Hey all. Sorry it took so long to release this chapter. Combined with personal issues, I have also simply gotten lazy. Sometimes I even forget I have a account. I will admit I have been dragging my feet a bit, mostly because I have had trouble trying to figure out what to do with this chapter.
I'm hoping that I can muster up the energy to kick myself in the ass to get me moving again. Sorry about the long delay.
The group awoke startled at the knock at their bedroom door. Duneyrr jumped out of bed, grabbing a dagger in response and Evelyn tried her best to stand properly at the sudden awakening. Iron Bull, upon being startled out of his sleep, instinctively grabbed his axe and swung down at the floor in front of the door, activating Duneyrr's rune and summoning the ice creature on accident.
The sound of oblivion energy echoed across the room, as the portal opened and an ancient Frost Atronach stood above Iron Bull's weapon. The Qunari looked up at the creature awkwardly before pulling his axe out of the floor.
"Sorry about that," he said, hoisting his heavy weapon over his shoulder and holstering it on his back.
Duneyrr looked around the room frantically, trying to find an intruder, only to see his summon standing above a crevice on the floor. He saw Iron Bull's hand returning to his side from his back and surmised a guess as to what happened.
"Karl, you are dismissed!" he shouted, still tired and not yet aware of how loud his voice was. "False alarm!"
The creature sliced open the air to create a portal back home, its body language mimicking that of annoyance. When the portal closed they heard the door knock again, and an unfamiliar voice on the other side. "Good morning!" the voice announced. "A-are you all awake yet?"
"Yes! Yes, we are awake!" shouted Duneyrr, still trying to get ahold of his bearings.
Silence lingered on the other side. Not acknowledging the silence, they all began to get dressed in their proper attire, Evelyn adorning her armor pieces, Duneyrr his robe, and Iron Bull his boots, as his harness remained on as he slept. Of course, the horned giant also needed to apply a special face paint, one he claims helps boost his magical resilience, which Duneyrr believed to be about as truthful as Nord and Orcish Berserkers gaining strength from a hallucinogenic mushroom.
Another knock came, the same voice repeating itself. "Are you all awake yet? Magister Alexius is excited to speak with you!"
"I told you, give us a damned minute!" Duneyrr shouted back.
Once more, silence came over as the wizard found his staff and shortsword, placing the mage's item on his back and blade hidden beneath his coat. He had been waiting for an excuse to finally use the damn blade, and he hoped today would be that day. There was a new enchantment he wished to test, something he wished to try back in Tamriell, but never had the chance to.
Again, the voice knocked. "Are you there? Hello?"
"I fucking told you-! Oh, the silencing ward," he realized, embarrassment coming over him eventually. He quickly took down the spells, wards, and runes, allowing the magic to dissipate from the room. Gently he opened up the door and peeked his head out. "Give us one minute, ma'am. Sorry for not responding quickly." He went back into the room, almost slamming the door behind him.
"So the only time you feel like being nice is when you're apologizing?" Evelyn asked, tired and in no mood for polite conversation.
"You may now consider yourself lucky to get an apology out of me at all," Duneyrr replied, adjusting his robes properly and letting his hood fall on his back. "Now how much longer do you plan on being?"
"I just need to find... that damn ring!" Evelyn exclaimed, finally finding and grabbing the enchanted piece of jewelry off her nightstand. Unfortunately, she had a poor grip on the item, allowing it to slip from her hand and become stuck between her bed and the wall.
"Leave it, I'll make you a new one," said Duneyrr as if he were speaking with a child.
Without another word they all left the room, being met with a young elf girl in a housekeeper's dress. She gave a curtsy bow and smile, though she nearly tripped over her feet as she did so.
"Magister Alexius is right this way," she said, guiding them to the stairs with a motion of her arm. "He seemed to be very excited to speak with you all. Especially the Herald of Andraste."
"Why her out of all people?" asked the mage. "She can barely swing a sword straight."
"I've never seen you swing one," Evelyn snapped in a tired voice.
"And so long as you pray to your god you will never have to."
