Reviews:
edboy4926:
Yeah, sorry it takes so long, but what little free time I have doesn't allow much for writing.
kuraitja:
I'm actually planning to address that in future chapters.
A/N: Please, remember to review with any comments, question, concerns, or constructive criticism that you might have.
Chapter 6:
The Heart of Civilization
After sealing the last of the Fade rifts, somehow managing to be made into the messiah of a cult, wiping out the last of the bandits, and helping one of the Inquisition scouts to find a new job in the Inquisition, Wayne and the rest of the group headed back to Haven to restock their supplies and check in with the rest of the Inquisition leaders.
While he let Cassandra gather their supplies, Wayne headed to check in with the three leaders of the Inquisition. His first stop was the military leaders of the Inquisition forces.
"Hey, Galahad, how's all the training going?" Wayne asked.
"It's going well. A majority of the recruits have at least some military training, so they're taking to their training pretty well," Cullen said, "I hear you're going to Val Royeaux next. Are you ready for that?"
"You make it sound like I'm going into the Breach without a weapon," Wayne laughed.
"Of course not," Cullen smirked, "It will be far less pleasant."
"That bad, huh?" Wayne asked.
"Yes, all of the prissy attitudes and frilly outfits," Cullen shivered with unease, "Not a place I have any interest in going to."
"Well, we'll just have to see how they deal with getting a bad case of me!" Wayne smiled.
"I pity them greatly," Cullen smiled.
"Talk to ya later, Galahad," Wayne said before heading into the village proper. He found Leliana speaking with one of her subordinates. After the spy was dismissed, Wayne greeted the spymaster, "Hey, Spook, how's tricks?"
"I'm assuming that is some way of asking me how things are going," Leliana smiled to which Wayne nodded, "We have been doing well in setting up our information network."
"Good. Need anything from me?" Wayne offered with a smile.
"No," she said shaking her head before saying, "Actually, there was one thing."
"Sure. What's up?" Wayne asked.
"I just…wanted to apologize again for the way I acted the last time we spoke," she said, scratching her cheek with embarrassment.
"Huh?" Wayne asked with confusion before realization hit him, "Oh, you mean when you got upset when you thought I was questioning the reasons for your support of the Divine? You really don't have to apologize. It's really not that big of a deal."
"I appreciate that. Truly," she smiled, "So, I understand you've been made the leader of a cult."
"Yeah, not exactly on purpose," Wayne said, "We found that they were in a small fort where a rift had formed and since they wouldn't let us in unless I agreed to prove I was the Herald of Andraste by sealing the breach. Once I did, well, they started treating me like their leader, so I put 'em to work. Helping the refugees, keeping an ear out for info, and spreading word of the Inquisition."
"Yes, they have been providing us with very useful information," Leliana smiled, "I must admit that you are proving to accomplish things faster than I'd thought it would take.
"What can I say? I'm awesome like that," Wayne joked.
"Indeed," she laughed lightly into her hand, "But on a more serious note, I would like you and the others to be careful when you go to Val Royeaux."
"Aw, are you worried about me, Spook?" Wayne teased.
"Only in that it would be bad if we lost the only person that could close the rifts," Leliana teased back.
"Ah, it's nice to feel wanted," Wayne joked, "Well, I'll let you get back to your spymastering. Later, Spook."
"Remember what I said," she said nodding before turning back to the papers on her makeshift desk.
Wayne headed into the Chantry to speak with Josephine who was, as usual, in her makeshift office working on papers.
"Ah, Herald, I'm pleased to see you are well," the dark-skinned ambassador greeted him with a smile.
"Hey, Padme, any more troubling marquis?" Wayne asked with a smile.
"Nothing I cannot handle," she smiled, "I did, however, wish to ask you a question."
"Knock yourself out," Wayne shrugged.
"Well, the people will need to know more about who you were before you became the Herald," she said.
"I'm a soldier, a ranger to be precise," Wayne said, "What else do you need to know?"
"Well, are you from a noble family? Do you have any stories of your bravery in battle?" she asked.
