Chapter 8: The Lost Warden

Lowtown-Night

"He's got friends!"

"He was supposed to be alone! Get them!" The Coterie attacked, Ericks threw a flask at the thugs and stunned them while Aveline took them down. Yell was heard, Donnic was down clutching his sides, he was about to be finished off before Bethany froze the thug in place with a winter spell. Together the gang and the guards fought off the Coterie until the thieves gave up and ran way. The rest of guard went on the lookout while Aveline and Ericks put away their weapons and went to check on Donnic who was being healed by Bethany.

"How is he, Bethany?" Aveline asked.

"He's fortunate, the blade didn't go in deep" she said. "A few days rest and he'll be fine" Aveline went and helped Donnic up, he was still dazed.

"Who…Ave…Aveline?" He then gave a small smile. "You're a beautiful sight" Ericks smirked while Bethany covered her mouth with a gasp.

"Guardsman…?" Aveline was blushing furiously, she then shook her head, Donnic was probably hit on the head and that's why he was saying such things. Donnic eyes went wide after realizing what he just said and pulled away looking very flustered.

"Uh…I mean, I was on patrol and they came out of nowhere" he said. "I took a few down but there were too many at once" Donnic's knees buckled and he lost balance only for Aveline to catch him making him blush.

"Hey easy, you're still hurt, remember?" Aveline said concerned. Ericks shook his head in amusement until he spotted the guard satchel on the ground and went to check it out.

"Uh, sorry…" Donnic said. "This route was supposed to be quiet, the captain said so"

"Well, it would seem your captain is a liar as well as a crook" Ericks brought the satchel over and opened it wide. Aveline and Donnic gasped when they saw what was in the satchel: the seal of the viscount, office details and city accounts. If the Coterie got their hands on those items, the thieves' guild would have free reign in Kirkwall. And with that free reign, the guard captain would stand to benefit.

Aveline frowned. "He was going to sacrifice his own men for profit. Jeven will answer for this"

"Government is a good fit for him" Ericks said dryly. "He certainly got the back-stabbing down"

Aveline shook her head. "Not the time, Ericks. Jeven likes his thieves so much, let's see if they welcome him in prison" she said. "We head for the viscount's office in the morning"


Viscount's Keep

Aveline made good on her promise because on the next day, the viscount soon stripped Jeven of his title and made Aveline the new guard captain of Kirkwall. It was a surprise to be sure for Aveline as she was not looking to take Jeven's place but sure enough she gave her first order: the arrest of the former guard captain. The entire keep bared witness to the guardsmen marching into Jeven's office and taking him away in chains. Jeven yelled and struggled as he was carried away from his office. "How dare you! I am guard captain! I will not be treated like this!" he glared at Aveline and Ericks, the two dog lords responsible for this indignity. "Fereldan bitch! This was none of your affair! I'll see you hanged! Quartered! This will not stand!"

Ericks smirked. "Enjoyed the show, Avi?"

"Not how I picture this" Aveline said. "But yes, this has made my day" Aveline looked around the office and gave a sigh; this was now all hers…this was going to take some time getting used to. A red haired man dressed in fine clothes came into the office, Bran Cavin, the administrative assistant and chief adviser to Viscount Dumar. He was responsible for managing Kirkwall's bureaucratic establishment.

"We found a number of debts to…suspect peoples. Such poor character" Bran said. "I hope you prove to be of better character than he was"

"I will, the guard deserves better than him, messere"

"Indeed, now while I agree with the viscount, he was hasty in his decision" the seneschal said. "You will not be captain right now; there will need to be training, approvals. Months to set everything up, you understand"

Aveline nodded. "Of course"

"Resolve any outstanding business, Guardswoman. You'll be very busy" Aveline turned to the desk and rubbed it fondly.

"Thank you, Wesley…"

"Not sure I like being behind the dead in order of influence" Ericks said dryly.

Aveline rolled her eyes. "And thank you too, Ericks" she then sighed. "I've made a mess of things, time to time…but that failure…"

"He's not with me, I know that. Wesley's at the Maker's side or he's not" she said. "Either way, he knows no pain"

"He seemed a good man, for a Templar. I sure he's found peace" Bethany said.

"What keep is that moment. I won't let anyone down like that again"

"So…now that the law is on our side…" Ericks said.

"No" Aveline said simply. "You'll behave yourself, is what you'll do. Same to you dwarf"

"Madam, I would never…" Varric said.

"I just sent Jeven to prison over corruption. I won't go the same road"

"Well you're no fun…"

Bethany shook her head. "Thank goodness for that"

Aveline chuckled a little. "I think that's best for everyone" she said. "Now if you excuse me, I have to make some preparations, I want to hit the ground running when I'm approved"

"Well, we'll leave you to it then, I look forward to working with you, Guard-Captain Avi"


Lowtown

Ericks, Varric, and Bethany headed to Lowtown to look for a woman named Lirene. They were pointed to a store in the east of the district. Apparently Lirene was a merchant that provided aid to the Fereldan refugees, including food and jobs. She was one of the few natives that were doing anything for the refugees. When they got to the store, there were long lines that stretched out of the building and around. "Will everyone please just step back!"

