New computer, who this? The faithful laptop finally died, and it took a while to have enough spare for a new one... but on with the Tale. Disjointed hybrid chapter ahead.
I step over the last ghost's... well, whatever ghosts have instead of bodies and sniff around. So this was Rumble's hometown, eh? Creepy and full of monsters. That makes sense for her, honestly. Nerd packs the lantern into his sack, and nods. "I suppose we just need an Eluvian shard, now."
"A Dalish ruin in the Brecilian" Mistress muses, while wiping off her sword. "I wonder..."
Aw shit, not the Werewolf place again. Wait... hold that. It's still better than this place. I'm glad now, that Mistress didn't bring me into the Deep Roads last time. The emptiness pisses me off, like it's challenging me with its voidiness and shit. I stare at the nearest big shadow, and growl. Fight me, darkness. I will DESTROY you! Mistress looks up for a second, but goes back to wiping lizard gizzard off her boots. I also hate those stupid Deepstalker things.
"Back to Orzammar" Ari suggests. "You do have those notes for the Shaper people."
Good idea. You found the ghost-lights, and I pissed on the big statue. Missions accomplished. We begin walking for the entrance... where the big stupid vast tunnels await. Lovely.
"Brecilian Forest" Nerd remarks. "According to Wynne, you ran into werewolves out there? Some of her stories about the Blight... well, I have some doubts."
I don't blame you for not believing her, but that one is true. Probably. Unless she added some nonsense. I bet she didn't mention the time I made her scrub my butt as payback for trying to wash me. Good times.
Nerd glances down, when I bark in amusement at the thought. "You're not as bad as she made you sound, though."
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Mistress groans at me. What?! "Speaking of bath time, Max, remember when Daylen hit you with that paralysis rune?"
HUMPH No, and neither do you!
"He always was creative, like that" Nerd grins.
"Are we going to make noise all the way back?" Ari asks, glancing down a shadowy side-passage. Ari's right, you two should shut up now.
Listen, idiot; your cat was already chased up that tree when I got here. Accuse me again and I'll bite you right on your- Something makes me stir out of a lovely dream. I get the feeling a doings is transpiring, and get up to investigate. Oh, hey Mistress. I dreamt I was a dog. She stares at me blankly, while pulling a boot on. No, not a mabari, one of them normal dogs. "Sshh" she whispers. "I think the others are sleeping it off. Guess they weren't used to Dwarven wine." Shame that Nerd took his shoes to bed, then. I came out here last night to befoul them... stupid idiot stopped me hearing what Ari's Clan name is. Him and his stupid whisper-moaning over the herald saying her name, after they announced that full name of his you gave them. Florian Winston Herdelberdel or whatever the fuck it is. "How did she even know?!" We asked the Templars, dipshit. If I figure how, I'll just ask Ari myself. Seems like the only way I'm gonna find out what Clan she's in. Anyway. I hop up and follow Mistress outside. Where we going? I hope it's breakfast.
"Just running the stuff from the Thaig to the Shaperate. Meant to do it yesterday."
Yeah, we were barely back in the compound before that messenger showed up. "Party at the King's place, you're invited... and late. Hurry up."
"Can't go anywhere without an invite, I know. At least it wasn't an entire town for once."
Just some noble jerks. And that teeny tiny Dwarfling. King's son or whatever... King Bay Len better watch himself. Braids says murdering each other for power runs in that family. Bad news is, I owe Barker an apology – Dwarf kids don't have beards from the get-go, after they hatch out of their rocks. You would have thought so, but evidently not. Another damn argument she wins.
We reach the Shaperate, but a guard gets in our way. Ah crap, they finally realised we don't have library cards here.
"... Hold, please" he says, before motioning to one of the others. "Go tell Gavorn the Warden is here. Check if she's allowed in."
"Trouble?" Mistress asks, while I plop down on the stairs.
"I'm not sure. Something hush-hush is going on, but it doesn't sound like my problem yet" the guard shrugs. Other Guard soon returns, and motions for us to enter.
"See anything?" First Guard asks, as Mistress closes the door behind us.
"Just looks like old junk" he answers. Is it Old Junk Day? That's handy, we've got some more for them.
"Hopefully that's the last of their gossiping about it" someone opines. Oh, hey Varty.
"Good morning, Vartag" Mistress offers, holding out her satchel. "I can just leave this, if I'm interrupting?"
"Nah, you should be fine. Besides, this is about your friend. We're in a back chamber – seems we'll have to keep this a secret for now" he points. We begin walking across the main hall.
Friend? … wait, wasn't one of the nobles last night complaining something about the Chant Tree? Of course! Chirpy. She always shows up randomly in these stories.
"I doubt it, Max" Mistress interjects.
… I really wish you'd stop contradicting me in front of people all the time.
"I don't do that."
See? You just did it again!