"There aren't really noble families in most of the countries in my world. My country has those that are considered similar to "noble" families, but they're just really famous, rich, or related to former leaders of our country and they don't have any power beyond what those would allow," Wayne shrugged, "As for stories of bravery, uh, I guess I've got a couple I guess I could tell."
"Oh, do tell," she said with great and apparent interest.
"Well, there was this one time my squad and I got pinned down by the enemy. Most of my squad was already injured, so I volunteered to sneak around the side and assault the enemy position alone. I managed to take out half of them before I got hit the first time. I ended up getting hit three times and stabbed in the leg before I managed to take the last one out. I ended up passing out from blood loss and was eventually found by our reinforcements."
"That was indeed very brave of you," Josephine said with an impressed tone, "With your permission, I will use that in my talks with emissaries."
"Go for it," Wayne said, "I just did my duty."
"That is a very admirable sentiment and it makes me glad that you are the one with the Mark," Josephine said, smiling.
"So, tell me about yourself, Padme," Wayne said, sitting on the couch she had against the wall, "Did you always wanna be an ambassador for a heretical world-saving organization and deal with angry nobles?"
Josephine giggled at his question, "No, in fact, I had a rather wild life when I was younger."
"Really?" Wayne said with a surprised expression.
"Is that so strange? I'm not so innocent," she said with a slight pout and a mild glare.
"Didn't mean anything by it," Wayne said, holding his hands up, "Just that you don't really seem the type. So, tell me about this supposed wild life of yours."
"Well, when I was younger, I was fascinated by the bards of Orlais and my friends and I decided to join the life."
"Bards? Are those like musicians or something?" Wayne asked.
"Sort of. Most bards have musical talent, but there are specific types of bards that are…more. They work as assassins, spies, whatever their sponsors require. It was so exciting," she said wistfully, "The danger, the pageantry of the parties I would infiltrate, the uncertainty of what was around the corner, it was all so exciting…at first."
"I imagine something went very wrong," Wayne said.
"Yes and no," she said, frowning, "I knew what was required of bards, but it wasn't until one party that it truly struck home for me. I was charged with protecting my sponsor when another bard attacked me. We fought, though one could hardly call it fighting, more like a drunken brawl. Eventually, it ended with him being knocked over the banister and breaking his neck."
"That must've been terrible, Padme," Wayne said, putting a reassuring hand on hers.
"It was such a waste!" she said, her pain from the memory of the incident coming to the forefront, "When I took off his mask, I knew him! We went to many of the same parties! We might've even been friends! But no, everything he was and could've been was gone. Destroyed right there and then."
"He left you no choice," Wayne said, hoping to reassure her.
"That doesn't matter! I should have found another way!" she insisted.
"Maybe you could have found another way, maybe not. Maybe he would have killed you," Wayne said, "You can't keep blaming yourself for it. Just do what you clearly have been doing: learn from it and better yourself."
"Thank you. I will take your words to heart," she said smiling.
"Well then, I'll let you get back to work. I'm sure you've got a lot and I've gotta be ready to head out to Val Royeaux. Oh, by the way, when you have to explain why I destroyed a statue and caused a scene be sure to explain how handsome and charming I am and how awe-inspiring it was," Wayne said with a teasing smile, earning a giggle from the dark skinned ambassador before a thought occurred to her.
"Wait, you were joking about causing trouble, right? Wayne? You were joking, right?" she called after him.
Wayne collected his allies and they began the trip to Val Royeaux. As they traveled using the horses Master Dennet gave the Inquisition, Varric was questioning Wayne about his world.
"So, wait, you've got some kind of horseless carriages that can move that fast?" Varric asked in disbelief.
"We call them "cars," but yeah, some cars can move at over 100 miles per hour if you really open them up," Wayne said.
Varric snorted with disbelief, "You've gotta be shittin' me. That's definitely something I can't believe until I see it."
"Well, if you recall Varric, his world has no magic so they've had to focus on technological advancements. Besides, I'm sure we've seen many things that I'm sure you used to consider to be impossible," Solas stated.
"Heh, fair enough, Chuckles," Varric said.
