Chapter 1: Settle In
Amaris was wet, tired, and hungry which was not an ideal combination. After a few hours of screaming her lungs out and cursing at whatever god that would listen, she was not sitting on the rocky shore of the Storm coast looking out into the raging sea. She needed to gather her thoughts and start analysing.
Amaris knew 3 facts for certain.
She was in the realm of Thedas, a video game.
Naim, her significant other was nowhere to be found.
She was a goddamn vashoth qunari.
At least I could've been an elf or human to blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb. She thought bitterly. Growling to herself Amaris took a deep breath and stood up, still getting used to her hulking new frame. She stumbled forward and caught herself before she fell. Looking up at the position of the sun Amaris determined that it was a little past noon. She needed to find someplace to settle, set up a camp and gather her bearings.
Amaris chuckled softly as her military training kicked in, At least she had an advantage to survive a little bit longer in this primitive yet magical world. However she soon frowned and her face was creased in worry. She had to find Naim, her large grey hand fiddled with the ring that she managed to tie around her neck with a leather stip from her tunic. She didn't know where he was nor him where she. If he was even alive the dark thought crossed her mind and it was gone as quickly as it came. She would find him, she was sure of it. As the sound of crashing waves soothed her conflicted mind she steeled herself and set her course of action- survive.
Naim woke up with a dull throbbing pain in his head. He groaned as he sat up, eyes clenched closed.
Jesus did Amaris and I drink last night? He thought.
"Ah I see you have awaken lethallan how do you feel?" Naim opened his eyes slowly to look at the source of the voice.
Either this is a dream or I'm going insane. "I-I'm sorry?" Naim spoke in confusion and was startled to find that his voice was not the familiar feminine tone that he was used to but rather deep and ambiguous. However that was not the only thing that shocked him he was staring into the eyes of someone who could only exist in dreams or video games. Keeper Deshanna of the Lavellan Clan was before him with a concerned look in her eyes.
"You had quite a bump on your head Lethallan, luckily my healers were able to handle it and found no further injuries." The Keeper stated with a smile.
Naim was sure he was gaping and closed his mouth quickly, what was it that Amaris said when she was in her nerd mode and spoke elvhen or qunari phrases? Ma snortus? Snaris? Ah! Wait!
"Ma Saraness" Naim thanked hesitantly go. Thank goodness that Amaris was an obsessive fanfiction reader. Naim continued speaking needing information. "If I may ask, what happened?" The Keeper eyed him a hint of suspicion within her eyes.
"The Hunters of this clan found you unconscious a nasty bump on your head and brought you here. You are with Clan Lavellan in the Free Marches, I am Keeper Deshanna head of this clan." Deshanna eyed the young elf curious of their origin and where abouts, he was dressed in basic Dalish armor, was he a scout for another clan nearby?
Naim was focusing on breathing, trying his best to not panic, slowly but surely that was becoming inevitable. He reached a hand up to brush his now unruly hair back when the appendage brushed against something pointy. Naim sucked in a breath and quickly grasped the now pointed ear in his hand. Okay so apparently now he was an elf, not a human the only race that was acceptable on planet earth.
But I'm not on Earth anymore am I? He thought. Looking around his surroundings and noticing that the Keeper was waiting for him to respond.
"Ah it's nice to meet you Keeper Deshanna. My name is-." Should I tell her my name? Naim is not necessarily an Elvhen name. He narrowed his eyes in mock concentration, as if he was trying to remember something. Deshanna noticed this and smiled kindly walking up to the cot and placing a hand on Naim's shoulder.
"The injury to your head must have done a little bit more damage than we thought. I assume you cannot remember your name?" Deshanna asked. Naim's throat went dry as he swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded.
"I-I'm sorry…" He said wearily. Deshanna merely shook her head and helped Naim up on his feet.
"Nonsense da'len your memories may return in time, I will assume you don't remember how you got here either?" Naim shooked his head and he tried to recall back to how he wound up here. Flashes of green, screaming, and a large cracking sound. He frowned, eyes narrowed as Deshanna led him out the aravel.
"No, I can't remember." Naim blinked back the burning sensation gathering in his eyes. How could he not remember?! He was at home playing the game that was now a reality with Amaris...Amaris! Eyes wide as he surveyed the area, trees surrounded the encampment as clan Lavellan ran around committed to their duties for the day. Naim hesitated asking Deshanna if she or her hunters had found another person nearby, he didn't want to rouse any suspicion. Deshanna led him towards a female elf, her white hair contrasting with her bronze skin, she seemed to be making arrows for the intricate bow that laid next to her.
"I'd like to introduce you to the hunter who found you da'len. This is Ellana Lavellan one of the clan's best hunters." Ellana stood up and smiled looking at Naim, her piercing green eyes stood out against the black Vallaslin that stood against her skin.
"I'm glad you see you awake and well lethallin" Ellana said. Naim nodded but in his mind he was freaking out.
Ellena! She's the default Lavellan character! That means...Naim glanced up at the sky quickly No gaping green hole in the sky, that means Inquisition hasn't even started yet. Naim returned the smile Ellana gave him a bit hesitantly and nodded his head.
