Darkness. Da'Assan woke up, bounded by chains. She slowly lifted her head and saw jail cells on either side of her. Each had a torchlight burning on either side of the entrance. Looking down, she saw her wrists were wrapped in metal. With panic starting to set in, she raised her head. Just one door, the way out. She wondered if she could make a quick escape, before slowly realizing that her feet were bound as well.
She then noticed the two women who were in front of her. One wore a long cloak, and her face was partially covered by a hood. Though, it wouldn't matter anyway, as she stood off to the side in the darkness. With a slight smirk on her face, she entered into the light when the woman she had come in with walked into the light.
This other woman was stern and had seen her fair share of battles since she had a deep scar on her cheek. She had very short hair and a sharp face. She walked in with confidence, and Da'Assan could immediately tell she was the leader. She knew this woman's type, as Da'Assan was also a stern woman.
"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now. The Conclave is destroyed. Everyone who attended is dead. Except for you," spat the woman with the scarred face.
Tears started to form in Da'Assan's eyes.
"What do you mean everyone is dead?" choked Da'Assan through a small sob.
"Explain this," The woman grabs Da'Assan's chains and pulls them upwards. Her left-hand flares up in a green glow.
"I can't," Da'Assan says quietly.
"What do you mean, you can't?" yells the woman with the scar.
"I don't know how it got there!" exclaims Da'Assan. Tears start falling on her cheek, but she tries to hold back. She knows that she is in foreign territory, and she can't have her captives see her being weak.
"You're lying," says the woman before taking a step forward and raising her hand as if to strike Da'Assan across the face. Then the woman in the shadows stepped forward, grabbing her hand.
"We need her, Cassandra," she speaks softly. Da'Assan quickly noticed that she wasn't nearly as emotionally invested in this ordeal. This new woman spoke quietly, and she didn't have as harsh of a voice.
"I can't believe it. All those people dead. All my people gone," Da'Assan sobs. She slumps her head down and tries to control her cries.
"Do you remember what happened? How this began?" asks the cloaked woman.
Da'Assan lifts her head slightly. "I remember running. Things were chasing me. And then... a woman?" she says questioningly.
"A woman?" asks the woman before walking closer to Da'Assan and bending down to be face to face with her.
Looking her in the eyes, Da'Assan spoke, "She reached out to me, but then..."
Da'Assan was interrupted by Cassandra, "Go to the forward camp, Leliana. I will take her to the rift."
Leliana takes one more longing look before rising and exiting out the door. Da'Assan noticed the pain in her face before she left and wondered if she too lost someone.
Cassandra walks to Da'Assan and unlocks the chains. "What did happen?" asks Da'Assan, while Cassandra wraps and ties her hands with rope.
"It will be easier to show you," she says barely making eye contact. She then leads Da'Assan outside, and that's when she got a full glance at the monstrosity in the sky. A huge bright green hole in the sky that was surrounded by swirling green clouds, and floating rocks. It appears to be just above where the temple once stood.
While walking towards the camp area, Cassandra continues, "We call it the Breach. It's a massive rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hour. It's not the only such rift, just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the conclave."
"An explosion can do that?" asks Da'Assan while lifting her hands above her head to block out the light."
"This one did. Unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world," Cassandra says with worry.
Da'Assan feels an immense pain in her hand and drops to her knees. It was unlike any pain she had experienced before. Simultaneously, the Breach expands and makes another tear in the sky.
Cassandra gets down on her knees next to Da'Assan and lifts her head. "Each time the Breach expands, the mark spreads... and it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time."
Da'Assan lowers her head for a short time before looking into Cassandra's eyes. "I understand," she says.
"Then...?"
"I'll do what I can. Whatever it takes. My clan deserves this much, at least," Tears form in Da'Assan's eyes before she quickly wipes them away.
