Do not own Dragon Age
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19 Molioris 9:31 Dragon, Denerim, Elven Alienage
The companions run through the city, taking out darkspawn in their path. Lanaya and a large contingent of Dalish hunters are right behind them. A battalion of Redcliff soldiers and a handful of mages from the Circle, lead by Senior Enchanter Leorah. The Alienage is in relatively good shape, the darkspawn were held back by the residents, but the gate leading to the Market District is beginning to give way. Shianni is armed, trying to rally the residents into defensive positions.
Solona calls for Leorah, who smiles wickedly. She has two mages step up, who begin to cast, One sends a grease spell, causing the darkspawn on the other side of the gate to fall. The other sends a fireball, setting the oil on fire. The spells are to close to the gate, it shatters from the explosion. The fire is keeping the darkspawn out for now, but not forever. Lanaya has the hunters shimmy up to the roofs of a few buildings. The bows sing, as they take out the creatures. Alim casts a lightning storm, a little further back from the flames, impressing the enchanter. Solona has Shianni set up archers on balconies and platforms, providing clear sites. Elissa comments that it is no wonder why Solona beats everyone at chess, she is a born general.
As the spells dissipate, a Hurlock Emissary walks calmly forward, one hundred darkspawn behind him, snarling and roaring, eager to lay waste to the resistance forces. Solona smiles, this is the general. She then gives a signal to Lyna, who has an arrow ready, but with an added bonus attached to the barb. Lyna lets the missile fly, striking an area behind the Emissary. An explosion 5 times greater than the one before destroys the darkspawn in range. The darkspawn general is shocked, his troops are no longer snarling, they are frightened. He turns to look back at the human leader, but it is a blink, before his head is rolling away. Alistair running past, sword raised.
The others are behind him, the strikes timed perfectly, thanks to Alim and Solona. All the darkspawn are dead a few minutes later. Shianni is directing civilians, who are armed and ready. Victory over the creatures has bolstered the morale of the elves, they will not let the darkspawn step foot in the Alienage. Lanaya leaves behind four hunters, Leorah leaves four mages, a well rounded defense team for the area. Assan, Darrian and Lyna remain behind, they will be able to warn about incoming darkspawn and can direct the team where needed.
Solona is ushering the group over the bridge spanning a canal that separates the Alienage from the Market District, the last soldier passing her, when the Archdemon roars, drawing the mages attention. It is swooping down, sending dragon fire straight at the bridge. Solona runs forward, making it just as the fireball hits the bridge, she runs right into Oghren, who pulls her past him into an archway.
"Nothing like flames up your ass to get you motivated." Solona comments, making Oghren laugh.
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Chasind warriors are everywhere in the Market, killing and attacking darkspawn. Solona smiles softly, but pushes the how of it aside. There are barricades set up all over the area. Civilians and Chasind are fighting side by side. The group is approaching an area near Genitivi's house, when Elissa cries out, then runs forward, killing darkspawn attacking a man and Belle, the woman they helped get to Denerim. Belle is using a cast iron fry pan, bashing the darkspawn as they move in. The man has similar features to Elissa, although his hair is auburn, but he has a jovial face. His remarks to the woman show his humorous side.
"You, dear lady, are absolutely wicked with that pan. If I wasn't married, I'd kiss you soundly, once all this fighting is done." the man says smirking, taking out another creature.
Belle swings, sending another darkspawn flying. "If you weren't married, I'd let you." Belle returns, smiling.
"Fergus Cousland, you are in soo much trouble." Elissa remarks, surprising the man.
"Elissa? By the Maker! You can scold me later. I think we have bigger issues right now." Fergus retorts.
"Don't worry, I will." Elissa returns, grinning. Thea barks scolding the man now.
The three are given a reprieve as Solona directs the Redcliff soldiers. She uses an area spell to draw the darkspawns attention to her. The creatures disengage from the Chasind and civilians, seeing the mage as the bigger threat. With the focus on her, the soldiers are able to pick the darkspawn off. Solona freezes large swatches of the beasts, using cones of cold. The other mages with Leorah, follow Solona's lead, making the enemies easy targets for the resistance forces. Ogres emerge from alley ways, Oghren and Alistair tag team one, Leliana assists with Faren. The mages and Dalish take the other, Alim and Solona lending a hand. The area is cleared for a few minutes with everyone working together.
