"This reminds me of a story…" Smirking, Varric begins as we stand before the elevator of sorts carrying us down to the dark depths of the deep road. My brow furrows, my muscles tense at the gruesome memoires of last time as anxiously, I feel my foot pat against the wooden floor, pacing back and forth as I feel a few eyes on me.
"Shocking." Dryly, Eve decides to amuse Varric.
"It's about an impossibly handsome dwarf and his friend who got crowned the king of nugs." Varric begins.
"Wait can there be a queen…?" Hopeful, Eve questions making me falter in my steps to turn to frown at Eve's sparkling green.
"Oh for look what you've done now." Exasperated, I groan, already seeing the irritation of a hunt for nugs down here about to begin.
"You think there are nugs down below?" Excited, Eve beams at me only to see my stoic scowl.
"No and if they are they need to be eliminated." Bluntly, I deadpan.
"Why?" Pained, Eve's voice squeaks making me groan.
"Because they could be infected or something." Irritated, I point out.
"I hardly doubt it." Eve dismisses.
"So, you would eat something down here that could be infected?" Warily, I furrow my brow at her.
"Well…for science." Sheepish, she smiles as I facepalm at the moron.
"It's not as good as it sounds. Nugs mostly just shit on the floor and roll in it. Welcome to the deep roads!" Smirking, Varric welcomes us.
"Is it just me or is this the slowest lift ever constricted? I could do with some music, maybe some flute." Thoughtful, Dorian suggests.
"If you say pan flute, I will end you vint…" Fed up, I scowl.
"Lowered into a hole. What an auspicious start." Disgusted, Vivienne sneers.
"We've been in worst places." Optimistically, Eve offers.
"Perhaps you have my dear." Vivienne exclaims.
"Does your company not count?" Slyly, I remark earning a small chuckle from Varric and Vivienne.
"Fox be nice." Teasingly, Varric smirks up at me.
"What? I am nice if I feel the company before me is deserving of that and last I checked this bald oaf isn't." Coolly, I respond making Varric wolf whistle as I pretend to check my gauntlet.
"This coming from the savage who can barely tell the difference between opals and rubies." Insulted, Vivienne sneers at me.
"There rocks that's all they are." Bluntly, I deadpan.
"Dwarves cannot dream yet they devise the most fascinating inventions." In awe, Solas admires the lift.
"Got to make up for that factor I suppose." Casually, I shrug not sure what to say.
"Not all ideas come from the fade." Gently, Eve hints.
"True but these designs must be inspired by something…" Solas reasons.
"Be wary don't open your mouth when killing darkspawn, there blood can kill you if digested…" Warningly, I advise the group as we exit out of the lift approaching the woman.
"How do you do that?" Surprised, Dorian raises a brow.
"I know people who have, most don't end well just like this lot no doubt…" Grimly, I mutter as I glance at Varric, the pair of us grimacing at the memory gesturing to those with a coat over their dead bodies before us.
"Korut…Magari…Novric…your names will not be forgotten…" The dwarven woman promises.
"You must be shaper Valta." Eve assumes.
"Atrast Vala Inquisitor the shaperate welcomes you to the Deep Roads." Politely, Valta greets us.
"What is a shaperate?" Confused, Eve furrows her brow.
"We chronicle the life and times of our people." Valta answers.
"You're historians." Easily, Eve simplifies.
"Also scholars and genealogists. Shapers preserve knowledge in the memories, an archive in Orzammar. We record memories in lyrium to ensure that they never fade. We must be meticulous about every detail." Enthusiastically, Valta states.
"You look like you're hiding something…" Warily, my eyes narrow.
"As a citizen of Orzammar, even a glimpse of your sky could cost me my position and render me casteless." Shyly, Valta reveals.
"Gotta love "real" dwarves." Slyly, Varric remarks.
"They are as charming as the stones they worship." Smirking, I remark making Varric chuckle.
"How many dwarves have you lost?" Tenderly, Eve questions, her greens softening at the sight of the numerous covered corpses.
"More than we can count. The mining caste has suffered greatly. Our situation has worsened since contacting Skyhold. The quakes collapsed the mine and shattered a seal keeping the darkspawn at bay. The legion of the dead hasn't been able to mend the broken seal. And we can't afford to lose anymore lyrium. Orzammar's economy relies on the lyrium trade. Without it, there will be chaos above and below…" Valta explains to us.
"I've read about the legion of the dead. Dwarves who fight darkspawn in service to Orzammar. They commit their lives to the cause and celebrate their own funerals before entering the deep roads." Studiously, Eve gathers.
"No matter their sins in life the legion die noble deaths." Stoically, Valta responds.
"We stand ready to help Orzammar without a steady lyrium income we will fail." Resolute, Eve promises.
"Apologies for pushing you. I fear the damage that tremor caused follow me to the legion camp…" The dwarf tells us as I stand, my fingertips brushing against my temple shaking my head. I frown at the hand over my torso, which I easily brush off and shakily stand, dusting myself off as we head to the camp.
"Keep your eyes closed, these roads are dangerous!" Valta warns us.
"What gave it away the boulders coming to crash down on us or the earthquakes." Mischievously, I call out grimacing at the sudden quake before us making us stumble back.
"An ogre!" Valta gasps at the familiar beast.
"I hate the deep roads." Grumbling, Varric complains.
"What's wrong Varric doesn't this bring back memories?" Teasingly, I point out drawing out my blades.
"Memories I rather not remember." Annoyed, Varric hints as we charge in taking care of the ogre.
"Now that thing's go let's talk about you, Dorian told me about this tale of you." Smoothly, Vivienne begins after dealing with the ogre.
"This isn't the time Vivienne if you hadn't noticed." Incensed, I gesture to the dead ogre body.
"Come now I'm sure the silver shroud has been in a tighter situation, still quite the title a shame it went to someone like you…" Snidely, Vivienne remarks making me roll my eyes.
"Says the freak with devil horns." Lowly, I grumble under my breath.
"Is that the best you can do?" Vivienne challenges me smirking.
