Chapter 72: Mark of the Assassin pt2
Duke Prosper is the head of the powerful Montfort dynasty, the descendents of Ser Gaston de Montfont, a chevalier who rose to prominence during the Fourth Blight. Prosper de Montfort is a close personal friend of Empress Celene and a perennial fixture at the empress's annual Spring Fête. He spends most of his time outside Orlais either on personal business for the empress or vacationing at his estates in Nevarra and the Free Marches.
(Note: Titles other than lord (or lady) and emperor (or empress) were abolished during Emperor Kordilius Drakon's reign. Duke Prosper uses his title only in his private dealings or when he travels beyond Orlais's borders. At court, he is addressed as Lord Prosper de Montfort.)—From Lifestyles of the Wealthy and Politically Influential, by Lady Jonquil Severin
Aboard the Garen
After meeting Tallis, the gang made their preparations for the trip ahead to Chateau Haine. Varric made the paperwork to set sail the Garen, a large ship used by House Tethras for business outside the Free Marches. This ship was named after Orrick Garen, the Paragon said to be the founder of House Tethras. This little trip was going to take some time and Ericks had made a lot of enemies, enemies that would love to take advantage of his absence from Kirkwall. Luckily, he had friends that could watch the place while he was gone. Merrill was excited for the trip, when she was with her clan, she did not see very much of the world due to her studies as the First for Marethari. To the surprise of everyone, Fenris decided to come with them to watch the gang's back as he did not trust Tallis. Three days later, they set off for the estate and Tallis explained the situation in detail.
"The jewel we're after is called the Heart of the Many"
"Interesting name" Ericks said.
"Interesting jewel. All I care about is getting it away from the duke" the elf said. "Here's the problem: The Heart is in the vault, behind who knows what kind of traps"
"Protected by a private army of Orlesian chevaliers" she said. "All inside a fortress that was designed to be impregnable"
"And let's not forget it's on the side of a mountain, in the middle of nowhere. Surrounded by monsters"
"Fun…" Varric said dryly. "And here I thought it would be too easy"
"Before we head for Chateau Haine, we need into Kaiten for some clothes"
"What wrong with the clothes we brought?" Fenris asked.
"Nothing, but we are dealing with Orleasians here, they're likely to snub you for wearing shoes from last season" Tallis said. "We need to get in good with the people there to gather information"
Chateau Haine, situated on the western verge of the Vimmark Mountains, is one of the many estates of the illustrious de Montfort family of Orlais. Duke Prosper de Montfort vacations at the estate frequently, particularly during wyvern-hunting season.
The structure was built late in the Black Age for Lord Norbert de la Haine, whose treasonous schemes to seize power in the Free Marches led to a call for his execution. Lord Norbert escaped to what was then Fortress Haine and barricaded himself within. The siege lasted a hundred days. Eventually, Antivan Crows slit the lord's throat while he slept. The estate's scandalous past left it unoccupied for long thereafter.
When the Fourth Blight ravaged the Free Marches, Fortress Haine served as a garrison for the Grey Wardens. The Wardens dug a hollow into the mountain's interior; when darkspawn attacked Kirkwall and Cumberland, citizens of both cities took refuge in the caves, which came to be known as "the Retreat." After the Wardens left victorious, Fortress Haine was presented to Ser Gaston de Montfort, a chevalier of Orlais. The building was converted from military keep to pleasure palace and rechristened "Chateau Haine."—From Portrait of the Free Marches, by Guillaume van der Haute
Chateau Haine
Previously known as Fortress Haine, it is now the current vacation villa of the Orlesian Montfort Family. It was first built by Lord Norbert de la Haine who was assassinated by the Antivan Crows and eventually awarded to Ser Gaston de Montfont during the Exalted Age. It is in the Free Marches on the western slopes of the Vimmark Mountains. It was used as a stronghold by the Grey Wardens during the Fourth Blight, with the Vaults, a cavern and lake constructed underneath the mountain to house thousands of refugees. During the Fourth Blight it was commanded by the famed Grey Warden mage, Isseya, younger sister of Warden Garahel.
The abundance of wild wyvern in the area led to the Montforts sponsoring seasonal hunting parties to reduce their population, but eventually became a sporting event. In a diplomatic gesture to his local guests, Duke Prosper has equipped his Chevaliers stationed at the Chateau with Kirkwall Shields to add a more local touch. The gang made it to Chateau Haine in their new party wear…that they were less than pleased to be in. Orlesian fashion among the nobles has always been considered gaudy and ugly by nobility standards across Thedas. Their clothing is made of rich dyes, complex patterns and fine fabrics. Rare colors and materials are used to imply wealth and status. They often lean towards flowing, layered garb that tend to be impractical in all areas except showing off.
"I look fucking ridiculous "Ericks said.
"I hear this is the latest style in Val Royeaux" Tallis said.
"Really?" Merrill asked. "They need to get their eyes checked then"
"Seconded Daisy" Varric said.
"Bulky and heavy as well as unbearably hot to be in for the Marches' weather" Fenris said with disdain. "Is the duke trying to die?"
