"This…isn't really what I was expecting to see when you said we were heading into the forest," Nathaniel grumbled as a curve in the dirt road led the Wardens directly into a collection of burning caravans.
"At least we now know what happened to the merchants trading here," Justice commented as he kicked over a charred skull still set aflame from recent events. "We should find the cause of these attacks and put them to grinding halt."
"We need to find a way around the wreckage first," Izarre agreed and turned to climb up a hill to get a better view of their surroundings. He was followed by Anders and Oghren, though the Mage kept slipping on loose stones and dirt as he poorly combated his hangover. Feeling pity for the human, Oghren grabbed Anders by the back of his coat and tugged him to the top of the small cliff.
"If I'm going to end up carrying you through this place, we're going to have to set up some kind of payment arrangement," the Dwarf teased. "Nobody rides for free."
"Ugh, I'm already feeling like shit. Please don't make me nauseous as well," Anders pleaded with a noticeably green face. Even while concentrating on surveying the land, Izarre still chuckled loudly at the dirty joke.
"There aren't enough bandits here to cause this sort of damage," he concluded by pointing out several spots where smoke still rose in the distance and the number of makeshift camps where he could see movement. "Looks like we may have to fight our way through scavengers and highwaymen, but none of them have the resources to do this sort of destruction in such a short period of time."
"So, we don't know what we're up against? Could it be darkspawn again?" Nathaniel asked, but Izarre could only shrug.
"I can't sense any nearby…If they did do this, they would have retreated back underground, but why leave the goods intact?" Kneeling down, he removed a scorched chest and broke the lock by freezing it with magic before shattering the metal with the hilt of his sword. When opened, it revealed some of the missing silks and gems with only slightly visible fire damage. "Darkspawn are looters and defilers. They would not kill without claiming treasures of gold and armor. Something is very wrong here…"
"Maker help me!" a man screamed in the distance. Kicking the chest of looted goods to Nathaniel, who then promptly kicked it again into the nearby bushes to hide its contents, Izarre stood to face the frightened thief running towards them. "Get out of my way! I need to get out of here!"
"Calm down!" the Commander snapped as he blocked the path.
No! You don't understand! She's after me!"
"Cool your temper, mortal," Justice tried to assist. "Who is after you?"
"The elf! She makes the trees come alive! All we wanted was some easy money from the caravans, but…"With the sound of the branches snapping in the distance, the man jumped at the noise. "Maker help me! She's here! Got to get away!" Picking up the small Warden in front of him, Izarre found himself placed to the side as he watched the thief run off. It was the tingle up his spine which made him turn back around just in time to see a bright orb of light turn into a sour-faced Elven woman with yellow hair and a green tunic as she stood on the rocky ledge above him. As she stared venomously at the Wardens, she began to ramble out false accusations.
"Another scavenger here to prey on the misfortunes of others? No, you are too well-armed. Here for me, then." Izarre kept his eyes locked with hers, but didn't respond. "Fine! You will not drive me from these forests. The shems could not do it, the darkspawn could not do it, and you will fare no better!"
"What do you know about the caravan attacks?" called out Justice, demanding an answer.
"The shem merchants stole my sister! Their actions drove me to this! The caravans are only the beginning. I want Seranni returned to me, or…or more will die. Deliver this message! Consider this a warning!" With a clutch of her fists, the roots of the forest surrounded her body and drug her underneath the earth where she tunneled swiftly away like a gigantic mole fleeing from predators. She could sense their power just as Anders and Izarre could sense hers. Despite her threats, she knew that she was no match for two skilled mages and three trained combatants. The caravans were defenseless, but the Wardens were another matter entirely.
"She headed up there," Izarre pointed up to the more mountainous region and began the trek past more burning wagons, dead bodies, and ancient trees which sprung to life and attacked the group without warning. There was finally a clearing where a ruin stood to shelter what remained of a recent Elven campsite. Just before the entrance, the Commander took notice of a sword standing tall as a planted beacon. The blade was a typical soldier's main hand, but it made no sense that anyone would purposely place such a thing here and leave themselves defenseless in the middle of the hostile woods.