"No the best I can do is snapping your neck but even then that's too slow of a death for you." Disgusted, I sneer at him.
"Darling it's not bad being a villain you know Tetras here is inspiring a villain after me." She encourages me confusing me.
"I wonder why." Slyly, I remark.
"My dear, I am simply saying you shouldn't run you should relish the title of being the big bad of the Tevinter imperium. It's quite the honourable title." Calmly, Vivienne advises me making me scoff.
"I will never get used to the stench of darkspawn. They corrupt everything, even the air. That's the broken seal ahead it's as worse as I thought!" Valta gasps as we approach the camp taking care of the darkspawn….
"So…concerning this titan and lyrium will you be alright Fennic?" Nervously, Dorian questions after hearing of Valta's theory concerning this titan and the stone calling out for something causing these tremors, the song Valta hears is apparently calculated, which means it has to have a meaning of some kind.
Bit late to be asking that don't you think?" Cheekily, I remark crossing my arms as we watch on as Eve tries to find the gears for some locked door.
"Still to have lyrium infused into your body, to have vines of lyrium around is you a feat unpresented and on an elf instead of a dwarf it's amazing." Impressed, Valta gushes making me scowl.
"It really isn't." Curtly, I cut her off scowling down at her.
"Fennic if you feel any sings of discomfort…" Gently, Solas begins making me sigh sadly.
"I know relax, if I go crazy, I'll throw myself off the cliff." Grumpily, I brush off his longing touch on my shoulder, turning to face ahead. We aren't together anymore so why is he acting like he cares!?
"Mind warning us before you do that." Varric remarks.
"No promises Varric…" I mutter as we follow after Valta and her bodyguard, Renn following the stone, who they refer to as a she, I'm not even going to question how the heck some stone can be female…well before we can we have to find some gears.
"I cannot understand, Varric, how someone born into wealth and power would choose to live like a peasant?" Baffled, Vivienne questions him.
"Let's be fair, I live like a rich peasant." Bluntly, Varric tells her.
"You ignore your peers and spend your time amongst laborers and criminals in taverns." Judgementally, Vivienne scowls.
"I wish! These days it's all outposts and marching." Irritated, Varric complains.
"You know perfectly well what I mean, darling." Frowning, Vivienne hints.
"Look, all those things you like about nobility? Power, wealth, notoriety? Those are the things I hate about it." Honestly, Varric confesses to her.
"You have very peculiar tastes." Vivienne dismisses.
"Just wait until you meet my friends." Smirking, Varric turns to look up at me as I frown down at him.
"I've already met one headache I don't need to meet more." Irritated, Vivienne insults me.
"Trust me when I say this Viv if you met them, you'd be six feet under." Bluntly, I deadpan, her staff alone would send my brother into a frenzy it was fortunate she had to go off on some snooty trip when my brother came to the inquisition.
"I wouldn't say that." Tightly, Varric smiles.
"Yeah you're right…you'd have daisies stuffed down your throat." Coldly, I snarl at the thought of Daisy. She couldn't hurt a fly doesn't mean I won't.
"You know Fennic I always thought you would like the circle." Vivienne begins as Eve picks up another gear.
"And why would that be?" I challenge her curious to her logic behind it.
"It's a place of structure, I thought considering your lifestyle before you would appreciate that…" Vivienne reasons making me scoff, I escaped for a reason after all.
"Hardly. I can see the appeal for some, it holds the same appeal as the Qun does." I compare making her eyes narrow.
"Excuse you? How would the Qun hold the same appeal as the circle?" Insulted, Vivienne demands.
"They imprison people." Bluntly, I answer.
"Imprison? I beg your…" Furious, Vivienne begins.
"Oh, I'm sorry would indoctrinate work better for you abomination." Snidely, I remark making her seethe as I chuckle lightly in victory.
"Apologies inquisitor I try but this savage is far too difficult to befriend…" Apologetically, she turns to Eve.
"I never asked you to talk to me abomination." Annoyed, I point out as we continue onward.
"Solas, what's this whole look of yours about?" Curious, Dorian questions Solas.
"I'm sorry?" Lost, Soals furrows his brow.
"No, that outfit is sorry. What are you supposed to be? Some kind of woodsman? Is this a Dalish thing? Don't you dislike the Dalish? Or is it some kind of statement?" Annoyingly, Dorian questions Solas not giving him the time to answer.
"No." Sternly, Solas rejects.
"Well, it says "apostate hobo" to me." Dorian describes sneering in disgust.
"Unwashed apostate hobo", more specifically." Snobbery, Vivienne sneers in repulsion.
"Honestly Fennic how did you put up with him?" Dorian turns to me surprising me.
"Well usually, he didn't have his clothes on for me to judge." Cheekily, I remark pain etched behind my light-hearted tone.
"Vhe-Fennic!" Quickly, Solas corrects himself scowling as I smirk at his ruby red features.
"What? Just being honest! Not need to blush." I wave off as he releases a tense sigh, tiredly.
"Come on just answer the question, Varric." Groaning, Dorian insists.
"My mother didn't raise any morons, Sparkler, I won't touch that one." Simply, Varric refuses.
"You must have an opinion. And you're a dwarf! Completely unbiased!" Eagerly, Dorian insists.
"There's no way I'm answering, "which inquisition mage is the best-dressed." Not for all the gold in Orzammar." Easily, Varric declines.
"Also, the answer is obvious." Sneakily, Vivienne proclaims.
"Of course, it is…none of you are best dressed." Smirking, I answer feeling two sets of insulted eyes glaring at me making me smirk.
"And I'm to take this from the one who has a bias towards mages?" Slyly, Dorian remarks.
"Can you blame me?" Blandly, I raise a brow.
"No sad to say I can't." Frowning, Dorian gives in.
"I can't wait for Chuckles to say something about the Veil…." Smirking, Varric tells us.
"I don't always mention the Veil." Huffing, Solas argues.
"You do. You really do." Dorian confesses.
"Of course, you do, darling." Vivienne confirms.
