Chapter 68: Demand of the Qun pt2

Stories of how the Qunari treated the lands they occupied, 'kabethari' being the term for those lands in their language and supposedly meaning 'those who need to be taught', are varied and difficult to verify.

Some claim that the Qunari were guilty of terrorizing the populace. They divided children from their families and sent adults to 'learning camps' for indoctrination in their religious philosophies. Those who refused to obey were forced into indentured servitude or sent to mines or construction camps to labor... often until they perished of sheer exhaustion or starvation. Those who resisted were slain, instantly and without mercy. Many who obeyed their new masters, however, claim that they were treated well and even given a large amount of trust provided they followed the strict Qunari codes of conduct and laws.

For every tale of suffering recorded, there was another that tells of enlightenment from something called the 'qun'. This is either a philosophical code or a written text, perhaps both, and some claim it may even be akin to the Qunari god. Unlike the Chant of Light it governs all aspects of Qunari life, both secular and spiritual, and the Qunari are devoted to following its tenets strictly and without question.

Those who recorded their interactions with the golden masters tell of mighty creatures, a head again taller than a man, with frighteningly calm demeanors and a sort of sparkling fire behind their eyes. Some even said they have a certain kindness to them, or a conspicuous lack of cruelty, and one Seheran who converted reported pity for those who had not, as if the conquerors' religion led to a sort of self-discovery. 'For all my life I followed the Maker wherever his path may lead me,' he writes, 'but in the faith of the qun I have found the means to travel my own path. If only all my people could understand what it is the Qunari offer us.'

It is said that the most complete way to wipe out a people is not with weapons, but with books. Thankfully, a world that had known and repelled four Blights would not so easily bow to a foreign aggressor. The New Exalted Marches were about to begin.- The Golden Masters from Tales of the Destruction of Thedas Vol 3 by Brother Genitivi

Hightown

Against all odds, the gang made it to Hightown where they spotted a noble woman being dragged by the feet by qunari warriors. The woman desperately struggled to get away but she was no match for the giants' great strength…if anything the woman's struggling just annoyed the qunari. Ericks motioned the gang to follow him.

"Parshaara! Quit your struggling, woman!"

"Teth a! Bas!" The qunari stood at attention as the gang came to face them. The qunari let go of the woman's feet and he saw the woman quickly get up and run away. He did not chase as Ericks was more important.

"Then the Arishok failed to take you captive. Unfortunate" the qunari said. "Vinek kathas!" Qunari warriors came out of the shadows to attack. Ericks tossed a smoke bomb to daze and confuse the qunari while Anders rained fire upon the ox-men. Varric pinned one qunari to the wall, he then loaded an exploding arrow to Bianca and fired it in the middle of a group of qunari charging at him. Fenris and Aveline came from the side and slayed the stragglers. Just as the giant's numbers thinned, the gang was hit with a force of magic which sent them tumbling to the ground. Ericks' vision was blurry but he could make out a lone qunari, his hands crackling with magical energy. A saarebas…they didn't have the fine control of Circle mages as they were only taught in power. He walked towards them preparing another spell, but then all of the sudden his magic fizzled out. The sarrebas looked at his hands confused and was then stabbed through the chest by a sword. A blonde-haired woman wearing a red hood and fine steel armor readied another blow and this time aimed for the head. With a quick sweep of her sword, sheath it on her back and walked towards Ericks, offering her hand.

"I am Knight-Commander Meredith"

The rogue rolled his sore shoulder. "The big cheese herself came to rescue little old me, I'm flattered" Ericks said.

"Humph, the reports did say you like to make jokes at odd times" Meredith said. "Your name has turned up many times…too many"

"It's good that we found you, Knight-Commander. The Qunari…" Aveline started but Meredith held up her hand.

"It is obvious what they're doing" She turned and spotted a group of qunari corralling people up the grand stairway. "The Qunari are taking people to the Keep, they may already be in control. We will need to deal with them"

"Yeah, I've noticed the Qunari haven't been doing a lot of killing despite this being an invasion" Varric said. "What's up with that?"

"The Qunari don't like things going to waste" Fenris said. "They're giving people the choice of submitting to the Qun or die by their hands"

Meredith scoffed. "Charming"

"Always happy to risk life and limb for my shithole of a city"

"Putting your lack of urgency aside, your skills will be sorely needed" the Knight-Commander said. "Head to the Keep, and I will see if I can find more of my men. These creatures will pay for this outrage" The gang used the back alleyways to avoid the main group of qunari…as they got closer to the Keep, they heard sounds of fighting coming from the Chantry where Sebastian and Merrill were protecting people seeking sanctuary from the qunari. The gang headed for the Chantry doors where they fought off the qunari and some of the elves from the alienage.

"Wait why are the elves fighting us?" Anders asked.

"The Arishok have been busy…they've been converting the elves of the alienage under our nose this whole time" Fenris said. "And the elves are probably the reason why the Arishok knew so much of what was happening in Kirkwall despite being confined to the harbor"

"We underestimated the Qunari and now we're paying for it" Ericks said. The gang helped Sebastian and Merrill fight off the qunari and their converts. With their help they were able to drive them back but at great cost…many of the mages that fought with them perished in the fight.

