Month 7 - Solis, Vigil's Keep. 9:32 of the Dragon Age.
Loghain excused himself, leaving the Arlessa.
"Explain." She was stern. If her decision made a grave difference, she will not hesitate to correct it. Had Maric and her cousin held even more secrets she would need answers?
Xellexes Uiveleth Deldúwath Silvercloud, a man fiercely passionate about those he cares about. Unrivaled, in fact. Held numerous secrets of how he came into his expansive power.
When his cousin, his senior, who one day vanished from their world, leaving behind her children with their parents, he hurriedly took to the Grand Library. There he found the one friend she was close with to question her whereabouts, having vanished as well.
Unable to think more of it, as that man was not his concern took to study.
Month - Unknown, Year Grand Library, The Plane of Knowledge, Norrath.
Weeks he poured into tome after tome. Aged texts, with thick leather covered scrolls older than his grandsire. Whispers of those around him as he drank solutions with theoretical outcomes. Xellexes cast probables aside before diving into another.
Quill and parchment, ink and candle light without rest, he methodically, frantically delved further into his study. Time felt fleeting. Having gone as far as seeking council with several unsavory people, not of his kin, on the far end of the library grounds. A truce within and around the Plane of Knowledge, no harm shall come to those who seek the ever knowing.
The cousins in their research to find ways to not mana exhaust when they travel to Thedas had granted rarer tomes to be set before him. Hefty purses of gold coins set near him when he woke, he having dozed in the old inked pages.
An unknown patron funded the young, eager mind. "Thank you." He called out in the private room to any who heard in the shadows.
Research, practice, research, application. Xellexes needed more, needed rare runes, materials amounting in thousands upon thousands of gold coin.
Til one day it happened, glowing with an amber light in its birth. A stable portal.
"Should be stable," he didn't feel drained, "a quick test, yes?"
Month 12 - Haring, 9:09, Ferelden, Castle Denerim front gates.
Delight as he stepped through once his eyes opened. He made it, seeing a man barking orders after gathering troops who scurried about as a hound who hunted with his master.
"Lord Loghain!"
Looking to see who called him personally amongst the many saw the tall Elven man. "How? No time, explain on the way." the Dark General ordered as he pushed Xellexes in front of him.
Xellexes asked confusedly in haste. Mounting a steed, following after Loghain.
"His Majesty has gone missing some nights back. My scouts informed me they hold him prisoner en route to the mage's tower."
"What reason?"
"That I am uncertain. You?"
"My cousin has been missing for some years."
"What?"
"I came here seeking her. Possibly She and His Majesty are together."
They kicked their steeds hurriedly towards Kinloch Hold.
Speaking with her cousin, throughout most of the night, learned that Xellexes had encountered a speaking Darkspawn. But not the Architect. It troubled the Elven elder. If Xellexes had no prior experience, could she search for them?
"Cousin, leap not to conclusions until I have fully explained. Olett is with me as well as Kal'an."
"What?" Then she remembered her firstborn had come to her. "Explain, no, take me to them." Deedo bade, heart slamming in her chest. Her son was alive. He had visited her in the dreamworld.
"When I… I am being summoned." He was gone.
The sun had not yet touched the tops of the trees when the elder had dressed. The brief revelation had a restful sleep escape. Tossed and turned, she cursed her guild. "If only I had his ability." Deedo grumbled.
9:32 of the Dragon Age, Vigil's Keep War Room.
Patience is a gift, and the Elder Deedo would be the most patient of all. Not on this day. She needed to know of her children and how Xellexes has them in his care. Every half hour she chimed him to no avail.
Anxious, she summoned her eldest daughter, Nathaniel, and Anders to the map room. Her scouts have covered all the lands. The reports claimed that the people had abandoned most settlements when the Darkspawn first swept the country, with the Grey Wardens on hand, as others were recuperating. It would be awhile still before she can leave Amaranthine. Deedo needed to wrap things up quickly.
The doors creak out, alerting. Deedo looked from the large map sprawled before her. "Ah, thank you for your prompt arrival." She greeted them.
"It sounded urgent."
"It is." The Arlessa stood folding her arms about her body. "There is someone still missing. Had they had not captured us, I would have searched myself. In short. Blackmarsh. You three will head there in my place. These lands were in your house. Can you tell me anything noteworthy?" Her gaze fell to the raven head of Nathaniel.
The outskirt of Blackmarsh, Amaranthine.
Blackmarsh was miserable, wet, and hauntingly beautiful with the dark constant storm clouds that clung to the area.
Blighted creatures now inhabit this place, mindless, ravenous, frightful creatures you tell children will gobble them up if they weren't to behave.
Swiftly, they cleaned the area from them, at the very least making the area safer for those who would pass. Long were the days these lands held people. Telltale signs as they ventured further into the marshlands.
The ruins of a once thriving village came into view as a drastic sign people did indeed live here many years ago. Timeworn homes reminded the Ranger of Kunark. The Iksar home of Cabalis. Her mother drew images of the forgotten empire, the race of half Iksar and dragons, called Sarnak. She imagined one day to see ruins with her own eyes. Now, this mostly intact, plots of land the people seem to pick up and vanish. The air was odd. A taste of spell work lingered. Torn the vale, Lili could feel it, as well as Anders.
"What is this?" Lili asked as they came to a large gate. "They locked it from the inside? You said there was illness here?"
Nathaniel placed his hand upon the solid metal door. "No. Would seem from the stories I was told a woman came here from the Orlesian empire, a witch." His story rumored, hearsay, was told when he was but a boy. Under the guise of play, he and several other children dared to step foot on the mysterious marsh.
Lili chuckled. "I believe it. Magic is a common practice where I am from. The place feels ill. Can you sense it?" Anders shuddered in agreement.
They walked from the expansive gate to a path from the ruined village further along that border of the woods. The trio, eyes sharp and ready to snuff anything that moved, had followed the long trail that was made by adventurous looters or steel-heart hunters. Nathaniel had spotted a body lying in the middle, just at the edge of a thicket clearing.
"Look here." He hurried ahead.
Lili covered her nose, death, and for sometime. They examined the area and Lili the body when she drew her bow. "Who?"
Anders and Nathaniel's heads whips around to see what the lady was addressing so aggressively. A large armored misshapen Darkspawn approaching. With several others surrounding them.
Its decayed skin pulled awkwardly in the heavy chain mail covering as it turned its head, death coated eyes examined the three newcomers. Lili redirected her aim when a large insect-like creature with a humanoid face scurried up beside the darkspawn.
"Yes, that is your Grey Warden. The Mother told it to me. If lured and slain, you would come."
Lili whispered, her skin becoming hard like stone. "So we seem to have foolishly walked into a trap."
"And the Mother is right. She is always right."
Nathaniel looked over his shoulder, his bow drawn as well. "Mother? Who is this mother? She told you to ambush whoever came in search of him, I suppose? Did she also mention that you will pay for killing a Grey Warden?" notched the longbow ready to lose its arrow.
The Darkspawn glared, tilting its head in thought. "The Mother is sent me. Here to this… place. She wished you to come. I, before you, is the First. Bringing to you a message. She is sending a gift. Whether you know, the Mother is not permitting you to further his plan."
"Right, you expect us to believe this gift? Who's his plan, anyway? Don't talk in riddles." Anders huffed, his skin crawling with but a glance at the insect-like pupa.
The First said no more, pulling his hand out before them as a bright sickly green light surrounded them in the dark wood. It made Lili'Enyel and the two men with her sick. They tried to retreat, but all succumbed to the powerful spell.
