Do Not Own Dragon Age
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8 Pluitanis, 9:31 Dragon, Redcliff, Night Fall
A greenish mist, rolls out from the castle, engulfing the road, settling over the roofs of the village. Sir Perth is waiting at the top of the main road to the castle, a lonely windmill turning behind him. Dwyn, his associates, the elf from the tavern, Alim, Sereda, Shale, and Sten are all stationed at the junction. Sir Perth warns that the creatures usually arrive a few minutes after the mist rolls in.
The fire is slowing the creatures, but not stopping them. Shale is uninteresting to the undead, who move past the golem. Shale attacks them from behind, the fire not impeding the behemoth. Alim and the elf keep a distance, sending spells and arrows. The melee fighters stay a couple feet back from the edge of the flames, finishing undead that make it through. They finish the last of the corpses, when a runner comes up from the village below, saying that the monsters are coming from the lake. Sereda leaves Sten in charge. Alim, the other elf and Shale move to a vantage point next to the windmill. The elf firing arrows, picking off corpses. Alim sending spells to help thin the herd.
/
The undead come from several places around the village, all heading for the Chantry. The barman from the tavern, steps forward to rush out to them, but Zevran trips him up, calling him a fool. The creatures set off the wire traps, setting off explosions in different spots, killing a large swath of the monsters. More come forward though, catching on fire, but moving slowly. Leliana and Lyna, each set between a line of archers, let their missiles loose, another batch are gone. The corpses continue to come, the group is holding them back. It is late in the night, when the last of the creatures falls. Only one undead made it past the barricade, but that was because it collapsed forward, instead of backwards.
/
The group keeps a watch of two going throughout the night, giving everyone a chance to rest for a time. As the sun rises over the Lake, a sigh is felt in the community. Bann Teagan emerges from the Chantry, talking to Mayor Murdock and Sir Perth, he declares the Grey Wardens and their companions, Hero's of Redcliff. The Bann asks them to meet him by the windmill, when they are ready.
The group meets with Bann Teagan an hour and a half later, he is staring at the castle. He tells the group that he has a way inside, but that he wanted the companions help the town first, he couldn't leave them defenseless. Solona scolds him, but understands his concern. The Bann smirks at her, then tells them about a passageway inside the windmill, to a passageway that goes underneath the waterfall, and leads to the dungeons beneath the castle. He is suggesting guiding the group when he stops suddenly, seeing a woman running toward him.
"Maker's Breath! Isolde?" Bann Teagan exclaims, surprised.
"Teagan! Thank the Maker I found you quickly. You must come with me,...back to the castle. It's Connor, he needs you." Isolde tells him, pleadingly.
"Why don't we all go to the castle." Solona interjects diplomaticly.
"Teagan, who is this woman?" Isolde asks, jealousy lacing her voice.
"Lady Isolde? You remember me?" Alistair questions, trying to stir her focus.
"Alistair! What are you doing here?" she returns, not even trying to hide her disgust.
"Isolde, this is Solona, Grey Warden-Commander for Ferelden, Alistair is under her command. Now, slow down and explain what is going on?" the Bann inquires gently.
"I don't know what is safe to tell. Eamon was poisoned by a tutor I hired for Connor. He was recommended by Teryn Loghain, but he turned out to be an infiltrator. He used his position to get close to us. He claims that he was following Loghain's orders, but I am certain that is a lie." Isolde informs them, calmly.
"Eamon was poisoned on Teryn Loghain's orders? Maker!" Teagan queries, stunned.
"When did the tutor arrive? And how long after was Eamon poisoned?" Solona questions, trying to get the whole picture.
"Sometime in mid Kingsway, but it was not until the beginning of Harvestmere, that Eamon was poisoned." Isolde replies, confused.
"The dates exactly? It's important." Solona encourages, her tone firm and concerned.
"Ah...the 18th of Kingsway, it was a Tuesday. Eamon became ill on the 8th or 9th, it was a Thursday." Isolde informs, really thinking about it.
Solona looks to Alistair, "Could a raven have made it here in two days?" she asks fast.
Alistair nods in affirmative.
"What is it?" Teagan wonders, concerned.
"What happened after the Arl Eamon became ill?" Solona redirects, ignoring the Bann for the moment.
"After I had the tutor put in the dungeon, he summoned a demon. It holds Connor hostage, in exchange for it's continued existence. I begged it to let me come and bring you back to the castle, saying that Connor needed his Uncle. Please, Teagan! You must come with me. I can not let it hurt my Connor." Isolde says, growing more upset, the more she tells them.
