But… the darkspawn were too quick." He gasped out his breaths. "Everyone dead… dead soft meat melting into the ground. I… I crawled away... came here. Can't stand to… see it…"

"Do you know anything about the elf's sister?" Ragnar asked.

"Sister? I… have a sister… do I? Elf-sister, no… we did not take her. Probably dead. Or eaten."

Ragnar could sense the darkspawn moving in. He signalled to the others, then drew out his sword, watching carefully for the first signs of their enemy.

"Did you kill the elves?" Ragnar asked. He drew his blades, keeping them at hand as he continued to question the man.

"No. No. Darkspawn came first. They slaughtered us… took our steel. Brought it to the elven camp. Tricked us, tricked the elf. Now… she thinks we are to blame. Hunts all in her rage… while they watch…" His head came up. "The dark ones are curious about you too. They watch you as well as her. Can you feel them?"

He could. They moved just out of sight, stalking closer. He knew there was no helping the man, so he drew his knife and slit his throat.

Darkspawn attacked them, but Wartihog managed to knock them back with his battleaxe. Anders blasted them with a barrage of ice, Nathaniel shot a genlock through the head with one of his arrows, and Justice kept on pushing them back with his mace. But Ragnar was in a league of his own, dodging every single swing they made and stabbing them through their guard before they realised what was going on.

In no time at all, every single darkspawn laid dead on the ground.

"Traps and trickery. Darkspawn are supposed to be all but mindless," Wartihog spat.

"Indeed," said Ragnar examining the dead darkspawn. "We need to find the cause of these… awakened darkspawn. Can you imagine the carnage in the next Blight if the darkspawn can think for themselves?"

"Aye, it would be a massacre," Wartihog agreed.

"But before we can do that, we need to head back to the Freefolk Elf camp. Maybe we'll be lucky, and she'll be in a reasonable mood."

They'd reached the base of the hill when she appeared again. "Why are you still here? I told you to stay away from me! I warned you! This place is not for you!"

Ragnar took a step forward. "The humans did not kidnap your sister."

"I know human crime when I see one. I have experienced more than enough of them," she snarled. "Your pay for repeating their lies."

Ragnar had hoped that he could have some sense in her, but it was not to be. Pale green light shown around her as the trees around them came to life and moved in to attack.

Anders quickly created a wall of fire to protect themselves, lighting the trees on fire. Wartihog then quickly jumped in and began hacking away at their legs with his battleaxe. One of the trees then swung its hand towards Ragnar, but he was able to roll to safety then sliced its hand off with his blade.

After killing the trees, they found her at the camp, kneeling by the graves. The spells had clearly taken a lot out of her. She had to use her staff to stand up, and her breath came in ragged gasps. "How can the Freefolk Elves hope to revive our past glory when we slaughter each other like animals?"

He gestured for the others to hold their position and allowed Ragnar to talk to her. "I'm not going to kill you."

"Then you will let me go? For the sake of our people and what we share?"

Ragnar shook his head. "Not yet. I wish to talk."

She laughed. "Talk."

"The humans are not to blame for what happened here."

She shook her head. "You expect me to believe that? What of the weapons or my sister's disappearance?"

Ragnar then took a step forward and looked at her firmly. "The weapons here were planted by darkspawn."

Velanna looked around the camp. "I wondered why anyone would discard the weapons, but you say the darkspawn planted them?" Her eyes widened. "That would mean the darkspawn killed my people and took my sister!"

Ragnar nodded grimly. "Yes."

Velanna got to her feet. "Why would the darkspawn do this?"

Ragnar crossed his arms. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

"You have no reason to trust me, but let me come with you."

He narrowed his eyes. While it was not really her fault what had happened, she still glorified over the deaths of the merchants. There again, they had no idea what they were going into, and he needed all the help he could get. "Fine, but I'm watching you."

"This elf should be brought to justice," said Justice. "Why should we assist her at all?"