"What I would like to know is why Josephine told me to keep a close eye on you Wayne," Cassandra explained, looking at Wayne with open suspicion.
"Hey, is that Val Royeaux?" Wayne said, ignoring Cassandra's question with a teasing smile.
"Yes, it is, now answer the question!" the seeker insisted with an annoyed glare.
"Sure…what was the question again?" Wayne asked teasingly.
"Raaaggh!" Cassandra snarled, earning laughs from the male members of the group.
The group entered the city through the main gate and Wayne was instantly on guard due to a lack of anyone exiting or entering the city along with no guards at all. They were met by one of the Inquisition scouts.
"My Lord Herald," the scout greeted, kneeling before Wayne.
"You are one of Leliana's people. What have you found?" Cassandra asked.
"And please stand up. I'm really not into the whole bowing before me thing," Wayne said.
The scout smiled gratefully before reporting, "The Chantry Mothers await you, but…so do a lot of templars."
"Great. What are they up to now?" Wayne grumbled, "Think there's any chance that they realized how stupid they've been and are planning to throw their full support to the Inquisition?"
"Somehow, I doubt that," Cassandra said.
"Yeah, the day the Chantry admits they've made a mistake is the day that I beat a qunari in a height contest," Varric joked.
"Agreed. Those in power are not well known for admitting mistakes regardless of what organization or force it is," Solas said.
"The people seem to think that the templars are going to protect them from the Inquisition!" the scout stated in astonishment, "They're gathered on the other side of the market. I think that's where the templars intend to meet you."
"Here to protect the innocent masses from the dastardly heretics, I guess," Wayne said, shrugging, "Well, there's only one thing to do now."
With that, Wayne led the group down the main path towards the market square. There was a large crowd already formed in the market. Wayne noticed a number of soldiers positioned around the square. He figured that they were there either to make sure the crowd didn't get out of hand or to attack Wayne's group when they were ordered to.
"Stay frosty," Wayne said, resting his hands on his rifle as they moved through the crowd towards the stage where the mothers were speaking to the crowd, "This could turn bad real quick."
"Good people of Val Royeaux, hear me!" the spokesperson shouted, addressing the crowd when she saw Wayne's group reach the head of the crowd, "Together we mourn our Divine. Her naïve and beautiful heart silenced by treachery!" she shouted, while Wayne fought hard to refrain from rolling his eyes at the backhanded insult of the one she's claiming to mourn, "You wonder what will become of her murderer. Well, wonder no more! Behold the so-called Herald of Andraste! Claiming to rise where our Beloved fell! We say this is a false prophet! No servant of anything beyond his selfish greed!"
Hearing enough of her words, Wayne stepped forward, "We came here in peace, simply to talk and this is what you do? Accuse me of murdering the Divine because…what? I was found unconscious near the explosion site? Accuse us of using the chaos to manipulate people? We've been the ones providing refugees with aid, protecting people from rogue templars and mages, and searching for the true culprit while you and yours are focused on deciding who to blame and who should be in charge. If you truly want justice, then help us deal with the true threat!"
Cassandra smirked with an impressed smile at Wayne before addressing the Mother, "It's true. The Inquisition seeks only to end this madness before it is too late!"
"It is already too late!" she shouted pointing to her left where a group of templars were moving onto the stage led by a man with gray hair and a weasel-like face, "The Templars have returned to the Chantry! They will face this "Inquisition" and the people will be safe once more!"
"Never mind the giant hole in the sky that only we can deal with," Wayne grumbled with annoyance though the annoyance was replaced with surprise when one of the Templars punched her in the head, knocking her to the ground. "What is the meaning of this?" Wayne asked in confusion.
"Her claim to "authority" is an insult. Much like your own," the leader of the templars said.
Cassandra spoke up, "Lord Seeker Lucius, it's imperative that we speak with-"
"You will not address me," Lucius said, not even looking at her as he interrupted her.
"Lord Seeker?" she asked with a tone of confusion and slight hurt.
