Prologue: The Moons arise
Magius was running for his life. He knew little else, after all the life of an apostate was one fraught with moving from one place to the next, always one step ahead of the Templars and their fanatic urge to see those like himself bound in the circles for all time. At the time he had not had trouble with the templars in the last few months while he had hidden in the wilderness surrounding the Tellari Swamps of Antiva after all the swamps were said to be the home of a powerful witch, a story that would keep even the most zealous of templars away and allowed him some semblance of peace where he could study his magic in relative peace. But in that time he had long felt the loneliness that came with living in isolation and a moment of weakness ventured back out into the world in search of some form of connection. What could he do he was only human.
Magius had always been a recluse uneven in his younger days but he never truly considered himself to be wholly antisocial by nature. Nay, he preferred the lively conversations he had with other traveling apostates and any traveling merchants that would humor his company, namely those that were in the market of selling books or other forms of writing in general. But this time he was unfortunate enough to run into a band of the lyrium-fueled fanatics who had another apostate in their custody, a city elf by the looks of him.
It was against his better judgment that he freed the elf and exposed himself but he knew that despite, or perhaps because of the elf's predicament that he felt it necessary to free him from the coming torment of losing his freedoms in the Chantrie's ordained circles. Now the two of them were running through the woods surrounding the swamps as the Templars continued their chase into the late evening for their desperate flight had taken them through most of the day.
But now the energy the two of them had was almost completely spent, Magius could feel it in himself and see it on the face of his companion whose breaths came out in ragged heaves.
"I suppose we had a good run of it, eh."
"That we have human, though I suppose you don't have any other tricks up your sleeve to get us out of this mess do you?", the elf gasped out through his stressed breathing.
"Aye but if we stand and fight it may be our end, or worse tranquility if we are taken alive", Magius replied grimly.
He knew that their options were limited as they had not yet come within range of the swamps but instead now they were in the midst of the woods where they now rest in a large clearing marked with ruins in the style of Tavinter. Ironic that they would make their stand in the ruins of slavers from those that would see them as slaves of the circle. Not that he didn't understand the dangers of being a mage, what with the constant whispers of demons and spirits eager to break from the fade through using his body, but that is why he had isolated himself from the rest of society as a way to keep others protected from the dangers he could potentially release.
After all, fear is a great motivator when it comes to not only protecting one's self but also others who are innocent of such wrath and madness.
In the distance he could hear the shouts of the approaching templars, there would be no more running. Drawing his staff from his back, a long piece of wood tipped with a small orb held in the clutches of a dragons claw and a wicked curved blade at its base, he turned to face the approaching foes placing himself in front of the freed apostate his eyes narrowing as to better focus in the dimming twilight. At this, the elf drew a dagger from his cloak gripping it unsteadily as he got into a low stance.
"I suppose now would be a good time to ask your name before our untimely demise? I'd rather know who I'm fighting with before going to meet the Maker if it's all the same for you"
"If you must know my name is Tavil, and yes I do know how to use this knife!"
Tavil's grip on the blade seemed to say otherwise but as long as he didn't use the blade to slit his wrists for blood magic then Magius didn't care.
From the woods came the templars, ten in total with swords and shields raised, they then began to try and encircle the two a murderous glint showing under their helms. Already Magius could feel the magic he had within himself start to flicker and raise as the iron-bound brutes began to their move, with one of them calling to the Maker before wildly charging towards him with a longsword held in both hands. With a flick of his staff, Magius launched a bolt of electricity at the foolish recruit electrocuting him within his suit causing his flesh to melt and pop, his screams deafening the clearing as his fellows surged forward to avenge their fallen.
The next two templars to attack them we not as foolhardy as their shields blocked most of the smaller spells that Magius flung at them forcing the apostate to pull on more powerful spells to decimate his foes. To this end, he brought the end of his staff down on the ground causing an explosion of fire to knock the templars off their feet and scorch them within their armor. Now the smell of burning flesh tainted the battlefield as the remainder of the templars closed the gap and began to unleash their smite's against them, rendering their magic void.
