CODEX
Palfrey – a riding horse
Master Wade – quirky master armorer in Denerim
Harness – suit of armor, particularly plate
Fluting – pleats in the armor for strength and decoration
Cuirass – breastplate
Caparison – saddle cloth
Combatant – heraldic term for two animals facing each other
Sallet – a squat looking full helmet with a wide brim to protect the neck. Often worn with a moveable visor and throat guard
Cinquedea – a broad bladed dagger the width of five fingers
Argent - Silver
Bevor – throat guard
Soldiers Keep – Second Floor – Four Hours After Sunset
The journey up to the peak took far longer than expected – the heavy spring snowfall bogged the party down and they were even forced to leave the baggage train behind when the wagons could make it no farther. It was a difficult decision, but the Warden had to make camp or they would endure unnecessary losses. One mule had already died of exhaustion.
They could only wait two more hours while troops tried to clear the road up to the fabled Grey Warden fortress that had been abandoned for two centuries after the failed coup attempt made by Warden Commander Sophia Dryden. Frustration grew as the icy path refused to yield and the party knew that they would have to press on alone without the wagons and guards…and Wynne. The old mage could walk no further up the rugged trail. "I am sorry, Alice," she told the Warden, "my bones cannot handle this journey. My spirit will be with you and may it give you some protection up there."
In spite of Levi Dryden's guidance and Shale bulldozing the blanket of snow out of the way, progress was slow. The Warden had hoped to arrive at midday, but the sun set just as they arrived at the frozen gates to the keep. In the dark, it would be difficult, at best, to explore the structure, but they could wait no longer or possibly be trapped by more snow. Expecting to find an empty fort, they were surprised to find themselves under assault by waves of frozen skeletons, remains of both attacker and defender alike. Something foul was keeping the souls of the dead in thrall to haunt this once proud keep.
As the party crested the stone staircase to the second floor, it was difficult for the Warden to imagine this desolate, foreboding place as ever having been a home to anyone. The chill cut clear to the bone and the party's torches and lanterns flickered in the icy mist that filled some sort of ceremonial room that had long since fallen into decay. Firelight reflected off of hanging icicles and the polished metal of both sword and armor, casting eerie shadows that heightened the already overwhelming sense of dread that weighed down body and soul. The Warden's hand tightened around the grip of the Cousland sword, her constant companion since the sack of Highever. The feel of her glove on the leather wrapping of the weapon gave her comfort and confidence, two things that were in short supply right now.
The elf, Zevran, slipped past the Warden to scout the way, his feet crunching ever so lightly on the frosty floor. "I hate undead, I really hate them," he muttered under his steamy breath. "There is simply no seducing one," he added for the Warden with a wink. "And their personality…ugh."
Alice could always count on Zev to lighten even the darkest of times. He was a bright spot if ever a distraction for her. She signaled for Leliana and Alistair to cover Zev with their bows and then watched as the elf's eyes and hands swept over the ground and along walls to detect any traps or other…things. Perhaps it was only her imagination, but the Warden seemed to think that it was actually growing colder in the chamber. Only Shale didn't seem to mind the painful chill.
"Levi, do you know what this place is?" she asked their guide.
The merchant held up his hand and a wispy glowing orb lifted from his palm and floated into the room to add light. "I think this was the chapel for the keep. I can see images of Andraste painted into the walls, but someone has marred them. The tapestries and icons have probably long since rotted into dust."
Alice saw the faded paintings of Andraste ruined with deep gouges and burns made into the wood, which was splintered and shattered in places. Someone really wanted to destroy this place of worship. Thus far, Soldier's Peak was filled with nothing but undead spirits trapped this side of the Fade after the Warden Commander's failed rebellion against the paranoid King Arland near 200 years ago. "I hope we are able to find what you are looking for, Mister Dryden," she told Levi. "Your ancestor, Sophia, was a great commander, but something horrible happened here on her watch."
He nodded. "I feel a palpable evil in the air. The veil to the Fade is definitely weakened. The vision that we saw in the gate house…the one where Sophia rallies the Wardens under siege, that must have been an echo left over from the violence of the battle. The Fade is tricky that way."
The Warden could still see that spectral scene in her head. Sophia Dryden was a woman to be reckoned with, a charismatic commander whom people would follow unto death. "It was well known that the rebellion failed, but no one knows just what became of the Wardens of the keep."
Near the left wall, Zevran waved his hand, getting their attention. "There is some glyph on this door. Perhaps you could come over and take a look."
The Warden scanned the room quickly and pointed over to the door on the far wall, getting Leliana and Alistair to cover it with Shale's help. Then, she motioned to Morrigan. "I'll need your help here."
The two moved up to the door where they could see odd scrawls and sinister shapes painted into the wood. Morrigan bent down and passed her gloved hand over the glyphs. "T'is a ward of some kind. There are several, one of which keeps something trapped here. But for the door, I will have this one off in but a moment."