"The mage has teeth, but is he willing to bite?" Iron Bull added, trying his best to sound profound.
"That doesn't mean anything," the wizard returned, moving forward to be the first out of the room.
With all done and said, the party began to follow the woman through the hall and down the stairs. When back inside the tavern's dining room it was a much more lively scene than yesterday. Farmers and mages shared tables, drinking and laughing as if there was no difference between them. Neither Evelyn nor Iron Bull thought they would see such a thing, but for Duneyrr it was just another common occurrence. To watch people who were expected to fear the other sit and speak with them was an uncommon sight, even in Tamriel, so could at least understand the surprise.
Their guide then walked them out of the door and into the seaside town of Redcliffe. The smell of salt water blasted their noses, being especially potent so soon after they had just awoken. The sun blinded them, forcing them to squint and quickly readjust to see the rest of the road ahead. Redcliffe itself had changed little from the day prior, just as lively as before.
Evelyn, Bull, and Duneyrr continued to follow. Many people had accidentally cut off their path, some bumping into them and moving on with or without an apology. So many people. So many mages. Evelyn expected him to take on this many mages as guests into his college. He would love to find the scout who gave such a ludicrously underwhelming number and remove his skull from his neck.
Soon they had finally approached the castle proper. Just like the chantry it was built into the mountainside and stretched just as high. Its stone walls looked thick and sturdy, yet not as much as the ancient Dwemer structures. It could easily survive an assault for days if its wooden doors were boarded and warded properly, but an earthquake would send it toppling.
"Alexius awaits," said the elf. "Allow me to-"
"Bex!" shouted Duneyrr, forcing the doors to swing open inward. "You May return to your duties."
The girl nodded in agreement and ran hurriedly back to the inn. Duneyrr took the lead this time, leading the group to meet the magister. Whatever tricks or surprises he may try to pull they would be ready, even if his instincts told him otherwise.
...
Dorian was running late, but fashionably so. He was meant to act as Alexius's bodyguard, despite only being his apprentice. He would stand between him and the Herald, which would put him in a very bad position should Alexius attack.
He would prefer to be behind Alexius, out of the way, and in position to flank his backside. Or even behind that wall of muscle disguised as a mage. So tall and brawny, such beautifully golden hair and eyes blue like the ocean. But there was that marital bond on his finger. As much as he prefers to stir up trouble from time to time, pursuing married men was something far beneath him. He had ethics.
Dorian continued to walk the halls at a fast pace. He ran his hands through his hair, making sure it was just as he wanted it, and when he finished he readjusted his coat to ensure it was comfortable. His staff was placed in an easily accessible position on his back.
Finally, he had reached the end of the hall. He pushed open the doors, seeing Alexius and the Inquisition already in place. "Apologies! I woke up late."
"Dorian Pavus," Alexius greeted with a stern tone and face. "Are you ready for today?"
"Of course, master," he said with a bow.
That sounded quite ominous. Is he no longer attempting to hide it? And before the session even began no less. It seemed that the hidden threat did not go unnoticed. Dorian looked over at the party, seeing both of the mage's hands behind his back, and one of them curled into an odd form.
Alexius cleared his throat, demanding all attention be placed on him. "I am glad you could make it, Herald of Andraste. I also apologize for having you all awoken so suddenly, I wished to make sure I could speak with you properly before you all left."
"Thank you for the opportunity, Magister," Evelyn returned. "What is it you wished to speak about?"
"These fade rifts appear to be a blight upon Thedas," said the Magister. "You see, I am... not all that unfamiliar with them." Alexius began to reach into his beneath his robe and pull at a necklace chain. Whatever it was glowed a dull green color, yet gently pulsed and changed hues for brief periods.
"What do you mean?" she asked, stepping forward slowly, to the dismay of her entourage.
"Perhaps, you would allow me to show you." Alexius yanked on his necklace and thrust it out towards Evelyn, forcing Dorian and the Herald's guard to react immediately.
Duneyrr stuck up a barrier, but it was useless as the fade energy seeped through it effortlessly. Iron Bull rushed down the Magister, which would ultimately be useless as he would be too late. Dorian dove into her, hoping to move her out of the way, but only being hit as well in the crossfire.