Justice's attention was taken by a glint off to the side and he left to examine a slain Elven defender on the ground still in full armor. He seemed hypnotized and only flinched when his comrades joined him. "Death," he said. "We spirits know no more of it than you do. What lies beyond is obscured, even to us. Can you tell me of these people? They are unlike the others I have seen."
"Ah," Izarre said as he kneeled down to examine what killed the man at his feet. "They are called the Dalish; a faction of elves who still live freely in the woods. They are…nomadic, worshiping old gods and are self-governed."
"The body I inhabit was familiar with that name. My memories say the Dalish were cast out, unwelcome in almost every land. Why is that?"
"They…hold to their own traditions," Nathaniel tried to explain. "They do not want our kings and nobles controlling their steps…so I've heard."
"How odd that mortals find so many differences to hate when you have so very much in common," Justice frowned in disapproval. "Yet are Wardens not the same? Do we not govern ourselves?"
"Wardens aren't very welcome either," Izarre grumbled. "Life isn't fair."
"To one such as I, it is difficult to tell you apart." Izarre's glare forced Justice to stammer and explain himself quickly. "To a spirit, I mean. Are these similarities not worth rejoicing in?"
"We rarely separate your kind from demons, though you are ever so quick to remind us how different you are. Such distinction is important to you," Anders argued as he once again moved between Justice and his thought-of charge.
"…You…are correct. I do not understand them. My entire existence is spent seeking out wrongs to right…"
"But you've already decided what you wish to do now though. Just the other night, you asked me for something entirely for yourself and not to correct any misdoings," Izarre smiled as he meant for it to be a good thing.
"…Ah, the lyrium. Perhaps you are right…But what else am I if not a seeker of justice?" To that, a hand reached out from behind Anders to give an encourage pat to Justice's arm.
"You're a friend and a Grey Warden. We can still seek out wrongs to right, but also have the choice of what to do in-between." The Spirit cracked a small lighthearted grin and gave a nod as Izarre left to go explore more suspicious evidence at the campsite with the other Rogue and Berserker.
"He is truly kind. I see why your heart glows a bit brighter in his presence."
"My heart doesn't…glow…does it?" Anders laughed nervously and turned to the undead. "I…well," he continued to stammer and coughed to calm himself. "My only concern is that a healthy creature such as you understands that he may be a mage, but he is an absolute novice at best. He did not study the Fade nor, do I fear, does he understand the true dangers of a misplaced spirit."
"I pose no threat to any of you, mortal."
"Trust me, they all say that. More so, we need to find out what other spirit keeps following him and what they want."
"The woman in mourning? Did you not ask her?"
"Woman?" Confused, Anders turned to lower his voice to a whisper. "What woman? Izzy…Izarre said that he was seeing a large red bird?"
"Those flying creatures? No, this was a female if memory serves. The figure was much like this body's wife with a sweet voice offering guidance, but filled with regret. Was it Compassion, I wonder?" Justice pondered out loud. "When I see her again, I will question her motives."
"Wait," Anders sighed as he put his hands out. "So, why would he see a bird and I only saw a glimmer of light if it's some woman?"
"She did not create a form for you to see, though it isn't strange you could sense her presence. The bird must be a connection to one of the Commander's memories. I am as proof as ever that the body will cling to something even if the mind has forgotten. There are fingerprints on everything you mortals touch which still exist long after you are gone. Perhaps he does not see her true form as he does not want to, in a way? I cannot begin to start guessing about how you mortals deal with such forgetfulness. Or lies. Denials. Why have you not told him how you feel since we are on this topic? Are you afraid? Is the fear of rejection so…" A hand was placed over Justice's mouth as he kept questioning the Mage's motives.
"Do not ask me such things, Spirit. You have no understanding of this world or any type of understanding of the long-term effects such confessions can cause." Justice's eyebrows lowered and he nodded slowly at what he was told to do. As Izarre came back, Anders quickly removed his hand and put on a smile. "So, what did you find? Anything interesting?"
"Bunch of weapons thrown in a pile like someone put 'em there to do…something," Oghren grunted as his lips twisted. "Guessing they meant to make it look like Ferelden soldiers were here killing folks, but no raid party would leave their swords behind like that. Think that elf lady might of been stupid enough to fall for such an obvious setup though."
