Do not own Dragon Age
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23 Eluviesta, 9:31 Dragon, Brecilian Forest, Ruins
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Zevran swims back up from the pool, Alim helps him out of the water.
"The underwater passage is manageable, only twenty feet. Give me a few minutes, I can take a rope back over and tie it off, it can act as a guide." Zevran informs them.
"Well done." Solona says, happy.
"The problem is going to be the warriors. There armor is heavy, it may make getting up to the surface difficult for them." Zevran explains.
"I do not require air. I can go in first and act as a stepping point, giving them a boost." Shale suggests.
"And how do we get you out? I will not leave you down there. You are my friend, just as everyone else." Solona is adamant.
"We all will work together to pull Shale out." Sten states.
"I did see rumble in the room. We could throw that into the pool, to act as stepping stones for Shale to get out with, as well." Zevran advises.
"Alright. I don't like it, but alright. Zevran, you and Alim first. We will wait five minutes, then I'll send another group." Solona says, conceding.
/
The plan works perfectly. Solona fusses over Shale a little though, who swats her away, gently. Shale jokingly calls Solona a mother bear. The comradery is cut short, opening the door at the end of the room, six werewolves rush inside and attack. The fight is vicious, these creatures are rabid in their tenacity. Shale steps forward, delivering a powerful punch to one wolf. Solona sends a cold spell, but is side swiped a second later, a large gash to her side.
Shale tries to return to Solona, but is unable to disengage from her opponent. Solona stumbles back, falling into the pool. The werewolf turns away, looking for a new target. Solona casts a heal in the water, then comes up sending a stone-fist to the werewolf, knocking it over. Scrambling out of the pool, the werewolf recovers, Solona, laying on her side, sends a grease spell, the beast loses footing, falling over. She shout an incoming, then sends a cone of flame, the grease catches fire, burning the creature alive.
It's howl of pain distracts the other werewolves, the warriors and rogues press the advantage, blow after blow. Morrigan transforms into a bear, the form giving her an intimidating presence. One of the other creatures fall, the rest follow shortly after, the group working together to turn the tide.
Solona turns and lays flat on the floor, breathing hard. Shale walks over, standing above her.
"You do not give up. I am proud of you." Shale states, holding out a hand to help the mage up.
"Thank you, Shale." Solona says, smiling, letting the golem pull her up.
"Don't tell anyone." Shale retorts, grinning.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Solona reassures, smirking.
/
Exploring the next room, they encounter more werewolves, but some barricades in the room work to the party's advantage. They do fine gold and gems, but little else. Down yet another flight of stairs, the companions are met by a group of three werewolves. These do not move to attack.
"I am Gatekeeper. I have been sent to parley with you, on behalf of our Lady. She bids you to speak with her." the wolf offers.
"If you were willing to talk before, why was I rebuffed?" Solona asks, suspicious.
"Swiftrunner is...stubborn. He did not want to listen. Our Lady has given orders to allow you passage to parley. Will you come?" Gatekeeper inquires, unsure, but hopeful.
"No harm will come to us?" Solona returns, eyeing the werewolves.
"We have seen your skill. It would be pointless, and cause unnecessary death." Gatekeeper answers, frustrated.
"Then please, I would be honored to meet with your Lady." Solona says, smiling gently.
"Follow, but I warn you, if you try anything harmful to her. Even if it takes all of us to do it, we will fight you to the bitter end." Gatekeeper says, serious.
Solona nods, walking behind the werewolves. She is itching to ask them questions.
/
Waking into a large chamber, the companions see a woman, her skin is stark white, her hair long and black. There are vines entangled down her arms taking the shape of hands. Swiftrunner kneels beside her, subdued.
"Greetings. I am the Lady of the Forest. I bid thee welcome." the woman says warmly.
"It is an honor, my Lady. I am Solona, Grey Warden-Commander of Ferelden." Solona returns, smiling softly.
"I am sure you have questions. Let us put aside our anger and speak." the Lady offers.
"I am pleased to hear that, my Lady. It was disappointing, that my messages of peace where not received." Solona states, looking at Swiftrunner.
"Swiftrunner struggles with his nature still. I do what I can, but old hurts are hard to overcome." the Lady says smiling, understanding the jibe.
"I understand that struggle as well, I believe we all have such wounds, somewhere behind us. The important matter is facing them, even if we do not wish too." Solona suggests, her tone gentle.
"That is most wise. But you are here about the curse. I believe that there are things that Zathrian has not told you, that he will not tell you." the Lady informs.