Alice mused at how Morrigan's attitude had changed since she had slain the Flemeth dragon and provided the Black Grimoire to the young mage. The witch was almost pleasant now except for her continued verbal abuse of Alistair and Zevran. As Alice was about to speak, the sound of sudden movement caught her attention.
"We may not have a moment, witch," Oghren called out. "We got problems."
Pillars of smoke shot up from the floor and billowed outwards like great batwings, writhing and shrouding a hellish red glow that grew into a demon with skin like molten lava. "Morrigan, keep on the door," the Warden said as she drew her sword, the blade crackling with electricity as it left the scabbard. One of the rage demons lunged down at Oghren, grasping at the dwarf with flaming hands, but he dodged under its arm and smote it in the face with his hammer. Sparks and ashes burst in all directions and the demon faded into nothingness.
An arrow twanged from Leliana's bow and a bolt leapt from Alistair's crossbow into another glowing mass that was rushing in towards Oghren's flank. Sten strode forward and clove the demon from head to toe with one massive swing of the Asala, his giant sword. The burst of ashes and sparks knocked the big Qunari back and blinded the archers, allowing further demons to pounce on them.
Alistair fell back with a cry and tried to draw his dagger as the demon cocked a flaming fist back only to have it lopped off by a swing of Alice's sword. The demon bellowed in pain and turned to face his attacker. Alice could feel the heat radiating off of the creature's body as its eyes shone like bright, angry furnaces. It let out a cry of fury as Alice pulled her hands back and then drove the tip of her sword through the demon's open mouth. Arcs of electricity shot from the demon's head and it seemed to melt into the ground and fade away.
Looking through the slit of her visor the Warden could only see Sten and Oghren pounding on a skeleton, one striking high and one striking low. Her sallet offered great protection, but the lack of visibility was sometimes an expensive tradeoff. Steel rattled on steel as she tried to turn her head from side to side to see what was around her, but all she could get were glimpses of fire, flying arrows and hacking swords. With a frustrated sweep of her hand, she flung the visor open. "Master Wade is going to have to fix this," she said.
A tingling feeling ran along the back of her neck and she began to turn, but something seized the brim of her helm and pulled her backwards. A quick stutter step prevented her from being thrown to the ground, but strong flaming arms spun her into the wall. The Warden crashed, head first into the marred paintings of Andraste, splintering wood. Out of the corner of her eye she could see an orange glow nearly upon her and she ducked under a burning fist that hammered into the wall, throwing sparks and ash into the air. She rose and tried to skewer the demon, but it anticipated her move and pinned her sword arm to the wall.
The monster bellowed out a throaty roar, its froglike mouth opened impossibly wide and the Warden could feel the heat of its breath and hand. It reared back, threatening to bite her head off in one snap of its jaw. The timing would have to be perfect – The demon lunged and she dropped into a crouch, drawing her dagger, a broad bladed cinquedea, with her left hand. With a grunt, the Warden drew the blade along its midsection and then jammed the tip into its chest. The demon bellowed again, but this time in pain. She rose again and dragged the dagger upwards to its jaw, cutting everything in between and, with a shriek, it evaporated into smoke.
"The door, t'is open!" Morrigan called as she swung it inward. The witch was about to step in when a howling blast of icy wind tore around her and into the chapel and then, all was still. The remaining rage demons diminished in brightness and fury and faded into the walls, seeming afraid of what lay beyond the open door.
A woman's cackle echoed in the chapel, tightening the Warden's guts in an icy grip. The sound of boots and spurs on wood followed as someone…or something walked towards the open door. Morrigan took several steps backwards, the normally fearless witch's eyes opened wide. She looked back at the Warden, looking for reassurance. "J…just being cautious," she said, trying to restore some of her bravado.
Alice saw a gauntleted hand in the doorway, beckoning them. "I thought this place was abandoned," she said to Levi.
"Other than the skeletons and demons, I thought so too," he said slowly, his words drifting off with the steam from his lips.
The Warden walked forward, her own spurs clinking on the ground. Whoever was in there was at least a knight, she thought. She took a peek in through the open doorway and her blood nearly froze. A dark-haired woman stood at a rotting desk, her skin mottled and flaking, her eyes rheumy like that of a dead fish. A smile emerged through blackened and cracked lips as if she were greeting old friends. Alice let her gaze wander down from the woman's face onto her tarnished gray cuirass which bore the dented and scratched symbol of the Warden Commander of Ferelden – twin griffons Argent, wings displayed and elevated. The one who should be wearing that harness was Sophia Dryden…long dead Sophia Dryden.
"Come in," the walking corpse said as she gestured to a once elegant seat with now moldy cushions.
Alice moved in cautiously, eyeing the sword at the Warden Commander's hip. At least one thing here was well cared for. "Thank you, but I'd prefer to stand," she said as Alistair and Levi moved in by her side. Her upbringing took over and she made a curt bow as one noble to another. "I am Warden Cousland. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
Levi leaned in close. "I think that's my great great grandmother, but it looks like she really let herself go," he whispered into the Warden's ear.