"Thank you for saving me, Ellena. I'm not sure where I'd be if you hadn't stumbled across me. Ellana's smile merely widened and Keeper Deshanna leaned over to whisper in her pointed ear. Ellana nodded as Deshanna leaned back and turned her head to Naim giving him a kind glance.
"Because of your predicament my child, I offer you a place of refuge, you are welcome to stay here with Clan Lavellan, Ellena here will be your guide and answer any questions you have. You may leave here anytime you wish let it be known that you are not a prisoner here lethallin." Keeper Deshanna walked off leaving Ellena and Naim in the clearing. The hunter sat back down and patted her hand on a spot next to her.
"Come on, I don't bite, let's get to know each other lethallin." Naim gave a small smile as he sat down, soon paying attention to Ellena's stories as she whittled a new arrow. However unbeknownst to the young hunter talking a mile per minute Naim played with a ring that was thankfully still with him on his finger.
Amaris he thought. Where are you?
"SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT!" Amaris was sprinting through the forest of the Storm Coast, screaming her lungs out. A rather angry bear was chasing her tail.
I'm I fucking idiot! She screamed in her head as she stumbled down the inclined descent to the shores. Quickly scanning her surroundings to her right she saw a familiar rocky enclosure that they bear certainly wouldn't think twice about following. It was already warily sliding down the sheet decline of the wet hills on the terrain, huffing and growling in irritation. Amaris huffed and puffed as she ran towards the end of the shore climbing the strange looking rocks and stumbling into the opening of a cave. She sat in the darkness listening to the bear's angry growls and roars diminish as it gave up on the chase. Leaning her head on the slick rock she ran a hand through her wet hair gripping a horn in frustration in the end. She was just trying to find an encampment, not the Hessarian Blades, she wasn't sure if that insane murderous leader was in charge yet or not. Groaning, the sound reverberated throughout the cave, she leaned her head against her knees.
Pit Pat!
Amaris' head immediately snapped up, her body followed soon after. In the darkness she strained her eyes to see if anything moved.
Screech!
"FUCK!" Amaris barely dodged the lunged of a giant spider coming her way.
Oh hell no! As Amaris backed up to the entrance of the cave, she saw a glint of metal that reflected from the light and caught her eyesight. Seeing the spider slowly skitter towards her venom dripping from its fangs. She had to get this right as the spider began its lunge again Amaris jumped and rolled out of the way towards the shine of the metal. Amaris quickly stood up and regretted it, her horns hair and face were instantly covered in spider webs and ichor from god knows what. Holding back a scream of fear and disgust she looked at the shiny object that distracted her and almost sobbed in relief. It was a giant two-handed axe, a bit rusty but it would half to do.
The great thing about Amaris' newfound body and species crisis is that she was amazingly strong. Her endurance was through the roof and so was her stamina. Wiping the webs off her face quickly she hefted the giant axe and turned around to face her attacker. The spider was ready to lunge again but this time the human-turned-qunari was ready. She growled low crouching into a defensive position and gripped the handle to her new weapon.
"Bring it bitch." The Spider screeched an unholy sound and Amaris roared in frustration and anger hacking at the grotesque overgrown bug. In one swing the spider was dead but Amaris kept on hacking at the thing screaming her throat raw until she collapsed on her rump releasing a dry sob. She was so damn tired. Wincing in disgust as one of the dead spider's leg twitched Amaris grounded herself. 5 seconds inhale, 5 seconds exhale. Amaris slowly stood up, relying on the natural light shining in the cave she looked around making sure no other unsightly creatures decides to surprise her once more. Axe clenched in hand she walked around slowly, this seemed to be one of the caves the Inquisitor could explore once on the Storm Coast.
That means there should be torches or chests with supplies somewhere. She thought. Stumbling around and stepping on baby spiders with no remorse what so ever, Amaris eventually found a torch embedded on the cavern wall. Sliding down the wall with her back she dropped her axe and torch on the ground and scavenged for two loose rocks. After several minutes of mumbled curses and throwing rocks, Amaris finally got the torched started. Now that she could see the cave was not that large, she could see that in the back she was correct, a large chest was in the corner along with a few unsightly and unfortunate humans gathered around an old fire pit. She sighed and turned around seeing the large spiderweb she ran into during her battle earlier. She growled and stomped over to the source of hell and burned the remaining webs and others she could find along the walls of the cave.
Once finished, Amaris found two other torch posts and lit them up giving the cave more of a welcoming atmosphere. She cleaned out the old human skeletons, however kept two intact femurs, she could carve them into knives if needed. Cleaning out the old fire pit the unfortunate souls left she soon had a rather as clean as it could get cave in her large hands.
Well as clean as it could get with a spider carcass in the middle of the floor. She thought bitterly. Amaris sat in front of the fire in deep thought, if she kept with the upkeep of this place and made sure no other vermin would set up here this could be her temporary encampment. It was secure, protected her from the elements and had the essentials for protection. Amaris fiddled with the sleeve of the overcoat she found in the chest, along with convincingly a blanket and small knives. She eyed the bloodstained cot in front of her and sighed. She would have to boil the cloth if possible but for know she didn't care. For now she was relatively safe and night had arrived. Using the blanket as a pillow she laid down, axe by her side and listen to the crackling embers of the fire.
"Tomorrow will be better." She said allowed, hoping someone, anyone would answer, but her voice was met with silence.