"He was not very forthcoming. I would be grateful to hear your tale." Solona says sincerely.
"Zathrian once had two children, a boy and a girl. They were out in the forest hunting, when they were set upon, by the humans who resided there." the Lady begins.
"The boy, they killed. The girl,...they raped and left for dead." Swiftrunner tells them, disgusted to say it, "Zathrian found her, but she later learned she was, with child. Rather than face raising the child of her attackers, she took her own life." he finishes, ashamed.
The companions are horrified by the actions of these ancient men.
"Zathrian, in his rage, called forth a Spirit of the Forest and bond it to the body of a wolf. Thus Witherfang was born." the Lady explains, " Witherfang hunted the humans, killing many, but some did not die. Some turned into werewolves, their minds gone, only a ferocious beast remained, and they too hunted their brethren. And so the cycle started. Those here are descendants of those first infected, but they are innocents, those who committed such terrible acts are long dead and forgotten." she states.
"How have you regained yourself? And why attack the Dalish?" Solona queries, fascinated.
"It took a very long time to unlock our humanity again." Swiftrunner answers, remorseful.
"We have sent messages every time the landships are seen entering this part of the forest, every time they are ignored. We will be denied no longer. We spread the curse to the Dalish to force Zathrian's hand, he will have to break the curse, in order to free his people. All we want is to end this suffering." the Lady informs them.
"I see. What would you have us do?" Solona questions, interested.
"Bring Zathrian here. We simply wish to talk, nothing more. I am certain that if he hears their plea, he will surely relent." the Lady suggests.
"I do not think it will be that easy, but I will do my best." Solona says chuckling.
"Thank you. That a stranger can show more compassion is more hope than I expected." the Lady remarks, surprised.
Solona nods, "Compassion is a rare gift, that must become as common as wild flowers." Solona offers, a wisdom to her tone.
The Lady of the Forest nods back, " The door here is open to you. Please, be careful." she says.
/
Solona leads the companions out the door that was barred at the start of the ruins. The group talks about the events and story. Even Morrigan believes the Spirit over Zathrian's story. Coming to the top stepping onto the floor, Solona sees Zathrian, rummaging around the room.
"Zathrian, how did you get here? Did not the forest keep you out?" Solona questions, wary.
"I was never barred from this place. You do not have the heart of Witherfang, do you?" Zathrian asks, not surprised.
"No. The Lady of the Forest told us the whole tale." Solona states, sorrowfully.
"And what did she tell you? You do realize that the Lady and Witherfang are one and the same? Two sides to the same coin, one beautiful and maternal, the other a savage beast and paternal." Zathrian inquires, condescending.
"I am aware. I knew it as soon as I saw both their forms. But that is not the issue. They say you will not speak to them, that you have the power to break this curse." Solona counters, unfazed by his tone.
"How can you ask me to stop it. You were not there, you did not see the mangled body of your son, the defiled body of your daughter. They deserved what they got!" Zathrian proclaims.
"I'm not disputing that. I would hope that in the face of such I might show mercy, but I can not know for certain. But the ones below are not their ancestors, and are innocent. They do not deserve this fate, no more than your children deserved theirs." Solona retorts calmly.
"I...very well. I will meet with them, if you promise to protect me, if they become hostile?" Zathrian requests.
"I will, so long as you do not act first." Solona agrees.
/
Zathrian takes lead, the companions follow behind. Entering the room, the werewolves attempt to intimidate the Keeper, howling and snarling at him.
"I am here, Spirit. Although, I do not see the purpose." Zathrian states, on the offensive.
Swiftrunner lunges forward, getting into Zathrian's space, "She is the Lady of the Forest, you will show her the proper respect!" he snarls out.
"Hush, Swiftrunner." the Lady orders gently.
"You have taken a name spirit, as have your pets?" Zathrian queries, surprised.
"It was they who named me, and their names are there own." the Lady replies, grinning.
"He will not help us. He has already decided to continue torturing us, for something we never did." Swiftrunner proclaims.
"Please, hahren. Listen to them, open your heart." Lyna pleads.
"No. I will listen, but I'm afraid I only see my rage at the acts done to my children." Zathrian counters.
"Surely your rage is spent, by now?" the Lady questions.
"My rage is eternal, as is the suffering I brought forth." Zathrian tells her.
"But is that all. Your people believe that you have found the answer to their lost immortality, but that is not true. And although your death would be an end, it would not lift the curse. Do you fear your end, Maker?" the Lady reveals.
