Do not own Dragon Age
/
/
/
/
/
18 Haring, 9:41 Dragon, Storm Coast
While the group is nearby, they enter a mine, a large contingent of Inquisition soldier are waiting outside it. A place further inside is the meeting point for a member of the Shaperate named Valta, a lieutenant of the Legion of the Dead by name of Renn is waiting with the scholar. Solona can feel the pinpricks start, signaling the presents of darkspawn. Valta is happy to have the Warden-Commander join the expedition, excited even. The Shaper explains the situation, the start of the earthquakes, and her theory of what is causing them. Solona has a crooked smile on her face.
The group rendezvouses with the rest of the Legion platoon, who are honored to have Solona fighting beside them. The Warden-Commander is a legend amongst the warriors. Renn surprises Ellana when he gives the Legion over to the Warden-Commander instead of the Inquisitor. Solona takes Ellana to the side, telling the Inquisitor that in the Deep Road, the Wardens are trusted and to be given command of the Legion is a high honor, one she will not refuse, offending the sacrifice the brave men and women face. Ellana relents begrudgingly, perhaps watching the Warden-Commander in her element will be educational.
Solona explains to Renn what she needs of him, who's smile grows as she details her battle strategy. She asks if anyone needs anything before heading out, they will not make camp until she is certain the area is clear. Once the group is ready they move, Renn and Solona in the lead.
The scout sneaks up, quick and quiet, as they approach a turn. He peeks around a corner, pulling back, he signals to Solona, six fingers, then two fingers, making the sign for archers, then one finger, putting his hands up to his head, making it look like horns. Solona waves him back, a plan already forming.
"Six darkspawn ahead, two of whom are archers, those are yours Sera, make them hurt. The other three are for Ellana, Renn, and I. That's the good news. The bad. There's an Ogre. Blackwall and Bull, he's for you two, keep him focus on you. Sing to it, dance at it, if you have too, but keep it trained on you both. Once we take out the rest of the beasts, we will turn our attention to it."
"Why not focus on the Ogre first?" Ellana queries.
"You'll understand afterwards." Solona replies, the Legion agreeing.
Renn and Sera disappear into the dark shadows. Blackwall and Bull, weapons ready, charge at Solona's nod. The darkspawn are a tad unprepared, but not surprised. The darkspawn archers attempt to notch arrows, but two well placed shots take them down. Ellana and Solona send out fire and lightning spells, harassing the remaining three, stopping them from interfering with the two warriors.
The Ogre roars, the behemoth swipes in a wide arc, knocking Bull down. Blackwall is able to deflect some of the hit with his shield, but the force of it pushes him back. Bull is standing up, when a giant hand grabs him, lifting him up. Blackwall is trying to force the creature to release his fellow warrior, to no avail. I stone-fist comes whizzing past Blackwall, stunning the Ogre, who drops Bull.
The Qunari is pissed, he swings his sword hard and fast. The blade slices deep, but the darkspawn giant is not slowing. Solona sends an ice spell, freezing the creature. The other three darkspawn are dead, just the Ogre remains. Sera fires shot after shot, having little affect. Blackwall bashes at the frozen beast, chipping away pieces. The spell starts to wear off, Blackwall is back-handed, staggering him. Bull is swinging wide now, the Ogre is beginning to weaken. Ellana sends an energy barrage, shocking the creature. Renn appears, his daggers driving up, into the Ogre's back. It topples forward, Blackwall and Bull roll out of its way.
Solona checks for injuries, healing them quickly. A small force, a mix of seven Inquisition soldiers and three Legionnaire's will remain, the rest venture further in. Ellana calls for all her companions to follow them down, remaining on standby if needed. The bodies are searched, finding some gems, but nothing else.
"You're in charge, Warden-Commander." Ellana declares happily.
/
/
/
The battles are fierce the deeper down they go. The amount of darkspawn crawling within the passages is concerning to the Inquisition forces. Solona reassures them the darkspawn are probably more interested in her, then the Inquisition. Ellana is unsure how she feels about that statement.
They find cog wheels as they explore, the parts open doors not used in a thousand years. The group comes to one such door, placing the cogs, Solona warns them that there are a large number of darkspawn on the other side. The Warden-Commander takes the lead, a few heartbeats later, Shrieks appear, jumping out at the group from shadows. Solona blasts them back with a spell, giving the group a chance to rally.