"Because she's a looker!" Anders said unhelpfully. "What you think her sister's like?" He then whistled. Velanna glared at him, and he suddenly remembered that she hated humans. "Uh, I mean, darkspawn bad. Grr."

She looked at Theron. "We Freefolk Elves must band together. I apologise for… my actions." Her voice did sound apologetic, but Ragnar believes she wouldn't be so apologetic if he had been human. "Now, where should we seek the darkspawn?"

"Tunnels, most likely."

"There is an abandoned mine some ways to the north of here; the tunnels run far into the earth." She pointed. "We will likely find the darkspawn there."

Justice did not seem to like this idea, but he did not argue either.

They had a small battle with some darkspawn on their way to the mine, but they managed to reach it and began to walk some wooden stairs.

"Something's not right here," said Ragnar.

That's when they saw a dwarven woman wearing warden armour and far gone to the taint. The emissary… was something else. They pulled out their weapons, and then it spoke. "Shhh… sleep…"

Beneath them, the glyph activated. He tried to counter, but the dwarf threw a pouch of dust into their midst. The powder rose up, choking. He felt himself fall, and then everything went dark.

Ragnar was still slightly dazed, but he found himself strapped to a table. He looked around and saw the emissary looking down at him.

"So you are the commander of the Grey Wardens," it said. "Do not be frightened. Your injuries have been tended to." Ragnar tried to move, but he could barely feel his arms or legs. "I apologise for what I must do. I do not wish to be your enemy. But now is not the time for this. Rest."

He awoke in a cell. His first thought was a realisation that he also wasn't wearing armour, weapons, or clothes. He sat up.

Velanna was sitting in a corner, knees drawn up to her chest. She'd also been stripped of gear. Wartihog lay in the back. There was a bleeding knot on the man's head where something had struck him. Anders was tending to him and examining Nathaniel's wounds. Justice was also there, but it was a little disturbing to see a corpse naked, and he turned away quickly.

"I see you're awake," said Anders.

"What happened?" Ragnar asked, rubbing his head.

"What do you think happened?" Velanna spat. "The darkspawn stripped us of our gear and placed us in this cell."

"I like to know why," said Ragnar. "They don't often keep prisoners, and as far as I can tell, they haven't exactly tried to taint you yet. Do any of you know how long we've been down here?"

"Not a clue," said Nathaniel rubbing his head.

Suddenly Velanna stood up, staring out of the cell. Another elven woman had entered, and he could feel the taint within her. There was something unusual about it. Not like a Warden, but not like a ghoul. "Seranni! Oh creators, what have they done to you?"

"They haven't done anything. I… I'm fine, Velanna. It's not me he wants…" She turned her gaze to the Wardens. "I have to get you out before something bad happens. I don't want anyone else to be hurt."

"Yes, all right. Let me out, and I'll take you home."

"The darkspawn have your things. You can still get it all back if you're careful and clever."

Ragnar looked at her curiously. "Tell me what's going on. You must know something."

"I don't know anything. But take this key. It… It opens a chest in the emissary's room. Maybe you'll find some answers there."

Ragnar stared at the girl. "How did you get this?"

"I… I found it…" Ragnar gave her a suspicious look. She was clearly a terrible liar. She set the keys down outside the cell. "You have to go, find a way out of the mines. Please." She ran.

"I can't just leave you! Seranni, wait!" Velanna cried.

Nathaniel managed, just barely, to get the keys. He unlocked the cell, and Velanna started to dash off after Seranni. Ragnar caught her arm. "Let go of me."

"There are darkspawn all over. You run off; you are just going to get killed, or worse."

"I have to find her," she said desperately.

"We will, but we have to move," said Ragnar.

"Are you really planning on fighting your way out of a dungeon while completely naked?" Velanna asked.

"Do you have any better suggestions?" Ragnar asked.

"Were not so helpless, you and Anders are still able to use your magic," Theron pointed out.

"Ha, this is the first time I use magic naked," said Anders humorously.

