Chapter 28: Shepherding Wolves pt2
Kirkwall Chantry
Ericks went to the Chantry; he needed a second opinion on the sister that he just met last night. He spotted Sebastian standing near the altar listening to the sisters speaking a passage from the Chant of Light. Despite his actions being against what the Chantry stands for, the Grand Cleric allowed the prince to stay at the chantry. "Ah serah Hawke welcome" Sebastian said. "Come to listen to the Chant? I find it calming in these…vexing times"
"No luck with the viscount I take it?"
"He said he couldn't spare the resources" the prince said. "He was too worried about certain guests in the city"
"Ah, the qunari…well they do have that effect on people" Ericks said. "Sebastian, how well acquainted are you with the sisters and brothers here?" Sebastian looked at him curiously and Ericks told him about what happened last night. Ericks got a name, Petrice, she was a sister that worked closely with Grand Cleric Elthina and was thought of as part of her inner circle. It was considered unusual as a typical lay sister wouldn't have that kind of access to the upper echelon of the Chantry without a promotion. Nevertheless Sister Petrice was seen as very pious and devout, sometimes intensely so perhaps due to what happened to her in the past.
Before joining the Chantry, Petrice was accustomed to a much different life. Her father was Lord Durand, and the family expected to be societal peers to families such as the de Launcets. As a result, Petrice was raised in a sheltered fashion. Their holdings in Val Royeaux were attacked and subsequently destroyed in 9:22 Dragon. Petrice joined the Chantry sometime after that event.
"Honestly I don't believe you have anything to worry about" Sebastian said. Ericks didn't look too convinced. "If it worries you that much, I shall go with you"
"Fine by me, best to have extra eye in case a knife is pointed to my back"
The Qun teaches that all living things have a place and a purpose, and only when they are in the correct place and in control of their self may a being attain balance. When balance is lost, suffering follows. Mastery of the self is, therefore, the first and greatest duty.
Those born with magic are at a terrible disadvantage, for demons can always rob them of their self. Because of this, the Qunari name them saarebas, meaning "dangerous thing," and treat them with the utmost caution. Saarebas must be carefully controlled by someone else, an arvaarad, "one who holds back evil," because they cannot truly control themselves. The evil is not the mage, but the loss of the mage, the loss of the mage's self, and the suffering that inevitably follows. The Qunari pity and honor the saarebas, for striving while under constant threat from within is truly selfless, which is the highest virtue of the Qun. —From the writings of the seer of Kont-aar, 8:41 Blessed
Lowtown-Old City Slums
The gang headed down to the slums to meet with Sister Petrice, when they went inside Varell was in front of them with his sword out. "I'm expected" The Templar looked at Petrice and the sister motioned him to put down his weapon. She looked surprised at seeing Prince Sebastian with them but calmly addressed Ericks.
"I thank you for coming. This matter is delicate, and I need someone of…limited notoriety who will not link this to me" she said. "It is an escort, but I think you will agree, the nature of the party makes this…unique"
"That's a lot of words for a whole lot of nothing" Ericks said. "Do get to the point, Petrice"
Petrice looked at Sebastian. "I have assumed a burden of charity. This is my charge" A large qunari came out to meet them, his horns were cut and his face covered in a gold mask with his mouth stitched closed. He wore a large collar around his neck that restricted his arm movement; it was connected to a harness by large chains. The world treats all mages with caution, but the Qunari are especially hard on their own. The strict and regimented treatment of Circle mages by the templars pales in comparison to that of the Saarebas by the Qunari. Whereas the Circle mages have relative freedom within their towers, Saarebas are seemingly prisoners within their own body, donning a set of heavy pauldrons with chains attached to them, perhaps to act as a form of leash, while their faces are hidden beneath a metal visor. In extreme cases their lips may be stitched together. If found practicing forbidden magic, their tongues are cut out to prevent them from corrupting others.
"Andraste's breath…" Anders said.
"She'va dhal…" Merrill said.
"Would even a Templar bind a mage like this?" Petrice asked walking towards the qunari. "A survivor of infighting with their Tal-Vashoth outcasts. I call him 'Ketojan,' a bridge between worlds"
"The viscount and others, feel that peace begins with appeasement. This mage would likely be returned to his brutal kin" she said. "He can serve a better purpose. I want him free, he must be guided from the city without alerting his people, or being seen in my care"
"Whoo boy…aren't we playing with fire?" Ericks said. "The Arishok is not going to like this..."
Petrice was taken aback. "You…have dealt with their leader?"
"Dealt is a strong word…more like I was sucked into somebody else's shit and got nothing out of it"
"Nevertheless, you have interacted with Qunari, you know how they treat those who leave their heathen order. The Arishok would doom this poor creature" she said. "But knowing them is useful. If they challenged you, attacking an ally would only confirm their barbarism. You are still right for the task"
"Okay, say I do help you…can he fight? Can I trust him?" Ericks asked.
