Note: Sorry for the delay. Some things came up in real life. Thank You for being patient.
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Do not own Dragon Age
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21 Eluviesta, 9:31 Dragon, Brecilian Forest, Dalish Camp
The companions break their fast with a light meal of fruits, jerky, and bread. A elven boy walks over to the group, Solona bids him welcome. Solona praises his curiosity, but does not wish to cause any trouble for the boy if he does not have permission to speak with the party, the boy nods, and turns to leave. Lanaya is behind him, smiling.
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The group moves about the camp in small parties, not wanting to overwhelm the elves. Alim and Zevran stay at their camp, with Shale and Sten. Alistair, Darrian, and Elissa, plus Ishal, and Thea, their mabari, walk around, they ask about the werewolf attacks trying to gauge if anything spoken is important. Faren, Leliana, Lyna, her mabari, Assan and Morrigan go to the other side of the camp, asking about the same. Oghren, Sereda, Solona, and Wynne, plus Loki, stay near the center of the camp.
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The groups reconvene at mid-day, briefing each other of their findings, Morrigan warns them not to speak to the clan's story teller, he harbors a deep hatred for humans. Faren suggests checking on the halla, the herder was having an issue that maybe Solona could help with. Solona nods, adding it to the list in her head.
The craftsman was friendly, but he may be accustomed to humans and dwarves, he and Bodahn seem to be getting along very well. He did ask, if the group goes into the woods, to keep a lookout of ironbark. Lyna tells the party she will take that task on, knowing what the material looks like.
Solona was able to speak with Lanaya a bit more this morning, getting more information, some of the companions smirked at that statement. Solona smiles, but ignores them. Apparently, long ago Zathrian's children were attacked by the human's who use to live in this forest. The first werewolf, Witherfang, came from those human's. Lanaya called it a curse, brought down from the spirit of the forest. Zathrian may be able to break the curse and cure the hunters with the werewolf's heart. Solona had spoken to a hunter, whose wife was killed by the werewolves, he believes however, that she is not dead, but turned into a one of the creatures, and is somewhere in the forest.
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Faren leads Darrian, Lyna and Solona to the halla pen. The deer like creatures immediately perk up as the band approaches, the herder is surprised by their behavior. Solona steps up to the fence, each of the halla move to greet her, wanting her to touch them. The herder is astounded, telling the group that she has never seen the halla act this way before with a stranger, let alone anyone else in the clan. Solona smiles, putting her forehead to each animal. Afterwards, the halla return to their grazing, their steps lighter. Even Lyna is shocked by the incident. Solona asks the herder if she is aware one of the halla has been bitten by the werewolves, all the animals are concerned. The herder asks which one, Solona signals and one of the halla steps forward, another of the halla becomes agitated.
"That is the one I separated. She is this ones mate." the herder informs them.
Solona nods, "Please, show me the injury. I can check the wound and heal it." she says to the creature.
It lifts a back leg, Solona enters the pen unafraid. The damage is minimal, but both animals were worried about the curse. After a gentle probe, Solona says that the mate is not infected, she heals the injury swiftly, the other halla crowd around her.
"Only you, sister." Alim states, smiling.
"How is she doing this?" the herder asks, stunned.
"Because her heart is as open as the sky." Alim says cryptically.
Solona untangles herself from the animals, telling them she will visit again before they leave the clan. She informs the herder that the mates may reunite, the injury was not severe. Also, the female is pregnant. Shocking the herder again, as Solona walks away, Alim walking next to her.
"I thought you would never venture out, brother." Solona comments.
"I must face my anger. Not all clans are the same." Alim offers.
"Did Zevran withhold sex?" Solona asks, smirking.
"Yes." Alim answers, grinning.
Darrian, Faren and Lyna follow behind, chuckling at the two.
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The companions decide to head into the forest that day, Lanaya telling them that there are ruins deep in the forest, the werewolves are most likely at that location. The party comes across regular wolves and a couple of bears. Alim points Leliana to a flower, identifying it as Andraste's Grace, the same one Leliana mentioned her mother loved. Solona picks one and preserves it with a spell, before handing it over to Leliana, who is grateful for the gift.
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The party enters a small clearing, when three werewolves appear from a trail. They stand up on their back legs.
"Why have you come to the forest? Have the treacherous Dalish sent you?" one the the creatures inquires, his voice gravelly.
"Peace. I am Solona, a Grey Warden. Yes, the Dalish have sent me, but I will not attack but to defend myself and others." she answers calmly.
"The time for talk is over. We have sent word to the Dalish, asking to speak, they attack instead. No more talk, no more mercy. You will not reach Witherfang, I will kill you first." the werewolf says, before turning and running back into the forest.
