Do not own Dragon Age
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6 Molioris 9:31 Dragon, Arl of Denerim's Estate
The small group sees a crowd right outside the front gates to the residence, Erlina explaining that the place is in disrepair, Howe has not paid the workers.
"So he's a cheap bastard, too." Elissa remarks.
"There is an entrance on the other side, we can get into the estate from their." Erlina informs them.
Darrian, Elissa, Lyna, Solona, and three of the mabari move to the left of the building, keeping to the wall. They spot a guard up ahead on a balcony, watching the area. Lyna takes aim and fires an arrow, hitting the guard in the neck. He slumps forward, falling over the balcony, landing on the ground in front of them, dead. Darrian and Elissa drag him to a sewer grate, hiding him inside. Continuing forward, there are no guards in the back of the compound.
At the edge of the back wall, Erlina gives them the guard uniforms, but tells them to hide, she will distract the two guards at the servants entrance. They will know that the group does not belong, the soldiers inside will not, with Howe hiring new guards everyday. The party goes to the other side of a dividing wall and changes into the uniforms, Solona peaks around the corner of the wall, watching Erlina run to the servants entrance, yelling about darkspawn. The guards follow her, Solona waits until they are out of site, then rushes her group to the entrance, slipping inside the estate.
/
Erlina catches up to them ten minutes later, complaining about the hassle of getting the guards to back down. Solona sighs, exasperated with the woman. The group moves forward, going out a door into the kitchen. The mabari whine, wanting something to eat. Elissa swipes a hunch of meat, sitting on a platter. She gives each an equal portion on the sly, the cook none the wiser.
Darrian takes the lead, having been through the estate before, the party walks at a casual pace, blending in. Moving past the main entrance, turning right down a hallway, Erlina makes a quick left, into a small alcove. A door on the right has a barrier across the threshold.
"My Lady, I have the Grey Wardens with me." Erlina says to the door.
"Thank the Maker! As you can see there is a slight problem. My host, was not content with simple guards. There is a barrier over the door, find the mage who cast the spell, then we can get out of here." Anora explains.
"Where might he be?" Solona inquires.
"Probably with Howe?" Anora guesses.
"Alright. Do me a favor?" Solona asks with a short pause, "Stay put." She quips, smirking.
"Oh, you're hilarious." Anora returns, not amused.
Darrian, Elissa and Lyna, try to stifle their giggles at first, but Anora's annoyed retort is too much, all three chuckle loudly.
"Please, hurry." Erlina implores.
The group leaves the alcove, Erlina staying behind. Turning left they continue down a hallway, the pass through a formal dining room, into another corridor. They hear a guard and a maid meeting up for a rendezvous, but leave them alone, the guard will be distracted. Darrian points to door to the right, opening it, they discover the treasure vault. Elissa smirks, the party loads it all into their packs and coin purses, except for one gold piece, which they deposit in the center of the floor.
Across from the vault is Howe's bedroom. Searching the room, they discover a bundle of Grey Warden documents, Solona secures them in her pack. A door in the back of the room leads to a set of stairs, going down. Darrian opens the door at the bottom of the steps, distracting a guard near a cell. The prisoner uses the disturbance to grab the guard and choke the man, he bangs his head against the cell door, then lift the key to his cell as the body falls. He drags the guard inside the cell, walking out a minute later, buckling the last bracer in place.
"Thank you, friend. I have been waiting for an opportunity to strike for a few days now." a man says with a soft Orlesian accent.
"It was my pleasure." Solona returns, removing her guard helmet, the others following suit.
"Riordan, a Grey Warden or Orlais. I was born here in Ferelden, but am currently stationed in Jader." he informs them.
"Solona, newly appointed Grey Warden. These are my fellow Wardens." she says, introducing everyone.
"So you are the recruits Duncan mentioned. He wrote that he was traveling before heading to Ostagar. If only he were here, I would smack him for not telling me or introducing me to such a lovely woman." Riordan tells them, stepping closer at the end and taking Solona's hand, kissing the top of it.