Fergus explains before the battle at Ostagar, his scouting force was ambushed by darkspawn, he and two others survived, one however succumbed to the Blight sickness, the other lost his leg. The Chasind found them and took them back to one of their villages. It took him a couple of months to recover, his injuries were severe. He was able to rally the Chasind to come with him to help fight the Blight. But they saw the horde heading towards the Capital and decided to overtake the horde, arriving just as the massive horde was in sight of the walls. When the gate was breached, the Chasind retreated to the Market, to hold the darkspawn as best they could, and to help protect the people.
Just as he finishes, a large force of darkspawn walk out from a gate by the Chantry. Alistair points, the Genlock Emissary leading them, is the general he says, certain.
"Well, let's go say hello." Solona suggests, smirking.
Elissa tells her brother to leave this to them, just keep the people safe, before running to join her friends. Fergus watches, before ushering the Chasind to rebuild the defenses and to remain on guard.
The fight with the general is over quickly, the troops now having a clear idea of the tactics the companions use. With a coordinated effort the general is dead in minutes. The Chasind and civilians are finding the task of killing the remaining darkspawn, to be easy pickings. Faren and Leliana are left in the Market with Fergus and the Chasind, that should be more than enough to keep the beasts at bay. The Wilder folk have their own mages with them, who watched the companions work, and caught on fast to the strategy.
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Moving fast toward the Palace, the group sees the Archdemon flying over the city. A man rides on its back. He falls from the dragon as it bucks him, Solona watches the man plummet to the ground below. She wishes him peace in the next life, knowing that the man was Riordan. The Archdemon is struggling to fly properly, it crashes at the top of Fort Drakon.
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The group is suspicious as they enter the Palace District, they hear noises of boots, but do not see any darkspawn, or feel any close by. Just as they approach a set of stairs. Leading to Fort Drakon, Kardol, the commander for the Legion of the Dead sets out from behind a wall.
"You're late." he dead-pans.
"Sorry. We were otherwise engaged in another part of the city. Some guests just can not take a hint to leave the party." Solona returns, smiling warmly.
Kardol smirks, then tells the companions that the path is clear to Fort Drakon, but there is a large herd of the fuckers outside the entrance to the compound itself. The dwarves will hold the Palace District, with Leorah leaving two mages, to off set the ranged fighters amongst the dwarves.
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The entrance to Fort Drakon is heavily guarded. Solona whispers to two Dalish archers, before affixing runes to their arrows. The group grins, the darkspawn are in for a surprise. The runes impact, freezing the darkspawn in the area, the Redcliff soldiers charge forward, shattering and destroying the enemy. The mages continue to cast cold spells, keeping the darkspawn frozen in place. Two emassaries emerge from the entryway to Fort Drakon, leaving the doors wide open. They begin to cast, taking a few Redcliff soldiers down. Alim and Solona counter cast, sending stone-fists and lightning spells to harass the enemy mages. The Dalish hunters cloak themselves in shadow and sneak up behind the emissaries. A couple well placed strikes end their lives.
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Back at the city gates, the defending forces are holding the area, a few straggler darkspawn have come out, but it is relatively quiet. A spotter shouts down, breaking the peace. A large contingent of darkspawn are heading for the city, at least a battalion in size. Sten starts directing the soldiers and archers, a mage mixed in with them. There is a bottle neck at the gates, they will use that to their advantage. He has the mages set up, sending grease spells, that will slow the combatants. Once the last of the creatures crosses the gate, he will set the oil ablaze, trapping the enemy within the entrance area. While the cavalry are decimating the darkspawn from the front and sides.
The plan is working, the darkspawn running blindly into the trap. A shout from the spotter warns of an Ogre coming from the end of the horde. It is charging forward, trying to break the line. Sten gives the order to send a lightning storm off, clearing the darkspawn from in front of the troops. The last of the horde passes the gate, the ogre mixed in with them. The oil is lit, the flames rushing up the creatures bodies. The Ogre roars, pushing fellow darkspawn out of his path, killing them or knocking them over. It reaches the other side and is free from the spell. Sten is waiting for it, Sereda by his side. They look at each other before running forward to meet the beast. Sten swings high, Sereda drops to her knee, sliding underneath the hulking darkspawn. She stands fast, turning and swing her sword, taking chucks out of the creatures leg. Sten parries until the creature drops to one knee, Sten thrusts forward swiftly, his weapon goes through the Ogres head. The last of the enemy falls, the spotter gives the all clear. Sereda lightly punches the Qunari.
