Chapter 77: Mark of the Assassin pt7
Chateau Haine-The Dungeons
The Ben-Hassrath, meaning "the Heart of the Many" in Qunlat, form a significant portion of the Qunari priesthood. The Ben-Hassrath fall under the authority of the Ariqun, as such the Qunari consider them priests. The purpose of the Ben-Hassrath is protecting the faith and the innocents. They are leaders who maintain unity, which Qunari believe to be a strength. The entire group is under the jurisdiction of the Ariqun and would therefore be considered priests.
The Qunari divide all Ben-Hassrath activities into three distinct categories: "Dangerous Purpose," "Dangerous Action," and "Dangerous Questions." Three priests form a mini triumvirate that manages all their operations, with each priest presiding over actions in a single category.
The "Dangerous Questions" branch seems to handle the vast majority of the Qunari intelligence gathering and sabotage missions.
The "Dangerous Actions" branch appears to be the branch responsible for enforcement; their agents almost never leave Qunari-controlled territory except to hunt defectors.
The "Dangerous Purpose" branch is run by a priestess called the Viddasala, or "one who converts purpose," handles the conversion of foreigners, the reeducation of Qunari dissidents, and the collection and quarantine of magic. Things that, by Qunari definition, are threats to themselves and others by nature.
While both genders can be Ben-Hassrath, they're separated by specialization: female Ben-Hassrath watch and re-educate adult females and children, while male Ben-Hassrath deal with adult males. Male Qunari can join the Ben-Hassrath despite the fact that they fall under the priesthood. Female Ben-Hassrath learn how to fight—but in a different manner from a soldier, and unlike soldiers, the Ben-Hassrath do not live by their blade. As a result, they do not possess a weapon that signifies their soul like the Antaam do, but are instead free to use whatever tools are most effective at their task. In fact, it seems that the Ben-Hassrath prefer to use non-violent means to achieve their goals. The Ben-Hassrath are usually in charge of interrogating mages, to determine which should live and what doses of qamek to give them.
"So, what was the plan, exactly?" Ericks asked.
"I was looking for someone named Salit, a member of the Ben-Hassrath…the Heart of the Many" Tallis said. "I was told he's here to sell secrets to the Orlesians and I came to stop him. I…suppose I was misinformed"
Ericks crossed his arms. "Tell me everything…then we'll go from there" he said. "Starting with who you really are?"
"I suppose this doesn't help much but not everything I told you was a lie"
"So, I just missed the part where you're one of the people I drove out of Kirkwall"
"You don't need horns to embrace the Qun" she said. "What you need is purpose, a belief in unity and in improving the lot not only for your own people but for everyone"
"Yes, I can think of many people who would be improved by the loss of a head" Ericks said dryly.
"You're joking but you're also right. That doesn't mean it's the solution for everyone"
"So, everyone else just loses a foot? Maybe a big toe?"
"I know what you are thinking but being qunari doesn't automatically mean you're a zealot"
"But you're here to kill someone for the Qunari?" Ericks asked. "Someone who strayed from the path"
"You said I'm here to kill him, but that was never my intention" The rogue raised his brow. The elf sighed. "I know it's not easy to understand. After what the Arishok did, I hardly blame you"
"Huh, word reach around fast. I only killed him two weeks ago"
"Most Qunari don't understand humans, why you act like you do" she said. "But I and other elves grew up among you. We understand perfectly well"
"The perfect spies…beneath notice but always watching" the rogue said. "I'd be careful mentioning that to people."
"Tell me, Hawke, can you honestly say there's nothing to improve, nothing to strive for?" Tallis asked. "We believe in striving together. We may stumble, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try"
"Sounds like an excuse for tyranny"
"It's who I am. I joined the Ben-Hassrath because it meant something"
"Sounds like you're trying to convince yourself"
"It's been a long time since I even talked to anyone about it" Tallis said. "I suppose it's not really prison cell conversation" Tallis then went on about her mission: to stop a qunari turned Tal-Vasoth called Salit. Contrary to what Ericks thought, this was not a political mission…it was personal to Tallis. Salit was a bessrathari, a recruiter for the qunari and he was the one that recruited a young Tallis into the Qun. He planned to sell qunari secrets to Orlais as one last act of defiance. These secrets are a registry of several viddathari living throughout Thedas as undercover spies for the Qunari, which, if exposed, would condemn them and everyone they know to persecution and death. Contrary to Thedas' belief about the Qunari, not all of them were warriors, tens of thousands of them were farmers, artisans, and craftsmen… people who have never picked up a sword and thus could not protect themselves.
"They don't deserve what he's going to them" Tallis said. "But it's more than my duty to stop Salit. It is my moral obligation"
Ericks groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Wonderful, so it's either live under a qunari spy network or see a massacre on a grand scale throughout Thedas" he said. "Fucking qunari…always the hard way with them"
"So, did you really involve me just because I had an invitation?"
"You were the only one on the invitation list that wasn't a personal friend of the Montifort family" the elf said. "And you're also the Champion of Kirkwall and a Fereldan with no reason to love Orlais"
Ericks crossed his arms. "You know when you put it that way, it makes me sound like a mark" he said annoyed. "And what was going to happen when all this was over? Settle the score for the qunari, perhaps?"