"Summoned a demon? Is that what's responsible for the attacks on the village?" Teagan queries, angry.
"Yes. But please, Teagan. We must hurry." Isolde answers, grabbing at the Bann's hand.
"Alright. I'll come. Give me a moment. I'll meet you at the top of the hill." the Bann tells her.
"Oh thank you, Teagan. I'll be waiting. Please, do not take to long." Isolde pleads, eager to return.
Once she is up the hill far enough, Teagan gives Solona the signet ring that will open the passageway. He tells Solona that he will distract, whatever the creature is, buying the group time to get into the castle and hopefully, save everyone. He takes Solono's hand, bringing it up to kiss the top of.
"The Maker smiled on me, when he brought you to Redcliff." he states, before releasing Solona, and rushing up the hill to Isolde.
The companions watch as the two disappear, before going to the windmill. Inside they find the entrance, using the signet ring, they open the passageway, filing in, one by one.
/
Solona dispels the wisp that she was using for a light source, when she comes out into the back of the dungeons. She waits for everyone else, before moving to another door. Opening it, there are four corpses, trying to get at a prisoner. Sereda runs forward, charging the monsters. Alistair and Oghren not to far behind. It is less than a minute to dispatch the undead creatures.
"Thank you. I was starting to think that they abandoned me down here." a male voice from the cell says.
Alim and Solona run to the cell, recognizing the voice. Once they see him, all three are shocked.
"Holy shit!" the man exclaims.
"I could say the same thing, Jowan." Alim comments, smirking.
"Jowan," Solona starts, sadly, "You lying, two faced, no good, son of a bitch! Faren can you open the cell? I need to beat the shit out of this fucker." she finishes.
"Damn it, Solona. Do you kiss your boyfriend with that mouth?" Jowan fires back.
Alim starts laughing. The companions are shocked, having never heard Solona swear like this, or seen her demeanor be anything other than warm and comforting.
"Why don't you kiss my ass, with yours?" Solona retorts, grinning.
Faren sneaks in, picking the lock easily. He opens the cell door, then high-tails it out of the line of fire. Jowan steps out, Solona grabs him fast, hugging him tightly. Jowan returns the embrace. Alim hugs them both, the two pull one of their arms free, hugging him back. A few moments later, they separate.
"Now, tell me what happened?" Solona inquires.
Jowan tell his side of the story, confirming that Loghain's men rescued him from the Templars, who had caught him three weeks after he escaped. Loghain sent him to Redcliff, knowing that Isolde was searching for a tutor for Connor, specifically a mage. Jowan hands them a scroll, containing Loghain's orders. Jowan explains that Loghain promised to shield him from the Templars, if he performed this task. Reading the scroll, the party learns that Loghain ordered the poisoning, because Eamon was a threat to the country, the Teryn claiming treason.
Jowan confesses to the crime, saying he never saw any proof, but it's Teryn Loghain, why would he not believe him. Solona nods at that. Continuing his story, he informs the group that Connor is a mage, that was why Isolde wanted a mage tutor, to teach Connor in secret. Jowan swears he didn't teach the boy to summon a demon, he had just started on simple spells. Isolde only wanted him to learn enough to hide his magical abilities, after all, a mage can not inherit.
"When did the demon arrive?" Solona asks, back to being Warden-Commander.
"I was already in the dungeon, I want to say, a week, week and a half, after that." Jowan replies.
"Could it be Connor? Who accidentally summoned the spirit?" Alim inquires, rhetorically.
"That was my thought. But I don't know for sure." Jowan agrees.
"Well come on, we can find out when we get inside the castle proper." Solona orders gently.
"This man is a maleficar. He needs to be locked back in that cell, until we have cleared the castle." Wynne interjects firmly.
"Wynne, I understand your concerns, but Jowan is familiar with the castle, we are not. Despite his flawed background, he is a good man, simply misguided. Redemption is open to those who seek it, within the Grey Wardens." Solona reasons calmly.
"I...That is commendable. Very well, but I will be watching him." Wynne returns, resigned.
"That is fair, thank you for helping me is that task." Solona says, a gentle smile on her face.
Wynne nods, smiling softly.
/
The group deals with a few more walking corpses, before heading to the first floor. Clearing the rooms is time consuming, there are mostly undead, but they encounter a Rage Demon and three Ash Wraiths in a chapel. The companions locate a survivor, who is the blacksmith's daughter, Valenna. Elissa directs her to use the passageway in the dungeons, telling her the way is clear. Apparently she thought Jowan and Isolde were having an affair, because of their secrecy. Alim, Jowan, and Solona waited until the girl left before giggling about that notion.