Cassandra pulls Da'Assan to her feet and they continue into the town ahead of them. The villagers scowl at them as they walk by. Da'Assan can hear words such as "knife-ear", "rabbit", and "savage". This wouldn't be the first time she has heard them, but it stung a little more now that she was alone with no other elves around.
"They have decided your guilt. They need it. The people of Haven mourn our Most Holy, Divine Justinia, head of the Chantry. The Conclave was hers. It was a chance for peace between mages and templars. She brought their leaders together. Now, they are dead," Cassandra informs her as they pass a few men selling swords.
Stopping just short of a bridge, Cassandra pulls out a dagger. She pulls Da'Assan forward then cuts the ropes binding her hands together. "There will be a trial. I can promise no more," Cassandra turns to walk away.
"Where are we going?" Da'Assan asks.
"Your power must be tested on something smaller than the Breach. Come. It is not far."
They continue onto the bridge and Da'Assan notices all those wounded. There were soldiers laid out across the stone, and their blood was staining. She locked eyes with many of them before they looked away. Da'Assan notices a pair of large doors on the other side of the bridge.
She looks to Cassandra who then yells, "Open the gates! We are headed into the valley!"
As the gates open, Da'Assan notices that the path veers to the left as it makes a slight incline. At the top is another set of gates. This is going to be one long walk. What did I get myself into?
Halfway up the hill, Da'Assan's hand burst into a green light and sends a shooting pain up her arm. She drops to her knees as the immense shock takes over.
"The pulses are coming faster now," Cassandra says while helping Da'Assan onto her feet. "The larger the Breach grows, the more rifts appear, the more demons we face."
They pick up their pace as they reach the second pair of gates. They pass through them and find themselves on another bridge with casualties. As they reach the middle of the bridge, Da'Assan looks up to see a meteor from the Breach head straight for them. She knocks Cassandra behind, but it's no use. The bridge collapses and they find themselves on an icy surface. Another meteor rains down just in front of them, and from the oozing green pool, a demon forms. It has a skeletal form with black patches of rotten skin falling of its body. Its head is covered in a light fabric, so its face isn't visible.
"Stay behind me!" Cassandra yells as she runs at the demon with her sword drawn.
Da'Assan realizes she is defenseless when another demon forms from the pool and comes straight for her. She searches around her for anything she can use as a weapon. Out of the corner of her eye, she spots a bow with few arrows. Stumbling to grab hold of it, the demon slashes at her. She rolls just out of reach, before standing with the bow in her hand. Arrow after arrow soars into the demon before it bursts, falling into a pile of ash on the ground in front of her.
Cassandra struggles with the first demon before it too falls into ash. Da'Assan walks towards her, bow still in hand. "It's over."
Cassandra whips around until she is facing Da'Assan. With her sword pointed at her, she aggressively says, "Drop your weapon! Now!"
Noticing the absurdity of it all, Da'Assan shrugs. "Fine, have it your way." She starts to slowly lower her weapon to the cold ground before Cassandra sheaths her sword.
Taking a step toward Da'Assan, Cassandra speaks lightly. "You're right. This is a demon-infested valley, and this will not be the last time you will need a weapon." Cassandra sighs before continuing. "I cannot protect you, and I cannot expect you to be defenseless. I should remember that you agreed to come willingly."
After moving through the valley, and fighting off more demons, they come to a staircase leading to the top of a large hill. They run up the staircase before Da'Assan quickly stops. Loud screams are coming from the top of the hill. Her ears twitch as they try to tune in to what could be happening. She can slightly hear swords slashing into large objects, and she can already feel a strong magical energy pouring out.
Cassandra continues up the stairs and passes Da'Assan. "Hurry now, you can hear the fighting."
"Who's fighting?" Da'Assan questions before she runs up the stairs trying to catch up to Cassandra.
"You'll see soon enough. We have to help!" Cassandra yells as they run side by side up the staircase.
As they reach the top, Da'Assan can tell that a part of a bridge had been destroyed in this place as well. The gate doors had been blown off, and there was a small jump down before reaching the ground below. At least two dozen demons were being fought by a handful of soldiers. Da'Assan knew she needed to get down as quickly as possible.