Now they met their adversaries with staff and knife, though they only lasted for a short while as neither were good at piercing through the armor of the templars forcing the two to flee further into the ruins to at least corral the remaining templars into a more favorable position. Now standing in the ruins of what could only be described as a small temple to one of the old gods Magius and Tavil prepared to make their stand under the rising twin moons.
Except for this night, Magius noticed that instead of just the twin moons there was an additional celestial body in the sky. He could have sworn that this appearance was just a trick of the eye but there it was! Hanging there in the sky was the third moon as dark as the void surrounding it but clearly outlined by a shimmering pale circle! But not only that the two existing moons had changed as one now shone a pale crimson hue while the other a luminous bright.
"Andrastes sweet tits what is this!", a shocked reply came from Tavil whose loud exclamation confirmed Magius's suspicions.
By this time the Templars had already reached them in the ruined temple but had also noticed the change in the sky with shocked remarks claiming it the work of both their magic as to scare them off.
But what happened next shocked Magius more than the coming of the moons as the air suddenly became charged with magic, but not the sort that felt like it came from the fade. No, this magic did not feel like the sporadic and chaotic weaves of the fade but instead a powerful river that resonated and constructed air of calm and order as it flowed throughout the area binding itself to the ruins. This sensation continued to build until the rush of this new magic seemed to wash over everything like a great wave as a bright light enveloped the area.
When the light then dimmed, Magius and Tavil saw three figures that were not there before now standing between them and the approaching Templars. The figure in the center seemed to be in the form of a woman draped in red robes while her counterparts standing on her left and right appeared to be male with the one on her right being dressed in robes of midnight black and the one on the left in blinding robes of white. All around them Magius could sense that strange magic as it seemed to coalesce around their forms like moths to a flame.
"What is this Apostates!? Another trick of yours?", spoke a templar that regained the use of his mouth before hefting a two-handed battle-ax. "Summoning spirits from the fade to save your wretched hides from the chantries chosen. Peh. I'll cut you down to size"
With that, the overzealous templar rushed towards the figures aiming for the red-robed woman to kill her in a single blow. Unfortunately for him, he hadn't made it nearly five steps away for the woman's eyes glowed and he stopped dead in his tracks, being halted mid-swing before a mad twitch began to take over him. He would then let out a blood-curdling scream as blood then began to pour out of his helmet and his limbs began to twist in grotesque positions as if being crushed by an invisible giant.
It was then that the black and white-robed men launched themselves forward faster than any in the temple could perceive closing the gap between themselves and the templars. As quick as the templars could they attempted to smite these new foes as to restrict their magic but the magic that Magius had felt when they appeared did not dissipate. Instead, it seemed as though the templar's powers seemed simply rolled off them as though they were a gentle breeze. Then the black-robed man raised his hands as a wave of putrid green mist fell over the templars causing them to cough and gag while the man in white exuded a blinding wave of light that seemed to blind the rest of the templars before he lifted them into the air and with a glance turned them into nugs!
With the one-sided slaughter ending within mere seconds, it left a now thoroughly terrified Magius and Tavil alone with the three robed beings, as their powers were beyond any abilities that Magius had ever seen or thought possible!
"I see that mortals have continued to fight against that which they can't comprehend", the red-robed woman then spoke in an ethereal voice.
"A shame that the art has devolved into a basic fear that requires the blood of Reorx's firstborn", the white-robed man added, sorrow evident in his voice.
"Given that those that can use the art are touching a polluted and corrupting rot from the in-between I don't find it surprising at all.", the black-robed man concluded, his tone is filled with disgust and contempt.
Throughout this exchange, Magius and Tavil had thought of running but given the display of power they did not think that even with their magic that they would be able to escape these beings. At that thought, Magius took a brief moment to consider what exactly they were. Perhaps they are powerful lingering spirits that had coalesced at this former place of worship and were drawn to their conflict with the templars. But if that is the case then they wouldn't have been able to coalesce outside the fade. They also do not appear to be Maleficarum since they had not killed him and his friend, for now at least.