"Yes, you do. It's interesting if that makes you feel better." Shyly, Eve offers trying to be optimistic.
"I think you have some sort of kink or fetish for it to be honest. I mean it has made me wonder if what Blackwall and Sera said to me could be true." Bluntly, I confess now having been freed of Solas, I could be as crude, annoying, and evil as I wanted as Solas turns to me for confirmation.
"See? Told you." Proudly, Varric beams as we hear the click of gears and turn to find the door open.
"It's open keep any gears we find we may need more! And if we don't, I want to study them. Whatever they're made of wasn't mined down here. Another strange door who put these here and why?" Valta queries as we continue loo through the dark depths of the mine.
"There's nothing left of them. Can't even tell who they were…" Saddened, Renn, Valta's bodyguard sighs as we approach the dead group of dwarves, having given their lives to the stone, Renn grimacing at the deformed sights of the dwarves.
"I'm sorry Renn…" Sadly, Valta apologizes to him, genuine sorrow etched into her tone.
"You join the legion already knowing you're dead. You don't fear the killing blow. We rest in the stone and pass our strength back to her. That's our reward. But the darkspawn defiled these soldiers. They can't return to the stone. They'd only weaken her." Sternly, Renn reasons.
"There must be some way we can lay them to rest with honour." Frowning, Eve reasons.
"We can burn the remains…" Valta offers.
"Aye it's all we can do..." Renn informs us as he begins telling us the tales of his recruits some he had lost and some he still treasures each now either way ending with Varric mentioning him needing to improve his stories.
"You know I was reading Varric's book the other day the chapter was about you Fennic," Vivienne informs me making me furrow my brow.
"Let me guess when I was drunk or murdering a mage." Blandly, I sigh.
"Actually, I often got confused." Vivienne confesses confusing me.
"What with?" Curious, I enquire.
"Your brother and you I often thought were one and the same." Honestly, Vivienne confesses.
"I don't balme you on that we were I suppose until he ended up shagging a mage." Tiredly, I confess.
"Well I wouldn't say that not now anyway," Cheekily, Varric inputs making me roll my eyes.
"Amusing Varric real amusing…" Dryly, I remark as he chuckles.
"Indeed." Solas mutters irritation laced behind his calm tone.
"My, my to have an Orlesian noble ready my book I'm honoured!" Smirking, Varric exclaims as we continue on our way.
"I heard the hero off Fereldan came down here during the blight". Hopeful, Eve beams at the thought.
"Kardol met the warden but I never had the pleasure," Renn tells Eve as I note her disappointed pout at the answer.
"You must be pleased with what was revealed at the Temple of Mythal, Solas?" Vivienne glances at Solas after we deal with even more ogres as I approach Dorian, fixing up some small cuts and such.
"Why should those ruins please me, Enchanter?" Solas questions her.
"Now you know the elves were once a mighty nation." Vivienne responds.
"I always knew, Enchanter. The Temple of Mythal is just another reminder of what was lost." Sadly, Solas bows his head at the sad truth.
"I confess, Solas, I expected you to be back at the Temple of Mythal. Some powerful magic yet remains there... if it can be trusted." Weirdly enough, I think Vivienne tries to console Solas almost.
"For once, we agree. Many relics were lost for good reason." Simply, Solas agrees with her surprising me.
"You explore the Fade to ferret out such secrets, do you not?" Vivienne probes him.
"When I awaken each morning, all I have with me are those secrets. The power at the Temple of Mythal is tangible, potent... and far too easy to misuse." Wistfully, Solas describes.
"We are not so different after all, my dear apostate. We both believe magic must be limited safely." Vivienne compares.
"Only a fool would ignore such a stark reminder of the destruction of an empire. We may disagree on many things, Enchanter. But neither of us is a fool." Peacefully, Solas reasons.
"You are too kind." Vivienne praises as Dorian, Eve and the rest of us apart from the two share a look stunned at the oddly peaceful conversation between the two, no poison spat, no venom sneered, no backhanded compliments in sight, perplexing us and unnerving me.
"Oh yeah Dorian I brought back that vint -1 if you're interested." Perked up, I recall remembering the night of the cellar as I spot Solas bashfully glancing to the side at the memory.
"Really?" Surprised, Dorian blinks.
"Sure. Something wrong?" Perplexed, I furrow my brow at his genuine surprise.
"I just…I didn't say anything, wrong did I? Before you left for Kirkwall…" Concerned, Dorian hints making me frown at the fool.
"No. You were fine why do you ask?" Frazzled, I demand from him, lost to his worry.
"What we shared with one another I just…I had thought I said something wrong." Shyly, Dorian reveals.
"Dorian you said nothing wrong." Calmly, I assure him.
"Then you don't hate me?" He asks hopeful making me frown.
"When did I say I hate you?" Lost, I question him.
"Well…" Dorian trails off making me exhale.
"Dorian, I hate what you are. You're a Tevinter magister, your position alone makes my blood boil…" Bluntly, I begin.
"Oh…Well…" Dorian begins only to meet my sharp glare silencing him.
"However, you are different. You are a friend Dorian. I am fond of you…in a way I suppose." Struggling, I try to describe not sure how to pinpoint it.
"Are you serious?" Brightly, he beams at me.
"Yes…" Uneasily, I respond my muscles tensing up at his giddiness.
"I am also fond of you." Confidently, he assures me.
"Heh…." Lowly, I chuckle shaking my head at the thought crossing my mind.
"What's so funny?" Curious, Dorian enquires noting my small sly smirk.
"First a blood mage and now a vint, if my younger self saw me…" Sighing, I shake my head at the thought of my younger form, so angry, so hateful, so venomous.
"What would she do?" Dorian wonders.
"Slit my throat." Bluntly, I answer with the honest truth unnerving a few.
"O-Oh…" Eve spurts out not sure what to say or think to that simple response.
"But yes, I suppose I am fond of you…to a degree." Warily, I point out affirm my thoughts making Dorian chuckle.
"And so am I. Perhaps even fonder." Slyly, he remarks.