Green enveloped his vision, but he was able to hear Alexius scream in terror and pain. From there everything was overtaken by a familiar sound as he was warped away with the Herald.
They were Falling. They fell faster and faster downwards, eventually landing in water before reaching speeds that would injure them upon landing.
Evelyn was able to open her eyes, seeing bits and pieces of debris and sunken homes, even strange red lyrium crystals stuck beneath the surface. Even for being beneath the surface of the water, their glow was dampened. It was far less red than she imagined, almost fading to a dull grey color as it struggled to produce its infamous red lightning.
Suddenly the crystals became distant, as she felt herself being yanked towards the surface. She was finally able to breathe, and heard Dorian gasping for air as he climbed atop a wooden boat she found herself hovering over. She was unexpectedly dropped onto the raft, bracing for impact as she fell.
"So you are her?" said an odd voice from behind.
She turned around, seeing an elven figure with ashen skin stand before a red and dark green sky. Claw scars marred his face and he was missing an eye, the only one left being a blood-red color. His left arm was also replaced by a brass prosthetic that appeared to be of foreign design, with odd, angular carvings made into the wristpiece. The prosthetic was laid with runes that glowed blue and white, likely allowing it to function as smoothly as it did.
Behind him was a large tower made of white stone that easily dwarfed the largest Orlesian structure. It was broken into pieces, the fragments orbiting around a green core large enough to be seen from where she stood. Floating chunks of land were scattered about the sky as purple-green tears formed upon them, spewing out demons and other strange, vile creatures from the other side.
The mage carried a staff in one hand, the same one she saw Duneyrr carry everywhere. He looked down at her pitifully.
"Who are you?" she asked while also scanning the devastation around her.
It looked as if a meteor had struck the port, leaving only a crater left to be filled with water. The place was unrecognizable, destroyed entirely with no evidence to indicate who once lived there.
"Irrelevant," he said. "I was told to be here one year later. Lo and behold, he was correct. Dragons have always been the best at understanding time."
"A dragon?" Dorian asked, disbelief heavy in his tone. "You do know they cannot speak?"
"I will forgive your stupidity this once, as you are unaware of the dragons who call themselves Dovah."
Whoever this man has reminded her sorely of Duneyrr. He was arrogant, posh, and condescending. Though Duneyrr was nowhere near as intensely condescending as this man.
"Then enlighten us then, would you?" Dorian requested, irritated and annoyed.
"I refuse," the elf replied. "Someone such as you wouldn't be able to understand anyway."
"Excuse me?" Dorian returned, clearly offended. "I will have you know I am of house Pavus, and Apprentice to a Tevinter Magister-"
"Speaking of Tevinter Magisters-" Evelyn began moving forward on the raft and staring at the sky then back to the wizard. "What happened here?"
The wizard looked at them. He stared at his staff, then down to his brass arm. A scowl formed on his face, summoning a ball of flame in the free hand. He clasped it down into a fist, creating a small explosion as the fire extinguished. The metal could be heard scratching against itself from how tightly his grip became.
"Irrelevant," he said once more, fixing his gaze upon the pair. "He said it was important for me to retrieve you two as if an apprentice cannot even do the job right."
"Who is he?" Evelyn asked.
"You will know him when you see him," said the wizard.
He circled his free hand in the empty air, leaving a trail of white-colored magical energy behind. The energy lingered for less than a second before collapsing in, to create a flat, swirling mass in the middle of the raft. The mage walked in, and Dorian and Evelyn followed.
On the other side was the inside of Winterhold, or at least what she assumed to be its grounds. It was decimated and partly ruined, its statue which Duneyrr prized left crumbling apart. Cracks formed across its body and its top-right half was gone, leaving only a piece of the head and part of the right shoulder left. The grass around them was dead or dying, leaving large patches of dirt in the courtyard.
The building itself was falling apart as well. Its walls were shattered and its bridge was missing. The tower behind the statue had large crevices made up and down its structure, with holes big enough that a wyvern could fit through.
