Chapter 67: Demands of the Qun pt1
While historians often cite the darkspawn as the greatest single threat to Thedas, most people outside of the dwarven lands would say they are a more remote threat than the invaders called the Qunari. There has not been a Blight in over four centuries, after all, since the hero Garahel defeated the Archdemon at the Battle of Ayesleigh. Over a hundred years later, in 6:30 Steel Age, the first Qunari ships were reported off the coast of Par Vollen in the far north, marking the beginning of a new age of warfare.
Gold-skinned giants said to hail from an eastern land across the Boeric Ocean, the Qunari are a mystery to most people. To some, they are hated conquerors whose deadly skill at combat and destructive technology nearly brought the civilized world to its knees. To others they are heathens, worshippers of a strange religion that seek to spread it to "lesser" races by force. Still to others, such as in the southern lands of Ferelden, they are a legend, strange creatures from the far north that have been seen only on rare occasions since the peace began.
Almost before the rest of Thedas had heard of the Qunari's appearance in Par Vollen they were invading the mainland, striking first into Rivain and Seheron. The defenders of those lands were hardly a match for Qunari discipline and technology. One shot of the mighty cannons, the likes of which our ancestors of the time had never seen before, brought troops to their knees. Qunari warriors in glittering steel armor carved through the defenders with ease. History calls this the First Qunari War, but it was mostly a one-sided bloodbath, with the Qunari advancing far into Tevinter within ten years.
It was a dark time for Thedas, with the nations of mankind being forced to once again unite against a common enemy... this one intending not to destroy, as the darkspawn did, but rather to conquer a land they saw as in dire need of enlightenment. The Qunari proved themselves to be the most frightening sort of opponent of all: religious zealots.- Arrival of the Giants from Tales of the Destruction of Thedas Vol 3 by Brother Genitivi.
The Qunari Compound
The gang met up with Aveline at the compound, her guards were outside standing by for orders. Aveline ordered the entire section of the docks closed, no one was to come in or out of the docks or risk arrest. Luckily people were not so quick to get caught up in another mess with the Qunari. Ericks made a lot of last minute preparations for this moment; he had gone to Sebastian to help with safeguarding all the civilians he could into the Chantry, Merrill was with him to help. News was sent to the Templars by seneschal Bran to be ready. Fenris understood the qunari better than anyone and Varric was a charmer that could talk anyone into anything…Ericks hoped that they could help de-escalate the situation. In case that wasn't possible, he had Anders with him or rather Justice…the rogue didn't want to rely on the spirit due to history but if it came to war, Ericks would need all the power he could get against the Qunari. For the rogue's part, he went into his 'special' batch….poisons and grenades too powerful to have with him in a regular fight.
"I hope you wrapped up any business before you came. It's already a mess, and could get worse"
Ericks nodded. "Let's go" They turned to the qunari guard.
"I request an audience with the Arishok" The qunari looked at the gang and the guards they were with and frowned.
"He will allow it, but not in this number"
Aveline nodded. "I will only bring my friend here and a small complement of my guard. Is that few enough?"
"It is" he said. "Enter" Fenris, Varric, and Anders stood outside with the guards while Aveline and Ericks entered the compound. They met with the Arishok, who was for once off of his throne and brandishing his large ax...Ericks frowned at this, it was almost as if the qunari leader was prepared for them.
"Shanedan"
"Greetings, Arishok. We come regarding the elven fugitives that took refuge here" The large qunari gave a hard look at Ericks.
"Irrelevant. I would speak to Hawke about the relic stolen from my grasp"
Ericks crossed his arms. "Your relic could be anywhere"
"A truth but you minimize your role"
"An issue for another time. We're here for the fugitives"
"The elves are now viddathari. They have chosen to submit to the Qun" The Arishok said. "They will be protected?"
Aveline frowned. "You must know that harboring murderers will lead to bloodshed"
"It will lead where it must"
"Could we at least speak to them?" Ericks asked. "Hear their side of the story?"
"You have not hidden the abuses of your zealots, or the corruption of this city. You will understand why I must do this" the qunari said. "Let us look at your 'dangerous' criminals" From the side were two male elves, identical twins barely out of their teens. They wore a red and gold garb with an emblem of the Qun on the side of their short sleeves, a symbol of their conversion.
"These are your murderers, Avi?" Ericks asked. "They're kids..."
"Kids, they may be but their crimes are serious"
"Speak viddathari. Who did you murder and why?" The Arishok asked.
One of the twins stepped up and frowned at Aveline. "A city guard forced himself on our sister. We reported him…or tried to" he said. "But they did nothing about it, no matter what we said. So my brothers and I paid him a visit"
"That doesn't excuse murder!"
Ericks looked at Aveline. "Are they telling the truth?"
