Do not own Dragon Age.
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1 Frumentum 9:30 Dragon, Korcari Wilds
Wolves and darkspawn. The group journeyed till mid-day, when they were attacked. The wolves had been driven out by the darkspawn, terrified, the canines attacked the party. Lyna said a Dalish blessing over the animals, after the comrades dispatched them. The darkspawn, proved a tad challenging, but the recruits rose to the task. The group moved away, eating light trail rations as they walked. Lyna was on guard, scanning the horizon.
They found a soldier, struggling to move. Solona quickly got to work, healing the worst of his injuries. He gave a briefing of his encounter. Elissa asked about the Cousland soldiers, the wounded man had not seen them himself, but had heard they were farther west and a little south of their current location. Once he felt strong enough, he left the recruits, making his way back to Ostagar.
By evening, they had found one wildflower, Solona preserving it, then securing it in her pack. The party set up a small camp, setting up a watch. Alistair saying he could feel the darkspawn close by, but not moving toward them. They built no fire, not wanting to draw the darkspawns attention, so the party all huddled together. It was still the beginning of autumn and warm enough during the day, but at night, it cooled significantly. Daveth was squeezed between Faren and Jory, to protect the ladies back-sides.
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2 Frumentum, 9:30 Dragon, Korcari Wilds
The sun shone bright on a horrible scene. A small camp had been massacred. A note found on one of the bodies indicated they were from the Chantry. Darrian discovered a small lockbox, hidden in the fire pit, etched into the lid was the name Jetta. Elissa suggested taking it back to Ostagar, from there they could send it off to his next of kin.
Lyna discovered a Chasind trail sign, when pointed out, Darrian said he had seen one a little ways back. They decided to look for more trail signs, Lyna explaining that the Chasind usually leave a small cache of useful articles along these trails. The recruits found another small camp, up on a hill, while following the Chasind trail, two victims, more priests from the Chantry.
"What's with religious folk? They see a foreboding wilderness and think, Yeah, I need to go in there and spread the word." Faren commented.
"They try it in the Brecillian Forest. My clan would usually drive them off. Some of the other clans were not as forgiving." Lyna added.
"I don't know if I should be concerned or impressed." Aistair commented.
"I think it depends on your point of view, salroka." Sereda threw in, smirking.
The darkspawn harassed the party periodically, giving everyone a chance to hone their skills little by little. Jory was not handling the journey well. His complaining was chaffing everyone. It got heated when the recruits came across two hills, with a fallen tree connecting them. There were three men hanging from it, hands tied behind their backs. Camp that night was quiet and cold.
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3 Frumentum, 9:30 Dragon, Korcari Wilds
The recruits waded through a large entourage of darkspawn. Faren and Sereda working in tandem to take down a tougher opponent. Alistair informed them it was an alpha, who usually act similar to a captain, in the surface equivalent. The alpha is always stronger than it's cohorts.
The Chasind trail, leads to a small glade. The cache Lyna described, had some very useful items. After cleaning them up a bit. Alistair donned an interesting helm.
"Do I look pretty?" he asked, cheekily.
"Very pretty." Elissa answered, grinning.
"Now I just need some blood splashed all over to really pull it together." Alistair added.
"Considering our journey so far, I don't think you'll need to wait long." Darrian offered, a crooked smile on his face.
After resting for a bit in the grove, the group set off. Sereda finding two more of the wildflowers, giving them to Solona. The companions moved east, spotting a tower in the distance. The tower proved to be part of the ruins the party was looking for. The darkspawn surrounding it were killed quickly, everyone finding a rhythm. By this time, the sun was sinking. The group decided on setting camp in the ruins, then doing a search in the morning.
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4 Frumentum, 9:30 Dragon, Korcari Wilds
It didn't take the group long to find a broken chest. A closer inspection revealed it empty, Faren however, discovered a hidden compartment, filled with coins, which were quickly deposited into his coin purse.
"Well, well, what have we here? Are you a vulture, I wonder? A scavenger, poking amidst a corpse whose bones were long since cleaned? Or merely an intruder, come into these darkspawn-filled Wilds of mine in search of easy prey? What say you, hmm? Scavenger or intruder?" a woman queried, walking toward the party.
"We are neither. The Grey Warden once owned this tower." Solona answered, taking the lead.
"Tis' a tower no longer. The Wilds have obviously claimed this desiccated corpse. I have watched your progress for some time. Where do they go? I wondered. Why are they here? And now you disturb ashes none have touched for so long. Why is that?" the woman rambled, walking past the group, stopping on a slight elevation.