"My, my what an honour." Jokingly, I roll my eyes at the ass as we continue onwards through the fiery depths dealing with darkspawn and gores alike until making it to some bridge, safe and sound as we wait for further orders from the two dwarves before us.
"Careful!" Valta calls out as another tremor hits us but we manage to steady ourselves having adjusted to the shaking tremors of the mines.
"That was a big one." Uneasy, Renn comments.
"We need to go deeper." Sternly, Valta reminds us.
"Only way down from here is falling. Not keen on that." Renn remarks.
"I'd also like to avoid falling, if we're counting votes." Slyly, Varric points out as we continue onwards until coming across some bridge.
"That's the last of those darkspawn. The legion's in your debt inquisitor…" Renn confirms to Eve.
"Look at this Renn. It's…ancient. Maybe a thousand years old." In awe, Valta whispers looking up in awe of the bridge towering over them.
"Any idea who built it or why?" Curious, Eve enquires.
"This thing is on top of a lyrium mine. According to the memories, the mine was destroyed by some unexplained disaster. The miners must have used this lift to reach the lower levels." Valta informs us.
"I'm starting to see a trend." Dorian remarks as I nod my head in agreement.
"So, you think there's a titan down there." I guess as I lean over the bridge slightly, looking down at the dark depths below.
"I found this book with the emissary. The pages are most likely ruined, but a few are readable. See this line." I awoke to the signing stone. Our kingdom trembled at the titan's hymn." Ominously, Valta recites as Varric and I share a look, if that isn't weird, I don't know what is.
"Wait lyrium sings?" Confused, Eve furrows her brow.
"It can it's usually a hum." Tiredly, I sigh at the irritating headaches those hums would occur but I've simply ignored them, adjusted to them you could say.
"You hear it?" Surprised, Valta whispers in awe making me scowl.
"I used to, sometimes I still do I just ignore them." Aloofly, I shrug not particularly comfortable at the thought.
"Strange…the mining caste follow it to find the lyrium veins, they say it's the stone calling to them. Valta exclaims.
"Perhaps it wasn't chance the quakes destroyed lyrium mines. Can darkspawn hear the hum?" Fascinated, Eve proposes.
"The stone would never call to those vile things- but that doesn't mean they can't hear her." Valta scowls.
"Darkspawn live and die by the blight. They don't care for much else." Bluntly, Renn exclaims joining me as he looks down at the dark damp depths below.
"I didn't realize you knew so much about darkspawn motives." Valta tells Renn.
"Not everything's a mystery Valta. Some things are exactly as they appear." Bluntly, Renn states the fact as I shrug, not entirely agreeing with him. I wish everything were as simple as that but sometimes life isn't that fair.
"And some things are not." Valta scowls at him.
"We need more information before we can make a definite answer to all this." Calmly, Eve plays peacemaker as I arch a brow to see the two glaring at one another.
"Look here it's the royal seal of Orseck Garal." Valta reveals.
"King Orseck Oral? That book belongs to a paragon. Maybe you are on to something Valta." Impressed, Renn gives in.
"Of course, you take a dead man's word over mine. Always the traditionalist." Snidely, Valta huffs.
"Hey…challenging tradition lost you a cushy position in Orzammar." Frowning, Renn argues making me arch a brow even higher curious to see this drama.
"What's a paragon?" Lost, Eve wonders.
"Paragon's are the best of our people. They don't hand that title out to just anyone, not even a king. Knowing it was Garal's book from the start would've saved us an argument." Renn explains to Eve turning to furrow his brow at Valta.
"As if you'd ever avoid an argument." Valta huffs.
"What does he mean you lost your position? I thought you were a shaper?" Perplexed, Eve turns to Valta.
"Not all shapers have the same duties. Mine were…adjusted. When my superiors ordered me to remove an official record from the memories. I declined. We decided it would be best if I served the shaperate here, finding history instead of recording it." Valta explains.
"That record must have been important to risk so much." Gently, Eve's eyes soften.
"It was trivial actually. A cousin of king Harrowmont discovered that her husband's ancestors had Carta connections. But the truth is the truth no matter how political it may be." Resolute, Valta argues as I nod my head understanding that point well but also the truth can hurt people, truth is a double edges sword I suppose.
"The shaperate can erase records? Aren't the memories permanent?" Eve queries.
"Sometimes erasing records is standard procedure. If a dwarf comes becomes a casteless, they're struck from the memories. But I was asked to change a fact that someone important merely fond inconvenient." Valta answers.
"Understandable, yesterday's all the rage is today's embarrassment." Slyly, Dorian remarks.
"So you think someone covered up the titans." Eve sums up.
"Why would they do that?" Baffled, Renn demands.
"Become someone in power demanded it." Scowling, Valta states.
"Look at what you're missing out on Varric…" Jokingly, I point out leaning back to lean across the bridge smirking.
"Oh so much…" Smirking, Varric plays along crossing his arms alongside me as we watch the bickering continue.
"Look we can sort this out later what matters is the titan and dealing with these earthquakes and darkspawn. But still I had no idea it was so corrupt, it's sad really…" Calmly, Eve cuts in stepping us stopping the dwarfs arguing only to let out that tad bit of bias which I do agree with but that doesn't usually help stop the fighting Eve.
"Inquisitions aren't corrupt. Only people. I wish abusing memories for political gain was a rarity." Sadly, Valta confesses.
"I remember Orzammar as a honourable kingdom." Disappointed, Renn bows his head.
"You've been gone a long time Renn." Solemnly, Valta's eyes soften towards Renn who sighs disappointment laced in his sigh.
"I'm sorry I brought it up. The earthquakes are what matter. I don't know where this lift leads but we're about to find out the hard way. Get ready..." Renn warns us as we head into the elevator and are lowered down into the dark depths of the unknown.
"Nothing's stopping us from going back up." Nervously, Varric's voice rings out…
"We're not going back up." Sternly, Eve rejects the offer, steeling her tone surprising us.
"Just a suggestion." Disheartened, Varric sighs as we continue on.
