Chapter 29: In Dust…
Dust Town.
Harrowmont had described it to Alim. A place for the lawless, where only the casteless and criminals lived. It was in this place that the wardens and their allies would find the Carta.
"A place that should not exist," Harrowmont had said, "the casteless should have had the decency not to reproduce centuries ago."
Such a warm opinion for this city's future king, Alim had thought.
The noble's opinion sickened the elf. People could no more help being born than they could stop the sun from setting. They should not be condemned to live in a slum because something their great-great grandparents did…
Slum was not a powerful enough word in Alim's eyes however.
The elven warden wrinkled his nose; calling this place a slum did not do it justice. The crumbling structures, the garbage and waste in the corners of the streets. Casteless slept in doorways or glared menacingly at the approaching wardens and their allies.
They had even been attacked once, a group of desperate toughs trying to take their gear. Alim had zapped one with lightning and Shale had crushed another. The survivors fled before any more of them met their end.
The elven mage cursed, he had no desire to harm these people!
He did not blame them, if he lived in such a place, he would likely jump at any situation to better his situation.
Still he could not believe that a place like Dust Town could exist in the same world as modern Orzammar. It was almost like this was an entirely different city. The towering structures of Orzammar might as well have been in another country.
Of course it should not have been surprising, he realized, the humans kept his people boxed in inside their Alienages after all.
Alim had little memory of the Alienage himself; he had been a toddler when his family had moved to Lothering.
Perhaps…that was for the best.
Alim warned Bandit to stay close to him; some of the casteless were eyeing his war hound with hungry looks. The dog whimpered nervously, or growled when one of the dwarves came too close.
Alim had no intention of seeing his loyal war dog becoming someone's meal.
Alistair, Gus, and Leliana looked like they were going to be sick; the squalor around them clearly did not sit well with their sensibilities. Morrigan, Zevran, and Sten seemed indifferent to the casteless' plight, not that that surprised him. The three had likely seen worse things in their own environments.
Shale was pouting again.
"How about we smash every building here, until someone tells us where we can find this Jarvia midget," the golem suggested.
'I think these people have suffered enough Shale," Alim commented, "We will not contribute to it."
"Aww," the golem snorted, "It is no fun!'
Alim shook his head; they really needed to find the Carta base.
Shale needed to get some of that aggression worked out.
They had spent the afternoon talking with merchants in the commons. The Carta had been shaking them down for coin for weeks, sadly no one knew anything about Jarvia, either that or they were too scared of the crime boss to say anything.
So they had come to search for the base itself.
Hopefully someone here knew something…
…And would be brave enough to talk.
IOI
The dwarf's name was Zerlinda, once she had been a member of the mining caste, but she had been banished here to dust town for having a child with a casteless boy.
Leliana was having little success convincing her to speak with them. The young woman needed coin to feed her baby, but she was terrified what the Carta would do to her if they found out she had talked.
Alim approached the two women.
"Please," the dwarven woman begged, "You cannot expect me to answer, my son…the Carta will…"
Alim sighed heavily; his patience was starting to wear thin.
"I understand your fear," Alim said, "But why stay where the Carta can reach you, why don't you leave."
"Where would I go," the dwarven girl asked, "My family will not have me back, and no one would hire someone with a casteless child?"
Leliana gave the girl a sad look. She understood what it was to be trapped, to feel like you had nowhere else to turn.
In her case, faith had saved her, for Zerlinda, her skills likely would.
"Why not go to the surface," the red head asked, "I'm certain there would be humans interested in hiring a skilled dwarven miner."
Zerlinda considered what she had said.
"I…I have never been to the surface before," she confessed, "I was not sure if it would be safe, but I…I hear there is no caste system there, is that true?"
"That is true," Alim nodded, "Your life would not be easy," he warned her, "But with hard work, a skilled woman such as yourself could make a life for herself, and your baby. Your people are looked upon with great respect; it is mine who are treated like we are less than nothing."
Leliana was shocked by the elf's admission; she had never heard him speak of his people's plight before.
She found that her heart went out to him.
Zerlinda pointed the wardens to a former Carta dwarf named Nadezda, if anyone knew where the Carta base was, it was likely her.
Alim thanked her, he gave her a sovereign, it would feed her and her baby for a while, at least until she could reach the surface and meet with the dwarves on the surface.
He found himself hoping that the girl would make it. He hated to admit it, but the longer he was down here; the more he missed the surface.
At least up top, the girl would have a chance.
IOI
Nadezda, a crippled former Carta member had a lot to say about her former employers.