Solona laughs, "I am not such a fool to fall at flattery, or a handsome face. But at the character of a man or individual, who tempts me with a promise of everlasting grace." she remarks.
"I have not heard the words of the 'Fox of Orlais' in a long time, I was but a boy when my mother read me the story. One of your..." Riordan starts.
Solona puts a finger to her lips, a small shake of her head. "How did Howe capture you?" she queries.
"Easily, with an offer of hospitality and a poisoned chalice. I thought that he did not yet know who I was. When the Wardens were turned away at the border from Orlais, we decided to send one person to find out what was going on. I volunteered since I am originally from West Hills." Riordan explains, his voice weary.
"We are staying at the Arl of Redcliff's estate, off the Market District. The other recruits are there and can fill you in on the events more fully. I believe I found some documents that belong to you." Solona explains, handing over the scrolls. "Go on to the estate, we will meet you there after removing an obstacle from our path." she suggests, grinning.
Riorden chuckles, "Until later, sister. And welcome to the Wardens." he says, taking the stairs behind the group.
/
The dungeon is a mess, guards coming out of every room, a few mabari hounds nipping at them, and traps, just to shake things up now and then. The party is taking a five minute rest to catch there breath, when Solona hears a anguished scream, her instincts kick in, rushing to the source. The group finds a torture chamber, a man tied to a rack. The party is enraged by what they see, running inside to dispatch the guards within.
Solona hurries to the man after the fighting is over, Elissa cuts his bindings, while the mage examines his injuries.
"Who are you? Did my father send you?" the man questions, wincing as Solona works.
"We're Grey Wardens. I recognize you. Owen?" Elissa remarks, unsure.
"Oswyn, my father is Bann Sighard. Aren't you Elissa Cousland?" he returns.
"Yes, but I am a Grey Warden now. Why was Howe torturing you?" Elissa inquires.
"I was at Os...Fucking shit!" he exclaims as Solona resets his leg, she murmurs an apology. "I was at Ostagar, as was my best friend. We made it out, being at the rearguard. My friend was telling anyone who would listen, about what Loghain did. Howe offered to help. I started investigating when I had not heard from him. Howe captured me and I have been here ever since. That was at the end of Verimensis." Oswyn informs them.
Solona has everything in place and begins to cast a healing spell. Oswyn relaxes as the soothing energy washes over him. Darrian comes over with a set of armor. Oswyn explains that there are other prisoners, they rotate between them, giving each one a chance to heal, before starting it all over again. Darrian and Elissa help him to the door way, he points down a hall, to a door on the right. The party tells him to wait there, while they go clean out the rat infestation.
/
Darrian peaks around the open door, he tells Solona there are four guards he can see. Solona sends a well placed grease spell followed by a fireball. Then waits for the fire to die out, letting the flames take care of the jailors. Lyna fires arrows into the men, stopping their screaming. A fifth guard is huddled in a corner, terrified. Lyna shoots him, not the least bit moved by his pleas after seeing the torture chamber. In a room behind the first one, four cells, two on each side. A man sits in his small clothes, curled up into himself, begging for his mother. Solona opens the cell and pulls him into her arms, as the man weeps, her cleansing aura spreading out to him, trying to ease his mind. Darrian exclaims, when he see another prisoner, rushing over to the cell. Opening the door, he checks the elven man, who is stunned to see Darrian.
"What? How...how did you get in here, Soris?" Darrian asks, frantic.
"Darrian? Oh, Maker, Darrian. Howe's men came, during the riots. I was trying to stop them. They were hunting children. Howe's men captured me, brought me here. What day is it?" the man explains, sorrowfully.
"6 Molioris." Lyna returns.
"3 months. I've been here for 3 months. Shianni! Is Shianni okay?" Soris questions, concerned.
"We don't know. The Arl's had the Alienage on lock down. We can't get inside." Darrian informs him.
"Please, get me out of here?" Soris pleads.
"Let's get you up. Can you walk?" Darrian inquires, pulling Soris to his feet.
"Yeah, I think so." Soris says, a little unsteady.
The group returns to Oswyn, who is dressed, but his steps are shaky.