"What was that?" Panicked, Valta gasps, her voice breaking as we frown, my hands sliding down to my blades.
"What was what?" Perplexed, Renn asks Valta.
"Something moved. There. Light a torch." Frowning, Valta reasons.
"So, it can see us coming? Just stay close." Sternly, Renn advises Valta.
"We've gone past the deep roads." Gravely, Valta whispers as I grimace once more at the pounding headache.
"How can you tell it's pitch black?" Confused, Eve questions.
"I can feel it." Valta whispers.
"Show yourselves!" Angrily, Renn demands.
"Renn!" Horrified, Valta cries out her voice echoing.
"Hm…Sod it all." Struggling, Renn recovers enough to stand using the hilt of his hammer to steady himself.
"NO!" Valta cries out pained as Renn releases a battle cry and rushes into battle as we join him against these creatures. Swiftly defeating them but…proudly, panting, Renn stares at the destroyed warriors before falling to his knees, limp just as soon as Valta's ring of her metal slides back into her sheath.
"You deserved better. Renn never wanted this life. He was a cobbler. A good one. He joined the legion to pay his father's debts. It kept his mother and brother from losing their caste. The poor and desperate here often sacrifice themselves for their family's future." Devastated, Valta rushes over to Renn's side, tears in her eyes as she collapses to her knees.
"Renn was a good man I promise you he will not be forgotten; we'll honour his sacrifice." Eve assures her.
"He always seemed…indestructible. The armour on these warriors. There's lyrium woven directly into the metal and it's bonded to their skin. Impossible to remove but I know what we'd find underneath. These are dwarves. Renn was killed by our own kind." Grimly, Valta exclaims as my brow furrows at the loss but also could this be where Denarius got his inspiration from? To begin testing on elves. Pained, I grimace at the sudden sharp throb in my temple from my throb.
"Why attack us? I haven't met dwarves like these before…" Eve points out perplexed.
"The bolt was glowing. Their weapons could have been infused with lyrium. I just I don't know we gave them no reason to attack!" Pained, Valta cries.
"Perhaps they don't need one." Gently, I offer perplexing them.
"What do you mean?" Valta looks up at me cradling Renn's head.
"I know dwarves are meant to have some sort of resistance to lyrium but they are not immune. To have lyrium so close to them, constantly it could drive them mad." Calmly, I explain to her.
"You do have a point there." Varric agrees.
"Meaning we need to be careful." Sternly, I warn them.
"I shouldn't have brought you here Fen." Guilty, Eve whispers.
"What's done is done." Stoically, I state.
"But isn't it painful being down here?" Concerned, she whispers.
"I'm just getting a headache it will be fine come on. I'm not dead yet." Tiredly, I sigh.
"I wont leave Renn like this. We must return him to the Stone. Atrast Tunsha Salroka, I'll see this through Renn. I promise." Quietly, Valta reasons as she softly closes Renn's eyes, allowing him peace as we continue on our exploration, needing to find out the truth only then to come across some wall with blue writing on it unnerving me.
"This is like the wall of memories in Orzammar but ancient very ancient. The words seem based in dwarven but I barely recognise the dialect." Valta deciphers.
"Can you translate any of it?" Eve requests.
"Only fragments. This language is very different from what we speak today. This words keeps appearing, Sha-Brytol. I believe it means revered defenders." Focused, Valta describes.
"So they attacked us why?" Perplexed, Eve wonders.
"They attacked us because they're protecting something. Isatunoll….Isatunoll…cut our tongues…entome our bodies…watch over the titan until it stirs. So the warriors who attacked us must be the Sha-Brytol and they're protecting a titan." Valta answers.
"Are you alright Valta?" Gently, Eve wonders when Valta turns her back, being quiet looking down sadly for a moment.
"I can hear Renn's objections. Let's keep moving if more of these memories exist they may have the answers we need…" Determined, Valta tells us as Eve nods and we follow them once again continuing the quest before us.
"Look there more ancient carvings!" Eagerly, Eve points out as we approach another wall with veins of blue.
"Aye but these seem to be about the titan. It shapes the stone; it is the stone. It sculpts the world within and without." Valta deciphers.
"Wait would this mean the titans are the very first children of the stone!" Eve gasps.
"If so this would have huge implications for my people. This implies the titans are actually sculptures and our world is their clay." Pained, Valta contorts at the thought.
"If titans can change the world then these earthquakes could be them shaping the stone…" Eve gathers.
"But the quakes are destructive. Titans would mould the world not smash it to pieces." Frowning, Valda points out.
"Depending on your perspective change can be violent." Eve exclaims.
"But if this is true. How can it be missing from the memories of Orzammar? Why would someone erase such an integral piece of our history?" Lost, Valda queries to herself.
"What if it wasn't by choice." I offer earning their attention.
"What do you mean?" Valda raises a brow.
"Think about it, the dwarves fell during the first blight and nearly died. Surely doing that time, they would have lost much perhaps even this pieces of sculpture, they may not have had time to record the truth due to the blight…" I offer, I don't know much about dwarven history but still…
"That is a possibility." Valda considers.
"Hey the dwarves and elves have something in common after all!" Brightly, Eve beams.
"Explain." Frowning, Solas demands.
"Well their empire fell for one and they lost huge info on their culture I mean look at these titan for one!" Impressed, Eve gushes turning to face Varric and I who frown.
"Eve you're talking to two people who are as far apart from the Dalish and Orzammar dwarves as possibly, Bluntly, I deadpan to her.
"Right wrong crowd…Let's discuss this more after we stop the earthquakes!" Nervously, Eve smiles as we all nod and following after her, who follows Valta telling us…
"The rhythm is louder than ever. We are close…"
"Look at that like stars at night." Gently, in awe Dorian whispers looking up at the starry sky of bright blue rocks gleaming from the shards above.
"Only less poisonous and mind breaking…" Slyly, I remark smirking, crossing my arms admiring the beautiful display despite the painful thundering pain in my head.
"True, true." Dorian agrees.