"I did it for my son! For my daughter!" Zathrian returns, angry.
"If he will not lift the curse, then we kill him, all of the treacherous Dalish." Swiftrunner suggests.
"You see, they are beasts still! I will not allow them to take away all I have left." Zathrian laments.
"Dirth ma, harellan. Ma banal enasalin. Mar solas ena mar din!" Alim exclaims.
"You would dare lecture me, da'len!" Zathrian shouts.
"I do so dare. I will not help you. You have shamed our people. I will force you to end this curse." Alim counters, determined.
The companions stand with Alim.
"Then you die too." Zathrian states, banging his staff.
Four trees spring from the ground, Zathrian walks to the back of the ruins, from there he begins casting spells. Alistair tries to get close, the trees stopping him. The werewolves are frozen in place, unable to help. Solona calls the group to her, then sends a grease spell, Alim's fireball is a second behind. Two trees go up in flames, but they are not destroyed. The spell opens a path though, Alistair and Sereda both run through it, dodging tree limbs.
Alistair swings with his sword, but Zathrian blocks it with his staff. Sereda unleashes a Templar ability that Alistair taught her, draining the Keepers magic. Zathrian's eyes go wide, as he weakens considerably. Looking at the battle, the Keeper begins to see his defeat, there was no righteous ending for him. The trees are burning, kindling to a forgotten hearth.
Zathrian holds up his hand, "No more. I...I can not defeat you." he concedes.
"Kill him now." Swiftrunner orders.
"No, Swiftrunner! If we can not show mercy, how can we expect be shown any in return?" the Lady asks rhetorically.
"You shame me Spirit. Very well. I will end the curse. It is...It is time I think. I have lived too long. What of you spirit? You will die as well." Zathrian informs her.
"I have known pain and love, hope and fear, all the joy that is life. Yet of all things I desire nothing more than an end. I beg you, Maker. Put an end to me. Let us put an end to it all." the Lady pleads.
"So be it." Zathrian agrees, then bags his staff on the ground.
There is a flash of light, Zathrian falls to the floor, dead. The Lady of the Forest, begins to glow, followed by the werewolves. The werewolves all touch the Lady as she fades away from them, the creatures change into humans, men and women alike. Naked as the day they were born.
Finding some crates in a corner, Darrian and Lyna search through them for anything to use for clothes. In a small room off the chamber, Faren and Elissa do the same. Solona pick up something from the spot where the Spirit vanished from, tucking it into a small pocket in her robes. Elissa comes out with a pile of blankets. Alim returns from a different area, with a large amount of clothes, he directs the newly human denizens to the crate.
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Solona hands Swiftrunner a coin bag, telling him they will need it. She directs the group to Soldier's Peak in the north, showing them on a map. From there the may go where ever they wish, she is offering them a chance to get use to the world first. Swiftrunner thanks her and begins leading the people out of the ruins, some of whom grab swords and daggers to defend themselves with on the way.
Alistair, helps Darrian and Lyna arrange Zathrian on a platform inside the large chamber, they will tell the Clan where he is located. The rest of the companions are searching the rooms they passed when they meet Gatekeeper. Coming back with gold, jewels, and a few scrolls. There was another Revenant in one of the rooms, but easily taken care of. Alim says he has all the pieces now, they will need to make a stop in Denerim, the next time they go.
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Walking back to the camp, Solona veers toward the Grand Oak. She takes an acorn out of her pocket, planting it in the glade close to the rhyming tree. She says a prayer over the spot, as she casts a tiny growth spell, a little sprout appears. Solona has a gentle smile of her face as she leaves the glen.
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25 Eluviesta, 9:31 Dragon, Brecilian Forest, Dalish Camp
The party arrives back to the Dalish camp in the early evening, having pushed themselves. They stopped at the werewolf they tied to the tree, a werewolf no longer. The elven woman, Danyla, is alive, but still weak from the effects of the curse. Elissa and Leliana help her to the healer in camp. Alistair goes to retrieve her husband.
Alim, Darrian, Lyna, and Solona go to Lanaya, the others go to their camp site. Lyna explains what happened in the ruins, as well as Zathrian's link to the curse.
"So Zathrian is dead and I am now Keeper." Lanaya laments, "It will take time for the hunters to regain their strength, but call and we shall answer." she finishes, a determination coming over her.
"Bring the Clan to Redcliff when you are able. It is closer, than going to Soldier's Peak. I will have the Arl set a place for you, wherever you wish it to be." Solona orders gently.