The sky above them was darker than it was back where they previously were. She tried to find the sun, only to see it blotted out with a black nothingness. The only thing giving light to the land was a large orb far above the college that looked to be segmented into pieces, emitting strong and potent magic across the land.
"This way," instructed the mage, leading them to the corner of the college, leading them to a basement door.
Despite being such an innocuous thing, there was an ominous presence in the air around them. This feeling hung heavy, pulling them down like the crushing force of gravity. Both Evelyn and Dorian's hearts felt as if they wished to stop, both hesitant to even become closer to the door.
"Come on! Hurry!" rushed the mage. "I will not stand around all day because of you two!"
Reluctantly, they followed the wizard. Down into the basement, they went, dirt falling upon their heads and a root smacking Dorian in the face as they descended. Warnings covered the wall, telling all who have come to stay vigilant or turn back. Some were written in chalk, others in the dried blood of the skeletons below the signs.
As they walked forward, away from the exit, they were halted by five giant rats the size of a large dog approached them. Their teeth were bared, showing off the decaying holes and rotted gums. Before they were given the chance to charge their elven guide sliced them apart with thin beams of ice aimed towards them.
With no more resistance for the time they could move forward more freely, until whatever might come next should attempt to halt them.
"You never did tell us your name," Evelyn stated, following the mage through the dark and mysterious halls of the basement.
"My name is Neloth. I am a master wizard of the Telvani noble clan," he stated with some irritation.
"I have never heard of the Telvani," said Dorian.
"Unsurprising," Neloth said, unfazed by Dorian's lack of knowledge. "Even back in Tamriel the actions of the Great Houses of Morrowind are not very well known to the people outside of Morrowind."
Dorian and Evelyn looked around them. The walls were no longer ancient brick but rather smoothed-out stone that looked to be man-made, although a part of the earth itself. The steps were laid with brick, however, and the further down they went the more it looked like an ancient crypt carved from the earth.
The magic in this place was dense, but nowhere near as plentiful as the world outside. It felt alive somehow as if it could speak to them.
Large spiders spun webs in dark crevices, serpentine ice spirits floated in the air, and the remains of those who died taken by spirits assaulted them. All of these threats were taken down half-heartedly, and not a single sweat dropped. Even as the threats became more intense, as mummified corpses in armor came at them with hammers and axes, the amount of effort did not increase. At a loss not for her.
Neloth was worthy of the title Master Wizard. He dealt with these threats without batting an eye, already knowing precisely where they were and turning them to ash and dust. While surely there had to be greater Mages out there, so far this is a display of ability she thought would be unlikely to be seen again.
Finally done going downstairs, the trio was met with a simple wooden door. Nothing fancy about, no wards of traps. The only unique thing about it was much it stood out from the stone crypts they had walked through.
Neloth approached and knocked twice. "I have brought them as requested!" he announced before turning to leave. Before departing he leaned in close to them. "You would do well to be careful around him. He's been down here for months with little social interaction."
Neloth began to walk back the way he came, leaving before the man could open the door. "Evelyn... you..." he spoke, looking at the Herald then Dorian. "Come in."
This man who they assumed to be Duneyrr wore his robes, but his face was covered by a golden mask with two prominent tusks at the cheeks. He had a paranoid demeanor about him, sometimes twitching and making sudden movements.
"Duneyrr, is that you?" Evelyn asked, wary of approaching him.
"Yes..." he answered. "You arrived at the Redcliffe Inlet, two years after you disappeared. No, not disappeared. Not technically."
Duneyrr moved over to a desk where books were messily strewn around. Books on the mortal world, the fade, other worlds that are not the fade, and the mortal world, as well as demonic bestiaries. He began to shove them all off and scour through the rest, finally grabbing one book with no title or notable cover design.
He opened it fully and placed it on the desk. "He did this," Duneyrr said, pointing to a scroll beneath the form of what looked to be some kind of strange dragon.
"What?" Dorian asked, confused.
Duneyrr groaned lowly. "The mage. He interfered with the world song. Tonal magics pushed you forward in time."