Cassandra and Da'Assan jump down onto the ground and race to where the fighting is happening. From a distance, Da'Assan takes out two demons that were collapsing upon a mage. Cassandra finds her way over to a dwarf archer and fights her way through a group of demons. Da'Assan slowly moves closer to the mage, realizing that he was an elf. He was very tall and had sharp eyes and ears. He was bald and had a wolf jawbone necklace. She was happy to find someone who looked like her. Noticing that he didn't have facial tattoos, she assumed he was a city elf. She makes eye contact with the mage and smiles slightly, and he glares down at her hand. As soon as all the demons are gone, he grabs her hand and reaches it towards the rift in the sky.
Green sparks leave her hand before they form a connection with the rift. She gasps at the slight stabbing pain in her hand before relaxing. The power swarms through her as the rift starts to close. A sense of relief follows as the magical connection breaks and the rift bursts. It leaves no trace in the sky, but leaves a small green pouch on the Earth that lightly oozes.
"What did you do?" Da'Assan asks confusingly as she pulls her hand towards her chest. She hadn't realized how heavy she was breathing.
The elf laughs lightly before speaking, "I did nothing. The credit is all yours."
"At least this is good for something," sighs Da'Assan.
"Whatever magic opened the Breach in the sky also placed that mark upon your hand. I theorized the mark might be able to close the rifts that have opened in the Breach's wake – and it seems I was correct," the elf spoke again. He looked over Da'Assan's shoulder to where Cassandra was standing.
From behind Da'Assan, Cassandra spoke, "Meaning it could close the Breach itself."
"Possibly," he says to Cassandra before looking to Da'Assan once again. "It seems you hold the key to our salvation."
"Good to know! Here I thought we'd be ass deep in demons forever," spoke the dwarf archer.
Da'Assan snickered and covered her mouth as the dwarf walked towards the group. He had red hair that was pulled back into a tight ponytail. His facial hair was light, and red as well. Da'Assan could tell his nose had been broken more than a few times.
"My name is Varric Tethras. I'm a rogue, storyteller, and occasionally unwelcome tagalong," He winks at Cassandra who scowls and sighs.
Da'Assan didn't quite know what to think of this man. In the absence of thought, she spouts out, "Nice crossbow you have there."
Varric laughs before looking over his shoulder to where his huge crossbow is slain behind his back. " Isn't she? Bianca and I have been through a lot together."
Da'Assan leans forwards and smiles, "You named your crossbow Bianca?"
"Of course. And she'll be great company in the valley," Varric says as he looks at Da'Assan and then to Cassandra.
"Don't even think about it," Cassandra says raising her voice. "Your help is appreciated Varric but..."
Before she can finish, Varric cuts her off, "Have you been in the valley lately, Seeker? Your soldiers aren't in control anymore. You need me."
Cassandra clearly disliking his comment makes a disgusted noise. She goes to walk off before the elven man starts to speak.
"I am Solas if there are to be introductions. I'm pleased to see you still live," he says with a slight smile on his face.
"He means, 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept.'" Varric cuts in again.
"Then I owe you my thanks," Da'Assan says while bowing towards Solas.
Solas puts his arm on her shoulder before speaking, "Thank me if we manage to close the Breach without killing you in the process."
Da'Assan straightens her back and turns towards Cassandra, "Where to now?"
"The forward camp," Cassandra says abruptly. "We will be meeting Leliana there. It isn't much further from here."
The small group continues down the path, following Cassandra. They come across small packs of demons, but it is very little challenge for any of them. Da'Assan notices how skilled of a mage Solas is and it reminds her of Naevys. She tries to continue on, but the pain is still so fresh. They climb a set of stairs leading up a mountain path.
"The forward camp is just up these stairs. We must hurry," Cassandra says while rushing the group.