"I will send a runner ahead when we are near the village. It may frighten the humans to have all of us so near." Lanaya informs, planning it out.
Solona nods, "Ma nuvenin." she says.
"Ma serannas." Lanaya returns, nodding.
"Atish'an sahlin mal." Alim adds, smiling warmly.
"Peace to you as well, lethellin." Lanaya replies, her cheeks reddening.
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The companions are turning in for the night when a hunter, Athras, walks into their area. He hands Solona a scarf, saying he has no other gift to offer her for saving his wife. Solona whispers to him that seeing them reunited was all the payment she required, but she will accept the scarf in the name of friendship, if it is permissible to say. Athras holds back his tears, agreeing that it is indeed permissible to say. Solona will check on Danyla in the morning, before the group leaves. Athras nods, before wishing the companions a good night.
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26 Eluviesta, 9:31 Dragon, Brecilian Forest
The party makes camp just inside the forest that night, it took them a little longer to set out, the Clan wanting to share a meal with the group before leaving. Alim whispers what he learned from the gem spirit to Solona, who tells him what she planted in the glade. Morrigan and Zevran both can not take it any longer.
"Tis explain the nature of your relationship. You too call each other sibling. Why?" Morrigan inquires, her patients at it's end.
Solona sighs, then looks to Alim, "Because she is my sister in every way, but by blood. When I arrived at the docks on Lake Calenhad, there was a little human girl sitting in the boat already. Her knees were pulled to her chest and she was crying softly. The Templars had to pick me up, to get me in the boat. I kicked the Templar, and he threw me into the vessel, hard. I cut my arm pretty bad. This scrawny little girl, crawled over in front of me, raised her arms up and yelled at the Templar to leave me alone. 'He just wants to go home, just like me. You should be nice' she said sternly. A five year old girl was disciplining a Templar. I couldn't help myself, I started laughing. I found the whole thing comical. And then she did the most amazing thing ever. She healed me, the cut on my arm. The Templars tried to stop her, but she glared at them, then went back to work. The Templars and I felt her magic then, and I could not even begin to tell you what it felt like, just that I knew, with her, I would be alright. By the time the boat docked on the other side, we were best friends. Over time, we grew to be family. If your wondering if we ever had any romantic entanglements with each other, then the answer is no. I like my partners with a little less wo and a little more men." Alim explains, everyone listening intently.
"I...I suppose I never thought about what it would be like to be taken to the Tower at such a young age. My question came off as rude. But you too are odd to my perceived notions. I'm...I'm sorry." Morrigan says, trying.
"It's not something we share with others. Mostly for the reason you stated. They don't understand." Solona remarks, sorrowfully.
"I...I understand. The children purchased by the crows, we train together, work together, do everything together. They try to teach us to detach ourselves from them, but it doesn't work out that way. We form bonds like you described. Because, like the Circle, only others who have experienced it, know what we go through." Zevran offers, sympathetic, sitting down next to Alim and taking his hand.
"I do find it disappointing that you do not favor woman, you are quite attractive, but I suppose giving the impression to others in the Circle that you two were more than friends had other uses as well." Morrigan theorizes.
"I never said I had never been with a woman, I just don't prefer them. There have been one or two that have caught my interest. I'd have plowed that Lanaya till she couldn't see straight," Alim confirms, Zevran chuckles, "But I am happy with who I am. As to the other topic, yes, it did have it's uses." he finishes.
"Although, if you are interested in joining us sometime Morrigan, I would not turn you away." Zevran suggests, smirking.
"As generous as that offer is, I will pass, thank you." Morrigan declines, eyebrow raised.
"You were abandoned by your clan, weren't you? Lyna asks softly.
Alim sighs, "Yes. Not all clans are like the one you came from Lyna. Some are bad. I was the second child they abandoned, but not the last. The Keeper already had a First and a Second, they all had apprentices. I was asked to come with the Keeper on a trip to a human village. The Keeper asked me to wait for them by a building, as they went inside. The Keeper came out a moment later, walking away. I called out, they kept walking. Two Templars, held me in place, as I watched my Keeper leave me behind, never looking back." he informs, his emotions detached, Solona squeezes his shoulder.
Lyna has a pained expression on her face, she nods her understanding. The others nod to Alim, letting him know, he will not be left behind again, ever.
"Well, how about we change the gloomy mood around with some booze and a game of Diamondback?" Oghren suggests, smiling hopefully.
The group agrees, Oghren getting the game set up. Solona watches Morrigan discretely, there was a purpose to her questions.
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