"Dorian, I don't understand a thing he is saying," Evelyn admitted,
Clearing his throat, Dorian answered, "Alexius used some strange magic to force us forward through time. What did you say it was, Duneyrr, tonal magics? I'm unfamiliar."
"No time. Ask me later... relatively speaking." Duneyrr began to walk towards the door but paused. His hands twitched momentarily, his body following suit in an almost skittish fashion. "Leave me," He sternly stated, smacking the side of his head furiously, nearly cracking the mask. Soon he stopped and the group went forward.
They went back to the courtyard, taking hidden pathways to avoid the armored undead that filled this place. Evelyn couldn't help but stare at them each time they passed them by. Despite being ancient and decrepit creatures, they moved as any living human would. They gripped their weapons so tight she could see the skin stretching over the bone. What's more, as they spoke. It was a rough and hoarse language that sounded like it would be carved into stone rather than written on paper.
The spiders she faced were far less intimidating than the undead. They may be as big as a Qunari and spit a vile venom, but were rather squishy compared to the giant spiders from the Storm Coast and other places. The only issue was the webs they would spin, slowing them down and getting in their way.
"Laas... Yah... Nir..." A voice echoed in the distance. It was coarse, like scraping talons against stone.
Duneyrr halted the group. "Priest," he warned.
"What if we stay quiet? It won't find us, right?" Evelyn asked.
Duneyrr held them behind them at set up a ward in the wall's direction. "Too late. Stand on guard."
The sound of static could be heard on the other side of the cave wall. Evelyn stood in front of them both, putting herself in the proper stance. Dorian placed a barrier over them all and ignited a flame at the end of his staff. Duneyrr, they heard his petrifying, Evelyn took a glance to see the skin on his hands turning into a dark grey stone. He began to glow a feint blue color as well.
"So what are we waiting for?" Dorian asked, sounding on edge.
"Dragon Priest," the Archmage answered, as the wall between them and the undead exploded in a mix of fiery and electrical glory.
What they met had a face like the previous zombies, yet even more dehydrated and skin peeling off to reveal the remaining ligaments, rotted muscle, and weathered bone. It was dressed in ceremonial armor, impractical but usable. It floated at least two feet above the ground and was holding a brass staff in its right hand the full length of its body.
At the top of the staff, a bright blue ball sparking with electrical currents began to form. As the spell on the staff charged the creature casted red colored runes at the bottom of their feet. If not for Dorian's barrier they would have all died in the explosions.
Evelyn charged in carefully, holding her shield as the Templars do, while Dorian and Duneyrr covered her. The undead creature shot a steady stream of flames at Evelyn, its electrical attack now changed to a barrier preventing the mages from hitting it. Evelyn struggled to push forward due to the heat and felt her shield get hotter by the second and more painful to grip as the heat from the shield's handle began to burn through her glove.
Suddenly from behind her, she saw a large bolt of electricity fire at the creature's barrier, nearly cracking. The magical shield repaired itself within seconds, and by the time the second lightning strike hit the barrier was back to full strength. However, in that one second, she saw the zombie's attention divert to the lightning strike she rushed in, ignoring the continuous onslaught of flames. She cleaved her sword into the thing, severing its weathered arm like a tree branch. Taking the next strike to its neck, her sword plunged through its throat and became stuck as it turned its skin into a black, metallic substance. She tried to push it in further, but couldn't.
Her eyes went wide as she watched the stump of the arm she just amputated begin to grow a frozen prosthetic. Its forearm and hand were a single sharp blade that swung at Evelyn, which she barely managed to catch with her shield.
Another lightning bolt struck the barrier, and a second one of a slightly more indigo hue quickly after that. The barrier shattered and the two mages sent a flurry of blazing bolts at the undead mage, melting its golden armor into its skin and her blade into its throat. Evelyn backed away quickly, surprised to see that the creature could still move.
Despite all the damage to its body, it spoke, "Feim, Zii!" and turned into some kind of ghost as all attacks went through it.