Solas catches up with Da'Assan, "You are Dalish, but clearly away from the rest of your clan. Did they send you?"
"What do you know of the Dalish?" Da'Assan snaps, raising an eyebrow.
"I have wandered many roads in my time, and crossed paths with your people on more than one occasion," Solas looks at Da'Assan questioningly.
"We are both of the same people, Solas," Da'Assan quickens her pace up the stairs, leaving Solas behind her.
"The Dalish I met felt differently on the matter," Solas shrugs before continuing on.
A booming voice in the back of the group yells, "Can't you elves just play nice for once?"
As the group reaches the top of the stairs, Da'Assan's hand flares again. Leaving her breathing hard, but she doesn't stop walking through the pain. A rift appears just in front of the gate of the forward camp.
"I know it's difficult, but we must keep going. We are so close now!" Cassandra yells as she runs toward a demon. Da'Assan's hand feels as though it's on fire, but she grabs the bow off of her back and starts shooting arrows into the nearby demons. Varric appears next to her, and they stand side by side firing into the crowd of demons that appear before Cassandra. Solas runs to a better advantage point and uses ice magic to freeze and burst the demons. When there are no more enemies in the area, Da'Assan yells and thrusts her hand towards the rift. The pain is almost unbearable now, but she breathes through it until the rift disappears.
"Open the gates! The rift is gone!" Cassandra yells to the soldiers on the opposite side of the gate.
"Whatever that thing on your hand is, it's useful," Varric laughs lightly as the group walks into the forward camp.
It's on a large bridge overlooking a mountainside. Da'Assan hadn't realized how far up they had traveled during their journey here.
All around the group are more casualties. Along the bridge are men and women in uniform lying on the ground. Da'Assan can't determine if they are simply resting or died. She had seen death before, but this was becoming overwhelming. Before she can think too much more about it, she overhears yelling at a nearby table towards the end of the bridge.
"Ah, here they come," says an older man in Chantry garb. Da'Assan notices that the woman standing next to him is the woman from earlier. She remembers that Cassandra had called her Leliana.
With a sigh of relief, Leliana walks up to the group. "You made it. Chancellor Roderick, this is-"
"I know who she is," the Chancellor interjects. "As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeaux to face execution."
His face has turned a light pink and there is a small vein popping out from his forehead.
Cassandra walks up to the Chancellor. "'Order me'? You are a glorified clerk. A bureaucrat!"
Da'Assan walks in between the Chancellor and Cassandra. The tension has risen much in the last few minutes of being here. The Chancellor throws in one last snide comment before backing off, "And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the Chantry!"
Leliana cooly turns towards the Chancellor. "We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor, as you well know." A sadness runs over her as she says the words.
The Chancellor's hands rise up and back down. He takes a small breath and shakes his head. "Justinia is dead. We must elect her replacement, and obey her orders on the matter."
"So no one is actually in charge here?" asks Da'Assan assertively. "These arguments are helping no one. I am tired of standing around here while you bicker!"
Chancellor Roderick takes a step towards Da'Assan. He is now facing her. "You killed everyone who was in charge!"
Leliana pulls him back. He looks towards her and shakes her hand off his arm. "Call a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is useless."
"We can still stop this before it's too late," Cassandra speaks up. Another burst from the Breach explodes, sending sparks down towards the mountains up ahead. The pain sears Da'Assan's hand. "We must get to the temple, it's the quickest route. Let's take the rest of the soldiers and charge towards the temple. Now."
"But not the quickest. Our forces can charge as a distraction while we go through the mountains."
"We lost contact with an entire squad on that path. It's too risky," Cassandra puts her hand on her forehead while she thinks. Not before long, she turns towards Da'Assan, "How do you think we should proceed? After all, you are the only hope we have of closing the Breach."
Chancellor Roderick shakes his head, baffled. "Listen to me now! Abandon this before more lives are lost. This elf cannot be trusted."