She groans, as we pass through a curtain to join a small group. Wait, what the hell is he doing here?
"Bodahn?" Mistress notices.
He nervously waves back, while Bay Len and the Head Shaper circle around a large pile of... old junk. Guard was right, this is definitely Old Junk.
"I heard you were in Redcliffe" she says, walking over to also stare at the junk. "Is Sandal with you, or still at the Tower?"
"Not yet – I was due to retrieve him, until I received the King's summons."
"So it's a good thing we caught wind of Dwyn's boasting" Bay Len comments, as he kneels down to look at something. "Got you while you're still back in Ferelden."
"What have we here, actually?" Mistress asks. Old Junk.
"Relics from a forgotten Thaig, beyond any history... according to Dwyn" the Shaper muses, holding up what looks like an old coin.
"Back to grave-robbing, Feddic?" Varty remarks.
"And here I heard the Tethras expedition only found some normal items" Bay Len says, continuing to circle the pile.
"There was... trouble, during the delve. The younger Tethras brother found these much further down" Bodahn answers.
"Tethras..." Mistress ponders. "The ones who paid for the Amgarrak expedition?"
Then I hate them already! Those fucking Harvest-monsters... we spent months hunting down the ones that escaped to the surface.
"Well?" Bay Len asks the Shaper, once he stands back up.
"None of this matches anything recorded. I'll need some of my assistants to get it catalogued any time soon."
"Keep it to some you trust, then" Bay Len assents. "If this is as important as I think, let's keep it secret... would have been easier if you'd brought it here first, instead of selling off pieces on the Surface" he adds, turning to Bodahn.
"That would have been a problem, if I hadn't returned" Bodahn begins. "Our local contact... at best, wouldn't have been allowed into Orzammar."
"For this? I could have made an exception" Bay Len suggests, motioning at the Old Junk.
"What's one more exile, on top of you and the Tethrases? Or is it the Carta?" Varty asks, another sour look on his face.
"Gorim Saelac" Bodahn says, after a moment.
The King and Varty shoot each other a look. "... oh" they both utter. "Okay, good point" Varty admits.
That was sure a reaction. Gorim... Gorim. I know that name, I think. Wait, the guy from the Denny market?! 'Dwarven crap! Fine Dwarven crap!' As if that guy could be a political problem.
Coughing, Bay Len nods at the Shaper. "I should get back, before people start asking questions. Keep me updated." Or maybe he could, if even the King gets this awkward about it. Hopefully he's not gonna have the guy stabbed.
Staying beyond, Varty turns to Mistress. "I don't suppose we can hide him in your compound?" he asks, gesturing at Bodahn. "We don't need word spreading that we're letting an exile in the city."
"What if I weren't?" Bodahn asks. "I still need to retrieve my son, before we return to Kirkwall. The journey there and back should be enough time for the Shapers."
I don't know, man. Maybe don't leave the city while they've got your rare treasure stuff here. You'll never see it again.
"Fine, fine" Varty shrugs, heading for the curtain. "I'll have someone sneak you back out to the surface... wait here. Catch up with the Warden."
Mistress offers Bodahn a smile. "Kirkwall, huh? I hope you're in one of the nicer districts."
"Hightown, actually" he replies. "I'm a live-in assistant for an Estate."
"... Wow. How'd that happen?" Mistress asks, still looking surprised.
"Meserre Hawke saved Sandal during our expedition, so I swore to repay him."
Another name I know from somewhere?
Mistress clearly knows. "Hawke... Angry looking guy" she runs a finger across her nose "has a red spot here, for some reason?"
"You've met, then" Bodahn nods.
"Once, a couple of years back. I stopped over in Kirkwall while waiting for a boat. The beard probably gave it away, but he's a … second cousin, I think, of Daylen." Mistress pauses, briefly. "How's his sister?" she asks with that tone.
Sigh. Hear that, Mistress? I said sigh instead of just groaning. Lemme guess, she has black hair and a cute smile.
Bodahn takes a little too long to answer. Oh great... is she dead? "I didn't actually meet her – I believe she was taken to the Circle."
Well that's good news.
"Hmm, that's not good news" Mistress murmurs. There she goes again. Don't contradict me in front of our friends, please.
"Anyway, you were in Redcliffe? How's their rebuild going?"
"Quite well – the village was celebrating, when I got the summons to come here" Bodahn notes.
"Oh yeah?"
"The Arl announced that his wife is confirmed pregnant." Ugh, not another little Eamon running around. I hope the kid's not an idiot, like daddy.
Mistress' shoulders do... I'm not sure what to call that motion and she exhales. "Oh. I... well, good for them." She emits a couple of noises. "You should let Alistair know, if he's still in Kirkwall. I think he had a room at the Hanged Man. Have a safe journey" she quickly farewells. As she passes the Shaper, she gives him the stuff from her bag.