It fled in an awful and vulnerable state, taking her sword with it, melting into its throat, and fazing through the walls of the cave system. She was left with a shield that was still too hot for any sane person to carry. She dropped it, inspecting her glove to see that parts of it were singed off and what skin was visible was covered in intense burn marks.
"We move again," Duneyrr ordered, guiding them outside.
The two followed closely. Hoping to avoid whatever that was. They had never seen an undead use magic like that. It was unlike what they'd seen, and never will again, see an undead like that. Whatever spirit possessed that mage was given access to someone who could easily overpower a magister if still alive today.
...
They found themselves deeper within the Midden. The resistance they faced was minimal, only a few skeletons and floating ice serpents. Neither of them was still all too sure what those things were.
The hallway they walked down was dark. Their only light source was a glowing ball summoned by Duneyrr. They stopped, standing right in front of a black, metal door barely illuminated by the magelight guiding them.
"Bex," Duneyrr spoke, forcing the doors to drag along the ground, the sound of metal scraping against stone echoing down the hall.
Inside it was equally dark, but the moment they stood in the center of the room a bright yellow light lit up the area. Blood stains covered the walls and the dismembered corpses of those undead littered the room. There were weapons, armor, books, and jewelry in the room, but some racks were empty, and some were destroyed. Evelyn saw a golden sword that emitted a bright glow from its center, a crystal decoration in an odd sun shape, a black chainmail armor that emitted a poisonous aura, and many more items.
Among them all, none stood out more than the books. A series of black books with eerie designs sat beneath a locked case. They were unevenly spaced, among the three of them and had some damage to the covers. But it seemed that was not what they came for.
Duneyrr approached a display case, unlocking it so he could pull out a familiar-looking charm. It was wrapped around a chain, turned into a necklace this time. "It is what Alexius used to make you disappear. Go to the hall of the elements and hold it to the eye of Magnus. Neloth will be there with a scroll." Duneyrr lifted his mask slightly, allowing his words to be engraved upon the artifact. "Skein: Tiid Zek Bo." Three words appeared on the item, the letters glowing. "Leave now. But hand me this when you get back." He offered them a letter which Evelyn took from his hands.
"I will," she said. "Is it possible for you to use one of those portals to bring us to the top?" she asked.
Duneyrr shook his head. "No. The teachers and I enchanted the Midden. Teleportation is interfered with. You must walk."
"One more question before we leave," Evelyn inquired before Duneyrr could turn around. "What happened to this place? To Thedas?"
"Planemeld," he answered. "Someone tore apart the liminal barriers of this world and the fade. The fade is a realm of dreams. Vaermina deals in dreams. Worse than Molag. She succeeded."
"What does any of that mean?" Dorian asked.
"Read a book," Duneyrr answered briefly, lacking his usual condescending tone. "Now go."
...
"Finally, we're out of that place," Dorian spoke, dusting off his robe of the cobwebs and dirt. "They need to clean down there."
"I feel like they rarely ever go down there," Evelyn said. "And thank you for all the saves on our way back."
"You could have taken up one of those weapons off those undead," Dorian said, looking back at her. "They were in decent condition."
Evelyn scoffed playfully. "Are you kidding? The handles were thin as sticks and the cross-guard would jab me in the wrist at even a basic maneuver."
"Better than nothing," Dorian said, following Evelyn into the main building.
"I would have an easier time brawling," she returned, approaching the large doors, her hand outstretched to push them open but the doors moved on their own.
Neloth approached them from the other side of the magical well. A large scroll covered in a golden case sat on Neloth's back. He pulled it off with one hand, making it appear lighter than it looked.
"Cast the item into the well," Neloth told them.
As Evelyn approached the well with the artifact in hand, it began to react. It glowed brighter, and the orb in the sky, visible through holes in the ceiling, began to retract and rotate, its segments folding in and out like waves. Trusting the wizard, believing that he knows more than she and Dorian do, casts the item into the well. It locks in place in mid-air, adjusting itself to wear the engravings face the massive ball in the sky.