"I believe the Keeper has not told us everything." Wynne states.
Solona nods. The group follows a little trail, crossing a small river. The Wardens in the group feel it as they move further in, in a glade to the right, the party finds darkspawn, a scouting force of six. Solona gives a signal, the creatures wiped out in moments. Searching the area, they find a set of rings, one inscribed with the word Dusk, the other Dawn, in elvish. Solona puts the rings in her pack, an idea brewing, but it will have to wait.
Just beyond the clearing, heading back in the direction of the camp, the companions find a Dalish hunter, unconscious but alive. Solona heals him, before the group takes him back to the camp. It is getting late, the party will return to the forest in the morning.
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22 Eluviesta, 9:31 Dragon, Brecilian Forest
Zathrian dismisses the claim that the werewolves can speak. Solona shakes her head as the Keeper walks away. Lanaya asks that the companions be patient with him, he will warm up to them. The First asks about the mages magic, wondering if it differs from what is taught with the Dalish. Solona explains that she can not speak for Morrigan, as she was never at a Circle and learned her's from her mother. Solona is happy to share with Lanaya, if the First has time after the werewolf business is concluded. Alim, listening in, offers his wisdom as well.
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The forest is easier to navigate on this trip, the journey smoother. Going past the clearing from yesterday, Lyna finds some ironbark, stowing it in her pack. They are in a western part of the woods, the trees come alive and begin to attack the party. Alim and Solona use fire spells, the trees are destroyed swiftly. They come to a large oak tree, that comes alive and speaks to them in rhyme. Wynne is awed by the creature. Alim and Solona look at each other before chuckling. There is a barrier in the forest blocking the path to the ruins deeper in. If the group can get his acorn back from the thief who stole it, then he will give them a token to get past the barrier. He says the wolves are causing unrest with the spirits of the forest, but he means them no ill-will. He just wants them to stop hurting everyone. Solona agrees, thanking the grandfather oak.
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Searching around, they are ambushed by a group of werewolves, another wolf is bent over, injured. The mabari are a greater help than ever before. They are keeping the werewolves harassed on their flanks, distracting the creatures, while the party is able to rally, defeating the beasts. Darrian is scratched up, but otherwise alright. Checking the werewolf that is injured, it speaks of her husband, who is the hunter from the camp they talked to. She has given up and wants to die, the curse is taking her. Solona smiles, then knocks her out. They tie her to a tree, Wynne heals her wounds. Alim slips a knockout potion into her mouth, it should keep her down for a while. Zevran asks why they do not kill her.
"We are attempting to lift the curse. Would you really want to die, if you could be cured instead?" Alim queries to him.
Zevran nods, understanding. The companions continue traveling, leaving the werewolf as she is. In the eastern part of the forest, they find an elven man sitting at a fire, eating a mid-day meal. Wynne recognizes him, he was once her apprentice, a long time ago. They talk for a few minutes, old wounds are opened, but are mended and healed soon after. The party asks about the thief, the elven man grins, he says to look further ahead, there is an old human hermit, who is quite mad. He is most likely the person they seek.
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Coming to a camp site, nestled into a wall of a ruin, the companions begin to search, a figure appears in a flash of light. Wynne's apprentice was not wrong, he is touched by madness indeed. Mentioning the acorn turns him violent, he summons three rage demons. The companions kill the demons and the hermit, who it seems was a blood mage. Zevran finds the acorn in a tree stump, along with a small stash of gold, gems, and a book of elven stories. Alim secures the book, Solona the acorn, the gold and gems are left with Zevran.
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The Grand Oak is thankful for the return of it's acorn, and gifts the group a branch from it's tree, which turns out to be a magical staff. Alim admires it, pleased. The tree says that the staff will break the barrier further ahead, but they best hurry, it is not safe in the forest at night.
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Passing through the barrier, the staff dispels the obstruction. They are walking along, their guard up, they encounter another group of werewolves, the same ones from yesterday.
"I, Swiftrunner, will protect Witherfang. I will stop you here." he says, snarling.
"Please, allow me to speak. I do not wish to harm anyone." Solona pleads.
"No! You are a deceiver, just like the Dalish." Swiftrunner retorts, then swipes with his claws.
Solona leans back, the appendage just missing the mage. The companions defend themselves, two are killed fast, Swiftrunner is knocked over onto his back. Solona walks toward him, a pure white wolf jumps from the brush, blocking the way between the two. Loki barks at the creature, who tilts its head, then lifts its head up howling. Werewolves, hiding in the woods nearby, run out, heading to the ruins further in. The white wolf stares at Solona, who stares right back, Loki steps next to her. The wolf turns, following the others into the ruins.
