Chapter 34: Moving on Up

Hightown

Ericks exited Viscount's Keep heading for home; if the Arishok asked for him then he needed to be prepared. When they got back the family mansion, Ericks decided to use part of the cellar as a lab to craft his poison and grenades. It was nice to have his own place and even nicer not to have the neighbors complain about the noise or smell.

"Oh! There you are!" Bodahn ran up the stairs to meet up with Ericks, once he reached the top he took a breath…the old dwarf was not used to physical exertion. "I've been looking everywhere for, messere. If only you humans didn't all look the same"

"We can't all be short and bearded like your people, Bodahn"

"Indeed! It's quite a shame, really" After Ericks and the others saved his son, Sandal, Bodahn pledged to pay the rogue back out of gratitude. The next time they met, Bodahn offers to be a servant for the Hawke family…a duty he takes very seriously. While serving the family, Bodahn still keeps his store on the side allowing him to profit while being quite comfortable…a twofold victory for the dwarf. "I came to deliver this to you: the last of the proceeds from all that treasure you found in the Deep Roads" Bodahn handed the purse to Ericks.

"I knew Varric would come through" Ericks said. "Got to admit…I was a little worried at first"

"The buyers took their time inspecting what Varric brought them, they have seen too many frauds after all" Bodahn said. "Once the treasure was proven to be authentic, the buyers couldn't wait to take your friend's offer"

"I'm just glad to be rid of that purse, having that much coin in this city was making me sweat" he said. "Er, before I go, may I simply say how grateful I am that you've allowed my boy to stay in your home?"

Ericks sighed. "You don't have to say it Bodahn, Maker knows I've heard your gratitude hundreds of times" he said. "Besides, you should be thanking Ma; it was her idea after all"

"Of course, of course" Bodhan headed back to the estate while Ericks followed close behind, it was still a surreal experience being in Hightown among Kirkwall's elites. Before everyone up here would just ignore him but now everyone wanted a piece of him not that he's made it big. Of course Ericks kept his guard up, he was in the big leagues now but the snakes were no less dangerous in Hightown.


Hawke Estate

Ericks came into the mansion and was greeted by the painting of his grandfather, Aristide Amell. Leandra came to the door to welcome her son home, she was no longer wearing the rags she wore when the family was escaping Ferelden but an elegant violet gown made from the finest Orleasian silks. Bodahn went to the table to sort all the letters the estate was receiving while Sandal was playing with Romulus. Throughout the mansion the seal of the Amell/Hawke family stood proudly overhead. For the first time in a long time, Ericks was home.

"So how have you been, Ma?" Ericks asked.

"It's strange, living here again. My childhood home, now owned by my child" she said. "It's not something I could have imagined when I was a little girl starring out this window"

"I'm still grateful you used your money from the expedition to buy back the estate. I feel like an Amell again"

"You're not going to go all pompous on me, are you?"

Leandra chuckled. "You don't have to worry about that, son" she said. "If there's one thing I learned in Ferelden, it's that good people can be born in a hut as easily as a palace"

"Honestly, after so many years living the quiet life in Lothering, it feels strange to have nothing to do" she said. "I visited Bethany at the Circle"

Ericks looked at her. "How is she?"

"From what I understand the senior enchanters are impressed by her, she may be taking the Harrowing soon" Leandra said. "She seems happy enough, that is what is most important"

"If you call a Templar sword hanging over your head happy…" Ericks said. "And these Templars are as twitchy as they get"

"Bethany is a strong and smart girl, I know in my heart she'll be able to thrive"

"If you say so…" Ericks said. "If you'll excuse me, Ma, I need to prepare for my meeting with the Arishok"

Leandra gasped. "Those oxmen?! Is that why the viscount called you?" she asked. "What is that man getting you into?"

"It's nothing to worry about, we're just going to talk to keep the peace" the rogue said. "If this work out, I'll be getting some extra coin in my pocket" Leandra looked at him with a worried look. "If there's trouble, I won't be alone"

"Just be careful, remember what happened to the McMullan family when one of those beasts arrived in Lothering" Ericks remembered well, there was a qunari that arrived on the outskirts of Lothering. He was badly injured and the McMullan family found him. After a few weeks the qunari work up and murdered the entire family that took him in and nursed him back to health. Soon afterwards the Templars captured the qunari and imprisoned him in the center of the town. The last thing he heard about the qunari was a Grey Warden requesting his release and the qunari following the warden out of town. "You can never predict what those things will do"

Ericks went up to his room…his room, it was such a strange feeling as he had to always share with someone throughout his life. It was nice not having Gamlen's ale breath stink up the room. As for Gamlen, unbelievably Leandra forgave her brother despite him trying to screw over his own flesh and blood. She even offered Gamlen a room at the estate but he refused and decided to stay in Lowtown. Perhaps he didn't want to see his own family rub the wealth he squandered in his face. After a bath, he wore a red and grey casual robe that once belonged to his grandfather. Bodhan came into the room.

"Messere Hawke, Guard Captain Aveline is downstairs" Ericks went to meet with her.

