Asleena and her party were wandering a dusty trail, looking for any signs of life. Tall trees towered over the party, making an archway along the entire track. The leaves rustled in the slight breeze, mussing up her curly hair. Suddenly, eight petite elves melted out of the forest, brandishing daggers. They had drawn their longbows on them, and were rapidly approaching. Before she had even had time to react, she had found herself shoved up against a tree, an arrow digging into the sensitive skin of her throat, by a small elf. Glancing around wildly, she saw Alistair, Sten and Leliana in the exact same position.
"Amin mellon yassen lle!" Asleena cried, glad she had taken the time to learn elvish in the Tower.
"What did you just say?" Alistair asked, ignoring the furious elf tying him up. Asleena couldn't answer, as soon as the elvish words flowed from her tongue, the male elf in front of her grabbed her by the windpipe.
"Hey! Let go of her!" Alistair shouted, struggling against the female elf in front of him, hissing with annoyance. Despite his efforts, the elves held him firmly in place.
"Amin feuya ten' lle, shem."
"What? What did she say?" Alistair queried, still fighting for dominance.
"Vashedan. Be silent!" Sten commanded. Three elves were holding his boots to the forest floor and another sat on his shoulders, whacking him on the top of the head.
The elf throttling Asleena finally let go, leaving her gasping for air.
"I said 'I am your friend' and she said 'You disgust me, human'. Now shut up, this one's talking again." Alistair fell silent at Asleena's behest.
"Lye bring lle a' keeper. Ro take care en' lle." The elf said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"We're being taken to their keeper. He'll deal with us." Asleena called to the group.
"We found the Dalish."
Asleena had managed to talk the elves out of sacrificing them to the Creators, but they would only give assistance in the Blight if their hunters were cured of the werewolf disease that was spreading rapidly throughout the population. The four were sent to find Witherfang, whose heart would cure the afflicted elves.
The party explored the majestic forest, completing quests and searching for signs of Witherfang. At the camp, they had managed to talk Gheyna into bonding with Cammen, and he had rewarded them with The Tale of Iloren, a book that had been a family heirloom. They had located Danyla, the elf-turned-werewolf, but decided to steer clear of her so that they could return her to her husband in elf form.
The adventurers wandered the forest some more, when they found a strange barrier in the middle of the forest, it appeared to be made of clouds and mist. When she touched it, Asleena was shocked to find it was solid. Droplets of water condensed on her fingers as she pulled away from it. Taking a deep breath, she pushed more resistance against it and immediately found herself back at the mouth of the forest.
"What was that?" She heard Alistair ask no one in particular. With a sigh, she led her party forward, aggravated that they had to start all over again.
They happened upon a large clearing, guarded by Wild Sylvans, which Asleena dispatched with flame spells. At the end of the clearing, there was a large, golden tree, similar in appearance to the sylvans but larger and apparently, intelligent.
"Hrrrrm... what manner of beast be thee that comes before this elder tree?" it said in a musical voice.
"Ummm… excuse me?" Asleena stammered. I'm talking to a tree! She thought, feeling foolish. "I'm human… if that's what you're asking."
After a while of rhyming conversation, Asleena asked "Why do you speak in rhymes?"
"I do not know, why dost thou not? Thy words seem plain, a mundane lot. Perhaps a poet's soul's in me... Does that make me a poet tree?" The tree chuckled. It was a strange sound, like wood grating against wood. Eventually, she agreed to locate his lost acorn, in return for a magic branch that would allow them to cross the barrier they had encountered earlier. She had no idea how she was going to succeed.
Asleena and her friends encountered a crazy old man in a small camp. Upon entering his campsite, the Mad Hermit began a tirade while swinging his fists. Engaging in dialogue with him, it became abundantly clear that something was amiss: first and foremost, the Hermit spoke in questions, and insisted everyone around him do the same. After a long and confusing 'conversation', Asleena traded The Tale of Iloren for the Grand Oak's acorn. The acorn was about the size of her head and she staggered as she accepted it. Alistair gallantly stepped forward to relieve her of its weight and she smiled and thanked him. He quickly turned away, red up to his ears with a foolish grin plastered to his cheeks. They then exited the camp to return to the great tree.
"My joy soars to new heights indeed! I amreunited with my seed! As promised, here it be. I hope it's magic pleases thee." The tree handed its branch to a smiling Asleena. She was pleased that she had been able to help such a magical and noble creature as this Elder Tree.
"I wish thee well, my mortal friend. Thou brought my sadness to an end! May the sunlight find you, thy days be long, thy winters kind, and thy roots be strong."
The questing party soon found another campsite, though this one was uninhabited. It looked like it had been used recently though, as coals still smouldered in the fireplace and orange flames danced in the cracks of the charred wood. There was a homey tent and warm bedrolls spread out invitingly by the fire. Asleena peered into the tent and was suddenly overcome with drowsiness. She pulled herself away from it with a yawn. She continued around the camp, looking at the fire. At her look, it burst into open flame, seemingly of its own accord. She found herself transfixed by the flame, even more sleepy than she was before.
"Pashaara. There is something wrong here," Sten said, jolting her out of her reverie.
"See how the fire draws the eye. We should leave this place."
Asleena gazed longingly at the bedrolls and was about to agree, but something about the scene before her made her stop, and suggest that they just rest for a while. They all agreed without question, even Sten, his resolve dissolved. Her eyes dragged shut and she welcomed the Fade with open arms.
Asleena awoke with a start. Her companions were lifeless on the ground beside her. The camp was gone, and they were surrounded by the bones of adventurers that had been suckered in as well. There was a greater shade attacking her, but she quickly killed it, rooting it to the ground with a cone of cold and shattering it with a stonefist. Her companions woke upon its death, puzzled by the gory scene before them. They joined Asleena looting the skeletons, too embarrassed and unsettled by what had happened to speak to one another.
They continued on their way, until they found an enormous felled tree, which they took bark from. Asleena identified it as ironbark and concluded that Varathorn the merchant would pay dearly for it. She than led them back to the magical barrier that they had encountered previously. She equipped the Elder Tree's branch as a staff, and walked through the barrier to the lair of the Werewolves.