"It's strange, seeing this side of you. But I like it, you deserve to relax too, you know." Sereda comments, smirking.
Solona smirks right back at her, as the party moves onward.
/
After going through the kitchens, down into the larder, then back up again, they find the castles courtyard. Undead converge on the companions, a Revenant, pulls Sten over to it. The mabari charge after him, attacking the creature who has their treat giver. Once the enemies are defeated, they hear shouting at the main gate. Lyna runs over and pulls the lever, causing the portcullis to lift. Sir Perth and two knights enter the courtyard. The groups convene, then head inside the castle, it's time to see what happened to Bann Teagan.
/
The group walks in on Bann Teagan doing flips, cart wheels and other acrobatics, all at the behest of a boy around 8 or 9 years old, Connor, presumably. Isolde is standing next to the boy, head down, submissive.
"Ah, look mother we have guests. Are you the ones who ruined my fun with the village?" the boy asks, his voice distorted.
"Conner? My name is Solona, Grey Warden-Commander of Ferelden. It is a pleasure to meet you." she replies charmingly.
"She's so beautiful mother. Shall I kill her for you, out of jealousy. I can sense it from you, you know." the boys inquires, gleeful at the prospect.
"I don't think." Isolde says, pitifully.
"That's right. I'm in charge here. No one tells me what to do anymore. Why have you come?" the boy questions, his tone suspicious.
"We have come to help." Solona tells him vaguely.
"Help me? Help father? Help yourselves?" the child queries.
"To help all of you." Solona answers, smiling softly.
"But I am having so much fun, and a bargain was struck. Father is alive because I saved him. Me. But I grow bored. Uncle entertain me, destroy these people." the boys orders.
Bann Teagan, arms himself with a mace and moves toward the companions, four other knights descend on the group from the corners of the room.
"Incapacitate, do not kill." Alim orders, before changing positions.
The mages move out of range, Alistair uses one of his Templar abilities, freeing two of the knights from their enthrallment. Connor runs from the room, his face seemed frightened. Isolde hides behind a table, trying to stay small. Sten and Oghren use the pommels of their weapons, able to knock out the other two knights. Teagan moves closer to Solona, who stands calmly, then swings her staff like a bat, using the heavier top half to hit the Bann in the head, rendering him unconscious.
Isolde comes out, rushing to Bann Teagan. Solona pulls a smelling salts from her ingredients pouch, she bends and waves the item slowly, under the man's nose. Teagan stirs, Isolde helps him to stand, he is still a bit woozy, but fine otherwise.
"My Lady, thank you. I was not myself." the Bann directs to Solona.
She nods, a gentle smile telling him it is alright. Isolde does not miss the infliction in Teagan's tone. Alim whispers something in Solona's ear, who looks at him and sighs.
"So Connor is responsible." Teagan states mournfully.
"No! He's not always the demon. Sometimes Connor comes out, that's why he ran. He is scared of violence. I will not let you hurt my son!" Isolde shouts angrily.
"Sit down!" Solona orders the woman sternly, who immediately sits in a chair, stunned.
Solona eyes Isolde for a moment, then turns to Bann Teagan, relaying everything they learned from Jowan, who steps out from behind Shale.
"You! You betrayed me!" Isolde yells, outraged.
"I said, sit down!" Solona commands, leaving no room for argument.
Isolde sits. Wynne moves to the woman, putting a hand on her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. Solona sighs, before continuing with the explanation. Solona hands Teagan the scroll, who reads it quickly. He closes his eyes, sighing.
"What are our options?" Teagan asks, determined.
"There are two. The first, we go into the Fade and kill the demon possessing Connor. Two, we kill Connor, thus eliminating the demon." Solona says, before Isolde stands up.
"No! Connor is innocent in all this. It's his fault. If he had never poisoned Eamon, then none of this would have happened." Isolde accuses.
"Your secrecy, allowed his betrayal. You are just as much to blame as he is, Isolde." Teagan counters, at the end of his patiance.
"With the first one, I will need to go to Kinloch Hold and ask the mages to assist, the ritual requires at least seven mages, I'm a few short. The second is...the easiest. But if you and the knights are willing to keep an eye on the boy. I'll leave Alistair and Sereda, both have Templar abilities, to help. I can sail to the Circle and retrieve the mages and some more Lyrium to assist in the ritual." Solona explains soothingly.
"The Tower is half a day by sail. Yes, I believe that would be best. I can get my head looked at in the mean time." Teagan agrees, rubbing the spot where Solona hit him.
"We mages will stay as well, Wynne can tend to injuries, and help support the others, keeping the undead and demons at bay." Alim adds, Solona agreeing.