"You've settled in nicely" she said.

"It's just luck…and skill"

"Indeed. Still, more coin never hurts, right? Say if someone wanted to pass some work your way..?"

"So, how can I be of service this time?" Ericks asked.

"Someone's trying to be a guard…poorly" Aveline said. "Remember Emeric?"

"The grumpy Templar looking for the missing women?" Ericks asked. "He's still at it?"

Aveline nodded. "He wants your help and some sort of official sanction" Ericks raised a brow. "For his 'investigation'. He's convinced that every random murder in the past few years is connected, and he won't be quiet" Aveline and her guards had been investigating the murders on her own when Emeric wasn't badgering her. The Templar somehow convinced one of her lieutenants to raid the DuPuis mansion. When nothing was found there, Aveline had to do a lot of ass kissing to get the family off of her back. "Bloody hobbyist constable" she said. "Why can't he spend his declining years building a boat or something?"

"Sounds like it should be easy to prove if there are bodies"

"Kirkwall isn't the safest place but that doesn't mean every terrible thing that happens is related" Aveline said. "There's no sense to that, can't be"

"Muzzle the geezer, got it" Ericks said.

"I wouldn't say that…but if it leads somewhere genuine, I'll pick it up on your word" she said. "If he shuts up, that's good too" She turned around and headed for the door. "He's in the Gallows. Thanks, Hawke. I appreciate it"


Docks-Qunari compound

The gang was at the qunari compound to speak with the Arishok. Isabela was with them but as soon she saw they were going into the qunari compound, she had somewhere else to go. A strange time to remember a past obligation but it shouldn't be any trouble since the gang was there to talk not fight. The docks were almost dead empty due to people being nervous about the qunari. With activity in the docks slowed down, a lot of merchants could not get their wares for their businesses which meant people couldn't get what they needed for day to day life. This added to the tension with the qunari. Despite this, the qunari mostly kept to themselves, how long this would stand was anyone's guess. "It seems the Qunari aren't exactly in a hurry to return home" Fenris said. The gang met up with the Arishok.

"Serah Hawke"

"You know my name…flattering" Ericks said.

"No I did not, nor did I care to know" the Arishok said. "You have changed your fortune over the years, the qunari have not"

"I offer a courtesy, Hawke. Someone has stolen what he thinks is the formula for gaatlok" he said. "You will want to hunt him"

"That's quite the feat, I don't know if that was bold or just plain stupid" Varric said.

"It was allowed" the Arishok said. "The stolen formula was a decoy. Saar-qamek, a poison gas not explosives"

"Poison gas…that's not good" Ericks said. "How dangerous is this saar-qamek?"

"A small amount is dangerous enough to your kind, but if made in quantity, perhaps by someone intending to sell it…" There was only one person Ericks knew that want the qunari's explosive, the dwarven merchant Javaris. It seems he hasn't given up on the gaatlok and done something stupid that might have put the city in danger.

"Fuck…that pain in the ass again"

"Would he be cautious, or would he assume success and make enough to threaten a district?" the Arishok asked. "A courtesy, Hawke. You will want to hunt him"

"Varric, any idea where we can find Javaris?"

"Heard about a sell-off a couple of days ago. Merchant territories and such" the dwarf said. "They don't do that unless someone left in a hurry"

"I'd have figured he rooked some noble because he's sure not a burglar"

"Even idiots get lucky every blue moon" Fenris said.

"That's true and Javaris is every bit an idiot, as for where he is…I don't keep up with him, he's too small time for Guild business" Varric said. "Ask the Coterie, they'll do business with anyone and poison gas is definitely up their alley"

"Panahedan, Hawke. It will be interesting to see if you die"

"Weird way to say 'good luck' but thanks?"


Darktown

Kirkwall is built on a solid foundation of greed and human suffering, and its underworld is a place where everything is for sale and everyone is fair game. There are many criminal empires within the city, some of which have been around since the Imperium used Kirkwall as a hub in the slave trade. Alliances, spying, manipulation, betrayal, and open warfare is all commonplace in the never-ending struggle for power. The Coterie is an old criminal enterprise but until recently it was never a major player in the underworld. Some twenty years ago, the strongest of the local criminal empires was an ancient guild known as the Sabrathan, but its leader was betrayed from within, and during the turmoil the Coterie made a successful grab for power. Since then, they've sunk their claws into almost every level of Kirkwall, including the city guard, the Dwarven Merchants Guild, and some of the most influential citizens in the city. It's safe to say that the Coterie gets a slice of every pie, and very little goes on in Kirkwall that escapes their notice.

"Turn up your purses, Kirkwall. The leases of Javaris Tintop are up for grabs!" The gang walked up to the Coterie barker.

"You selling the assets of Javaris Tintop?" Ericks asked.

"We are, limited districts, limited contracts. Keeps territory clear and separated from the start" the barker said. "He had a meager lot, but he's skipped with dues outstanding, so up it goes"

"Sounds like he's made a few friends. Can one of them point me his way?"

The hunt is on…Next Time! Review and Comment!