"Don't answer her. She looks Chasind, and that may mean others are nearby." Alistair interjected.
"You fear barbarians will swoop down upon you?" the woman assumed.
"Yes, swooping is bad." Alistair answered.
"She's a Witch of the Wilds, she is! She'll turn us all into toads!" Daveth exclaimed.
"Witch of the Wilds? Such idle fancies, those legends. Have you no minds of your own? You there. Women do not frighten like little boys. Tell me your names and I shall tell you mine." the woman asked.
"Solona, a pleasure to meet you. These fine friends are Faren, Sereda, Jory, Daveth, Lyna, Darrian, Alim, Elissa and Alistair." Solona supplied.
"Now that is a proper civil greeting, even here in the Wilds. You may call me Morrigan. Shall I guess your purposs? You sought something in that chest, something that is here no longer?" Morrigan construed.
"Here no longer? You stole them, didn't you? You're...some kind of...sneaky...witch-thief!" Alistair tried to explain.
"How very eloquent. How does one steal from dead men?" Morrigan retorted, amused.
"Quite easily, it seems. Those are Grey Warden property, and I suggest you return them." Alistair countered harshly.
"I will not, for 'twas not I who removed them. Invoke a name that means nothing here any longer if you wish. I am not impressed." Morrigan returned.
"Then who removed them?" Solona inquired.
"'Twas my mother, in fact." Morrigan answered.
"Can you take us to her?" Solona asked.
"Now there is a sensible request. I like you. Follow me, if it pleases you." Morrigan replied, turning.
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The companions shared a look, then followed along behind the woman, Solona keeping the lead. Late afternoon found the party coming up to a hut, deeper in the Wilds. They saw an older woman working outside, hanging linens.
"Greeting, Mother. I bring before you a party of Grey Wardens who..." Morrigan begins.
"I see them, girl. Mmm. Much as I expected." the older woman muses.
"Are we suppose to believe you were expecting us?" Alistair asks, bewildered.
"You are required to do nothing, least of all believe. Shut one eye's tight or open one's arms wide...either way, one's a fool!" the older woman retorted.
"She's a witch, I tell you! We shouldn't be talking to her!" Daveth exclaims.
"Quiet! If she's really a witch, do you want to make her mad?" Jory admonishes.
"Now there's a smart lad. Sadly irrelevant to the larger scheme of things, but it is not I who decides. Believe what you will." the woman agrees.
The older woman steps toward Solona, a questioning look in her eye.
"And what of you? Does your woman's mind give you a different viewpoint? Or do you believe as this boy does?" she inquired to Solona.
"I'm not sure what to believe." Solona replies, smiling softly.
"A statement that professes more wisdom than it implies." the woman adds, softening.
"So much about you is uncertain...yet I believe. Do I? It seems I do?" the woman announces.
"So this is a dreaded Witch of the Wilds?" Alistair retorts, amused.
"Witch of the Wilds, eh? Morrigan must have told you that. She fancies such tales, though she would never admit it! Oh, how she dances under the moon!" the older woman laughs.
"They did not come to listen to your wild tales, Mother." Morrigan admonishes.
"True, they came for their treaties, yes? And before you begin barking, your precious seal wore off long ago. I have protected them." the woman stated, turning and going into her hut.
She emerges a minute later with scrolls, bound together.
"You oh, you protected them?" Alistair expresses, puzzled.
"And why not? Take them to your Grey Wardens and tell them this Blight's threat is greater than they realize!" the older woman warned, handing the scrolls to Solona.
"Thank you for returning them." Solona expresses.
"Such manners! Always in the last place you look. Like stockings." the woman states, grinning.
"Time for you to go then." Morrigan announces.
"Morrigan, these are your guests. Lead them back to Ostagar." the older woman commands gently.
"Very well, follow me. I can get you back to your camp before tomorrow nightfall." Morrigan bids.
"Will you be alright, returning in the dark?" Elissa questions, concerned.
"I am not some helpless little girl. I will be fine." Morrigan retorts harshly, walking past the recruits.
Elissa is taken back by the tone. Alistair stares daggers at Morrigan's back. Everyone filed after Morrigan, Solona going last. No one noticed her backwards glance to the older woman, who smiled softly and nodded her head.
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Research indicates that it took the recruits at least three days to run through the Korcari Wilds. Game play cuts the time down.