Time seems to slow down in the surrounding area, and Neloth approaches them with the golden scroll, opening it. It glows brightly, and Neloth's red eyes turn into a blind white color.
"I cast you back to where you belong!" Neloth shouts, the area affected by time shrinking to exclude him.
The elf seems to freeze in place. The flow of the well's magic halts, yet the orb in the sky still rotates, but in an unusual manner in all directions at once. Suddenly the room begins to spin, so fast that it becomes a blur until it's nothing but a pale white color, after images of nothingness flying past them. It was dizzying.
Dorian and Evelyn begin flying through the white void, rolling and tumbling in the void until they land on a hard surface, their faces receiving rug burn as they slide against the velvet carpet.
There was shouting, a mix of anger and panic, fear in the voices of some. Then surprise. Evelyn is helped up by a soft hand around her arm, yanking her to her feet roughly.
"I thought you'd be gone forever," Duneyrr says, letting her stand on her own.
"That was a hellish experience," Dorian groaned, standing up on his own.
Evelyn looked to Alexius who should still be sitting on his throne if she pieced together everything correctly. He was there, wrapped in a translucent glow that threatened to crush him into a paste. The amulet Duneyrr gave him was glowing as well, the source of the barrier that encased Alexius. The barrier began to shrink at Duneyrr's command and a crunching noise resonated throughout the room, accompanied by Alexius screaming in pain.
"If possible, I would like him alive," Evelyn tells Duneyrr. "He has potential value as a prisoner."
Still agitated and panicked by Alexius, he relents, although hesitantly. He undoes the barrier and calls back his amulet, and Alexius slumps back in his chair. "Don't expect his legs to work anymore," Duneyrr informs her.
The doors of the castle swung open suddenly. Everyone turns their gaze to a middle-aged man in a lord's clothing, who is accompanied by a squadron of soldiers. They all march in an orderly fashion, resting against the pillars with their hands on the pommels of their swords.
The Lord speaks, visibly angry, yet his tone is more frustrated than enraged. "Grand Enchanter," he greets the elven woman, who approaches him timidly. "I was quite surprised to find out you have given away Redcliffe Castle to a Tevinter Magister."
"King Alistair," she speaks anxiously, her head lowered, but leaving her still to look him in the eye. "I-" she is cut off by the King before she can begin.
"I find it doubly surprising you would give away land that belongs to Arl Teagan," he continues, eyeing down the elvish Archmage with a fury.
"I never intended to-" she is cut off again.
"I am well aware of what you intended," the king says, his angry face mixing with some form of sad regret. "I only wished to help you and your people. You have now made that impossible." He pauses, his shoulders slouched in grief, yet somehow his body tensed up in frustration. "You and your followers are no longer welcome in Ferelden."
"But there are hundreds of us here!" the Grand Enchanter exclaims. Duneyrr began to look visibly frustrated, his knuckles white as he gripped his staff tightly, yet his face remained relaxed. "Where would we go?"
Duneyrr butted in. "There has been an... arrangement," he said, his voice tense and annoyed. "My name is Duneyrr, and I am the Archmage of the College of Winterhold."
"He has agreed to take you in to assist the inquisition," Evelyn spoke, putting herself in the middle of the conversation.
"I will be granting you temporary asylum," Duneyrr said again, taking over the conversation from Evelyn. "You are granted supervised access to the campus grounds, just to make sure you are not brainwashed again and try to give away my school to a foreign wizard. The college's time on the continent is not infinite, and we will be leaving hopefully within the year."
Evelyn spoke again after Duneyrr let her take control of the conversation once more. "The Templars are currently being granted quarters within the Inquisition Headquarters, and plans will be made to grant quarters to the mages as well, but for now you will be staying in a place where your people will be guaranteed protection." Evelyn turned to King Alistair, her gaze hopeful that he would not seek retribution.
"So long as they are kept away from Ferelden," he says in a form of Agreement.