"I wanted to do that." Sereda says, pouting.
"I will allow you to get the next one." Sten returns, cracking a smile.
Sereda laughs, she has the best friends.
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The sun is beginning to set as the group reaches the doors to the roof of Fort Drakon. Everyone takes a five minute rest, needing to recharge. Lanaya and Zevran will stay behind, keeping to the shadows. He will direct any reinforcements through the door and kill anything that is not friendly. Alim and Zevran share a look, smirking at each other. Lanaya tells her remaining Dalish to be safe and to listen to the Warden Commander as if she is the Keeper.
"Let Mythal guide us, and Falon'din not be waiting for us." Solona encouragingly.
The archers smile, pleased. The rest of the group breathes deeply, then opens the doors, running up the last flight of stairs. It's time to end this.
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The fighting atop the roof is intense. Arl Eamon is suffering heavy losses, then a spell wipes out the darkspawn that were attacking. Irving comes out from a side stair well, mages and a few Templars fighting side by side. Solona sends another spell, this time at the Archdemon. It looks at her, Solona sees the longing, and the suffering hidden within. It wants to die. The look is gone, the taint has erased the moment. Solona takes command, directing the troops to different locations, archers and mages together, work in tandem, any rogues, stick to stealth. The soldiers are to keep the grunts off the Wardens, they will take on the Archdemon. Solona eyes the ballista, she has soldiers man the weapons, adjusting them to aim at the Archdemon, firing at will.
The creatures calls for help, but the darkspawn are being held back with the troops. The ballista are taking a big chunk out of the Archdemons health, the other wing has been torn, and the beast is limping. Alim and Solona are sending spell after spell. Alistair and Elissa are using precision strikes. The hounds are watching the fighters backs, if a darkspawn makes it past the soldiers, they are quick to jump him. Alistair rolls, dodging the dragons tail, he sees an opening, he jumps up the Archdemons flank, climbing higher, using the creatures scales as hand holds. Atop the dragon, Alistair swings his sword, the cut deep, but not enough. It falls forward, Alistair jumps and rolls to the side, Elissa there to help him up.
Alim and Solona are knocked over when the dragon dropped. Alim helps Solona to stand, her hair comes loose, spilling down around her. She doesn't bother to tie it up, Alistair and Elissa are stunned by the picture she makes. Her hair is long, and in the sunsets light, it looks a flame, the rays making the auburn color seem alive. The wind blows the mane to the side. Solona sees a greatsword sticking out of a corpse, gleaming in the suns last rays. Solona pops a Lyrium potion, as she drops her staff. She charges forward, grabbing the sword from the corpse. Using ever bit of strength she has left, she holds it steady, the Archdemon, seeing her, Urthemiel is in control for just a flash of a moment, he lifts his body up, giving a clear shot at his underbelly. Solona drops and slides down, the sword plunged into the dragon, the force of her slide, the durability of the weapon, all work to guide the cut home.
Solona stands, turning to look the dragon in the eye. It blinks, trying to tell her it's okay. Solona raises the sword, blade down, she screams as she brings the weapon down, piercing its head. A bright light pours out from the Archdemons body, growing brighter by the second. A wisp of blue light rises up, it shoots toward Elissa, entering her lower belly. The light around the Archdemon explodes, sending everyone back. Solona is knocked back, she doesn't move.
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24 Molioris 9:31 Dragon, Denerim
The darkspawn horde quickly crumbles, the remnants scrambling back underground. Those still on the surface are swiftly destroyed. The companions work inside the city, sweeping through the streets, finding and dispatching any darkspawn still lingering. They are worried for their commander, she has not stirred since the siege several days ago. And although she lives, the group is bereft without her warmth to sooth them. Alim, Irving and Wynne sit with the mage, keeping her comfortable. Loki does not leave her side.
Elissa reunites with her brother and father. They tell Fergus about Oriana, and how brave she was. Fergus is disheartened to hear of her death, but proud of her, for her sacrifice towards their son. Elissa introduces Alistair, the two getting along famously, having similar humor. Their father is going to take over the Arling of Denerim, with Fergus taking the Terynship of Highever. Both areas will need a lot of work to get them back in order, but the Couslands are always up to the task.
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