"Creating a heretical movement, raising up a puppet as Andraste's prophet. You should be ashamed," Lucius said, glaring at Cassandra while Wayne's urge to shoot him was increasing before addressing the crowd, "You should all be ashamed! The Templars failed no one when they left the Chantry to purge the mages! You are the ones who have failed! You who'd leash our righteous swords with doubt and fear!" He smirked pridefully at Wayne's group again, "If you came to appeal the Chantry, you are too late. The only destiny here that demands respect is mine."
"What we need is an alliance that will seal the Breach," Wayne said.
Lucius snorted with scorn, "Oh, the Breach is indeed a threat, but you certainly have no power to do anything about it."
One of the other Templars spoke to the Lord Seeker, "But Lord Seeker, what if he really was sent by the Maker? What if-"
Another templar stopped him, "You are called to a higher purpose! Do not question!"
Lucius spoke up again, "I will make the Templar Order a power that stands alone against the Void. We deserve recognition. Independence!" he turned to Wayne, "You have shown me nothing and the Inquisition…less than nothing." Lucius shouted to address all of the Templars present, "Templars! Val Royeaux is unworthy of our protection! We march!"
With that, the Templars walked out of the city.
"Charming fellow isn't he?" Varric asked sarcastically.
"Has Lord Seeker Lucius gone mad?" Cassandra asked rhetorically.
"Sure seems like it," Wayne muttered, "Well, this has proven to be a waste of time. The Chantry won't help us and the Templars just gave us the finger."
"We shouldn't write them off so quickly. There must be those in the Order who see what he's become," Cassandra insisted.
"Either way we should head back to Haven and inform the others," Solas said.
"While we're here, we should take a look around the city. See if there's any way we can upgrade some equipment and buy anything else we might need. Plus, it'll be good to get idea of the terrain around her," Wayne said.
That plan lasted only a few seconds when an arrow hit the ground just in front of Wayne.
"Whoa!" he shouted in surprise.
"Is that…a message attached to that arrow?" Cassandra asked in surprise.
Sure enough, there was a slip of paper attached to the shaft of the arrow. Wayne pulled it off the arrow and read it.
"Huh, old school text message," Wayne muttered before speaking to his companions, "Someone says that they want to help us take down an enemy of the Inquisition that's in the city. Says that we need to find some "red thing" in the market, near the docks, and around the café. Guess those will tell us where this bad guy is once we do."
"Does it say who sent the message?" Cassandra asked.
"Nah, just says it was from the "Friends of Red Jenny" whoever the heck that is," Wayne said.
"The Friends of Red Jenny? We had a group of them back in Kirkwall. They were a kind of vigilante group that dealt with the gangs roaming around," Varric said.
"So kinda like a neighborhood watch that stabbed people. Awesome," Wayne muttered.
"While we should deal with this, I should point out that the messenger over there seems to be trying to get our attention," Solas said, pointing to a man waving to them.
Wayne and the others went over to the man who explained that he'd been instructed to offer an invitation for a celebration being thrown by a Vivienne de Fer. The Inquisition group then went around and quickly found the "red things" that the message told them about while gathering up some supplies from the stores.
"Looks like this guy is gonna be at a warehouse tonight. We've got time to meet this Vivienne before then," Wayne said.
"Sounds reasonable," Solas said, a sentiment shared by the dwarf and Seeker of the group.
Just as they were going to leave the area, they were stopped by an elf who Cassandra recognized as Grand Enchanter Fiona and leader of the Mage Rebellion. In direct opposition to the treatment from the Templars, Fiona invited him to Redcliffe, which was where the main camp of the Mages.
With that, the mage leader left the city and Wayne's group continued to head towards the home of Vivienne de Fer.
They went deeper into the city to the residential area of Val Royeaux to find the address attached to the invitation was a huge mansion and, after showing the invitation to the butler at the door, went inside. It was obvious to Wayne the instant he walked inside that he did not belong with these people judging from their fancy clothes and ornate masks. It made him even more uncomfortable when he was announced and all attention was on him.
"Greetings ser," one masked man said, "We so rarely have a chance to meet someone new. It is always the same crowd at these parties. So, you must be a guest of Madame de Fer. Or are you here for Duke Bastien?" the man asked.