Aveline sighed. "There have been rumors. I will investigate, but they still took the law into their own hands"
"Sometimes that is necessary"
"Like you avenged the viscount's son? It was not right then, and it's not right now"
"We're not getting anywhere with this back and forth" Ericks said.
"I agree" The air suddenly took an ominous turn as Ericks saw the rest of the qunari starting to grip their weapons. The rogue frowned; they needed to be ready to fight their way out of the compound. "Their actions are mere symptoms. Your society is the disease" the Arishok said. "They have chosen. The viddathari will submit to the Qun and find a path your way has denied them"
Aveline frowned. "You can't just decide that. You must hand them over" The tension was thick for a moment and the Arishok looked at Ericks.
"Tell me, Hawke; what would you do, in my place?"
Ericks sighed. "To be honest, I can't really fault those elves for doing what they did…I know that if it was my sister, I would move heaven and earth to see justice done" he said. "But there are other ways of justice, Aveline...we could just exile the elves but that would require the Qunari to leave"
"I cannot leave without the relic and I cannot stay and remain blind to this dysfunction" the Arishok said. "There is only one solution…"Aveline and Ericks' eyes went wide; it looked like Kirkwall's nightmare would finally be coming true.
"Arishok, there is no need for…"
"Avi, look alive!"
"Vinek kathas" The qunari above them readied their spears and threw them down on Ericks and Aveline's group. One of the spears tore through a guardsman on Ericks' left, and then another two guards fell. A spear headed for Aveline and the captain knocked out of the way with her sword, qunari warriors attacked from the side. Ericks blocked the first blow and punched one of the qunari in the face, another one came for Aveline and she slashed the warrior in the gut. Ericks was about to unsheathe his daggers but Aveline stopped him.
"Not here! Too open! Go, go!" Ericks and Aveline retreated with the remaining guardsmen, dodging spear but by the time they reached the end only the rogue and the guard captain remained. Before they left, Ericks and the Arishok glared at one another…they both knew that the war was only beginning. They met with Varric, Anders, and Fenris in an alley near the Hanged Man. All around them, they could hear screams and sounds of fighting. They looked up at the sky, it was full of smoke…the qunari was moving and they were moving fast.
"The Qunari must be spreading out. They're attacking the city!" Aveline said.
"Why? What could they possibly hope to accomplish?" Anders asked.
"The chaos of Kirkwall has finally broken the Arishok" Fenris said. "I don't think he really cares what happens after this"
"You may be right" the guard captain said. "We head for the Keep to rally my guardsmen. Whatever happens, be careful" The gang headed towards Hightown, running past civilians trying to get to safety. Varric pointed them to the Hanged Man; there were enough secret passages from the tavern's shady patrons to keep anyone safe. The Qunari swarmed the gang, Varric fires off an exploding arrow to scatter them while Aveline, Ericks and Fenris made space for Anders to cast his spells. A saarebas challenged the mage to a duel of magic, the qunari mage was powerful but he was without restraint. It only took two spells to kill the saarebas outright, once the fight was done the gang continued on their way.
The main streets leading out of Lowtown were blocked by burning debris so the gang had to go the long way by using the alleyways. This was a risk because if the gang was ambushed in the alleys, they would not have enough room to fight off the qunari. The gang made it to the slums where they saw a group of warriors standing their ground against a rampaging horde of qunari warriors. The warriors were greatly outnumbered but stood their ground, the gang joined in the battle and soon the fight was even. Anders cast a firestorm to then the herd while everything was burning Jenra tossed a lyrium grenade and blew them away. The warriors, Aveline, and Fenris flanked the qunari on the right and mowed them down. When the qunari was all dead, the lead warrior greeted Ericks.
A fairly young man with a thick mustache, he wore a suit of blue and grey armor with a griffin symbol on it. It was no wonder the warriors were so formidable, they were Grey Wardens. "You have our sincere thanks. This attack was…most unexpected" the man said. "We have not met. I am Stroud of the Grey Wardens"
"Not as unexpected as you think" Ericks said. "The name's Hawke"
"I cannot believe the Qunari would dare such an attack. This will lead to war with the Free Marches for certain"
"The Maker surely smiles upon us, the Wardens would be of great help to Kirkwall" Aveline said.
Anders crossed his arms. "Don't be too sure about that…."
"I fear pressing matters take us elsewhere, but we can spread word to the other free cities. Perhaps they will bring aid"
Varric snorted. "If we live that long" Stroud nodded to the other wardens and they took healing potions and grenades from their belts.
"Take this. It is all we can spare, but perhaps it will be of use" he said. "Maker watch over you, my friend" The wardens left the city and left the gang back at square one.
"Told you, Grey Wardens won't get involved with anything unless darkspawn or a Blight is involved"
"Great…" The gang went on their way, deeper into the chaos.
The fight for Kirkwall continues…Next Time! As always Review and Comment!