The way ahead is swarming with darkspawn, Solona calling it a nesting ground. She looks down below the ledges, saying she senses darkspawn below. The party keeps their ears and eyes open. The ambush the darkspawn try to spring, is thwarted by her presence. Ellana is learning a great deal about combining battle tactics, the oil spell, followed by the fireball is especially effective against large groups of enemies. Bull and Sera are really enjoying it.
/
As the company sets up camp, Solona decides to switch out the companions, wanting to give the others a rest, to rebuild their strength, plus it will be good for the other members to see what the group is facing. The new group leaves after a few hours rest. Ellana worries for Solona, but the Warden-Commander just smiles before continuing forward.
/
Cassandra and Solona are working in tandem, complimenting each other perfectly. The Arcane Horrors and Emissaries are no match for the duo. Even the next Ogre the party encounters is easily taken down by the ladies.
"This is not the first time you have fought with someone with Templar abilities, is it?" Cassandra inquires.
"King Alistair is a former Templar trainee." Solona tells the Seeker.
"Yes, but he was never fully indoctrinated. You fight as someone who knows when to move, where to be. Just out of range of the dispel effect." Cassandra states, making it sound like an accusation.
"I have recruited a couple of Templars since the Blight ended. After some training and with my experience with fighting alongside Alistair, I have learned where and when to move. I also enjoy blending our fighting styles together. It's a great combination, don't you agree?" Solona proposes.
"I do agree. I would enjoy working with you further. I...How do I word this?...I think the Mages and Templars, both currently in the Inquisition and without could benefit from this teaching. A bridge over the gap, if you will." Cassandra explains.
"I think that would be a wonderful undertaking. I have always wondered at the divide. Why must we be separate from each other, when we live together. I think that if they would have been aloud to intermingle, to work together from the start. I think some, if not all of the misunderstandings between the two groups could have been avoided. If we could have seen the other as our comrades, our friends, we might be in a very different world right now." Solona throws out.
"And the adage, 'Magic is to serve man, and never to rule over him'?" Cassandra banters back, liking this conversation.
"I don't think it would have changed the intent. I mean, I serve man as a Grey Warden. I use my magic to protect people and to heal the sick and injured. The same principal could be applied elsewhere. I don't see why mages couldn't be trained with the templars at the same time, then deployed to different villages and towns, or integrated into the army. I am sure there are other possibilities." Solona elaborates.
The two woman bounce ideas back and forth, really trying to hammer out a solution.
/
Solona feels the pinpricks lessening as the lift descends into the darkness below. By the time the lift reaches the bottom, the pinpricks are gone. Solona is relieved, but does not let her guard down. Solona casts a wisp spell, bathing the area in a green light. It is not overly bright, just enough for everyone to get their torches lit.
Valta is able to hear the song clearer now, the same one she heard above. Solona has an uneasy feeling, a sense of eyes upon them.
"Valta, will guide us, but Renn and I will remain in front. I..." Solona starts.
"I feel it too Warden-Commander." Solas remarks.
"Do not bunch up. Stay alert, stay focused." Solona reminds the group.
The others nod and prepare themselves before moving forward.
/
They do not see the attack, as if ghosts whisked into the tunnel and used the wind to carry the deadly blades. Solona is hit, but the wound is superficial, Renn falls to his knees. The being turns to Valta to attack again, but Renn uses the last of his strength to intercept, stopping the assault and killing the assailant. The others are fighting hard, trying to turn the tide of the battle. Solona sends out a chain lightning spell, shocking and stunning the beings. The distraction is enough for the group to find their footing, the skirmish is soon over, the beings dead.
Solona rushes over to Renn and Valta. Renn's head is resting in Valta's lap.
"Find the song Valta. I won't be there to see it." Renn says, smiling at the Shaper.
"I will, Renn. I..." Valta begins, tears running down her face.
"Let me in. I have to try." Solona states in desperation.
"I don't think it will help, Warden. I can't feel my legs." Renn informs them.
Solona cries openly. "Then I will honor and remember your return to the Stone." she tells him,"Atrast tunsha. Totarnia amgetol tavash aeduc." she prays with Valta.
"Take care of Valta. She's going to be a baby about this." Renn asks jokingly.
"You asshole. I lo..." Valta starts, leaning down.