"That explains why she was attacking the caravans," Nathaniel agreed. "But my skin crawls here. It's almost as if I can feel the darkspawn nearby."
"You get used to it," Izarre reluctantly agreed. "With what we've been seeing, I'm not surprised. We're dealing with a new breed here. Intelligent and manipulative…I really, really don't like this."
"If there are darkspawn about, we should flush them from their holes," Justice insisted and began to walk down the hill in a formal march. Izarre nodded and followed, though playfully mocked the militant steps until the Spirit turned to stare at him. With a grin, he waved the corpse along and retook the lead. Nathaniel snickered at the two while Anders frowned at it. Running ahead, he caught up to the younger man to separate his commander from the possessed body.
"Stop!" Izarre yelled and grabbed Anders by the arm. Assuming he was in trouble, the Mage bumbled a few lines to explain himself before following the gaze to the pit of bodies he almost stepped into.
"…Ew."
"Commander, there's movement over there in the bushes," Nathaniel pointed. Behind the brush was a wounded solider covered in taint blotches with his eyes already dimmed as life fled his body.
"Don't look…Don't look at me!" shouted the injured, infected man as he crawled back slowly while trying to hide his appearance.
"Shh," the Commander calmed him and removed a glove before reaching out to coax the turned away face. "It's alright." The dying pupils attempted to focus as if lulled by the Warden's voice.
"My eyes…I can't see much anymore. My blood is burning…I smell you… I know you're there. You're burning like me, but different. You all are. Your hand is icy. It feels…better, but do not touch me! You'll become as I am!"
"We're Grey Wardens, so do not worry about us," Izarre reassured him as his bare thumb carefully stroked the cratered cheek. "Who are you?"
"Olaf…my name. Came with friend to…to drive out…away the elf. But…the darkspawn were too quick. Everyone dead…dead soft meat melting into the ground. I…I crawled away…came here. Can't stand to…see it." The face being held turned into Izarre's palm as a few tears and sniffles escaped.
"Where did the darkspawn come from?"
"Beneath…around…from the shadows."
"And they killed the elves?"
"Yes. Yes, they came first. They slaughtered us…took our steel. Brought it to the elven camp. Tricked us, tricked the elf. Now…she thinks we are to blame. Hunts all in her rage…while they watch…"
"So all these people died over a….misunderstanding?" Anders asked. "Maker…that's horrible! We have to stop her, tell her she's wrong!"
"She might be back at her camp," Justice suggested. "There were graves there. We need to go in search for her before she kills any more innocents."
"The dark ones are curious about you too," Olaf muttered as he reached up to stop his face from being touched. "They watch you as well as her. Can you feel them?" Turning to look at the dark bramble, Izarre gave a silent nod.
"Were you a solider once? Do you have any family to…send word to? What you have will kill you…I'm sorry."
"No family, all died during the Blight. I was a solider…I helped when Denerim was attached, but the crown hadn't enough coin to rebuild the entire army. Us lesser ones were given a sovereign to start over, so I turned to this…Maker knows King Alistair is doing what he can to fix what Loghain and his venomous daughter broke, but we still have to eat. Heh, not anymore, I suppose. Am already dead. Am already gone. Make…make an end…please."
"…I will be sure to address the King in your name, Olaf. My husband may not see everything, but is an understanding man."
"Your…husband?" Olaf asked while surprised. "That would mean you're…your Highness! Forgive me! I…"
"Shh. Rest now. You will see the Maker and be free of this pain." The tainted man nodded and slowly shut his eyelids. There was only a slight grunt when Izarre's hand moved to his chest and injected a frozen spike into his heart. After gently resting the body down onto the ground before standing, he took a few steps back from it. He had noticed the group of darkspawn which gathered from behind, but remained still as he gave a silent gesture for the other Wardens to get rid of them. When there were none left, he turned to Anders with a request. "Burn them. Burn all of them. We can't risk a spread of the disease to anyone coming through the forest and being attacked by wild animals tainted from eating the rotten flesh." As the Mage went to perform the task, Justice asked what was troubling him the most.
"And what of the elf woman?"
"As said, she's probably back at her camp. We'll start there and follow any tracks. She will be dealt with, Justice. I assure you."