"Ma vhenan" Merrill came and hugged Ericks. "Thank the Creators you came"

"We were about to lose hope, there were so many of them" Sebastian said.

"Is the Grand Cleric safe?"

The prince nodded. "Yes, thank the Maker" he said. Ericks looked at the mages that died, they were from the Circle. They were called upon to defend the city, and that included his sister. Sebastian placed a hand on his shoulder. "Bethany still lives, Hawke. She's with the First Enchanter" On the Chantry steps, Bethany was healing the First Enchanter…they were one of the few mages to survive the attack on the Chantry.

"Betty" Bethany took a look behind and ran to her brother, hugging him tightly.

"Ericks, thank the Maker you are safe"

"So you are Ericks, Bethany speaks a lot about you" the First Enchanter said. "It's good to finally meet you…if only it was under better circumstances" Bethany lowered her head, to the side were mages that died from their injuries…many of them Bethany considered friends. "Gone…I told them to run" the elf sighed. "But it would have been futile, wouldn't it?"

"First Enchanter Orsino. You survive" Meredith came back with a troop of Templars, the Knight-Commander and the First Enchanter frowned at each other. The tension was thick in the air; it was very obvious that they didn't like one another. Bethany gripped Ericks' arm like a vice, the rogue looked at his sister, she was shaking…Bethany was deathly afraid of Meredith and his sister took on darkspawn with very little fear. Ericks frowned; he had to wonder what happened inside the walls of the Gallows.

"Your relief overwhelms me, Knight-Commander" Orsino said sarcastically.

"There is no time for talk. We must strike back, before it's too late"

Orsino frowned. "And who will lead us into this battle? You?"

"I will fight to defend this city, as I have always done!" Meredith said.

"To control it, you mean! I won't have our lives tossed to the flames to feed your vanity!" Ericks whistled and got their attention.

"Oy! This ain't time to be at each other's throats" Ericks said. "I'm in charge"

Meredith scoffed. "You? You're not even of this city!"

Orsino crossed his arms. "Neither am I, yet you're not complaining about us both fighting to defend our home"

Meredith composed herself. "Very well, then. Do you have a plan?"

"We find what the Qunari are planning, but not risk our necks in the process"

"An excellent choice, let us move quickly" The Templars moved out, as well as what remained of the mages. Sebastian and Merrill stayed behind with the injured mages to guard the Chantry. They approached the Keep where hordes of qunari guarded the entrance.

"That's a lot of qunari…" Varric said.

"Then they've already taken it over. Clearly they've been planning this for some time"

"I don't see any of my guardsmen" Aveline said looking over the corner.

"This is the only way in. We must assault them now, before their numbers grow"

Orsino frowned. "Are you mad, Meredith? They have hostages! We need a distraction"

"Decide quickly. We have no time"

"You said something about a distraction, Orsino?" The first enchanter took out his staff and walked to the open.

"We need to get you inside and catch up as soon as we can"

"And just how will you do this?"

"Have confidence, Knight-Commander" The elf headed for the entrance with staff in hand, the qunari looked at one another in confusion…what could one lone elf do? "You will not conquer this city without a fight!" The first enchanter showcased his magic to let the qunari know what they were dealing with.

"Saarebas! Vinek kathas!" The qunari charged the mage. Orsino slammed his staff on the ground and a volley of fire and hail rained from above devastating the guards. Orisino fixed his gaze to Ericks to the side and nodded for him to get inside while he held the qunari attention. More charged and Orsino slowly backed away while firing off spells.

Varric whistled. "He's good"

"That's why he's First Enchanter" Bethany said. With the path clear, the cavalry headed for the Keep.


Viscount's Keep

Inside the cavalry was met with bodies littering the front door, civilians trying to get away and guardsmen trying to stop the qunari advance. They could hear muffled cries echoing across the Keep. The qunari attacked from the sides, they were ready for them.

"Hawke, head for the throne room" Meredith said. "We will give you space"

"You'll be alright here?" Ericks asked.

"We'll be fine, brother, just end this madness" Bethany said. The rogue nodded and headed for the throne room. Behind the doors, the nobles were putting on a brave face of defiance against the Arishok and his troops but it wasn't fooling anyone, least of all themselves. The Arishok turned.

"Here is your viscount" He tossed the head of the viscount Dumar to the feet of the nobles to the horror of the court.

"You dare! You are starting a war!" one of the nobles said. One of the qunari comes from behind and snaps the man's neck like a twig. The men and women screamed in terror, the Arishok could only look on in disgust.

"Look at you. Like fat dathrasi you feed and feed and complain only when your meal is interrupted" he said. "You don't look up. You do not see the grass is bare. All you leave in your wake is misery"

"You are blind. I will make you see" The door opens and the gang approach the stairs. "But we have guests" The nobles clear the way and Ericks and the Arishok gives one another intense glares. "Shanedan, Hawke. I expected you" the Arishok said. "But for all your might, you are no different from these bas. You do not see"

"I see a man who's ready to start a war on principle"

The Arishok scoffed. "And what would the Qunari be without principle? You, I suspect" he said. "Prove yourself, basra, or kneel with your brethren" He gave the signal and the qunari attacked.

A showdown is upon us…Next Time! Review and Comment!