"I have heard the most curious tales of you. I cannot imagine half of them are true," the masked woman by his side said.
"I'm almost afraid to ask what stories are circling about me, but I can guarantee you the stories aren't nearly as interesting as the truth. Trust me on that," Wayne said.
"Better and better. The Inquisition should attend more of these parties," she said.
"I appreciate the sentiment. As for why I'm here, I'm here to meet this Vivienne de Fer who sent me this invitation," Wayne explained.
Just then, a rude and arrogant voice echoed through the large room, "The Inquisition? What a load of pig shit!" Wayne looked up to see another masked man walking down the steps to the ground floor, "Washed-up sisters and crazed seekers? No one can take them seriously. Everyone knows it's just an excuse for a bunch of political outcasts to grab power."
"Funny, we've sealed a bunch of rifts and killed a high dragon tormenting the Hinterlands, not to mention a bunch of demons," Wayne said, crossing his arms, "What exactly have you done recently?"
Wayne's question earned giggles and laughs from the surrounding nobles, which made the arrogant man snarl with annoyance and reach for his sword strapped to his back.
"If you were a man of honor, you'd step outside and answer the charges," the man said getting in Wayne's face, his putrid breath smelling of alcohol.
"I would…if your words meant more to me than a gnat's fart," Wayne said with a bored expression, "People like you who pretend to know everything, but, in fact, know nothing and do nothing about problems while looking down on those that do something are useless to me and the world. In case that's too subtle for you, let me spell it out: you aren't worth my time."
With that, Wayne turned his back to the now rage-filled noble and prepared to go looking for this Vivienne when Solas shouted, "Wayne, look out!"
Wayne spun around and lifted his rifle only to find the man frozen in mid-downward sword swing.
A new voice echoed through the room, "My dear Marquis, how unkind of you to use such language in my house…to my guests and then you would dishonor yourself even further by attempting to attack him from behind."
Wayne looked up to see another masked woman walking down the stairs. She was dressed in an outfit that seemed to have more points than anything else. To Wayne, it looked similar to the dragon that they fought in the Hinterlands.
"You know such rudeness is…intolerable," the woman continued.
"Madame Vivienne, I humbly beg your pardon!" the frozen man said, his tone quite different than it was mere moments before.
"You should," the now identified Vivienne said as she stood in front of the frozen man, "Whatever am I going to do with you, my dear?"
The frozen man gulped nervously.
Vivienne turned to Wayne, "My lord, you're the wounded party in this unfortunate affair. What would you have me do with this foolish, foolish man?"
Wayne walked past Vivienne, drawing his sidearm and placed it against the frozen man's forehead.
Wayne moved his face so he was almost nose-to-nose with the frozen Marquis, keeping his gun against his head, "I want you to remember this moment. The moment when you are at the mercy of the Inquisition and the Herald of Andraste that you insulted, but you were allowed to live. Not just because of our honor, but because you just aren't worth our time." With that, Wayne holstered his sidearm and turned to Vivienne, "Let him go. Oh, and sorry about the floor," he said gesturing to the growing puddle under the marquis.
"Oh, dear, seems the marquis has sprung a leak," Vivienne said with great amusement as she waved her hand to free him from the spell, "By the grace of Andraste, you have your life, my dear marquis. Do be more careful with it."
Once he was free, the marquis hurried off in embarrassment and shame. With that dealt with, Vivienne took Wayne and his allies to a more private area and removed her mask. Her dark skin was even darker than Josephine's, more dark chocolate than caramel, and was offset by her pale white outfit.
Vivienne explained who she was and why she asked their attendance at her "little gathering."
"So, from what I understand, you're the leader of a mage circle? I thought all of the mages were rebelling against the Chantry?" Wayne asked.
"Your ignorance is understandable considering what I hear about where you come from," she said with a kind smile, "As for your question, many loyal mages still believe in serving the Chantry, though with it in shambles, we wish to help bring peace back to the land. The Inquisition is clearly the best choice in accomplishing this. So, I wish to offer my services to the Inquisition."