Apparently, Jarvia was hunting one of her former leg breakers, a young lad named Brosca; he had killed Berat, the former leader of the Carta, and Jarvia's lover. After which, he had grabbed his family and fled. Jarvia had set up an ambush inside Brosca's old home.
It was here that Alim would be able to get the information he needed.
The elf took Shale, Sten, and Alistair. They sprung the trap the criminals had set for their former brother. All but one had been killed; Alim had spared him in exchange for the location of the criminals' base of operation, and the finger bone token that would gain them access.
Alim held the small bone between his fingers; he tried not to think of the poor bastard it had likely come from.
An hour later, Alim and his companions stood outside a ruined structure, according to that dwarf they had interrogated, it was here that the entrance to the carta base could be found.
Alim drew spellbinder from its sheath. He and Leliana would go in first, she to make sure there were no traps waiting for them, and he to clear out any large groups of opposition.
Once that was done, the rest of their allies would sweep in a deal with the survivors.
Alim put the token it its appropriate slot, the door clicked open.
He motioned Leliana forward.
The sister checked the door for any obvious traps, trip wires, pressure plates and the like.
As always he admired her skill, very little slipped by the woman when she working.
He found himself more and more grateful for her presence.
Pronouncing the way clear, Leliana stood back, Alim, flanked by Shale and Alistair entered the Carta base.
The way seemed quiet, at least at first, no guards, and few traps.
The warden elf found himself wondering if the carta had gotten careless, expecting their trick door and reputation to keep them safe.
If they had, then that had been a critical error on their part.
Alim turned the corner, and found himself face to face with ten Carta thugs, and all with their weapons drawn.
Shit!
The lead thug, a dirty faced blonde hair dwarf, glared at him.
"Password," he barked.
Alim smiled.
"Shale," he murmured.
The guard started to draw his weapon.
The golem sprang; its massive fist smeared the guard all over the floor.
The other carta gasped in horror.
Shale grinned.
"The password is squisssh," the golem laughed.
A dwarven archer shot at Shale.
Alim blasted him down with lightning.
More carta dwarves stormed the chamber.
The rest of Alim's companions joined them.
The battle began…
In all its bloody brilliance!
IOI
Leliana fired an arrow, a dwarf fell, she set her feet and delivered a reverse spin kick, snapping another's neck.
Zevran screamed for her to move, she dodged as an acid flask exploded in the midst of a large number of attackers. Shale waded into them, crushing all in its path.
Leliana shuddered.
The golem sure enjoyed its work.
Though…She hated to admit it, she understood the feeling.
She was enjoying this as well!
It had been a long time since she had engaged in such close-quarters fighting. Her friends and allies all around her, Marjolaine had always told her that a true bard could be chaos incarnate, and still not harm a hair on her allies' heads.
Leliana had always considered herself one of the true bards.
She back flipped out of the way of a crossbowman, flinging a dagger into his throat, he fell gasping for breath. She somersaulted over another, and snapped his neck from behind.
Her eyes flashed with excitement, she was out of breath and sweating…
She had never felt so alive!
She…
What are you doing?!
The question stopped her in her tracks. Shame filled her, this…this was not who she was anymore! It had been easy when she had been in the cloister, but now…fighting beside Alim and the others.
She feared she was falling back into old habits…bad habits.
Shale blundered through an exploding barrel; it did not affect the golem, but killed the dwarves nearby.
The golem laughed, enjoying the carnage.
Leliana switched back to her bow, using her arrows to cover her companions.
She needed to remember who she was, what her life was now.
She was not Leliana the bard anymore, she was someone new…
She was someone who knew mercy, fairness, and compassion.
She was someone who did not embrace killing.
She was a new person…
…A better person.
IOI
Fighting the carta was like trying to clear an infestation, Alim realized, where ever they went, more thugs seemed to emerge, and they were not all dwarves either, they had seen several elves, apostates all, and Qunari as well.
Sten's eyes blazed with fury as he engaged his brethren, Alim had never seen the giant warrior so angry.
"Death to the gray ones," Sten shouted, "Death to the Tal Vashoth! Ataash Qunari!"
Sten had always been dangerous, but against these…Tal…whatever they were…
He was a terror.
Morrigan cackled as she fired fire and lightning at her attackers. So occupied was she that she missed a lone assassin sneaking up behind her.
Alistair pushed the young witch out of the way. The assassin's blade left an ugly red line on her back, but otherwise she was unharmed.
Alistair ended the killer's life with a vicious slash that removed his head.
Morrigan stared in disbelief.
He…he had saved her life…again.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He nodded and returned to the fight, she might have been wrong, but…
It almost looked like he had blushed a little at her comment.
