Disclaimer: We do not own The Elder Scrolls or Dragon Age Series.
Co-author and Beta: Etheral-23
Soldier's Peak
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
"I'll be honest with you, honey. I was hoping to teach Isabela a few things... turns out that girl required no further education~"
"Hmm, indeed. She knew the six things women are good for with other women"
"You think it was tacky on my part to enchant her jewelry? I mean I didn't want to make it look like I was 'paying' her-"
"Oh please, you heard how much she loves the sea. I'm sure she'll appreciate the ability to swim like a fish and breathe underwater"
"Well that kiss she gave me showed she was very grateful~"
"Oh for all that is holy and unholy in this world" Theron snapped, frustration lacing his every word. "Would you two stop talking about your sex life OUT LOUD?!"
"Welcome to our lives," Both Sofie and Sarya drawl slowly with a dry deadpan.
It had been a day since the group had left Denerim and started their sojourn to Soldier's Peak. An old once forgotten Gray Warden fortress nestled in the remote snowy mountain range of the Coastlands between Highever and Amaranthine. Their company had grown with Bodahn and his son Sandal who brought their large horse drawn wagon. Marcus had accepted the old dwarven merchant's proposal to accompany them which was a nice change as most now sat in the cart to let their feet rest.
Along for the ride was Levi who stared mostly up at the sky. "Odahviing won't swoop down and snatch you, you know." Miara quipped as she rode on Shadowmare. The reveal and explanation of her spectral horse to the others was mildly entertaining as was showing their new companions of Miara's and Sarya's real appearance, and a giant talking red dragon.
Who knew dwarves could run so damn fast? It took a while to calm them (just Bodahn) and Levi who had ran up a tree that Odahviing was on their side (and wouldn't eat them). Did not help from the big red dragon that remark those two would not even be a snack and Levi was too thin for a meal.
"I-I know, just... How do you get use to a talking dragon?" Levi lamented as he peered over to everyone.
Bodahn felt like speaking as well "Got to say I'm wondering the same. Along with that strange horse you summoned Lady Redoran"
"Just Miara, no need to be formal with me. Shadowmare was a gift and a friend. Got me out of a number of tight spots." The Dunmer patted her horse.
"Speaking of tight spots" Gin spoke up, "How long do these go on?"
'These' being the long networks of top-open caves from a large winding mine shafts one need to traverse through in order to quickly reach the ancient fortress. As Marcus had explained, Soldier's Peak was built on the base of the mountains, the terrain was not inaccessible on foot, but was a long uphill climb, parts where some horses and carriages couldn't make the journey. So with Levi's guidance they traveled the few areas where horses could move through to the fortress.
It also added the strategic advantage making the deployment of siege weaponry impossible. As the terrain wasn't fit for it, and they would be too far from the keep to properly reach it even on more stable ground. It only added the fortress' value in Miara's mind.
"Not much longer" Levi said, "At least a hundred meters more before we get out of the tunnels"
"You are very familiar with the layout" Alistair commented, "Have you been through before?" It'd make sense, given the man's desire to reclaim the Keep and clear his family name; he'd have explored the tunnels to make sure it was safe.
To their surprise, Levi looked hesitant. "I... haven't, actually"
That drew more than a few surprised gazes. "You haven't?" Theron replied in confusion. "But you navigated us through the caves without issue"
"It's... hard to explain. I haven't been here before, but it's almost like... I have. This will sound strange but lately I've been having these... dreams" He paused but soon continued; "Since I was a lad I kept seeing this place over and over again in my dreams. Like something was calling me here."
"Something or someone likely was." Sarya quipped as she shifted on her seat of the wagon. "That is well beyond coincidence, Levi. Something wanted you to find the Peak."
"We will figure that out when we get there." Marcus said as he rested his forearms on his knees. His mood had improved slowly after leaving Denerim, but he was still in turmoil over what he was told. He did give Mallol a quick goodbye who addressed she will send a letter to his mother and Iona about him and the others.