"What exactly can you offer us?" Wayne asked.
"Well, I'm a mage with no small amount of skill. Also, I have a number of connections in the Imperial Court which would help to provide the Inquisition with a number of sources of influence," Vivienne explained, "In fact, I know every member of the Imperial Court personally."
Seeing her great usefulness, Wayne didn't need to consider for a moment, "Sounds like you'd be a great help to the Inquisition. We'll be happy to have you."
"I'm pleased you can see the benefits of such an arrangement," Vivienne said, "I will join your people at Haven after I have finished some business here."
"We'll see you back in Haven then," Wayne said as he and his companions left the mansion to head for the Red Jenny meeting location.
As it turned out, the message was accurate as the instant they arrived, they came under attack from a trio of swordsmen with an archer providing covering fire. Cassandra used her shield to block the arrows while she charged the swordsmen while Varric and Solas gave her support. Wayne, meanwhile, used his cover to allow him time to take out the archer with a well-placed shot. Once the archer was down, the swordsmen soon met their end.
The group then moved to the set of doors leading to the next area where Wayne narrowly managed to dodge a fireball aimed at his head.
Standing in the middle of the large room, a masked man in fancy clothes stood there, his posture one of pride and arrogance.
"Herald of Andraste! How much did you expend to discover me? It must have weakened the Inquisition immeasurably!" the man said.
"I have no idea who you even are!" Wayne said as they moved to cover.
"Such obvious lies! I'm too important for this to be an accident! My efforts will survive in victories against you elsewhere!" the man smirked.
Just then, one of the man's guards cried out and the man and Wayne's group looked to see a blonde elf woman drawing an arrow while standing over the dead guard.
"Just say 'what?'" the elf girl said.
"What is the-shluck!" the arrogant man's further words were cut off by the elf's arrow being embedded in his throat.
"Ugh," she said as she moved to remove the arrow from the dead man's neck, "Squishy one, but you heard me, right? 'Just say 'What.'' Rich tits always try for more than they deserve," she said, "Blah, blah, blah, obey me, arrow in my face. So, you followed the notes well enough. Glad to see you're…kinda plain really. All that talk and you're just…a person. I mean, it's all good innit? The important thing is you glow. You're the Herald thingy."
"Uh, sure. I glow," Wayne said, shrugging, "What exactly is going on?"
"No idea," she said, shrugging, "I don't know this idiot from manners. My people just said the Inquisition should look at him."
"Your people? Elves?" Wayne asked, confused.
"Ha! No. People people," she snorted before she gestured to a pile of crates, "Name's Sera. This is cover. Get round it."
"Why?" Wayne asked, suspicious.
"For the reinforcements. Don't worry. Someone tipped me their equipment shed," she said, before she got a mischievous smile, "They've got no breeches."
Wayne had no time to question her further when guards burst into the room, each of the men wearing no pants as they charged.
"Why didn't you take their weapons!?" Wayne shouted as he opened fire on the breech-less guards.
"Because no breeches!" she giggled as she and Varric joined him in firing their weapons while Solas fired his spells and Cassandra prevented them from closing the gap.
Once the group managed to finish off the last of the mercenaries, Sera started giggling, "Friends really came through with that tip. No breeches! So, Herald of Andraste. You're a strange one. I'd like to join."
"You want to join the Inquisition? Why?" Wayne asked.
That brought a jumbled explanation from the elf girl that Wayne understood as her "friends" being a group of vigilantes that tended to target corrupt nobles and they wanted to help the Inquisition.
Despite his being uncertain about her, Wayne wasn't willing to look a gift horse in the mouth and accepted.
"Alright, Harley, we're heading out for Haven. You need to pick up anything before we head out?"
"Whut? My name's Sera, ya wierdie," she said.
"Yeah, I tend to give people nicknames," Wayne said, "So, do you need to pick up anything or not?"
"Nah, let's get goin'," she said, shrugging, "Still weird though."
A/N: And there's chapter 6! Please remember to review with any comments, question, concerns, or constructive criticism that you might have.