"Go to the Chantry. I can do one more heal, to help steady you. But we have to get to Howe, he can not get away with this. This man is in no shape to go on his own, please, help him." Solona pleads.
"Of course, my lady." Oswyn replies, putting an arm around the incoherent man. Soris takes his other side.
The two introduce each other, Darrian points the way out, telling them to be careful. The two men nod, then slowly make there way out of the dungeon. Solona watches them for a minute, then turns her head, looking down the hallway.
/
Opening the last door in the dungeon, a medium sized group of guards, along with Rendon Howe is waiting for them, a sneer on his face.
"My, my. Your father would be turning in his grave, if he knew what you were doing. But I suppose, being dead allows one to not care about such things anymore." Howe taunts, not aware that Bryce is alive.
"We are just here for Anora." Solona states, coolly.
"The traitorous bitch. She does love her Games." Howe remarks cryptically.
"It doesn't matter what you say. I know my family will be at peace once you are dead." Elissa returns, not taking the bait.
"Still don't know your place though. That comes from being such a righteous bitch." Howe retorts, disgusted.
"Just shut the fuck up. You are a greedy, despicable, bastard. I'm going to kill you. I will not feel anything but relief in doing it." Elissa tells him, calmly.
"We shall see." Rendon states smiling. He gives a signal, the soldiers attack.
/
The hounds lunge, knocking over a guard, while the others shred the man, making short work of his demise. They move on to their next target, helping to thin the enemies. Solona casts a chain lightning, shocking the soldiers wearing armor heavily. Elissa stays focus on Howe, the two trading blows, they are evenly matched. A spark from the lightning hits Howe, causing him to flinch. Elissa rolls past him, standing up swiftly, she slashes at his vulnerable side, causing a deep wound. An Arcane bolt hits Elissa, a mage off to the side casting spells at her. The mage is about to cast again, when Thea knocks him over, tearing into his flesh. Elissa turns back to Howe, who has recovered somewhat. The two reengage, daggers clashing.
Darrian is moving about the room, dashing and slashing he calls it. Two guards are standing next to each other. Darrian judges the distance, before running towards them, he steps into a downward slide, going between the two, slashing at their legs, on the other side, he plants his foot, raising him back up. Not turning around, he hurries to the next target, hearing the bodies fall to the ground.
Lyna's arrows find mark after mark, another soldier going down. She rushes to a pillar in the room, hiding behind it. She steps out to fire at another mage across the room, assisting Solona. The arrow interrupts the other spellcaster, letting Solona's magic get to the enemy first.
Elissa has a cut on her leg and arm, but she ignores the pain, focused on Howe, who is leaning heavily to his side, the previous wound taking a toll. The two combatants circle around each other, looking for their opening. Thea jumps on Howe's back, pushing him forward, Elissa takes her chance, she moves in, driving her daggers into his chest, spitting on his face. Pulling the daggers free with a sideways motion, opening the wounds further, Howe falls.
"I spit on you! I deserved..m o r e." Howe states as he dies.
Elissa is breathing hard, she takes a deep cleansing breath, then turns and walks away from the man. He doesn't deserve anything.
/
Solona heals everyone's injuries, commenting that Alistair would hit her if Elissa had a scar. Elissa smirks, retorting that he could kiss it all better if she did. Solona gives a look, saying she doesn't want to hear about that. Lyna calls the two over to the back of the room. Another man in a cell, he is a little incoherent. Solona recognizes his symptoms as Lyrium withdraw, the man asks that they find his sister, Alfstanna. Elissa knows who that is, she's a Bann for the Waking Sea. He gives the party a signet ring, to give to the sister, so she knows it's from him. Darrian finds a key on Howe's body, it should open another door for quicker access back up to Anora.
/
Erlina says a couple of men came by, but were able to slip out, after she distracted the guards at the main doors. Solona thanks her. Anora comes out of her guest room dressed as a guard.
"Aren't you a little short for a soldier?" Solona quips, smirking.
"Funny. We need to hurry, no doubt my father has already sent men to retrieve me." Anora suggests, serious.