Sorry about that, Bodahn. Guess she's in her 'why think about that news when I can drink about that news'... I almost forgot that demon kid was Eamon's son. I better go catch up, make sure she don't drink too much.
By the time I get outside, she's already marching down the street. Wait up! If you're gonna go off alone to do something stupid, let me join in! It's more fun that way, right?
We approach the compound, and she doesn't slow down. Guess we are going to Tapster's. Nerd's sitting out on the steps, as we pass. "Morning" he waves. "I was wondering where you were..."
"Business" she briefly utters, not halting to talk.
Frowning, he follows along. "Being underground getting to you, too? Ariane already took off to see the surface for a while."
She murmurs in response, as we reach the main Quarter. Quick, start whining again. Maybe that'll make her react.
I guess he had the same idea, because he's already asking. "I meant to ask, last night – how did you know my full name?"
That makes her stop for a second. "I asked the Templars, while you were fetching your things. With how you carried yourself, like a minor noble, I half-expected you to be some Bann's son."
"I wish" he responds. "Father's only a magistrate."
Well, you sure fucking whine like a noble's brat. 'Oh, ew, ugh, you're bending that Dalish tome!' Shut up, nerd! In fact, what was it you said to Ari? 'They only called me Flora'? Your name is Flower Boy, now. Shut up, flower boy!
Luckily, he does as we continue across the town square. The guards and stronger looking Dwarves all watch Mistress as we pass, the others are distracted by our... others. What, you've never seen a Mage, Warden and warhound all walk into a tavern before? I- yeah okay, saying it out loud sounds like the set-up to a dumb joke.
We walk past the tavern, though, and Mistress glances around. "It should be around here..."
The nearest Dwarf guard groans. "Lemme guess, you're looking for that chapel thing?"
Chapel thing? … oh. Right. I remember some of the Dwarf nobles grumbling about some new Chant Tree in town, last night. Some guy called Burkel, I don't remember him, and apparently someone from the surface who joined up. Or joined down, I guess, since this is Orzammar.
"Over there" Guard 3 points.
"Thanks..." Mistress waves. "I don't have much luck with keeping nobles' sons alive" she tells Flower Boy. "That's why I asked the Templars about you, before letting you come along. And why we're here."
Shoving the wonky door open, we step inside.
… This is a Chant Tree? What a shithole!
"Looks... cozy. For a Chantry" Flower Boy politely attempts.
A robed Dwarf looks up from reading a book. "Oh! Welcome!" Guessing this is Burkel. Where's the other one? Sounded like they exiled themselves down here for the Chant Tree. I thought Orzammar exile only worked one-way.
I hear something stir, in a sideroom. "We have visitors?" Even he sounds surprised. Yeah, we're here. Come on out, buddy.
Mistress looks around. "I wanted to light some memorial candles? Three, if you have them?"
Burkel nods. "Where did we put them..."
Brother Sideroom steps out. "Candles? I think they're in... the... kitchen."
I tilt my head a bit, and I think Mistress did the same. Okay, Mystery Chant Tree Person wasn't Chirpy for once... but I know that I know you from somewhere.
"... Kendalls?" Mistress says in a confused tone. "What?" Not kendels. Candles. Pay attention.
Sideroom fidgets, while Burkel has already vanished. Probably for the candles.
Flower Boy's inspecting the roughly carved statue in one corner, while Mistress and Sideroom just stare at each other. You can tell the Fartisan Guild didn't make that one.
"Right..." he offers. "After Anora made it very clear I wouldn't be Arl, I just wandered. Seeing the Archdemon so close, I guess I needed to find my head again. After a while, I thought about what... I forget who said it, but 'you want absolution, try the Chantry'. The Mothers didn't exactly believe me, so here I am?"
Wait... ain't you the fuckwit from Toadface's dungeon? No wonder they didn't want you. Maybe we killed the wrong Arl's son.
"Yeah, forgiveness is tricky" Mistress murmurs. "Especially your own."
"Quite, quite." He pauses. "Hence the candles."
"Hence the candles" she affirms.
Burkel reappears, holding out a handful.
After Mistress picks three, Sideroom takes the rest and returns to his sideroom.
"Hopefully he's serious" she whispers, kneeling down to light the candles. "Connor" she comments, placing it down before muttering something to herself. She repeats it, with an "Oren" this time. "Thomas."
The perils of sticking to ideas from a long time ago -"that one random epilogue thing about Vaughan joining the Chantry. explore that? Seeing the Archdemon level a city broke him inside."
Or, Past Me, what if we don't? What if we say he got crushed by a falling pig somehow? I was tempted... so instead, he's in the ramshackle Orzammar version, with no guarantee he'll stick it out. This is no redemption attempt. (If I ever get back to my other story, he's so dead though. Guess I can mix this one up)