Chapter 45: Family Matter
The history of noble House Tethras stretches back to the foundation of Orzammar. The memories say that three times, a child of House Tethras took the office of Assembly Steward. They held appointments in the Shaperate of Memories and the Shaperate of Golems. But no longer.
In the second year of the reign of King Endrin Aeducan, Lord Andvar Tethras was found guilty before the Assembly of willfully manipulating Proving matches in favor of his House. For this affront to the Ancestors, he and all his House were sentenced to exile on the surface. Andvar died a mere five years later, leaving behind his Lady Ilsa, ten-year-old Bartrand, and two-year-old Varric.
Exile, surface life, and the loss of her husband conspired against Lady Ilsa, who took to drink, leaving young Bartrand to manage what was left of House Tethras. By the time he was fifteen, Bartrand had doubled his family's fortune. The disgrace of House Tethras fueled his ambition and his once-noble title gave him an instant place among the kalnas, the old money elite of the Dwarven Merchants Guild; he used it to build alliances and business ventures as if he were a member of the Orzammar Assembly.
By the time Lady Ilsa died, Bartrand had made the Tethras family one of the Guild's most influential, but wealth and power on the surface couldn't sate him. He began to court alliances with the wealthiest ascendant families, branching into banking and mercenary companies. Guild members mutter that nothing will satisfy Bartrand but a complete reconstruction of House Tethras' estate in Orzammar-down to the rivers of lava-built in Kirkwall.-From the Tethras Family Archives
The Hanged Man-Few Days Ago
After a busy day of protecting a fragile peace, Varric invited Ericks for a drink at the Hanged Man. When he got to the tavern, Ericks spotted the dwarf in front of the fireplace looking rather stoic. "Hawke, I've got some news" he said. "You might not want to be near anything breakable when I tell you, though"
"Sound's serious, why don't I buy you a pint and we'll talk?"
"You just keep making this harder! Although I won't say no to a pint, if you're buying" Varric said. "I've been keeping an ear out for Bartrand. After the Deep Roads, the bastard ran to Rivain probably because he knew I couldn't track him"
"But I heard he might be back in Kirkwall. He called in loans from a few of his contacts in Hightown"
"Was he staying or just passing through?" Ericks asked.
"If I know my information and it's always good, he has a house in Hightown" he said. "Which means we can have a word with my dear, sweet brother"
"You sound almost giddy about that talk…kinda creepy"
"Me? My no-account, backstabbing brother is practically in arm's reach! I couldn't be better"
"Would Bartrand really risk coming back here?"
"I think we both know by now that Bartrand would risk anything for money" Varric said. "That trinket he stole? There's a much better market to sell here and all his contacts are in Kirkwall"
"Well then, we've have a lot of catching up to do"
"I agree! Bianca's been missing him something awful" the dwarf said. "Let's stop by his new house. Welcome him back to the neighborhood, and all that"
Hightown-Night
The gang made their way to Bartrand's estate; the gang expected a bunch of guards protecting Varric's brother but instead found a decrepit mansion with no protection. "Bartrand really hasn't done much with this place, has he?"
"I don't get it…my sources saw people making deliveries here just a week ago. This…looks like it's been empty for months"
"You think the cobwebs are there to discourage tax collectors?" Ericks asked dryly.
Varric snorted. "You're thinking it's a trap? Great…It's been ages since my brother tried to kill me" Varric went into the mansion where the dwarf was met with a dozen or so assassins. The leader narrowed his eyes as did Varric, the dwarf clenched his fist. "So that's how you greet your brother is it, Bartrand? Fine…say hello, Bianca!" Varric took out his crossbow as the assassins started to scatter and attacks. Varric rained down a hail of arrows to maul Bartrand's guards.
"You want a piece of me?!" Varric flipped out of the way of the archer's arrows and pinned the archers to the wall. He then loaded an explosive arrow and fired, the arrow blew them out of the window. "Bartrand! I'm coming for you, you nug-humping bastard!" The dwarf rampaged across the mansion leaving destruction and dead bodies in his wake.
"Let's dance, you sons of bitches!" Several guards with axes ran into the room, Varric quickly turned around and fired an arrow that tore through the guards in a single straight line. Behind the last guard was Bartrand on his knees, pleading for mercy.
