Chapter 15: Errant Son pt1

The Elf-blooded are an understated but interesting subject in Thedas. They are sired by a human and elven parent though dwarven and qunari elf-blooded are not unheard of. The elf-blooded appear physically human and are in fact considered purely human. Indeed, the concept of being elf-blooded is a purely legal distinction, rather than a genetic one. Amongst elves the elf-blooded are typically viewed as the result of a human, often a nobleman, seducing an elf.

They may also be the product of rape which is unfortunately more common than people like to believe. Similarly, the child of an elf-blooded human and an elf is another elf-blooded human, rather than an elf. It is unknown if such a lineage would eventually become more "elven" through selective breeding. This does seem unlikely; however, as certain elven characteristics may carry on to an elf-blooded child, "fully elven" traits will not. Elf-blooded individuals could not produce an elven child together, as they are completely human (or dwarven, qunari, etc.) and inherit no elven genetics, etc., whatsoever from their elven parent.

The elven genome has been described as "adaptive" and elven reproduction in this regard has "much more to do with magic" than science or simple breeding. Appearing human, elf-blooded have the chance to live as humans if they choose, though some, such as a gentlemen I met while in Ferelden named Slim Couldry, choose to live proudly in an Alienage. The elf-blooded do not tend to distinguish themselves as a group for cultural reasons, and more often than not find themselves living amongst humans rather than elves, so Slim is a rare exception. Appearing human, however, is not a guarantee that an elf-blooded will not be discriminated against as being elf-blooded is a mark of shame on one's parentage throughout Thedas.-From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

Lowtown Bazaar

Vincento glared at Ericks, as Bethany and Leandra looked on confused on what was going on. The merchant sighed, he didn't want to getting a pointless squabble while there are sales to be made. Vincento motioned Ericks and Merrill inside where they could speak more privately. Leandra sighed in exasperation. "That boy…always getting into things" she said. "Bethany, look after your brother…wherever he goes trouble seems to follow him"

"Of course Mother" Bethany followed her brother inside while Leandra finished off the shopping. Vincento's residence was well furnished and stock for a place in Lowtown, it made one wonder why the merchant didn't move to Hightown where the coin flowed more and there was more security.

"The boy is a mage of elven blood. Do you wonder I fear for him?" Soon Bethany saw Ericks and Merrill leaving the residence looking upset. She followed them out and they got her up to date on was happening. Bethany decided she wanted to help this young boy, she remembered when she was in the boy's shoes once upon a time. They headed for the Gallows to speak with Ser Thrask.


Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of Kirkwall's history. Fifteen-hundred years ago, Kirkwall was the Tevinter Imperium's largest quarry, feeding the construction of the Imperial Highway. The Imperium's hunger for expansion led to legions of slaves forced into working the quarry. When the empire's construction phase ended, Kirkwall slid naturally into its new role as the capital of the slave trade—the Gallows at its heart.

The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and angle of the courtyard was designed by magisters bent on breaking the spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves trudging in from the docks saw what awaited Our Lady turned her armies against the Imperium, the slaves of Kirkwall revolted and claimed the city for themselves. The Gallows stood empty for two hundred years, not to be reopened until the crowning of Divine Justinia I. The Gallows transformed the city again when the abandoned prison tower became the home of Kirkwall's Circle.—From In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, by Brother Genitivi

The Gallows Courtyard

The Gallows is an isolated fortress built in the harbor just off the Kirkwall Docks. It is sometimes used to control the flow of travelers arriving by sea but predominantly functions as the home of the Templar Order in the city as well as the site of its Circle of Magi. Statues of tortured slaves fill the Gallows courtyard, a ghastly memento of Kirkwall's history. The statues are not monuments to the suffering of slaves. Every inch and angle of the courtyard was designed by magisters bent on breaking the spirit of newcomers. Executions here took place daily, sometimes hourly, and corpses were hung from gibbets throughout the yard. New slaves trudging in from the docks saw what awaited them.

A red-haired blue-eyed Templar was in front of the Gallows, the same one that spoke with Arianni. Ericks told Merrill and Bethany to hold back a little while he spoke to Thrask, they didn't want to create more targets for the Templar. "Are you the Templar who is pursuing the boy Feynriel?"

"Interesting, I didn't realize the boy was known so widely" Thrask said. "Perhaps your friend knew him in the alienage?" Ericks was taken aback a little, the Templar had an eye for detail but it seems that he only know Merrill as an elf and not a mage. Still the rogue made a note to be wary of this one. "Are you a friend of his?"

"Have you met him? What is he like?"

"From his mother's description, he sounds like any youngster we bring to the Circle…frightened of his gift, resentful at losing his freedom, convinced he is the one exception to our laws" Thrask said. "Hardly someone you would wish the power to murder people with his mind" Ericks was surprised at the Templar's tone of voice…he almost seemed sympathetic to the plight of mages.

"No young boy should have to face down demons alone" Ericks said.