A low whine came to his attention as he saw Loke raise his head to look at him. He gave a weak smile before petting his hound.
Neria looked from the wagon to her Mabari who walked beside Shadowmare. "You doing okay boy?" Bran barked back and resumed sniffing around the Dunmer's demon horse. Miara never said, but the former circle mage knew it was sentient, annoyance shone in its eyes watching her hound roamed around it.
Leliana tightened the string to her bow before looking to Levi; "And you were actually with Duncan and late Commander Genevieve to see King Maric on having the Wardens return to Ferelden?"
"Proudest day of my life." Levi spoke with reverence as he smiled at the memory. "Loghain was against it. Mostly because they were from the Orlesian chapter." the man grumped.
Marcus grunted, "Sounds like Loghain..."
The rest of their journey continued in silence. It wasn't long until they saw a light at the end of the tunnel, along with the cool air from the mountains. Patches of white snow visible as the temperature gradually dropped.
Morrigan shivered despite herself, casting a spell on her person to ward off the cold. Sarya noticed this and grinned, "Bet you'd wish to wear more clothing now" The witch merely scoffed and ignored her.
They exited the tunnels, and were treated with a majestic sight. It was nowhere near the size of giant fortresses like Fort Drakon or Ostagar, but it was a fine structure all the same.
Sitting at the base of the mountain, it stood tall despite all the years it had been left abandoned, separated into two great structures, the first one at least five stories tall with multiple solid stone walls and battlements. Stone steps descended into a large courtyard that was guarded by tall sturdy rock walls and a large gate. A great long sprung from the fourth floor, connecting to another large part of the fortress with a tower at the center.
"Here it is, like I've seen in my dreams..." Levi softly said in reverence, holding great respect for this place and it represented for his family.
The group marveled at the sight, Miara whistled in appreciation. "Now, this is a fine fortress. You can tell they built it to last"
"I'll say..." Marcus muttered, "Look at it all, centuries have gone by and the whole outer structure looks mostly intact. The wear and tear is minimal on the outside"
"Perhaps this diversion will be worthwhile" Sten admitted, even the stoic qunari could appreciate the benefit of having a strong base of operations such as this one.
As Neria took in the sights with a wide smile on her face, every step she took caused it to dwindle. Feeling as something was... out of place. "Bri?" She cautiously called to her friend. "Can you feel that?"
Before an answer could be given, the air had grown hazy, almost like they were surrounded by mist. Apparitions of people, soldiers, and march away from the fortress in disarray were seen.
"Fall back, fall back I say!" A commander in old Ferelden plate armor ordered firmly.
An officer walked up to him, "Taking the keep will not be easy my lord"
"I gave the Wardens one chance to die with honor, instead they hold up like cowards. We'll follow the king's advice then, starve them out"
"But the peak has months of supplies!" The officer urgently pointed out.
"Then we wait!" The commander snapped, "When they're too weak to lift their weapons, we will send them to their final judgement"
Then, as soon as it began, it was all over.
"What in the Ancestors' names was that?" Bodahn exclaimed in shocked, having never witnessed something like that in his life.
"A vision of the past" Brianna muttered seriously, reaching out to get a feel of the world around them, confirming her suspicions.
"The Veil is very thin here" Morrigan voiced what the other mages were thinking. "The deaths that occurred here long ago weakened it. It left its mark as we just saw"
"The Veil?" Levi asked in confusion. Miara shouldn't be surprised the common folk weren't too informed on the nature of the mystical.
"The barrier that separates the physical world and the Fade" Neria explained before urgently pointing out. "Be wary, if the Veil is so thin here than that means demons have managed to slip through"
A large shadow descended down as Odahviing landed near them. A low growl came from him along with the two mabari hounds that bristled and shook. "The air smells of old death," the ruby dragon muttered with disdain.