Da'Assan cringes at the way he says "elf." She had already had too many stares while trying to help. Her eyes narrow, and her eyebrows furrow. Anger rises in her. After everything she has been doing, he still doesn't trust her?
While staring down the Chancellor, she confidently speaks, "I say we charge with the soldiers. I won't survive long enough for your little trial. Whatever happens, happens now."
Cassandra smiles towards Da'Assan before looking at Leliana. "Bring everyone left in the valley. Everyone."
Leliana rushes towards the gates and down towards the valley to bring help. Cassandra walks ahead of the group, with Da'Assan close behind her. The Chancellor folds his arms and stands direct. As Cassandra walks by him, he irritably says, "On your head be the consequences, Seeker."
The hike up the mountain and towards the temple has the group weary. Some soldiers jog ahead with their weapons ready, while others march forward with Da'Assan and the others. It's oddly quiet this high up the mountain. The Breach expands several more times, simultaneously opening up more fade rifts. Da'Assan closes them with ease, and the soldiers slash through the demons with ease. In the pit of her stomach, she knows it won't always be this easy.
Stone stairs lead up to where the entrance to the Conclave was. They are now broken in places, with some steps missing entirely. At the top, they reach a small camp that has been set up. Multiple soldiers are lying on the ground, while others are replenishing with water and food. Yelling can be heard in the background, but the sounds don't seem to affect the soldiers at all. Some are running into the entrance with their hands on their weapons. The group makes their way to the entryway.
"Be wary," says Solas cautiously. "there is another fade rift inside."
Looking through what used to be the huge doors into the building, she sees that there is nothing but rubble. Huge stones lie across the ground. Soldiers are seen by a massive fade rift. Da'Assan sees a demon pierce through a soldier, and they fall to the ground without another breath.
She runs into where the battle is taking place. She readies her bow while also looking for a better advantage point to seal the rift. A demon spawns in front of her and she pierces through it with the first arrow. It bursts into a cloud and she presses further on. She sees soldiers to her left becoming drained. As they cut one demon down, another appears.
Getting closer to the rift, she thrusts her hand towards. Though the pain is endless, she knows she has to do this. Green sparks burst from the rift and connect with her hand. She shrieks as time seems to stop. Seconds pass and with a final pop the rift closes. The final demons burst into a cloud of mist.
Solas and the others jog up to Da'Assan.
"Another rift closed. You are becoming quite proficient at this," Solas speaks with affirmation.
A man walks up to the group and acknowledges Cassandra. Da'Assan notices he is wearing a dark lion mane around his collar. A large metal breastplate lies behind a burgundy with a gold trim cloak that has been tucked into a thick belt. His weapon is placed into the sheath on his side. The man has a scar on his lip and looks to be exhausted.
"You managed to close the rift, Cassandra? Well done." He looks towards the rest of the group and nods his head in acknowledgment.
"Do not congratulate me, Commander Cullen. This was the prisoners doing," she says while gesturing towards Da'Assan.
"Is it? I hope they're right about you. We've lost a lot of people getting you here," Cullen speaks with a bit of anger. Da'Assan notices the rings under his eyes.
Da'Assan lowers her head towards him, before slowly lifting it back up. She takes several steps forward until she is standing in front of him, "I can't promise anything, but I will try my best."
"That's all we can ask for," says Cullen with a small smirk that quickly vanishes. "The way to the temple should be clear. You will go down those steps in front of you, and follow them down into an opening. Leliana should be here any time now."
"Then we better get moving," Cassandra says as she makes her way towards the stairs.
"Maker watch over you, for all of our sakes," Cullen adds while putting his hand on Da'Assan's shoulder. He gives a small nod and quickly walks away towards a limping soldier. Da'Assan sees him lift the shoulder up and carry him out towards the camp outside the outer doors.
Da'Assan, Solas, and Varric follow Cassandra down the stairs. As they approach the opening, Da'Assan jogs to the front and sees first hand what the Beach can do. A rift the size that Da'Assan has never seen before.