"I just became the most popular dwarf in the Merchant's Guild." Amazed, Varric smirks in awe of the veins of blue while my eyes narrow, the humming hammering into my head making me grimace, it's never been this bad before, guess coming here may have been a bad idea.
"All these lyrium veins. And they're completely untapped." Valta exclaims in awe.
"The Sha-Brytol must mine lyrium somewhere, their weapons and armour are laced with it." Concerned, Eve furrows her brow.
"Unless they've found another way to harness it." Uneasily, Valta glances at me making me sigh not sure what to say about all this.
"Fox don't go near those guys you hear me?" Sternly, Varric warns me as I frown.
"Varric I sort of have to if I want to fight." Frustrated, I snap at Varric cradling my temple at the aching headache only to feel a sudden warmth, managing to supress the stinting pain or at least diminish it briefly not fully numb it but provide some sort of comfort. Weakly, I open my blues to meet a pair of concerned amethyst. Desperate, I don't brush off his hand he is the one to do it as I feel his hand linger on my shoulder as he turns to Eve, noting Dorian's and Varric's look of worry towards me.
"Inquisitor we mustn't linger here not in Fen's condition." Sternly, Solas requests from Eve nodding her head as I note her look of worry towards me, seeing the guilt in her eyes, making me sigh, none of us knew this would happen, not even I did.
"Just be careful…please." Pleadingly, Varric requests from me making me sigh tiredly.
"I will relax. I'll fire my arrows," I grumble annoyed as I connect my blades, equipping my bow as we continue on, with the pounding headache continuing in a tongue or voice not even I can distinguish.
"I see no evidence of darkspawn here." Surprised, Valda admires the sheer silence of the rocky terrain, my brow furrowed, my muscles tense as my bleus dart to any pedestal or pillars to sue as cover form the sick sense of deva ju.
"Let's just be grateful." Optimistically, Eve exclaims to us.
"Varric…" Tiredly, I begin when noting Varric's lingering gaze on me.
"No." Sternly, Varric rejects making me sigh.
"We need to talk about this." Frowning, I reason to him of the likely option.
"No we don't. we spoke about it before." Snippily, Varric scowls.
"And you didn't listen." Annoyed, I remind him as we make our way down.
"Because I don't want to!" Fed up, he snaps surprising a few but me.
"But it's a very likely event to occur…" Coldly, I point out.
"That doesn't mean I want to talk about it dammit! You're not going to die we are going to find a cure I promise you!" Resolute, he promises me making me sigh at the lost cause.
"…Fine. Be that way just…if I do don't…don't isolate yourself." Gently, I request placing my hands on my hips as we make our way down the hill of rock.
"Fen…" Varric begins his voice strained.
"I mean it you, Fenris, Hawke, all of you need to be together, If I am to die first. I want all of you as selfish as it sounds to move on and be happy, don't do anything stupid, don't go all angry over mages and the imperium just…live, be happy okay?" Sternly, I turn to face him scowling as his browns meet my serious blues, seeing the glassy hues threatening to fall as he exhales a shaky breath.
"Varric?" Scowling, I furrow my brow at his still silence.
"…Fine I'm taking that as a yes either way, I got Ave to agree so she'll drag you if she has to…" Huffing, I give up with the lost cause. We continue on our way towards the pillar or main attraction being some huge stone with blue veins pulsating around it, levitating above us.
"But there must be a reason for them to avoid this place!" Earnest, Valta reasons as we find the still silence welcoming but also unsettling.
"And here they are thanks Valta for jinxing us!" Annoyed, I scowl as Eve steps forward only to let out a scream as a hand from the ground rises up snatching her wrist. She fires at the hand, vaporising it as the rest of the soldiers soon come running in. The bigshot I recognise as well as I continue firing my arrows. We deal with the brutes and continue brute forward our way to the way towards the centre of the room or attempt to….
"Nothing like these dwarves are mentioned in the memories. If I had been prepared…Renn might still be alive." Sadly, Valda whispers.
"It's easy to blame ourselves when we lose a friend Valta but do not let it consume you. It wasn't your fault." Eve consoles her.
"I was so focused on the titan. I didn't consider what else could have been done down here…" Sadly, Valda exclaims as Eve pushes down a switch as we then set camp in the safe space provided…
"How is she?" Gently, Eve questions after conversing with Valda about their newest discovery of the message on the wall.
"Silently suffering. We shouldn't have brought her here Inquisitor I had…" Pained, Solas scowls blaming himself as he silently stares at the stoic Fen, leaning against the stone wall, her eyes shut focusing almost as if she were meditating as she crosses her arms over one another.
"I know Solas you were right I should have listened I didn't think this would happen!" Guilty, Eve whispers, her voice breaking laced with guilt as she stares concerned at her friend, noting her flaring markings glowing brightly as Fennic's features twitch converting into pain almost as she endures.
"You two need to relax. This isn't the first time Fennic has dealt with being close to Lyrium, she has been to the deep roads before just…not this close before." Calmly, Varric assures the two, gazing into the fire created by Vivienne.
"It's amazing though to have an elf have lyrium carved into her flesh…" In Awe, Valta whispers gazing at the silent Fen, bowing her head almost as if she were napping.
"It really isn't Valda I appreciate the praise but for Fen it isn't." Sternly, Varric corrects Valta.
"Has she always heard the humming?" Fascinated, Eve wonders as Varric's features grimace at the question.
"The humming tends to lead to her headaches. It only happens if she uses too much lyrium or if she is too close to lyrium." Frowning, Varric informs the group.
"Is that why she's always grumpy?" Playfully, Dorian tries to lighten the mood, a strained smile on his lips as he glances at Fen, concern evident in his browns.
"No that's just Fen. Look she will be fine she's doing that thing she does." Calmly, Varric assures them.
"What's that?" Eve ponders.
"She lets the pain flow through her." Sighing, Varric reveals.
"What?!" Scowling, Solas furrows his brow.
"Fenris told me about this. To get stronger, she would allow the pain to flow through her, allow her body and muscles to adjust to it and numb it down." Varric explains to the group, his features darkening as he looks into the flickering flames before him.
