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Chapter 64: Following the Qun pt1
In the 30th year of the Steel Age, the first Qunari ships were sighted off the coast of Par Vollen in the far north, marking the beginning of a new age of warfare. History calls this the First Qunari War, but it was mostly a one-sided bloodbath, with the Qunari advancing far into the mainland. Qunari warriors in glittering steel armor carved through armies with ease. Their cannons, the likes of which our ancestors had never seen, reduced city walls to rubble in a matter of seconds.
Stories of Qunari occupation vary greatly. It is said they dismantled families and sent captives to "learning camps" for indoctrination into their religion. Those who refused to cooperate disappeared to mines or construction camps.
For every tale of suffering, however, there is another of enlightenment deriving from something called the "Qun." This is either a philosophical code or a written text that governs all aspects of Qunari life, perhaps both. One converted Seheran reported pity for those who refused to embrace the Qun, as if the conquerors had led him to a sort of self-discovery. "For all my life, I followed the Maker wherever his path led me," he wrote, "but in the Qun I have found the means to travel my own path."
It has been said that the most complete way to wipe out a people is not with blades but with books. Thankfully, a world that had repelled four Blights would not easily bow to a foreign aggressor. And so the Exalted Marches began. The greatest advantage of the Chantry-led forces was the Circle of Magi. For all their technology, the Qunari appeared to harbor great hatred for magic. Faced with cannons, the Chantry responded with lightning and balls of fire.
The Qunari armies lacked the sheer numbers of humanity. So many were slain at Marnas Pell, on both sides, that the Veil is said to be permanently sundered, the ruins still plagued by restless corpses. But each year, the Chantry pushed further and further into the Qunari lines, although local converts to the Qun proved difficult to return to Andraste's teachings. By the end of the Storm Age, the Qunari were truly pushed back. Rivain was the only human land that retained the Qunari religion after being freed, and its rulers attempted to barter a peace. Most human lands signed the Llomerryn Accord, excepting the Tevinter Imperium. It is a shaky peace that has lasted to this day.—From The Exalted Marches: An Examination of Chantry Warfare, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar
Viscount's Keep
Before Ericks could enter the Viscount's office, Seneschal Bran gave him a warning to watch his words. Dumar was greatly upset and could be set off if provoked. Ericks entered Dumar's office; he was pacing and grumbling to himself. He stopped and looked back at the rogue and gave a sigh. "It is apparently not enough that the Qunari define my political life. They must also infect what I hold personal" Dumar said. "It is my son, Saemus"
Saemus Dumar was the youngest child of the Viscount. When his father became viscount when he was five years old, it brought great change to his life. It took him months for him to learn that the heavily armed men in his family's estate weren't there to hurt him. Saemus has long resented his position as the Viscount's son, feeling he lacks an identity of his own beyond his father's position. He and his father have many disagreements
Saemus as a boy was a shy person who preferred the company of books and as such grew up without friends. At ten years old, he discovered Brother Genitivi's In Pursuit of Knowledge: The Travels of a Chantry Scholar, which sparked his interest in Qunari philosophy. While traveling alone along the Wounded Coast, Saemus came across a Qunari named Ashaad, mapping the coast on the Arishok's orders. The two quickly bonded, despite Saemus never truly understanding Ashaad. Saemus admired Ashaad's certainty and will, as he was plagued by doubts, and Ashaad judged Saemus by his merits and not by his nobility.
However this bond if it was ever discovered by Dumar's enemies would leave the Viscount in a precarious political position. So in 9:31 Dragon a Nevarran mercenary group, the Winters, was hired to rescue Saemus. They tracked him to the Wounded Coast, where their leader, Ginnis, mercilessly killed Ashaad and brought back a bruised and battered Saemus. There were dueling accounts of what happened, Ginnis said that Saemus was caught between the fighting while Saemus said that he was abused by the Winters. Either way this event only served to deepen the tensions between father and son.
"He would squander his life by converting to the Qun. He has left for the Qunari Compound" he said. "Please, Serah Hawke. Convince Saemus to come home"
Ericks crossed his arms. "He's of age, the decision seems rightly his" Dumar was silent for a little while.
"I want to let him find his way, but in my position…" the viscount said. "Look, I admire his idealism but he's going into this blind"
"At best, my opponents will claim that my office is now in Qunari hands" he said. "At worst…I lose my son"
"Weird, he would take a human into his ranks considering how the Arishok feels about Kirkwall" Anders said.
"I cannot understand him…Maker knows I've tried, but he landed with, a few hundred men?" the Viscount said. "Between the deaths and defections, the Arishok must need to bolster his ranks"
"I'm sure my son is quite the symbolic prize"
"You misunderstand the Qunari, Viscount" Fenris said. "They care nothing for prizes, anyone who lives true to the Qun is accepted…no matter their race"
"Did anyone else see him leaving for the compound?" Sebastian asked.
Dumar sighed. "He made no secret of it. I'm sure he intended it as another of his 'statements' about closer relations" he said. "As commendable as his commitment to diplomacy is, now is not the time. These matters are…delicate"
"As you've made clear enough…" Ericks said.
"The office must remain strong, Serah Hawke"
"Well, he's your child. How fast can he be?"
