Jacquelyn didn't want to have to leave Cullen so soon, not with everything that he was going through. She had offered to stay longer, but Cullen had told her that he would be fine, that she needed to get to the Western Approach. People were waiting for her there, and sorting the situation with the Wardens was now their main priority. Besides, Blackwall and Bull had gone on ahead to scout out the area and were waiting for her at the Western Approach. No matter how reluctant Jacquelyn was to leave him at a time like this, she knew that he was right.
Jacquelyn decided to travel with only a small group of people; most of the travellers were soldiers that Cullen was sending to be backup for the main camp at the Western Approach so that some of the men that had been there longer could return to Skyhold for at least a small break. The only person that Jacquelyn really knew was Solas, seeing as Vivienne was otherwise occupied with business that she hadn't yet wanted to share with Jacquelyn.
The first thing Jacquelyn and Solas did upon arriving at the Western Approach was head over to Scout Harding for more information. She had set out not long before Blackwall and Bull to get a foothold in the area and to get some extra information on the area.
"Blackwall and The Iron Bull are waiting outside a tower that's believed to have been used for rituals," Harding briefed them. "They're with Hawke and Stroud. They would have gone in, but they think there's something going on and they want the backup."
Jacquelyn nodded.
"Thank you," she said, glancing over to Solas. "We should get going immediately."
Solas didn't reply, just nodded, silently agreeing. The main concern he had was simply reaching the tower; there had been reports of bandits and White Claws in the area. Travelling with just the two of them could be dangerous, but equally, travelling just the two of them would mean that they could sneak past easier.
Thankfully, the trip to the tower was straight forward and they didn't come across any problems. They didn't have to fight anyone, and they got there in what felt like record time. Blackwall, Bull, Hawke, and Stroud were standing at the end of a bridge waiting for them.
"You made it," Blackwall greeted.
"I'm glad you made it, Inquisitor," Stroud added, speaking in hushed earnesty. "I fear they have already started the ritual."
"Blood magic, I'd wager," Hawke folded his arms, scowling slightly. "You can just about smell it. Or see the corpses," he made eye contact with Jacquelyn. "You lot go ahead, take point. I'll guard your backs."
Jacquelyn nodded, glancing to Blackwall and Bull before she started to cross the rather old looking stone bridge that led to the tower. It didn't take long until the smell of corpses and the sound of flies reached them, and Jacquelyn could feel herself tensing. It was seeming like Hawke might be right about blood magic being used. She didn't want to believe it, didn't want to think that Grey Wardens could go so far as to use blood magic, but the evidence was starting to seem irrefutable. They were starting to seem a bit radical, like they were willing to go too far in order to fulfill their duty.
The sight that awaited them at the top of the steps, just near the top of the tower, was not one Jacquelyn would soon forget. She had heard of what blood magic could do, but she hadn't really seen it for herself.
There were demons standing guard beside a handful of Wardens, though two of the Wardens seemed somehow… off. One other Warden seemed afraid, like he was trying to retreat from another Warden but he didn't have anywhere left to go. He was just backing towards another small flight of steps, though there was nowhere to go from there. At the top of the steps stood another man, someone who wasn't wearing Warden armour.
"Wait… no…" the man backing away almost begged his fellow Warden.
"Warden-Commander Clarel's orders were clear," the non-Warden man was saying.
"This is wrong!" the Warden said as he turned to face the other man.
"Remember your oath," he sounded almost bored. "In war, victory. In peace, vigilance. In death…"
"I'm sorry," the second Warden apologised, thrusting his knife into his comrade.
"Sacrifice."
A demon erupted from the ground, a small rift forming behind the surviving Warden. Jacquelyn's eyes widened in horror and disgust, not wanting to believe that one Warden would turn on another. She sped up slightly, knowing she had to put a stop to this.
"Good," the stranger was saying. "Now bind it, just as I showed you."
The Warden stretched out his hand, a pale glow emanating from it. The demon seemed as though it was fighting against something for a moment, and then stopped. Whatever the Warden mage had done, the demon was now obeying whatever he wanted. The Warden moved off to the side, joining another of his comrades as Jacquelyn arrived. She slowed to a sedate walk, knowing that she was too late to stop whatever binding had happened. She felt awful, almost helpless. But she could avenge the fallen, those who had been sacrificed.
"Inquisitor. What an unexpected pleasure," the stranger made an extravagant bow. "Lord Livius Erimond of Vyrantium, at your service."
"You are no Warden," Stroud accused.
"But you are," Erimond sighed. "The one Clarel let slip. And you found the Inquisitor and came to stop me. Shall we see how that goes?"
Jacquelyn frowned slightly.
"It shall go better for me than it will for you. I have killed demons before. If I have to kill a few Warden mages as well, so be it."
"You may have to kill a few, yes," he almost smirked. "Wardens, hands up," Livius and the Wardens all raised their left hand in demonstration. "Hands down."
Jacquelyn watched on as the Wardens followed his instructions, as though they were being mind controlled. They probably were. They likely lost their minds to Livius' control sometime when they used blood magic to bind the demons to them.
Livius smugly put his hands behind his back, watching Jacquelyn closely.
"Corypheus has taken their minds," Stroud said, also looking at Jacquelyn.
"They did this to themselves. You see, the Calling had the Wardens terrified. They looked everywhere for help."
"Even Tevinter," Stroud scowled.
"Yes. And since it was my master who put the Calling into their little heads, we in the Venatori were prepared. I went to Clarel full of sympathy, and together, we came up with a plan. Raise a demon army, march into the Deep Roads, and kill the Old Gods before they wake."
"That is simply madness. Even if we disregard the use of blood magic, that would be suicide."
"It wouldn't matter," Blackwall told Jacquleyn. "The Calling is a death sentence anyway."
"Sadly for the Wardens, the binding ritual I taught their mages has a side effect. They are now my master's slaves. This was a test," Livius motioned to the demons, mages, and dead bodies. "Once the rest of the Wardens complete the ritual, the army will conquer Thedas."
"Release the Wardens and surrender, Livius. I will not ask you again."
"No. You won't," Livius extended his right hand, a red light surrounding it. Pain shot up Jacquelyn's left hand, the mark glowing. She stumbled slightly, clutching her wrist and grimacing in pain.
"The Elder One showed me how to deal with you, in the event you were foolish enough to try to interfere again. That mark you bear? The Anchor that lets you pass safely through the Veil? You stole that from my master. He's been forced to seek other ways to access the Fade."
A breeze blew a cloud of dust in front of them, outlining a partially closed rift and hiding Livius from their sight. Jacquelyn forced herself to her feet as the pain in her hand dulled a bit. Livius' monologuing was beginning to get on her nerves. He was overconfident, too sure of himself. And he was dangerous. It was more than time to knock him down a few pegs.
"When I bring him your head, his gratitude will be - "
Jacquelyn extended her hand, watching the rift. She felt the energy connecting her mark and the rift, could feel herself bending it to her will. The rift opened, and Livius cried out in surprise, tumbling backwards. It was a bit satisfying to see him landing on his rear end.
He stumbled to his feet, clutching his right hand to his side as though it were in pain.
"Kill them!" he commanded his Wardens.
Jacquelyn drew her sword, removing her shield from her back, and mentally prepared herself for another battle.