The dead woman seemed intrigued by Alice's courtesy and raised an eyebrow. She then made a hesitant bow as if trying to remember what the significance of the action was. "This one…used to be everything that was the Commander. The Dryden…Sophia," she said in a voice that held too many tones to be human.
The Warden shifted her balance and subtly eased the palm of her hand onto the grip of her sword. "So, you're a demon then?"
"Yes, but before you do anything rash, listen to my proposal. You are the first in two hundred years to succeed in coming this far. The others merely added their bones to the…defenders of this cold keep. For two hundred years all I have seen is the inside of this dark place. I yearn to see the world…to explore…to live."
Alice raised an eyebrow and curled up one side of her lip. "I've seen it. Trust me, you're better off here."
Sophia returned a surprised, curious look, cocking her head to one side as if she didn't quite understand. "So, why should I stay here? This place is dreadful! I can look into the Dryden's memories and see things of beauty, places to feed. I see a place called the Wounded Coast. It has…a ring to it. I'd like to make that home."
"You can't trust anyone out there," the Warden said, sweeping her hand towards the exit. "Everyone wants to stab you in the back and it's all about power. You'd just be miserable, demon."
"How do you know?" the demon said, a little sharply. "It is for me to experience. You have had the luxury of living out there. I have not. So, do you wish to close this tear in the Fade or not?"
"Oh, that's what's bringing in all of these undead?" the Warden said innocently, playing dumb. "Tell me more about this."
"What do you want to know? That the Dryden did battle with the fool, King Arland and that the violence of the bloodletting weakened the Fade…that the Dryden tried to do the right thing and remove that fool from the throne?"
"Yes, this is important for me to know if I'm going to make a decision."
Sophia nodded and seemed to shake with anger. "The coward, Arland, refused to sally forth himself and sent his Arls and Banns to do the bloody deed. They laid siege to the Peak for more than three months where we threw back assault after assault until provisions ran low. We ate the horses and mules first and then boiled shoe leather. Hunger and disease rampaged in the Keep and desperation set in."
"That sounds terrible. You held out against incredible odds," the Warden said, attempting to see if there was anything human left in the former Commander.
"We were caught between surrender and the gallows or one last attempt at victory. The Dryden lured Arland's forces into the Keep and then…Avernus..."
"Avernus? Avernus, the mage? What happened then?"
Sophia waved her hand dismissively and huffed. "It is nothing. Enough, do you wish my help or not?"
"Just one more moment. My companion, Levi Dryden, begs a question."
Levi stepped forward sheepishly at first and nodded his thanks at Alice. Sophia took a step back and eyed him with some suspicion. "Dryden," the demon said, "you are also a Dryden?"
The merchant bowed. "By rights, I am your great-great granson. The Drydens are now a wealthy family, but our honor and our nobility were lost here. I want to know if Sophia…if you acted honorably. I need to know this. This can restore our family name."
The edges of Sophia's lips curled up and Alice could see a bit of the demon return as the woman's humanity slipped away once again. "A fair question," the demon said. "I will sweeten the pot. I will tell Levi all that he wishes to know and help close the tear in the Fade in return for my freedom. Release me…destroy the glyphs holding me here and you shall know all."
The Warden was trying to gauge Sophia's reaction when she felt a firm hand on her arm – it was Leliana. "Warden, you don't mean to parley with this demon," the bard whispered into her ear. "They are full of lies and trickery."
The walking corpse hissed at Leliana. "Shut your mouth, you Orlesian whore or I will shut it for you." Sophia's hand went to the grip of her sword.
Alice immediately put her hands out to diffuse the tension. "Let's not be hasty. Leliana, remember Father Kolgrim and the Dragon Cult? We can talk this out, right?" she asked, hoping the bard would recall the ruse.
Leli's eyes brightened. "Oh…Kolgrim, right. This…is…Haven!" she said, baring her teeth and thumping her chest in imitation of the cult leader.
"Now, where was I?" Alice asked as she inched closer to Sophia. Demons were tricky beasts and could never be trusted. Still, it was a shame that Levi might never know the ultimate fate of his ancestor and, the fact that it seemed as if there was still a spark of whatever was Sophia Dryden…. But, she had to act now. She had to move before the demon grew wise or took the initiative. A demon in its full power was a fearsome creature. She remembered the Fade Beast that they slew in Ortan Thaig a month ago and it still gave her chills. It was now or never. "I'm sorry, Levi, we will find your answers another way," she said and pulled her sword from its scabbard in a flash.
But the demon was ready and its eyes glowed bright red as it slid around the cut. "I knew you would be too foolish to accept my generous offer," Sophia said as she drew her sword and air began to swirl with energy and groaning shades emerged from the walls. "Feed on them, my children. Let their corpses add to our army!"