Miara dismounted from Shadowmare as the others got off the wagon. "We need to be ready for anything." In the slightest chance there were undead she kept Dawnbreaker sheathed and drew Dragonbane instead, she didn't want to risk Serana.
"We will just stay back here if that's all the same. We're not fighters," Bodahn remarked as he patted his son's shoulder as both stayed close to their wagon.
"That is best." Marcus lamented as the rest plus Odahviing drew near the open courtyard.
A grunt came from Sten as he drew his own weapon "The air is too still."
Odahviing's eyes narrowed as he saw frozen remains all around. The others soon saw as a gasp escaped Neria's lips as the countless bodies littering the area. The cold mountain air preserving them all in their last moments. Some were bones; some still a bit had flesh along with broken armor and weapons in hand. Once side being the Warden, the other Ferelden...
Leliana held her pendant close as she whispered a prayer. "Gods..." Sofie ran a hand through her hair; "This was a massacre."
"We can bury these people properly once this is done." Alistair quipped as he had his sword and shield ready. Theron already had his sword drawn next to Marcus. Gin held his crossbow close near Neria and Brianna.
Morrigan gazed hardened along with Sarya who's hands buzzed with magic. "Levi if you can't fight get back to Bodahn." The telvanni mage quipped as all heard a rattle of bones. The human merchant need not be told twice as he ran back to the dwarfs.
"The spirits have taken possession of the corpses" Neria announced, "By ready!"
"Pfft, skeletons" Miara scoffed. They were hardly a challenge. Holy magic glowed in her free hand as she gripped Dragonbane.
The corpses rose, the skeletons letting out a rattling sound as they moved. The bodies that still had some long dried up flesh in them let out shrieking howls as they charged. Bodies shambling without any sort of coordination or skill, but more than making it up in numbers.
Neria casted a barrier over as many allies as she could. Brianna conjured fire to strengthen her allies' blades, setting them ablaze. Morrigan stomped her staff on the ground, calling forth solid stone from the ground and firing it at great speed towards the closest undead she could see. It dented the remains of its armor as its decayed limbs simply peeled off from the impact.
Marcus spun his blades on his hands, parrying the clumsy strikes of two skeletons as a pair of simple swipes brought them down. Alistair charged with his shield up, bringing down multiple undead on his path. Sten swung his greatsword over his head, the might strike cutting down three skeletons in just one swing.
Leliana and Gin shoot down any undead that approached their allies from the back, covering their flank. Bolts and arrows piercing ancient bones with eyes, the creatures crumbling down as though piercing their empty skulls had the same result as though they still had brains left.
Sofie decided these undead weren't the trouble of taking out her blade. Rolling her neck, popping the stiff joints with satisfying cracks, she pulled from the well of raging energy within her, surging fore like an inferno. Her fists clenched, arms shaking from the effort as her muscles swelled larger, stronger, straining against the armor as a scale-texture covered her skin. A shrieking corpse swung an old rusted flail over its head; the Nordic warrior kicked it on its plated chest, sending it flying back. Her fists lashed out with ferocity, taking the head clean off from another with a swift punch, before grabbing a charging skeleton by the skull, her hand cracking the bone and pulverizing it without much effort.
Odahviing growled as he smashed any undead that came close with his tail, feet, or giant maw. The ground shook as his tail slammed into the ground, crushing several walking skeletons. "Sahlo (weak)!" He bellow with a sneer.
"You know." Serana grunted as sliced a walking skeleton that lunged at her; "Whether it be here or Tamriel. Skeletons are so damn annoying." Another skeleton broke apart as she launched an ice spike through its chest.
Soon a loud inhuman shriek caught attention as a creature in a robe-like outfit that looked like its skin with leather belts fused in. It had strong muscular arms with sharp claws and a long neck but no real head. However two glowing eyes glared at the group.
"Shade!" Neria and Bri chorused as they fought side by side.
So another 'demon' of the fade like Rage from the Elven Temple. Once more to Miara and Serana, this felt like no Daedra.