"Oh, Varric! Please forgive me, my brother. I was just jealous of you" the pathetic dwarf said. "How could I ever compete with you for Mother's love?"
Hawke Estate-9:40 Dragon
"You're strong and handsome and so very smart!" Cassandra crossed her arms with a rather annoyed look on her face. "What?"
"Why lie now about this? What have you to gain?"
"What do you want from me, Seeker?" I broke in, I found my brother, and it was awkward. Family business"
Cassandra shook her head. "No. I think there's more to it"
Varric sighed. "Fine…" he said. "You want the details, I'll give you the details but I should warn you though…shit gets, er…disturbing"
What Really Happened-Bartrand's Estate
The gang headed inside where they were met with a ransacked inside and two dead bodies greeting them. Varric checked the bodies and frowned. "These corpses aren't even stiff yet, Hawke. Somebody's been in here today" The door slammed opened and the guards rushed in without warning. Something was wrong with them though; their attacks were wild and unfocused all while they spoke some mad nonsense…something about hearing a song. The guards were dealt with quickly. "What did my brother do to these men? They were completely out of their heads" The gang continued throughout the estate fighting off the crazed guards, Anders burned them to cinders while Ericks and Isabela cut them down quickly. As the rest of the gang fought, Varric disabled all the traps in their way. After dealing with the latest batch of guards, the gang turned the corner into the next room to catch a breath. When they opened the door, the gang spotted more bodies. This time they were butchered like animals with limbs and organs all over the place…the sight was enough to make one sick.
"Bartrand…what have you done?"
After catching their breath, the gang headed for the main hall where the large station of guards attacked. Anders unleashes a bolt of flame that explodes, scattering and scorching the enemy. Ericks and Isabela cut down the stragglers while Varric took down the archers upstairs. Once the gang finished the fight, Varric disabled another trap and headed for Bartrand's quarters. As they reach his room something catches Varric's eyes and he turns left.
"Varric? Is that you? Praise the Ancestors!" A dwarven man in red and gold attire approached them.
"Friend of yours, Varric?" Isabela asked.
"In a way…he's Bartrand's steward" he said. "Hugin? What happened here?" In the Deep Roads, Bartrand took the red lyrium idol and left the gang to die underground. But that was only the beginning of the trouble for Bartrand…soon afterwards he could be seen stroking the idol and talking to it. Bartrand would often say that the idol sang the most beautiful song to him and would often get hostile when someone got close to the statue. Worried about what was happening to him, Bartrand's advisors pleaded for him to get rid of the idol…some even going so far to threat to quit leaving House Tethras in disarray and strengthening the family's rivals in the Merchant's Guild. Bartrand reluctantly sold it but the idol's influence was still felt, and soon it started to spread.
" I've been hiding here, but the guards…they're like crazed animals. I didn't dare go past them" Hugin said. "Everyone in this house has gone mad!"
"We've seen bodies all over the mansion, I shudder to ask but what happened to them?" Ericks asked.
"I don't know what Bartrand did to them. By the Ancestors, the sounds coming from his study…" he said shakenly. "They're the lucky ones…"
"Lucky ones?! Last I check being dead was considered a bad thing"
"Varric…whoever…whatever you find in that room, please...please give them a merciful death"
"What did he do?" Varric asked reluctantly.
"He's been forcing them to eat lyrium. Some of the servants, he…cut pieces off them while they were still alive" Hugin said. "He says he's trying to help them hear the song. Please, stop him"
"Bartrand's not exactly a nice guy, but…this doesn't sound like my brother"
"No it doesn't, he sounds more like a…darkspawn under the command of an Archdemon" Anders said disturbed.
"You said he sold the statue? To who?" Ericks asked.
"I don't know. It's why we came back to Kirkwall. He was already starting to rant about the sodding idol and its singing" Hugin said. "On his better days, he hated the thing, wanted to get rid of it"
"But the minute it was gone, he got worse"
"If that isn't crazy, I don't know what is" Isabela said.