"Best suck it up, we're here" Outside the Chateau were multiple nobles waiting around for the party to start. One noble in a bright orange garb wearing a mask approached an older man. This man wore gold and dark blue clothing adorned with armor pieces and wrapped in fur and fine red silks.
"Andraste's tears, Prosper! When is this going to get started?"
"Presently! All right, everyone. You all know the tradition, yes?" the duke asked. "The first to find and slay a wyvern wins the honors of the evening! And bragging rights, of course"
"Good luck to you all!" The gang made it to the gates where a large man in silver and gold armor went in front of them and crossed his arms. His face was adorned with dark tattoos of the Chasind. Prosper liked to hire the wilders for their tracking and hunting methods, with their help the duke was one of the first people to kill a High Dragon after their resurgence at the start of the Dragon Age.
"Sabasa isa, kunla" Ericks said. "Lovely day for a hunt, don't you agree? Very…outdoorsy" The large mercenary was taken aback; he hadn't heard his mother tongue in so long and was surprised this outsider knew it. Prosper turned to greet the gang.
"Ah! The Champion of Kirkwall! These are honored guests" The man looked at Ericks and nodded as he walked into the Chateau. "If I didn't know any better, I could have sworn I saw Cahit smile" he said. "Just what did you say to the man?"
"Just a simple greeting in Casah" Ericks said. "I grew up around the Chasind, so I know their language well"
"Interesting, you will have to tell me more inside" Prosper then looked at Tallis and looked her up and down while giving a subdued smirk. "And who is this lovely specimen?"
"You flatter me, Your Grace"
"And I see you brought a manservant of two, already armed and armored. Wonderful!" the duke said. "I must say, your presence is a surprise. When we spoke at the banquet you seemed…uninterested when I mentioned our hunt"
"You caught me on a bad day, Your Grace, everything was happening so fast you understand" the rogue said. "It's a favorite pastime of mine to find things, and kill them"
Prosper laughed. "So, I hear!" he said. "At any rate, I won't keep you from the hunt! Wouldn't want you to fall behind the others, yes?"
"I heard we were hunting wyverns, that's a bold prey considering their reputation"
"Yes, they are exceptional beasts, magnificent cousins to the mighty dragon!" the duke said. "My only advice? Beware their poison. It's the deadliest thing about them, as well as the most valuable"
"Valuable? You don't say" Ericks said.
"Indeed! From it can be brewed aque lucidius, a libation adored even by the empress herself!"
"The nobility feast upon poison…how appropriate" Fenris said dryly.
"But here you are, wasting valuable time on questions!" Prosper said. "Do you wish the others to beat you to the prize?"
"You are right, the sooner we get to the celebration, the happier I'll be"
"Oh, I quite agree! The festivities cannot come soon enough" the duke said. "Good luck to you, Champion. Remember: fortune favors the bold" Prosper walked away as he announced the start of the hunt. The nobles and their servants headed into the forest looking for their wyvern.
"You handled yourself well there, Hawke" Tallis said. "I heard that you could be quite…abrasive"
"I know my etiquette; I just choose not to use it"
"For now, act like any other hunter but don't get too confident" the elf said. "The track record on hunting wyverns are not too great"
"The important part is the celebration the duke will hold afterwards in the keep. That's our way in" The gang headed into the hunting grounds.
The wyvern—like its relative the dragon—has nearly been hunted to extinction. Wealthy Orlesians are particularly fond of the wyvern chase, although their servants and dogs take the risks while the nobleman merely accept the praise.
It is the venom that makes the creature so valuable. It's used in potion-making, alchemy, and the production of a rare and potent liquor called aquae lucidius. The minuscule quantity of the venom remaining in the aquae after distillation leads to a unique hallucinatory effect.
Testimonies from a few of those fortunate enough to sample the costly concoction:
"I feel confused but happy!"
"It was as though my soul took wing and floated about my head."
"I had a vision of my great-grandmother and found it oddly arousing."
"I can see through time!"-From the Creatures Compendium of Thedas vol2
Hunting grounds-West
The western half of the grounds of Duke Prosper's Free Marches estate, Chateau Haine. It is here that the Duke conducts his annual Wyvern hunts, attracting many Orlesian nobles hoping to climb higher in the Grand Game. Like the rest of the grounds, the western hunting grounds have several Ghast nests just below the surface in addition to a small group of Dragons nesting on the northern slope. These grounds were also once home to an ancient Avvar cult, which venerated 'The Lady of the Sky' to the exclusion of all their other deities.
"Manservant…" Fenris grumbled.
"I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it, Fenris" Merrill said.
"It's only a cover" Tallis said.
"I'd like to cover him with six feet"
"So, these are the hunting grounds, I can see why you would want to hold a party here" Ericks said. "Do we need a lure? What do wyverns like?"
"We just need to look for signs and be careful. We get this over with, we get into the keep"
"And that's where the jewel is?" Varric asked.
"That's where the jewel is" The gang started the hunt.
A hunting we will go…Next Time! Review and Comment!