"My mother's in labor! The baby's come early. Can anyone help her?" Lirene and her people looked stressed, because so little helped the refugees the store was swarmed to the point they were threatened to be overwhelmed. Ericks came up to the counter.

"If you're seeking aid, leave your name with my girl" she said. We serve everyone here; no one came from Ferelden without trouble"

"But I can't give priority to anyone who's already found work and lodging"

"Is there a way to help these people?" Bethany asked.

"If you've coin to spare, we won't turn is down. We have a box for donations up front" Lirene said. "Now if that's all, I have people to serve"

"Actually we're looking for someone, a Grey Warden from Ferelden" Ericks said. Lirene stopped a little and then turned her head.

"The only warden from Ferelden I've heard of is now sitting on the throne" she said. "We're out of the Blight's path now, why would you need a Warden?"

A woman spoke up. "The healer was one of them once, wasn't he? A Warden?"

"Well, he's not now and busy enough without the fool questions"

"Then I'll only ask very smart questions"

Lirene frowned. "I do not joke, serah" she said. "You what our people are facing, they have no jobs, no homes. Most can barely buy bread"

"This healer, he serves without coin" she said. "He's closed their wounds, delivered their children"

"All that and he needs to hide?" Varric asked.

"He's a good man; I won't lose him to those blighted Templars"

"Ah, he's a mage that's quite the risk you're taking" Ericks said.

Lirene looked at the staff behind Bethany. "I could say the same about you" she said. "Healing magic is in high demand and yet those blasted Templars would rather keep the people whose needed the most under lock and key for fear of their gifts"

We would never turn someone over to the Templars, Mistress. Never" Bethany said.

"I suppose it isn't my secret to keep. Anders has certainly been free enough with his services" Lirene said. "Refugee in Darktown know to find the healer, look for the lit lantern"

"If you have need enough, Anders will be within" The trio left the store to head for Darktown where they were met with heavily armed refugees…mostly likely they were hired guards to keep the peace in the store. They looked very unhappy to see them.

"Uh problems, gentlemen?" Ericks asked.

"We heard you in there asking about the healer" one of them said. "We know what happens to mages in town and it ain't gonna happen to him"

Ericks sighed. "Funny how everyone wants to be near a mage, once they need shit" he said. "Betty?"

"Look, we're Fereldans just trying to keep out of the templars' sight, same as you" The refugees guards looked at each other and then backed down.

"You're one of us? But…you, your clothes…I figured you a native, hmm sorry" he said. The lead guard bowed. "Maker bless the rule of our King Alistair" They went back to their post and the trio resumed their travel to Darktown.


Darktown was once a mine controlled by the Tevinter Imperium. Once exhausted, the mine shafts were extended under the city to dispose of sewage from Kirkwall's overcrowded population of slaves. Unsurprisingly, the tunnels became a refuge for those fleeing captivity. A similar trend continues today. The "Undercity," as some call it, is home to the diseased, the insane, to criminals, and even the dead—unwanted corpses are often discarded here by murderers and lazy undertakers.

Darktown's slums makes Lowtown look pleasant in comparison. The foul miasma known as chokedamp clogs and swells in every corner of the Darktown, creating a poisonous mist. Its sewers are a dangerous place. The walls are damp, slick, and coated with phosphorescent lichen. The sewer is a maze, and one foolish enough to enter is not likely to be heard from again.—From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

Darktown

An area of Kirkwall that is derelict and destitute, Darktown is a den of iniquity, where only the most pitiable souls dwell. They say it is only a step up from the elven Alienage, but at least the Alienage isn't polluted with chokedamp that covers the streets in a toxic fog. Many Fereldan refugees fled into Darktown in desperation, after finding the gates of Kirkwall firmly shut due to the overflow of refugees fleeing the Fifth Blight.

Darktown is a hive of crime, with many criminal bases there. This is due to the non-existence of guards in the sewers, due to either Darktown being an unrecognised district, or purely because it is considered a lost cause. The dwarven Carta had a strong presence in Darktown following their elimination in Orzammar during the Blight. Slavers also prowl Darktown, likely searching for easy prey too feeble to fight back. Disease is also widespread in Darktown, and its afflicted denizens either depend on the kindness of learned strangers to heal them, or simply wait as the disease spreads, lacking the funds to buy medicine.

"Welcome to Darktown, where the only thing certain here is the smell of shit and getting stabbed" Varric said. "I imagine Orzammar is like this, only with breads and an overwhelming sense of superiority"

They followed the lanterns and found an old mine shaft being used as a makeshift clinic. There a blonde haired man in light brown robes adorned with feathers was healing a young boy with his worried family surrounding him. His hands were glowing with magic as he moved his hands with great concentration. With a gasp, the boy woke up and his family came and hugged him. The mage sat back on a chair as he grabbed a rag to wipe his forehead. As the trio came close, his eyes started to glow and he grabbed his staff ready to fight.

"I have made this place a sanctum of healing and salvation, state your business!"

Anders is back! But how is he alive?! Next Time! As Always Review and Comment!