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Standing inside the ruins on a landing just inside the doors. Darrian and Elissa notice two walls, on opposite sides, look a little off. Stepping closer, the walls open, undead corpses stumble out, Leliana and Lyna shot one each, Elissa takes another, Darrian the fourth, the last is done in by Morrigan. Down a large flight of steps, the group is attacked by werewolves. Once taken care off, Faren finds another secret door, only one undead meanders within.
There are two choices, a door to the right, and a door straight ahead. Checking the door to the right, stairs leading down. Darrian runs down ahead, the door is barred. The door straight ahead is unlocked. Moving down the passageway, there are two corridors, opposite each other, containing rubble from collapses and broken pottery. Further ahead, a large group of Giant Spiders pour out of a room. Alim sends them a fireball in greeting, but don't seem to enjoy the gift. The creatures are dispatched in a timely manner, the room containing just some gold and jewels. A room to the right, held two more spiders, who dead a moment later, yields nothing significant.
Stairs to the left going down are the next choice, taking them down, the companions hear a growl they recognize, and it's not a werewolf's. Their suspicions are confirmed, upon walking further down and into a large chamber. A dragon swoops to the floor, a young female, but powerful. After facing the High Dragon, this one is much easier to handle. Oghren delivers the killing blow, laughing as he does so. It's treasure horde is not as large as previously found, meaning the creature had not been nesting there for long. Darrian shows a bow to Lyna, who gets excited about it. She picks it up, testing it. Lyna asks Leliana if she would like Mage's Eye, who nods yes. Lyna says a prayer in elvish, that Alim translates, the bow is named Falon'Din's Reach. There is a tunnel burrowed into the wall, it drops down to a tunnel below.
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Exiting the tunnel leading down into the lower ruins, Elissa points out a spirit, running away from them. The passageway opens into a corridor apart of the ruins, two small stairs on either side. The collapsed sections, suggest that these were apart of the original stair case connecting the floors. Moving forward, a band of spiders descend, but are no match for the party. Turning left, they come to a medium sized room, the spirit of a child is yelling out. Alim and Solona stop the others from going to it, shaking their heads. It is merely a remnant of an event that is long ago over. The spirit runs off, but twenty undead corpses rise up.
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The party investigates two small rooms, after the battle with the corpses is finished. Elissa brings a stone tablet to Alim, who is awed by the find. He says there should be chamber for elves who came for Uthenera. Taking the door directly across from where they entered, there is a door to the left, a corridor to the right. Left yields the altar chamber for paying respects to those who have entered Uthenera. Alim places the tablet next to the altar, he will tell Lanaya of the ruins and where the tablet is.
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The hallway to the right is filled with undead, who attack, Alistair pushes the group back, Solona sends a grease spell, Alim a fireball. It takes a few moments, but the creatures fall. Exploring the rooms and halls around the area, everyone rushes to a room down a small set of stairs, Faren's yelp drawing the group to him.
"What is it? Are you alright?" Sereda asks worried.
"It fucking talked, in my head." Faren stammers, pointing at a medium sized gem.
"Did you eat something down here?" Sereda questions, confused.
Alim lifts the gem, his eyes go wide. Solona steps next to him. Alim tilts his head, as if listening to a conversation.
"It's a spirit, trapped inside. It was once an elven warrior, a mage, but not like how we use magic. It is suffering, has suffered for so long, ages have come and gone and come again. It wants to be destroyed, to die." Alim informs them, mournfully.
"How may we help this spirit?" Solona queries, empathetic.
"He says there is an altar that we can place the gem on, it will destroy him and the gem." Alim tells them.
"I saw an altar over in the corner here." Sereda says, pointing to the left.
Alim walks over, about to place the gem atop, he stops for just a moment and nods. Half a minute later he says an elven prayer, then places the gem. The jewel disintegrates, a peaceful aura spreads out from the altar, before evaporating. Solona pulls Alim into a side hug, he rests his head on her shoulder.
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They discover another Revenant and note, in a small room, it is defeated swiftly. Opening a door, further in, they are set upon by undead. Darrian, Elissa and Faren disappear, they begin calling attention to themselves, distracting the creatures from the others. The warriors charge in, stepping to the side at Zevrans instructions. The assassin moves hastily to a pressure plate, disarming the device. Zevran notices several more, the rogues coordinate, disarming traps, before fighting the creatures. The corpses are defeated a few minutes later, a search reveals gold and gems.
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It is another hour before they come to a pool in the floor, flooding from the nearby river. The previous rooms battles have taken a toll, everyone is exhausted. Solona tells everyone to rest, she will keep watch. Shale tells her to sleep as well, they will take the watch. Solona is about to protest, when the golem says she will hit the mage if she argues. Solona concedes, smiling.
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