Solona leads the procession, but at the main entrance, Cauthrien is waiting for them.
"Come peacefully. I do not wish to harm you. You are under arrest for the murder of Teryn Rendon Howe." she states, matter of fact.
"Now that is an interesting notion." Solona contemplates cryptically, gesturing a signal with her hand.
Darrian slips out from notice, vanishing into shadow.
"Do not make me use force!" Cauthrien exclaims.
"And if I told you I was here to rescue the Queen. What would your reaction be, I wonder?" Solona throws out, to test the waters.
"What?" Cauthrien says, shocked.
"Sir Cauthrien, thank goodness. These Wardens are trying to kidnap me." Anora remarks, playing the innocent victim.
"And you didn't disappoint." Solona comments to herself.
"Arrest them." Cauthrien orders.
Solona drops her pack, laying her staff atop it, the others follow suit, leaving weapons behind. She holds up her hands, nodding for the others to do the same. Cauthrien and her soldiers escort the ladies out, Solona signals with her fingers. Darrian watches, the mabari are left behind. Once the coast is clear, he and the hounds pick up the packs and slip out the main doors, running as fast as he can to the Arl's estate. Fuck!
/
It is dark and very late, as Darrian and the mabari, enters the residence, Alistair is on him as soon as he crosses the threshold, immediately asking about Elissa and the others. Darrian hurries through an explanation, as he finishes there is a knock at the door. The group scrambles to hide from the chamberlain, who comes from a side room to answer the call. The two watch as Anora and Erlina enter the estate, being taken to Arl Eamon. Alistair narrows his eyes, not liking the Queen one bit. He asks Thea to go get Sereda, it's time to play dumb.
/
Darrian hurries back out of the estate, the nobles drink at the tavern, they stay in estates. Fortunately, he knows were some of those residences are. He knocks frantically on Bann Alfstanna's door, signet ring in hand. A servant answers, demanding an explanation. Darrian holds up the signet ring, requesting the Bann at once. The servant acknowledges the ring, bids him to enter. Alfstanna emerges from the stairs, running down them. Darrian hands her the ring, telling her about her brother and where to find him, but she needs to hurry, Loghain may get there before her. Her eyes go wide, understanding the implication. Darrian leaves as the Bann calls for her armor and a couple of soldiers.
/
Darrian slips back into Arl Eamon's from the servants entrance, the hounds waiting for him. Assan nudges him, Darrian assures the mabari that they are going to get Lyna back, they are going to get all three of them back, looking at the other two hounds.
/
While Darrian was taking the ring, Alistair was walking behind Sereda, meeting up with the rest of the companions in Eamon's study. Entering the room, he sees a man he recognizes, off to the side. He also sees Anora and Erlina, standing next to Eamon, his look grave.
"Eamon? What's going on? Where are the others?" Alistair asks dumbly.
"They have been captured. They are probably on their way to Fort Drakon as we speak." Eamon informs him.
"How do we get them out? Is the better question." Anora states, concerned.
"How did they get captured in the first place? Is an even better one." Sereda retorts, looking at Anora.
"We can discuss that later. What do we do?" Anora redirects.
"Leliana can you get two sets of Chantry robes? I believe there are a few people at Fort Drakon who are in need of Divine intervention." Sereda suggests, eyebrow raised.
"I still have mine, getting another will be no problem." Leliana confirms, smiling.
"You and Wynne, go to the Fort, bring them back." Sereda orders.
"Yes, ma'am." Leliana says, before her and Wynne hurry out.
"Where are the mabari?" Sereda inquires.
"They were left at Howe's estate. Why?" Anora questions, confused.
"Shale? Can you catch Leliana, tell her to expect the hounds to either be at the Fort, or on their way?" Sereda asks.
"On it." Shale replies rushing out to find Leliana.
"Alistair? Go wait for them downstairs, have them leave from the servants entrance, it's less suspicious that way."
"Got it, boss." Alistair says, running out.
"Now, we wait. I'll stay up. Everyone else, try to get some rest. I know it will be hard, but just...try." Sereda orders, shewing the companions still present, back to their rooms.
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