They used a ballista to topple a statue onto a group of darkspawn. Ragnar didn't waste any time to allow them time to recover and quickly grabbed a sword. It was rather crude and certainly not the type he was used to, but it would have to do. He quickly bent down and slit the darkspawn throat, and quickly stripped the darkspawn of gear and headed in.

When they turned the corner, they saw a female elf turned ghoul. Ragnar blinked. Velanna snarled. "That… That ghoul has my things! She has it all! I'm going to get it back." She looked at Ragnar. "Are you with me?"

Ragnar nodded, and they charged at the ghoul, but she went down pretty easy thanks to the combined magic of Anders and Velanna. Once it was dead, Velanna removed her gear and placed it on, much to her relief. It must have been quite embarrassing for her to walk around naked alongside them.

They wandered through another tunnel, and there they found. A man was lying in a corner room, and Ragnar realised he was a Warden. He was pale, and his legs were… They'd tortured and maimed one of his Wardens.

"You're the Warden-Commander! I…" The man looked at him in surprise, and his accent marked him as Asgardian. "Wouldn't have expected to meet you here." He pulled himself into a sitting position. "Did those bastards get you too?"

"Yes, they did." He looked towards Anders, but he shook his head. They didn't get there soon enough.

"I had hoped you would avoid capture, would be luckier than the rest of us." The injured Warden coughed. "I was to help rebuild the Midgard Wardens, just as you were. We were at Vigil's Keep less than a week when the darkspawn came. I think I'm the only one left. The others are dead or worse."

Ragnar sank his head. "I arrived too late to help."

"There's no sense in regret. You must escape," he said. "The darkspawn have some kind of plan for you, and it cannot be good." He sighed. "But listen—there is a darkspawn here carrying a huge maul. He crushed my legs. He took my wedding ring. Please, Commander, slay him. Bring the ring to my wife, Nida, in Amaranthine. Tell her I died trying to make this world better."

"I'd rather bring you to your wife."

"No! I'll only slow you down. Please, do this for me. It is all I ask."

Those were his last words as he collapsed.

"He deserved a better fate," said Justice.

"They all did," said Ragnar.

They found the darkspawn, cut off its head, and then found the wedding ring. At least they were able to fulfil the Warden's last request.

It took some hunting, but they managed to find all of the armour that had been grouted by the darkspawn.

"That was the most humiliating thing in my entire life," said Nathaniel as he adjusted his gauntlets.

"Tell me about it," Ragnar muttered as he adjusted his armour.

They wandered for a bit, and then surprisingly, they came across a qunari.

"You are not supposed to be here," he said bluntly.

Ragnar folded his arms. "You make it sound as if it was my plan to get captured. Tell me did the same happened to you."

"Once," he admitted. "I made a deal with the creatures, and they set me free. I bring them supplies. They give me gold."

Ragnar found this very difficult to believe; not only were the darkspawn keeping their prisoners alive, they apparently had a hand on commerce.

"I don't suppose you know what's going on?" Ragnar asked.

"No. All I care is that the darkspawn honour our arrangement. Questioning them would be… inadvisable."

"Why in the world would a qunari do business with darkspawn?" Ragnar asked.

"The Qun is a lie. I am Tal Vashoth—"

"A what?" Anders blinked.

"He's an outsider, or exile would be a more accurate description," said Ragnar.

"You surprise me, stranger; not many people know this."

"I once fought the side with a member of the Beresaad," Ragnar explained.

"You surprise me even more; a member of the Beresaad would fight alongside an outsider."

"It's a long story, but I take it that you're only helping the darkspawn to keep yourself alive," Ragnar assumed.

"That is correct; my life is my own and no one else's."

"You're not afraid of being affected by the taint?" Ragnar asked.

"I have been promised protection."

"And why were they promise that?"

"I provide a service."

Ragnar was starting to wonder if all qunari were this blunt and this guy was even a soldier. He then remembered that Woolsey advised him to keep an eye out for any business opportunities. He wasn't quite sure how she would respond to a qunari trader, but at this point, they would probably take anyone who would offer help.