"I know." Renn says, letting her kiss him, his breath leaving him in the end.
Solona holds Valta, the others give them a few minutes to mourn.
/
The party fight through several groups of the beings, later learning from ancient carvings in the wall that these creatures are call Sha-Brytol. There are two more intense battles, then nothing. The group is close to heading down, deeper into the earth. They make a small camp, getting a couple hours of sleep, Solona taking first watch.
The party is ready, packs secured, when Solona stuns the group.
"I can not go with you. If what I suspect is down there, then I will be a danger to it, thus a danger to the party." Solona tells them.
"What do you suspect is down there?" Cassandra asks.
"Something that the dwarven people should not have forgotten, or tried to erase." Solona replies, looking to Valta.
"Will you be alright here? On your own?" Cole inquires, concerned.
"I will be just fine. I will keep anything that tries to come at you from behind at bay." Solona reassures them, "Valta, the road ahead will be unlike anything you have ever experienced. Let nothing in that world tempt you, only you can steer the course of your destiny." she finishes cryptically, taking the dwarven woman's hands.
Valta smiles at her, not really understanding, but thankful none the less.
/
/
/
The group wades through more of the Sha-Brytol, before coming to stand before a being of primordial origin. Pulses, steady in their rhythm, call out to Valta. A creature guarding the central hub from where the pulses are originating, is devastating in its attacks on the party. Ellana is able to find a weakness, directing the others. Valta sends out, what appears to be a spell, something no dwarf should be able to do. Soon, the creature is done, the pulses from the hub slowing down, a rhythmic cadence, that lulls the creature to sleep.
The group turns to Valta, who is glowing, a look of concentration on her face, as if she is listening to something the others are unaware of.
"I'm pure now. I will remain here. I will be alright. The Sha-Brytol will attack you no more." Valta informs them.
"What is going on?" Ellana questions, feeling lost.
"What was always meant to happen. I am Pure now. I need to learn about this first. One day I will go back up and teach this to the rest of the dwarven people, but that is a long way off. I will not be alone. I will be with the Stone. The Titan will guide me." Valta explains, smiling softly.
"May you find your way, child of the Stone." Solas states, walking back toward the exit.
The others offer similar good-byes, departing back up to the exit.
/
Solona is waiting, reading a book. She smiles upon seeing the group, not surprised by the lack of Valta. Just before departing the little camp, Solona turns to the opening the group came from.
"Atrast nal tunsha. Mathas gar na fornen pa tot isatunoll." Solona whispers with a smile.
The journey back up is uneventful. Between the Inquisition forces and the Legion of the Dead, the passages have remained clear of both Sha-Brytol and the darkspawn.
/
Solona shares the news of Renn's return to the Stone. The Legion along with Solona raise a mug to their fallen comrade. The phrase Solona said down below is repeated among the Legion. As the group continues their ascent, leaving the dwarven forces behind. Cassandra is the one who asks what the phrase means.
"May you always find your way. Let the Stone take you into her embrace." Solona tells them.
Leaving the cave, the night sky greets them. The party is exhausted, returning to the main camp, a ten minute walk to the east, but the others have trouble finding the restfulness of sleep, Solona is out in minutes.
/
/
/
A few days later, in the dead of night, a strange thing occurs in the Fade. Solas is dreaming, walking the area without care, when a shadow out of the corner of his eye, draws his attention. Looking directly at where he saw it, he finds nothing out of the ordinary. He is about to turn away, when Solona walks up to him from behind, startling the elven mage a little.
"Hello, Solas." Solona greets him, grinning jovially.
"You have surprised me yet again, Warden-Commander. And I greet you too." Solas returns with a small smile.
"Is that good or bad? The surprising part, not the greeting." Solona queries with a smirk.
"I haven't decided yet." Solas replies with a chuckle.
"I'll take it as a good thing then." Solona comments happily, before turning her gaze out into the Fade landscape around her.
Solas is normally a diligent male, but there is something about the human mage that makes him impatient.
"Are you looking..." Solas starts.
"I will leave you to your wandering." Solona tells him, before vanishing.
Solas finds the whole thing odd. He moves over to where he saw the shadow, finding a dwarven rune carved into the ground. He is unfamiliar with its meaning and no spirit would know it, since dwarves do not dream. Solas memorizes the symbol, perhaps someone in Skyhold will know.
/
/
/