Tallis shook her head. "I thank you and we go our separate ways"
"Really? Just like that?"
"You fought the Arishok on his own terms even when it put you at a disadvantage, for one of your own. Believe it or not, the qunari respects that" she said. "You're…not exactly what I was expecting either. I have heard a few stories about. They don't do you justice"
"But that was my fault for not doing my homework, nothing I can do about it now"
Ericks sighed. "I suppose the good news is with all this extra time I can learn to knit"
"Could you make me a sweater?"
"No"
"A shame…so, first order of business is getting of here before His Grace decided we would taste good in the soup…or whatever he has planned" Tallis said. "Any ideas?"
"Well, there are my friends, they should be here any minute now"
Hours later
Varric. Fenris, and Merril came running into the Chateau looking to rescue Ericks and Tallis…but that was better said than done. Orlesians loved their aesthetics to the point that their mansions and castles are mazes one would need a map to navigate and unfortunately, they did not have one on hand.
"And…. here we are again. For the fourth time" Fenris said.
Varric grunted. "Fifth, I think"
"What do we do now?"
"Play Diamondback and wait for Hawke to find us?" They could hear the sound of clacking armor close to them. The chevaliers haven't caught wind of the gang but if they were caught, they would be up to their eyeballs in guards. "That's a little too close for comfort…"
"We keep wondering aimlessly, we may have to fight them" Fenris said.
"Daisy? You don't happen to have that ball of twine, do you?" Varric asked.
"I knew I forgot something when we left Kirkwall" Merrill said
"Eh, don't beat yourself up over it. We'll just…wait here until I think of something"
"I'm sure that won't take very long. You're always thing of things!"
Tallis and Ericks
"That's it. I'm officially tired of waiting to be rescued" Ericks watched as Tallis went to the cell doors and picked the locks opening their cell.
"Would have been nice if you did that hours ago" Ericks said.
"I didn't bother because you said your friends were coming" Ericks and Tallis walked out of their cell only to run into the others. Merrill quickly gave Ericks a hug.
"Ma Vhenan! Thank the Creators! How did you escape? Was it exciting? Did you shank someone?"
Ericks chuckled. "Been into Varric's stories again, I see"
"Yes, rescuing is a lot harder than his books makes it out to be"
"Sweet as this whole reunion it, we need to get out of here" Varric said.
"So back through the castle, then?"
"There's a better way than fighting through the duke's entire army. I'll show you" Tallis said. Fenris took out a large sack and threw on the ground.
"Here is all of your equipment, I take it you'll want change out of those clothes"
"Ugh, Maker yes" Ericks and Tallis changed into their armor and the gang was ready to get out of the dungeons. "Okay, where to?"
"We head for the caves, that's the way out I planned to take us through originally" she said. "Unless you want to carve your way out through the duke's army"
"As much fun as that sounds, I'll take the caves" The gang headed out of the dungeons, Ericks filled the others in on what happened and how they got captured. The gang did not enjoy being in another qunari situation especially after what it took to kick the qunari out of Kirkwall but alas they were stuck until Tallis' mission was done. The others were busy as well, Varric spent his time destroying copies of Hard in Hightown 2, a sequel that he did not even write while Fenris got back an amulet of the fog warriors that the elf thought he lost when his master found him all those years ago. Further into the dungeon, they spotted who sections of torture equipment as well as a room set up like an entertainment room. It seems Duke Prosper enjoyed seeing his victims tortured to death just as much as he enjoyed hunting…it was a good thing Ericks and Tallis escaped otherwise they would have been apart of his twisted entertainment. The gang turned the corner, and they were back in the vaults where the Duke was waiting for them.
"Done with my hospitality already, are we? Such a shame" Around them, archers were priming their arrows to fire on Prosper's orders.
"It's not that we don't appreciate the accommodations, but you know how it is" Ericks said.
"But it's too soon to leave, you'll miss the main event…and we can't have that, now can we?"
"Yeah, I'm thinking I can live with that"
"No. I'm afraid you couldn't"
Tallis frowned. "Just let him go, Prosper. It's me you want"
"What I want is you out of the way" Prosper turned away and locked the gates behind him. "Do your job and kill them, Chasind. Is that not why I keep you around?" Ericks took out his daggers and faced Cahit and the chevaliers.
"How will we do this, kunla?" Ericks asked. "You can always walk away and keep what's left of your pride as a Wildwalker" He turned to chevaliers. "So much for brotherhood…"
"Hold them, I'm releasing the pets" He ran to the back as the other chevaliers closed in on them. From the balcony, a woman in jester costume and makeup jumped down with their daggers at the ready.
"A bard, well shit…this is a problem" Varric said.
"The duke's hospitality knows no bounds" Fenris said dryly.
"Don't worry, I'll keep the clown off of you" Tallis said.
"Merrill" The elf nodded and slammed her staff on the ground and a force of magic pushed the chevaliers back. "Much better, attack!"
The chase is on! Next Time! As Always Review and Comment!