Duneyrr traces an oval with his staff in a slow and deliberate movement. Energy flows inward and a massive white swirl appears. "It closes in twenty minutes or so. Get your people and get out of Redcliffe," Duneyrr says, his tone more commanding than suggesting. "My staff is already aware that your people will be coming. They have set up a temporary place for you to stay until they can grant you more comfortable accommodations." He slams the but of his staff on the ground and a spirit made of flame appears out of nowhere. "Mages only," he says to the fire spirit, who bows politely back at him.
"Now what?" asks Iron Bull, looking confused slightly.
"In what direction is that Templar stronghold you mentioned?" Duneyrr asks, motioning for the party to follow him outside.
"Therinfall Redoubt? It should be to the west, a few days journey on foot," Evelyn answers him. "Could you open a portal to it?"
"Can't," Duneyrr says curtly. "It's very difficult to put down a portal to a place you've never been to before. I have a better option."
Two of the party of three plus the sudden addition of Dorian who decided to follow for some reason, stop behind Duneyrr as he comes to a sudden halt only a few paces outside of the gates to Redcliffe. Duneyrr inhales with the first word and shouts the last two loudly, and the world around them seems to shake. "Dur Neh Viir!" He shouts.
Before their very eyes a large purple swirl forms above the ground. It expands to an unimaginable size, before collapsing into the shape of a creature larger than any dragon they've seen. Regardless, it is a dragon of some kind they've never seen before as the purple energy disappears to reveal the creature it hides. Its form was rotting and putrid, and its eyes were replaced by glowing white orbs. Its scales looked brittle, yet instinctually they knew that it would take considerable effort to pierce them in their current state. If summoned into Redcliffe Village it would have crushed a half of it beneath its sheer size.
The dragon lowered its head to look at Duneyrr, and it huffed a cold mist. "You have summoned me under strange skies, Qahnaarin."
"It talks?" says Iron Bull in surprise, both Evelyn and Dorian sharing equally dumbfounded and nonplussed looks.
"Why would I not speak?" the dragon asks curiously, its hollow eye sockets aimed at the Qunari.
"This is Durnehviir, an ancient dragon with extensive knowledge in necromancy," Duneyrr says, introducing the fetid dragon to the rest of the party. "Duneyrr, meet Evelyn, Iron Bull, and... whatever his name is."
"Dorian," the Tevinter spoke, his expression unimpressed and his tone annoyed.
"It is The Iron Bull," the Qunari proudly corrected.
Duneyrr gave a quick and annoyed glance at Iron Bull before returning his attention to Durnehviir. "We need you to fly us westward," he says to the dragon.
"Do I appear to be a horse to you? I am not free transport, Qahnaarin," says Durnehviir.
"Well the matter is a bit urgent," says Durneyrr, patiently. "Why don't we negotiate?"
"Excuse me," says Evelyn, butting herself in, "As you said it is urgent. We need to get to Therinfall Redoubt to reinforce Commander Cullen. Who knows what could be happening right now? They could be in trouble as we speak."
"I know," Duneyrr says, ignoring Evelyn's presence. "I'll owe you a duel, and I'll summon you twice a month to experience these 'strange skies' as you put it."
Durnehviir chuckles slightly, his putrid breath berating the nostrils of all present. "I will hold you to your promise, Dovahkiin." The dragon lowers its wings so the group may climb atop his back "Remember, this will never occur again. I am no horse."
"Of course, Durnehviir," Duneyrr said, scrambling up the dragon's wing to climb on his back. "Two days walk west to a massive fortress. How fast can you get us there?"
"In a matter of hours," Durnehviir says.
"Look for a red banner that has a golden sword on a black circular background," Evelyn informs the dragon, climbing atop its back with the others. "If I see it I'll point it out to you."
"Is everyone settled?" asks Durnehviir.
"Aye," says Duneyrr, taking a head count as Dorian gets settled in place.
Without any other questions, the dragon lifts off from the ground, causing a burst of wind to hit the ground, bouncing off the earth and uprooting and snapping trees. Durnehviir begins to fly west, flapping his wings loud and strong, propelling them forward. He begins to open his mouth, and the dragon is propelled forward with a loud boom in its wake. The echo lingers in the distance, as well as the words, "Wuld Nah Kest!"