"You'd be surprised by what sympathies mages evoke. I always expect people to be more wary of their powers than touched by their struggles" Thrask sighed. "If we don't find Feynriel soon, it will not matter. Either he will be taken by the demons or by less mystical predators"

"And I have said more than enough on the topic, this is a Templar matter and we will be handling it"

"Seems like you Templars could use all the help you can get"

"Hmm, true. It is surely not in the lad's bests interests to turn away anyone who seeks to find him" the Templar said. "There is a Templar, former Templar, by the name of Samson. He left the Order due to…philosophical differences. He has been known to help mages flee Kirkwall"

"If Feynriel went to him, Samson wouldn't tell me. He stays out of sight by day but I have seen him at night, near the entrance to Darktown"


Lowtown-Night

The gang waited for night and headed for Darktown's entrance. Aveline was with them; she had heard word of people disappearing in Lowtown and Darktown and wanted to investigate. When Ericks told her of Feynriel's plight, that made her suspicions grow deeper. Too many of the desperate look for ways out of their predicament only to fall into the hands of people who do not have their best interests in mind. Unfortunately Kirkwall was full of such people. Near the entrance was scraggly man with dark brown hair and raggedy clothing. He had dark bags under his eyes and eyes were dull and bloodshot. The man looked like he could barely stand and every minute he was looking over his shoulder…all tell-tale signs of a burnt out Templar suffering from lyrium withdrawal.

Templars are given lyrium to 'develop their talents' within the order but in reality it serves as incentive to keep them loyal to the Chantry, which controls the lyrium trade. Prolonged use by Templars becomes addictive, the cravings unbearable. Over time, they grow disoriented, incapable of distinguishing memory from present, or dream from waking. They frequently become paranoid as their worst memories and nightmares haunt their waking hours. Other known side effects than paranoia include obsession, and dementia.

Once a Templar is let go, they are given a single draft of lyrium as a parting gift for their years of service. Once that draft is used up, withdrawal set in with hunger pangs, weakness, headaches, forgetfulness, an unquenchable thirst, and cold hands as symptoms. Many proud men and women who joined the order out of faith and duty, end up meeting their end as husks of their former selves on the streets begging for one more hit of lyrium until the withdrawal takes them.

"What do yer know? I was told my old friend Thrask was advising yer folks to seek me out" Samson said turning. "Yer looking for the boy, right? Feyn-something?"

"I'll tell yer now, there's not much I can do fer yer"

"So you're Samson, Thrask didn't mention…"

"That I was a burned-out husk of a Templar begging fer coins in the chokedamp?" he said. "They don't keep yer, did yer know? Yer join the Order and you're free to walk away but they're the only ones with the dust"

"Lyrium…" Aveline said.

"Yep, need to drink the stuff to face down the magickers" Samson said. "Problem is, if yer ever try to stop, it just about kills yer"

"Going from hunting mages, to helping them flee. Quite the change" Ericks said.

"The mages I help, they're no more than children, discovered their magic and are scared to death" the ex-Templar said in disdain. "And why wouldn't they be? Barely left their mothers' skirts, and the Chantry tells them they have to be locked away fer their own good lest the demons hunt them and turn them into monsters"

"Conveniently forgetting to mention, that they're free to use yer fer their fucking wars" he said. "They pit us against one another, but in reality both of us are just tools to be used and thrown away"

Ericks crossed his arms. "Nice speech, your sense of charity could rival that of Andraste herself" he said dryly. "Just looking at you, I'd say you're a man who helps anyone…for the right price"

Samson raised a brow. "What kind of price?"

Ericks gave a small menacing smirk. "Help me and you don't end up floating in the harbor the next day"

"The Maker doesn't look kindly on them who tease broken old men" Samson snorted. "Right, the lad came to me, not a silver in his pockets. Told him there's nothing I can do fer him"

"I pointed him to a ship captain I know, Reiner. Sometimes he'll take on runaways, took another apostate last week. A girl I sent him"

"Might have gone wrong, though. I heard rumors he took the both of them captive instead"

"So you're friends with a kidnapper, can't say I'm surprised" Ericks said deadpan.

Samson scoffed. "Not a friend! Just someone who's not afraid to try this business" he said. "Rumor has it Reiner had the pair of them locked in the warehouse district over by the docks"

"You might want to go looking before the lad gets ransomed to the Templars…or worse"


Kirkwall Docks

Lowtown and the docks were carved out of the quarry rock by slaves when Kirkwall was part of the Tevinter Imperium. The docks are outside of the soaring city walls that border Lowtown to the north. To the south, the Gallows can be seen across the harbor. Recently a second of the docks were temporarily "gifted" to a visiting entourage of Qunari who were shipwrecked not far from Kirkwall though this seemed as much an attempt at containment as it did courtesy. They headed to the eastern district where the warehouse was heavily guarded. Someone then shouted.

"Someone at the door!"

"We can't let anyone see this. Kill everyone who's not one of ours!" The battle has begun.

A young boy's fate in the balance! Next Time! Review and Comment!