"Sir Perth, escort them to the docks with all haste. Then return once they have set off." Teagan orders.
"Of course, my Lord." the knight confirms.
/
They are firmly out into the Lake, when Solona casts a spell, the wind blowing strongly into the sails, carrying the boat swiftly towards it's destination. Sten steers the vessel, saying he has experience in water crafts. Solona is grateful, asking if he will be alright for a couple hours more. He bids her to sleep, he will be just fine. She is asleep within moments.
/
It is late evening when they arrive at Kinloch Hold. Solona awakens to the boat bumping into the dock, as it is moored. She steals herself, before going inside. She finds Irving in the library, helping the children with putting some books away. Solona explains the situation quickly, Irving asks that they give him an hour to gather the mages and the necessarily supplies.
Lyna is looking through the books, some of the human children reading at a desk behind her. An elven child tugs at her armor.
"Yes, dalen?" Lyna inquires softly.
"Why did my clan abandon me?" the child returns, mournfully.
"What?" Lyna asks, stunned.
"My clan, why did they leave me in a human village, after my magic showed up? Was I bad?" the child questions again.
Lyna is stricken. Horrified that a clan would abandon anyone because they were a mage. Solona hears them, she bends down, so that the child is looking down at her.
"No lethellen, you were not bad. Your clan was bad. They did not see your worth. But here, at the Tower. We see you, and all the wonderful thing you can do. We will teach you to control it, to bend it to your will. When you are older, maybe a little wiser, I'm still working on that one myself. You will go out into the world and help people, to defend those who can not. Your clan is lesser for not having you in it." Solona explains, smiling gently.
"Ma serannas, shemlen." the child says, a little happier.
"It will take some time, but I'm certain you will make friends here too. Some of the best you will ever have. And they will understand you, better than any others, because they are just like you." Solona tells her.
"But, I'm an elf, won't they hate me?" the child questions.
"It doesn't matter here." Solona says, "In this place you are here to dithara. The hahren are ghil-dirthalen. And just like you, they are scared, some confused. I think a friend would be very comforting in a place like this, no matter if they be human or elven." she reasons.
"Ma serannas, hahren. I will try to be open to the possibilities." the child states, smiling.
"That's good enough for me. Just try not to set anyone on fire, or turn them into an ice cube, or a snake, or a toad, unless the potion calls for it. Then you got to do what you got to do." Solona remarks smirking.
The child giggles, much more at ease. Solona walks with her to the other kids, asking if the elven child may join them, they quickly make a place and introduce each other, Solona watching, happy.
Lyna watching and listening, still shaken by the idea that a clan would abandon a child, willingly.
/
Irving gathered the mages in the main hall, one carried a back pack with a large supply of Lyrium. The groups were about to depart, when Cullen walked into the hall. Solona stared at him, waiting. The Templar stepped towards them a few moments later.
"Greagoir informed me of what you are attempting. I wanted to wish you luck. It takes a beautiful, forgiving heart to see past wronged hurts and try to make amends. I am trying to see past my own hate, but it is difficult, with the events still too near." Cullen says, sorrowful.
"That is heartwarming to hear. I also wish you luck and hope you can find peace. I struggle with forgiveness at times, but I hold no ill will towards anyone here at the Tower. It was a horrendous time, words and deeds done in anger and frustration are not always a persons true feelings." Solona concurs, smiling warmly.
Cullen steps closer, whispering, "Ar lath ma, vhenan." he tells her.
Solona gasps, before whispering back, "Ara lath ma, vhenan." she tells him.
Stepping back from each other, both knowing that they may never see each other again. Solona nods, Cullen returns the gesture, he nods to Irving as well, who understands.
/
The boat is sailing swiftly through the water of the Lake, returning to Redcliff. Solona hides behind some crates and cries silently. Wishing that she had never found love.
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Denerim
"It seems the nobles will not fall in line after all, my Lord." Howe reports.
"Ungrateful cowards." Loghain retorts.
"Shall I..." Howe begins.
"Father, what of asking for help of the Grey Wardens of Orlais?" Anora suggests.
"No! I will not let them come into my country and destroy everything that we have worked so hard to achieve." Loghain protests, angry.
"We need help. If not Orlais, then we must find aid elsewhere. The south is overrun." Anora summarizes.
"I have tried. No one will answer our calls. If we had been more successful at Ostagar." Loghain muses.
"Did you kill Cailen?" Anora finally asks.
"Cailen chose his own fate." Loghain answers vaguely.
Anora storms out. Howe remarks that they will need to watch the Queen.