"Who knows…you are of similar age to him so he might listen to you" Dumar said. "Plus no one else has dealt as closely with the Qunari"
"I hope he will see that we can be accepting and still be a proud citizen of Kirkwall" he said. "I wish we could all see that"
Winding Alley
The gang used the many Undercity shafts as a shortcut to the docks. On their way they were ambushed by mercenaries. "Right, there's the target! They don't reach the compound!" Ericks threw a smoke bomb at their warriors and slid behind to attack. Fenris smashed the other mercs against the wall and snapped one of the rogue's necks. Anders burned the archers to cinders with a fireball while Sebastian shot the mercs that were trying to get away. The battle ended as quickly as it started.
"So, who hired that lot? Someone anti-Qunari, anti-viscount or Saemus himself not wanting to be rescued?" Sebastian asked.
"I think we can rule out Saemus, he doesn't seem the type" Ericks said. "But the other two…I wouldn't be surprised if it was one and the same" They headed out of the Alley and made it to the docks.
The Qunari Compound
The gates to the compound opened to the gang. "You are allowed, basra, until the Arishok declares otherwise" The gang went in.
"I see the Qunari are friendly as ever…" Anders said dryly.
"Any chance the Arishok will just give us the viscount's son?" Sebastian asked.
"If Saemus has already converted…such a query might offend the Qunari" Fenris said. "Careful Hawke, we're in dangerous waters here" As usual the Arishok was on his throne, as if he was waiting for something. It's been months since any kind of incident involving the Qunari and yet the tensions within the city were as high as it's ever been. His dark eyes met with Ericks'.
"Serah Hawke"
"I'm here about the viscount's son"
"Are you?" The Arishok scoffed. "In four years I have made no threat, and fanatics have lined up to hate us simply because we exist" he said. "But despite the lies and fear, bas still beg me to let them come it the Qun. They hunger for purpose"
"The son has made a choice. You will not deny him that"
"So we are too late then…" Fenris said.
Ericks sighed. "The viscount's opponents are going to have a field day"
"And?"
"I don't know if Qunari have such a saying" the rogue said. "But the enemy of your enemy should be your friend?"
The Arishok snorted. "I don't fear the whole of them together, and it is not my role to reject the free choice of viddathari" he said. "The son responded to his own demand of the Qun. His neither my slave nor my prisoner"
"He's not even here" he continued. "He went to his father. Ask the viscount why he would send you and a letter both"
The gang looked at each other. "That probably could have been mentioned earlier" Ericks said.
"They are meeting at the Chantry. A last, pointless appeal, I assume"
"The viscount has not tried to involve the Chantry before" Sebastian said.
Ericks sighed. "I guess it was too much to hope for Petrice to be a good little Revered Mother"
"A suspect in many things" the Arishok said. "If she has threatened someone under my command again, there is only one response"
"I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation…I just can't think of it right now"
"Her intent is clear and so is the Qun's demand" the Arishok said. "This is the last insult I intend to suffer. Resolve this or we will…I will be watching, Hawke"
Viscount's Keep
The gang headed back to Dumar to deliver the news. "Your Excellency" He looked back and gave a frown.
"Your tone does not fill me with hope, Serah Hawke. Where is my son?"
"Did you write a letter to the Qunari?"
"No, I did not…why?"
"Then that is a problem, your son was drawn away from the compound because of that letter" Ericks said. "It called him to the Chantry"
Dumar was taken aback. "Saemus is missing and the Chantry is involved? What am I supposed to do now? I can't be seen to move against them" he said. "They'll have my head like my predecessor"
"But you can't sit here while your son is in jeopardy" Sebastian said.
"You know the Chantry Prince Sebastian…the level of fury against me if I send armed guards to a house of worship would be unprecedented" Dumar said. "As much as they influence this office, I cannot be seen to do the reverse. Even…even at this cost"
"Send me in then…I've done my share of fighting in the Chantry" Ericks said. "What's one more?" The viscount looked a bit disturbed by the rogue admitting that so casually but he relented.
"Please, Hawke. Find him. You're the only option I have"
Kirkwall Chantry-Night
According to the letter, Saemus was supposed to meet his father at the Chantry at night. That was the perfect time for Petrice to make her move due to the lack of witnesses. Then she could blame what happened on the Qunari to fuel her crusade. Ericks hoped that he would run into Saemus before he reached the Chantry and nip all of this in the bud but luck has never quite been on his side. The gang made it inside the Chantry walls and spotted Saemus upstairs…he was on his knees. They thought it was some late night praying but then they smelled blood in the air and the gang ran upstairs.
Ericks checked out Saemus, the carpet was stained with blood. The young man's throat was slashed. "Shit!"
"Serah Hawke, look at what you have done" Ericks stood up and looked down. Petrice was surrounded by Templars and her fanatics. The rogue frowned…they had been set up. "To pounce upon the viscount's son, a repentant convert in the chantry itself? A crime with no excuse"
"Your Qunari masters will finally answer"
"You fucking idiot! Have you realized what you have done?!"
"The faithful know this has been building for a long time. Where Varnell incited, I reminded, in sermon and prayer" she said. "When people learn of this attack, they will rise. Not zealots or the unknowing, but the true majority"
"You are riling them up, only for them to be slaughtered by the Qunari!" Sebastian said. "This isn't the Maker's will! This is madness!"
"To die untested would be the real crime. People need the opportunity to defend faith. Starting with you" Petrice turned to her followers. "Earn your reward in this life and next! These heretics must die!"
"Don't listen to her! She has led you all astray!" the prince pleaded. "The Maker wouldn't want you to throw away your life like this!"
"They're long gone, Shiny…" Ericks said. "It's us or them!"
Pandora's Box has been opened! Can Kirkwall survive the coming storm?! Next Time! As always Review and Comment!