"So the humming she just lets it happen, led it escalate to her headaches…" Coldly, Solas gathers fury etched into his tone.
"Yeah it isn't a good way I mean she has had some migraines before, but she's dealt with it." Varric confirms, staring down at his hands shaking, bawling into a pair of fists.
"There is a limit to everyone." Strictly, Solas snaps bitterly.
"And Fox hasn't hit it yet, I made sure she won't, not alone anyway…" Distantly, Varric glances to the side.
"Varric we're sorry we're just…" Apologetically, Eve bows her head, noting everyone almost ganging up on the lovable rogue.
"Worried. I know. You think I don't worry about her either? No offence inquisitor, Chuckles but you may act like you know Fen. But the only person who knows Fen is Fen and the only time she has ever let people in to know about her despite it being a quarter or so is me, Hawke and well us. She gave you a chance Chuckles, but you missed out." Harshly, Varric snaps surprising the group at the happy go lucky façade of the dwarf breaking briefly.
"That doesn't have…" Seriously, Solas begins.
"You should leave her to it, Fen has proven herself even I believe she can handle herself just fine without your aid." Coolly, Vivienne voices out surprising the group at the enchanter's defence towards Fennic.
"And if she can't?" Scowling, Solas challenges her.
"Then she will pay the price, her feelings are her own fault not ours." Severely, Vivienne dictates as Solas' grip tightens on his staff.
"We'll be there to help her because that's what friends do, so excuse me I got to make sure she eats something rather than talk behind her back which may I point out she can easily hear you…" Tiredly, Varric stands breaking the tense atmosphere. The others flinch uneasily glancing at Fen opening her blazing blues, narrowing at each of them as the campfire continues flickering throughout the night as they wait until they believe themselves ready to face the truth of the titan…
"Did the Sha-Brytol build this?" Curious, Valta wonders.
"Or was it here before them?" Eve probs fascinated as they both peer over at the wild life of sorts, the pulsating blue rock with veins of blue reaching out to the stone spike above them.
"Nothing should surprise me anymore but this…wait. The rhythm we followed- we've found the source. But not the titan." Disappointed, Valta sighs.
"I don't know ever since we came down here. The deep roads have felt different. Organic. We've been looking for the titan the wrong way. It isn't like us." Eve begins, uncertainty laced in her tone.
"It's huge big enough to change the world around it." Valta begins.
"We can't see the titan because we're inside it!" Eve gasps as my eyes widen at the thought, we're inside a titan. This is…awesome but also weird, I don't know how to process this. I really don't and I don't think we have much time to either. Frowning, my eyes narrow as my ears perk up at the numerous steps of rapid footsteps.
"So that makes the source…the heart?" I offer not sure what to say with all this, grimacing at the harsh pulsating in my head. I shake my head, the pain manging to at least numb the pain thanks to my training as we turn only to be greeted by the Sha-Brytol, brilliant.
"If I don't survive. Orzammar must know the truth!" Urgently, Valta tells us.
"No one is dying on my watch!" Eve declares as the fight begins which we manage to control and continue onwards towards the stone.
"Those structures could a whole civilisation be down here? The quakes haven't damaged it." Valta suggests.
"A city within a titan incredible…" Eve whispers in awe as I furrow my brow, incredible yes but does the titan know? I mean I wouldn't be comfortable with a city inside me or darkspawn at that? If the titan is alive why hasn't it moved or done anything how can a titan just stand in the same space for centuries!?
"Look these are the only memories in this area. That phrase is the path of purity and there's a reference to Titan's blood. It says the Sha-Brytol come here to…drink it." Valta translates.
"The titan's blood must keep the Sha-Brytol alive- and powerful." Eve reasons as my brow furrows. Yes but is the titan okay with this? I wouldn't like it if someone were to take my blood…
"But where is it? Unless…Lyrium. The titan's blood is lyrium!" Valta gasps.
"Are you sure about…? Wait Fen you got titan blood in you isn't that great?" Giddily, Eve gushes turning to face me only to grimace from my sharp glare. I cradle my temple from the agonising pounding pain in my head.
"No? Now can we please just get this over with." Pained, I demand from Eve nodding her head as we head down approaching the stone.
"Everything's that happened is related to lyrium. The destroyed mines. The singing stone. It all leads here." Valta whispers as we approach the tall blue stone only for our eyes to widen as a stray spark of blue strikes out hitting Valta pushing her aback.
"We have to stop this! Valta!" Panicked, Eve cries out as Valta is tossed away curling in on herself almost asleep as a stone wall spews out form the ground, trapping us within. We turn to face a creature that made me shudder form the sick sense of déjà vu,
"Oh for…someone please tell me they have spirit magic of some kind or force magic!" Uneasily, I mutter under my breath. Hurt, I grimace at the harsh stinging pain pounding in my head as we draw our weapons and face off against the guardian.
Eve POV:
"Valta are you hurt?" Concerned, I call out to her, I hope she's okay. Urgently, I rush over to Valta's side only to falter at the struggling dwarf.
"Too loud…the song…stop!" Pained, she cries out as my eyes widen when she raises her hand beaming brightly, a blue aura enveloping her hand as it disperses, revealing a wave of blue, pushing us back. What? How did she even…?
"I am…it's alright." Shakily, Valta assures us.
"We're fine thanks." Drily, I hear Fen grumble grimacing as she stands up while I furrow my brow at Valta not sure what to say, feeling on edge at the change in Valta.
"You just performed…magic? Dwarves can't do magic right? Right!?" Panicking, I turns to Solas, Vivienne and Dorian, the mages of my group, they are seeing what I am seeing right? This can't be possible; it can't be it…
"Depends on what kind of magic..." Slyly, Fen remarks glancing at Varric looking nervously at Valta.
"What happened Valta? The stone hit you with some blue spark?" Confused, I furrow my brow at her, concerned, worried and most of all terrified at the unknown scary possibilities about to occur.