"I don't know his capabilities, or if he can function at all in that collar. But I think he knows we are his only way out" Ericks looked at the qunari, so far he had no reaction since they were talking.
"Yes, so expressive this one is…"
"He has followed every direction, and made no aggressive moves even when taunted. Were I in his place, I could have fled" Petrice said. "Qunari or not, I can only assume he wants to be led to freedom"
"And if you're wrong, we have to deal with it"
"That is why I went to Lowtown. You are either capable of the discretion and skill that I need or you are not" The gang was still amazed that the sister was able to meet a saarebas, the qunari were very protective of what they considered theirs. Petrice believed the saarebas was a deserter of the Qun or a Tal-Vashoth, next to Tevinter the Tal-Vashoth was their other greatest enemy. Those that leave the Qun are haunted and the battles tend to be very bloody as Ser Varnell observed. Ketojan was apparently the only survivor, but Ericks wasn't sure he was of the Tal-Vashoth and Petrice was just assuming things.
"If you were so concerned about this, why not talk to the Grand Cleric?" Sebastian asked.
"Shiny's right, certainly the Chantry's resources could help you better than we can?" Ericks asked.
"The order will soon realize the Qunari presence is more than a test of faith…it is an open challenge. But for now, I must act on my own" she said. "Helping this mage shows how Qunari heresy cannot be ignored, his flight is vital"
"And where exactly will Ketojan go? A new life with that collar seems doubtful"
"And yet it is more than he has, my reach is limited. His struggle is his own"
Ericks crossed his arms. "It seems more like releasing a bird…with the bird still inside the cage"
"We do what we can to step toward what is right, that must be enough"
"This is a lot to put on someone you don't know"
"If you were important enough to know, I would need someone else. But if you insist: What is your family name?"
"Hawke"
"Strong, very Fereldan" Petrice said. "I understand your skepticism, the Qunari have hardly pressured the southern nations. You couldn't see many converts or those who refused"
"If this action…if any action can lessen their influence, it must be done" she said. "And there will be good coin in this for you"
Ericks sighed. "I can get him out of Kirkwall, though he'll be quite the sight for the streets"
"I had never thought about the plight of mages among the Qunari" Anders said. "But they are even more oppressed than we are"
Merrill looked at the qunari and shook her head in pity. "Why would they do this to him?"
"That is obviously not an option. You must avoid incident with the guards…I cannot be linked to this" Petrice said. "This mage will be a fine example of how cruel Qunari are, even to their own. But only if this plays out just so"
"The Passage here leads to the warrens of the Undercity. It is dangerous, but that is why you were hired. Good luck" They headed for the passage in the back with the large qunari in tow.
The Undercity
"Back in the Undercity with a hornless mage…this day is just perfect" Ericks said dryly.
"I'm all for freeing mages from oppression but it's obvious Petrice is just using Ketojan as an excuse for her holy war against the Qunari" Anders said. "We should prepare ourselves when this turns on us"
"We always do" The gang went through the Undercity fighting off the giant spiders that made a nest here. It was much better than fighting of the abominations and demons from last time but no less annoying. When then last nest of spiders fell, there was Ketojan standing there like a bump on a log. While saarebas do not receive a proper instruction and are essentially hedge mages, they are said to be much more powerful than most human or elf mages. They are considered weapons and as such are trained with the focus on destruction.
"He's not very helpful, is he?" Merrill asked.
"I'm starting to think Petrice got a defective saarebas" Ericks said. "Ah well at least he knows to stay out of danger" The gang saw the end of the Undercity in sight and right in front were some heavily armed people. Ericks groaned. "Just our luck…"
"What the blazes is this? Look like a walking armory"
"Looking to step out of mommy's shadow? How many days off the teat, I wonder?"
"Look at this. Undercity's feared by all, but there's no shortage of fools with coin who want to test it" the leader look at Ketojan. "What is this thing, collared like a dog lord's bitch?"
"You some sort of Qunari lover?" Maybe I should get rid of you and see who'll pay the most for your pet" Ketojan then started to growl, the most he's done since coming with them.
The lieutenant took a step back a little. "Uh, I don't think it likes you threatening its master…maybe we should let this one pass"
Ericks crossed his arms and looked at the leader. "A voice of reason. What's he doing with you?" The leader then got into Ericks' face.
"You lot think you're so damned right, buying everything, running Marchers like me into our own sewers" While it was still hard for some of the Fereldan refugees in Kirkwall, some of them were starting thrive gaining jobs within the city or opening up businesses. However it wasn't without its consequences some of the natives were having a hard time looking for work as Fereldans worked for a lot cheaper and Marcher businesses were closing down due to Fereldan products being cheaper but of much better quality. As such there have been tensions between the refugees and the locals. "You want us bound, like this thing. I'll see you dead first"
He pulls out a knife about to stab Ericks, Ketojan raises his hand and blows back all of the thugs. Ericks could just look at the qunari in shock that was some powerful magic. "By the Void! Kill it! Kill them all!"
Trouble in the Undercity! Next Time! As always Review and Comment!