"I see we have left the mortals in a state of shock my old friends", the dark-robed figure then spoke up breaking Magius from his train of thought and back to the matter at hand.
"I suppose I should be grateful for your assistance but I know not what you are. If I might be so bold, perhaps a much-needed introduction will be needed for me and my friend here.", Magius responded hastily. "My name is-"
"Magius, son of Damovid of Starkhaven and your companion is Tavil of the Antivian Alienage.", the red woman spoke cutting off Magius and silencing him through surprise and then worry with the fear that she had slithered her way into his head.
"Be calm mortal, it is not of our want to subject one mind through our power. Though he might disagree", the man in white then spoke up gesturing at the man in the dark robes who grunted in response. "As for your other question I was called Solinari, the vigilant guide.", and with that revealed himself as a plae-haired elf with translucent blue eyes!
"I was known as Lunitari, the Red Mistress and lady of Illusions. A pleasure", the woman then spoke up revealing herself as a human woman of caramel skin, dark hair, and misty crimson eyes.
"And I am Nuitari, the lord of Ambition", the dark-figured man finished revealing himself to be a human male with incredibly sharp features and dark eyes.
"And we have an offer for you both…"
It was on this night in the year of 3:41 Towers or as we in the true towers state the 1st year of Moon Rise (ie; MR 1) was the night of the true gods' return to our world. It was Archmage Magius and his confidant Archmage Tavil who first saw the rise of the three moons over all of Thedas and with them the skill and arts that now allow the orders to continue the great purpose, the protection of magic. Be they the Darkspawn of the Blights who weaken the veil through the wanton death they sow, the Demons of the Fade that ensnare and lead astray thous of weak will, or the mages that flail helplessly at the maw that will consume them, unaware and easily seduced by the draw of the wild magic of the fade.
It is through us that they may learn to control their magic and relearn the art in a way that may protect and serve how they see fit and through the orders of the moons they may do so. They may achieve this through the protection and liberation of others who are oppressed by those with might through the Order of the Bright Moon, the host of benevolent Solinari whose light and wards protect our souls from the dangers of the fade even as we sleep. Perhaps through the usage of magics considered unnatural and mighty to achieve their ambitions, they will join the Order of the Dark Moon, the cabal of Nuitari whose ambitions for us to see magic protected and its influence secured will be achieved at any cost. But for me, I joined the Order of the Red Moon, the fraternity of our lady Lunitari, for it is we who keep the balance between all three so that none may be dominant in the pursuit of our goal or drive us off the course of our creed.
Together we are the wizards of the Towers of High Sorcery, the wills of the magic made manifest on this world to protect it from those that would see the world harmed by the machinations of those who do not understand that which they wield. For we wield the true magic, the magic of the gods made manifest in the skies above, for the moons are magic and from them is where we gain our strength. But they will not be the last of the gods to return.
For with our original charge we have been given a second, one that even now I am close to finally understanding even on the eve of this next coming blight. For now, I head to Ferelden on my search for answers to this quest and to meet with an old friend who now looks for recruits in this coming conflict. Mayhapse he may be willing to aid me on this query of mine for it is here in the birthplace of Andraste, she who glimpsed the truth on what the maker was, that their return may be heralded.
And through them perhaps and end to all Blights.
Adilian's log 9:29 Dragon, MR 588
This current project of mine was a bit of a rough idea that came from a recent interest in getting back into both Dragonlance universe of D&d while also getting back into Dragon Age at the same time with my mind lazily concluding attempting something of a story using several elements of the Dragonlance universe and implementing them within Thedas to see if I could get somewhat of an engaging plot to arise.
I will be attempting to keep this story as regularly updated as possible but for reading purposes, any Dragonlance-related content will be explained as the story goes forward alongside its implications within Thedas.
But as it goes, please leave a review or comment and I hope you all are doing well!