"Would you consider to trade at Vigil's Keep?" Ragnar asked.

"Vigil's Keep?" he said and began to ponder. "That is the Grey Wardens' keep, near Trader's Bay. Yes, I know it. If there is coin to be had, Armaas, we'll be there. We will meet again… if you survive this place."

They found the strange emissary in the next room. Seranni was with him, as was the dwarfing Grey Warden. The emissary gestured, and two dragons leapt down to attack.

Nathaniel and Ragnar drew out their bows and fired as many arrows as they could as the dragons jumped and leapt about. One started to breathe fire; Wartihog quickly moved in, swinging his axe at one while Justice attacked the rear of the other. Anders then cast an ice spell, freezing them both in place. Then with a good strike from both Wartihog's axe and Justice's mace, they both shattered into pieces

They turned and looked at the emissary who was with Seranni and dwarven Warden. The creature watched them a moment, then gestured for Seranni and the warden-thing to go. They went through the tunnel, and the creature used its magic to seal the tunnel behind it.

"No! Why is she with that monster? We must get to her!"

"We'll find another way," Ragnar assured. He was fairly sure her sister was lost, and it seemed she was following the creature of her own free will. That notion was seriously disturbing.

Wartihog spat. "They're darkspawn. They'll head underground, to the Deep Roads. They always do."

Velanna nodded. "The home of the children of Stone. Yes…" She turned to Ragnar. "They say Wardens can sense darkspawn even deep beneath the ground. I would join the Grey Wardens. Give me the ability to hunt down these monsters in the Deep."

Ragnar was quite surprised by this. "The Joining could kill you."

"At the very least, it's hard to get the taste out of your mouth for a few hours," said Anders.

"I am not afraid of death." She gestured.

Justice turned on Ragnar. "You cannot mean to have this murderer join our ranks! She should not be allowed to escape justice so easily!"

"I will pledge my service to you in exchange for the powers your order can grant. What say you?" said Velanna

Ragnar didn't exactly trust her and partly agreed with Justice, but right now, he was indeed shorthanded, and it appeared they were facing a greater threat than originally thought. "Very well. Welcome to the Grey Wardens."

"Ma serannas. Shall we go then? I've had enough of this place."

"You and me both, but first, I want to see what he was hiding," said Ragnar.

"What are you going to search his bedroom or something?" said Anders.

"More like his laboratory," said Ragnar, pulled out a map.

"Where did you get that?" Nathaniel asked.

"It was on the body one of the darkspawn we slew, but I imagine he probably belonged to a Grey Warden, who then used the last of his strength to make a map of the entire complex."

"In case anyone found it?" said Velanna.

"So show it see what he's been up to?" Ragnar asked.

They soon found the emissary's laboratory, and it was clear that in rather busy. In fact, the entire setup reminded him of Avernus, and that wasn't a very happy memory.

"It would seem as of this emissary has been quite busy," said Anders as he examined the vials. "What you think he was researching on?"

"This setup reminds me of a Warden mage's laboratory that we found on Soldier's Peak," said Ragnar. "He was doing research on the Blight, but mostly on how it affected the Warden body."

"You think he was doing something similar?" Velanna asked.

"It's possible," Ragnar said and then found some research notes on the desk. Sadly they appear to be some kind of code and without a cypher that he was unable to translate. "Whatever he was working on want others to interfere. Grab everything you can; I know a friend who might be able to assist us."

Meanwhile, deep within the Deep Roads, the emissary was wandering the ancient roads with the dwarf by his side.

"Unfortunate," he said. The door of looked at him, and while she did not speak, he knew what was on her mind. "No, it is lost to us now. There is no point in returning, Utha. Your former comrades are impressive. They will be difficult to convince."

She then began to walk away, but he stopped. "No, Utha. I will fulfil my promise to you. All is not lost yet. Come. We must prepare for battle."

The two of them then wandered deep within the roads.