There was no time to check though; once again the witch was swept up in the battle.
The running fight continued.
IOI
Leliana continued to sniff out traps, but something had happened to her. She…she seemed to be hesitating, afraid to get into the thickest fighting.
A few moments ago she had waded in without any resistance?
Alim promised himself to speak with her at the conclusion of this mission.
Hesitating at the wrong time could get someone killed.
They cleared the Carta Armory, and dungeon, they freed a prisoner named Leske. The dwarf was unwilling to help them, but he did tell them where Jarvia had retreated.
He had apparently been imprisoned down here for months, ever since Jarvia had recaptured him; he had no problem with seeing her fall now.
Alim promised him that is what they were here for.
Jarvia's days in Orzammar were numbered.
The wardens and their allies fought on, until they finally stood outside Jarvia's quarters. It was not surprising that she was waiting for them.
Alim was surprised, he expected some monster of a dwarf, but Jarvia was actually quite plain looking. Her dark hair was cut short and braided, a casteless brand graced her face, and she carried an ax and sword in each hand.
She sneered arrogantly at the elf.
"So Harrowmont finally realized we were taking the city," she sneered, "But I notice he could not bother to send his own men."
The elf smirked.
"I think his lordship thinks he above trash collecting," Alim responded, "But this does not have to get any bloodier than it already has. Surrender and I will be merciful."
Jarvia snorted at his offer.
"I find that hard to believe with your blades colored with my men's blood," she growled, "Kill them…but leave the mouthy little elf alive, I have plans for him."
Alim snorted, he would sooner burn himself then let the vicious little woman touch him.
He fired lightning at her.
She actually evaded it, she charged up the steps, intent on running him through.
Jarvia's blade clanged loudly with another.
Leliana glared at the dwarf.
"Keep your hands to yourself, bitch," she spat.
The two women faced off, Jarvia was a clever rogue, her blades were fast and her mind cunning. Leliana was hard-pressed to match her skills.
Alim stared in shock.
Why had she done that? He had not been in any…
"Lim we need you!"
Alistair's cry drew his attention; more thugs emerged from a northern tunnel. Alim's stormbreaker powers may have been stunted underground, but that did not make him helpless.
He summoned chain lightning down on his targets. A stray bolt ignited another explosive barrel. The force separated Leliana and Jarvia.
The carta boss rolled to her feet, she tried to take advantage of the situation.
"I'm going to wear your pretty little teeth around my wrist," she growled.
Leliana backpedalled, she swept her blade in dramatic movements designed to distract and exhaust the criminal.
She could almost hear Marjolaine's voice in her head.
There is no reason why something cannot be both beautiful and lethal my pretty thing.
She had been referring to both combat and Leliana herself at the time.
The compliment had left the young bard blushing.
Marjolaine had thought her beautiful.
Jarvia grew frustrated; she tried to end the battle with a vicious cut at Leliana's head.
The bard blocked with her short sword, and swept out with her dagger.
The blade slashed across Jarvia's stomach.
The dwarf gasped and tried to fall back.
Leliana did not let her retreat.
She struck with her short sword.
Jarvia lost her head to the blow.
Gasping and out of breath, Leliana stared down at her beaten opponent. She felt that old excitement again, the joy of crushing worthy foe.
She tried to ignore it; she said a quick prayer for the slain dwarf.
Even scum deserved the Maker's mercy.
He had taken pity on her after all.
At the time, she had been no better than Jarvia…
Perhaps, even a bit worse.
IOI
With their leader dead, the carta collapsed, Alim and the others had time to raid the criminals' stores for anything of value.
Alim found himself searching Jarvia's office.
Leliana came up behind him.
The sister passed him a small envelope of documents. They contained evidence that House Harrowmont had been supplying lyrium to the Carta.
The documents had been given to them by Vartag Gavorn, and were to be used to prove Alim's loyalty to the prince.
The elf would be lying if he said he did not like it. He hated all this backstabbing bullshit, but was Harrowmont really so different.
He could have sent his own men to deal with Jarvia, but he had not wanted to weaken his house doing good for Orzammar.
Better to let the wardens take the risk.
Then…there was the thing with the casteless. As an elf, Alim knew what it was like to be treated like you were nothing. Even in the tower there had been apprentices who had thought him unworthy of studying magic, much less being Irving's apprentice.
No…Alim saw very little difference between the two nobles, and now they both owed him.
Ali would likely have disagreed, but he had put Alim in charge for a reason.
Alim was prepared to do what was needed.
It was like the old warden saying…
A warden does what he must.