"Raw lyrium I assume." Fen mutters, crossing her arms grimacing as I notice her bow her head, grimacing, her slick steel fingertips massaging her temple, making me frown as I glance at Solas, Varric and Dorian glancing at one another, giving a look of concern at Fennic.
"Yes. It should have poisoned me. But I…feel fine. Better even." Relieved, Valta beams brightly at us unnerving us all.
"What about the song? It seemed to cause you great pain…" Warily, I point out my brow furrowed.
"It was…chaos. The rhythm I followed it here but magnified. Overwhelming. But it is gone." Calmly, she assures us as I scowl at her oddly eerily calm tone.
"You almost…killed the inquisitor. What happens next time you lash out?" Scowling, Fen steps forward, glaring darkly at Valta as I furrow my brow, Fen does have a point. She doesn't seem to be in control and for her to unlock this form of magic without any guidance and seemingly acting like she's an abomination, I don't know I just. Tired, I bow my head, brow furrowed at Fen's valid point.
"I am in control. I would never harm you Inquisitor." Confidently, she assures me.
"You still casted some sort of spell. That shouldn't be possible!" Unsure, I argue crossing my arms wary.
"It wasn't an spell. It was…an accident. Everything will be fine." Softly, she assures me unnerving me as I feel my grip tighten on my staff.
"We should get help you may be injured…" I reason preferring to have her looked over, to be given a report on exactly what is going on.
"Or possessed." Slyly, Fen remarks.
"Yes, Fen thank you." Sternly, I turn to frown at Fen not appreciating her snide comment, we need to focus not this.
"I feel better than I ever have. Stronger more…alive." Happily, she smiles at us.
"If that isn't unnerving, I don't know what is." Fen mutters grimly.
"The stone is silent. The rhythm has faded and so have the tremors. But the song still echoes…it tells me things." Valta confesses to us.
"Let me guess something to do with blood?" Snidely, Fen remarks.
"Fen." Frowning, I scowl at her not appreciating her tone.
"Fine…demons?" Fen offers making me roll my eyes at her.
"The breach that's what disturbed the Titan. It is calm now that it has a connection with one of its children…with me." Soothingly, she assures us.
"Was that the titan? Did we kill it?" Panicked, I question my brow furrowed at the thought. We have so much to learn if I killed the titan the dwarves would lose so much thanks to me.
"The titan lives. That was an echo. A guardian. You silenced it. I do not know what disturbed the titan here. The song may tell me…in time." Patiently, Valta tells us.
"One of its children? You said you were a child of the stone not of the titans." Confused, I argue.
"I am not certain what I am. But the titan recognised me. Like a parent hearing its child's voice." Peacefully, Valta smiles at us once more creeping me out if I had to be honest. There is so much I don't understand and I just…I don't like it, not one bit.
"You've changed Valda, the titan changed you, you need to be careful." Sternly, I warn her my brow furrowed there is so much we don't know about this tian, the type of magic, we know stuff about lyrium and nothing good comes from it well except Fen but then again…
"I am different but I am still a shaper. Isana, it is our word for lyrium, and we are taught that it is a gift from the stone. But there's so much more to it than we ever imagined. I was sent to the deep roads to recover lost history. This is only the beginning. I am staying here." Resolute, Valta informs us making my eyes widen in alarm. She is practically an encyclopaedia; I was hoping her and Morrigan would have a chat. It would be amazing to see both of them compare their knowledge on both the lost histories of the elven and dwarven people.
"The Sha-Brytol killed Renn they could kill you too." Scowling, I point out, she may be armed and battle ready, but she can't take all of them on, not forever.
"No, I am pure. I can defend myself." Blissfully, she assures us making me frown.
"The titan is the beginning of what?" Perplexed, I question her only for her to simply smile once more scaring me almost.
"The deep roads are filled with wonders…answers to questions we haven't even thought to ask." Eager, Valta confesses to us.
"If you stay here where will you live? What will you eat?" Fed up, I demand from her my patience thinning as I scowl at her.
"I have my stone senses and so much more now. I will be safe." She assures us.
"You're assuming so much you could be wrong. The lyrium could be poisoning you or turning you into a Sha-Brytol or worse!" Urgently, I reason to her trying to get her to see reason.
"The Sha-Brytol turned themselves into monsters. I have changed because the titan willed it. The mine's collapse, Renn's death- it all happened to bring me here." Determined, she tells us.
"Nothing good ever happens in the deep roads. This won't be any different." Varric tells me making me frown uncertain.
"If she wants to stay that's her business. I'd like to see the sun again." Dorian tells me.
"I am called to the search here Inquisitor. This is where I belong your friend however won't last much longer here." Begging, she requests from me making me scowl as Solas remains quiet, surprisingly so I turn to…
"What do you think Fen?" I ask hoping she would have a say I mean she has the firmest grpas on ylrium then any of us…
"Fen!" Horrified, I watch as Varric catches her, Solas helping her up as I note the panic in his eyes as Dorian and surprisingly Vivienne approach, Viviane reeling her hand back from her temple.
"She should never have come here the song of an ancient language to an elf so lost in time is nothing but torture…to think she led on for so long is something else." Gravely, Valta's smile diminishes as she turns to watch on grimly. Concerned, I rush over, my eyes wide at her feverish state, her eyes shut, her marks glowing blazingly.
"Vhenan please! Penshra! Ghilas vellathan!" Pleadingly, Solas begs startling us as he takes control, holding her steeling himself as I note the heartache in his tone as my eyes widen at the title, I thought they broke up so why would he…?
"Fox come on we have to get her out of here…" Panicked, Varric turns to me as I nod.
"I know. I'm leaving here with more questions than answers just…be careful. What do you want me to tell the shapers in Orzammar?" Frustrated, I demand from Valta.
"Tell them the truth. You don't know…" Grimly, she whispers as we nod, hurrying away, Fennic in Solas' arms as we hurry back to camp, hurrying back to Skyhold…
*So that's the descent DLC what did you think? If anyone got that reference about magic I will be impressed!*