"I've heard enough, we need to get him. Let's finish this" Varric said. Hugin was quick to get out when he got the chance and the gang headed for the Bartrand's study. They entered the room, there was no one in there but they was no other exit the dwarf could have gone through unless he could suddenly turn into a bird and fly out through the cracks in the ceiling. They then heard the door close behind them, with Bartrand looking like he was going to gut the gang.
"I'll make you blood and bones sing for me" Bartrand went in with a crazed look in his eye while swinging his blade wildly. The gang dodged the blows and saw that the dwarf had enough strength to punch a hole into the next room. Along with his crazy new strength there was his blistering speed, even Ericks and Isabela couldn't keep up with such rapid and erratic movements. He went for Varric, the younger dwarf rolled away and Bartrand's blade was stuck in the wall. While he tried to pull the blade out, the gang unleashed everything they had on Bartrand…the dwarf took the kind the blows to the body that would kill most people and cripple a Qunari.
Bartrand dropped to his knees. "I can't…I can't…hear it anymore. I just need to hear the song again…just for a minute…" He then snapped his head around and yelled. "Stop saying that! I know I shouldn't have sold the idol to that woman! It was a mistake! A mistake…"
"He's not even looking at us…whatever grabbed him has quite the grip" Isabela said.
Varric came over to his brother and shook him."Bartrand, get ahold of yourself! Do you know where you are? Do you know what you've done?" He looked at Varric and the gang prepared their weapons just in case.
"Varric! You'll help me, won't you, little brother? Help me find it again? You were always the good one…"
"Help you? Bartrand, you left me to die! You left all your men to die! And for what? Some trinket?" he asked angrily. "Look at yourself! Look at what you've done to the men and women who served you! Where's your nobility, Brother? Where is your dwarven honor?"
"Anders, can you something?" Ericks asked.
The mage shook his head. "This doesn't fell natural. If he wasn't a dwarf, I'd think a demon did this. His mind has been…poisoned by something powerful" Anders then took a piece of the Fade and implanted it inside Bartrand, something to brake the haze…if only temporarily. "That's all I can do, I'm sorry. Make the best of this as you can"
Bartrand looked around, his eyes cleared of the madness. "Varric?" The younger dwarf's anger subsided and could only feel pity for his brother.
"I'm here"
"By the Stone, what have I done…?" Bartrand asked in quiet horror.
"Do you remember? Any of it?" Ericks asked.
"I remember some things clearly and other times…I feel like I'm being drowned in a sea of crimson" Bartrand said fearfully. He then grasped Varric tightly as tears fell from his eyes. "Make it stop, little brother. Don't let me…don't let House Tethras fall like this"
"I know…I don't deserve it. But please, Varric…don't leave me like this. Make it stop"
"Enough with the speeches! I'll get you to a healer, and you'll be fine" Of course the dwarf was fooling himself, what was happening to his brother was beyond his control. The thirst for vengeance washed out of Varric, any action against his brother now was like kicking a wounded animal.
"We can probably carry him. You want to take his arms while I take his legs?"
Varric sighed. "I'll send someone to come get him" he said. "Sit tight, Brother. Help is on the way" The gang walked out of the mansion leaving Bartrand with only his madness…the sooner they got out, the better. The walk home was silent and uncomfortable but Ericks could tell Varric wanted to say something.
"Need something, Varric?"
"A stiff drink, maybe. I feel like I've been kicked by a horse" he said. "I almost wish Blondie hadn't wiggled his fingers and cleared Bartrand's head. I liked it better when I just wanted to kill the bastard"
"If I had any doubts about who was the better brother, they're long gone" Ericks said. "You did good"
"Aww please, Hawke, there was never any doubt. I'm the handsome, irresistibly charming one" Varric said. "I'll…deal with Bartrand somehow. Maker, that'll be even more of a joy than it used to be"
"I still can't believe it…what he did in that house. Leaving us to die was one thing but that?"
"Come on, Varric. Let's go drink until we can't see straight. That'll make you feel better"
Varric smirked. "Aw, that's sweet but watching you get sick won't cheer me up…much" he said. "Anyway, thanks. I'll keep looking into who bought that blighted statue. At the very least, they need to be warned about what happened"
A change of heart! Next Time! Review and Comment!