They didn't much have time to ponder on the nature of the being when the creature struck. Streams of pure frost blasting from its claws at the vampire and dunmer. She dunmer called forth a ward to block the frost magic, while the vampire made little attempt at defending herself from.
"Hmph, using cold against a vampire" Even as frost began covering her enchanted clothes and the visible parts of her skin, gathering in thin layers of ice, Serana remained unfazed. "Foolish" And against a Volkihar, the height of folly, her clan could walk through solid ice without issue, this little display of magical ice was barely an inconvenience.
Serana snapped her fingers, conjuring two large spectral hands from below the ground, wrapping themselves around the Shade in a deadly coil. With a swipe of her hand, the hands blazed purple with arcane energy, compressing their forms and the shade as they exploded with a blast of arcane power. The Shade was reduced to pieces, dark demonic ichor coating the ground around it.
As the last of the skeletons were brought down, Brianna ceased her observation of Sarya's mastery over chain lightning, even as it linked to four undead at once. To stare in awe at Serana's spell. "Oh that was so... badass"
"Just a bit of dark magic hun"
Neria shook her head but held her tongue while Marcus spoke up; "Everyone alright?"
"We're fine." Theron responded as he stared at the fortress; "We will likely face more. Maybe a lot more inside."
Levi ran back up to them as Bodahn came up with his son and wagon and Shadowmare. "Sweet Andraste! Were those undead!?"
"And a demon." Brianna quipped as she knelt down to the now still bones. "And who knows what else is waiting for us."
Marcus thought for a moment before turning to Levi; "We don't know what we will face inside. Might be safer for you three out here."
"I couldn't help but agree." Bodahn cleared his throat as Sandal only stared at the fortress. "But what if one of those shamblers comes out?"
Miara thumbs over to Odahviing; "My zeymah will keep you safe." A low grumble of displeasure came from the ruby dragon but nodded in compliance. "But we still might need another sword if their numbers swell and some stragglers escape him." A familiar purple glow came from her hand as Neria and a few others tensed. Extending her hand she opened a door to Oblivion.
What stepped out was the most beautiful tall woman many of them had ever seen. Her skin a golden-hue adorned in ornate golden armor with large pauldrons and battle skirt which revealed her toned stomach and shapely legs. On her feet were armored boot that went up to her knees, her face held a look of indifference as she wore a winged helmet with her long flowing golden hair came out from the back and down to her waist. In one gauntlet covered hand was an ornate golden shield while a sheathed blade with a golden guard handle rested at her hip. Her golden yellow eyes casted a blank gaze at people around her.
Neria froze beside a very curious Brianna and Morrigan. Theron was tense as was Gin who gripped his crossbow tightly.
"Strange new mortals you parade around with Lady Miara," the daedra remarked in disdain with a regal husky tone.
"They are very strange." Miara mused earning an indignant cry from Alistair and few others that she ignored. "But good mortals." An 'hmph' came from the Daedra woman before the Dunmer looked to the crew from Thedas. "This is Ihoura, a Golden Saint or Aureals as they prefer."
Ihoura cocked her head; "I assumed you summoned me other than showing these mortal true perfection?"
"Yes." Miara drawled as she rolled her eyes and pointed to the fortress. "We're currently going into that fortress there"
The saint's gaze turned to the Peak; "Puzzling..." She only remarked dryly.
"You know, your demons are really not what I'm expecting" Alistair replied, managing to sound jovial despite his apprehension regarding the demon.
"Should I summon a Seeker then? They are masses of tentacles with mouths where there shouldn't be mouths"
"Ah, that's more like it... and please don't"
The Aureal turned her golden gaze to the dunmer woman. "Shall I venture forth into the fortress then, my lady?"
"No" Miara said with a shake of her head before pointing to Levi and the dwarves. "Guard them while we explore"
That seemed to annoy the golden woman. "Must I?"
"You must" It wasn't with anger that Miara reaffirmed her order, but a rather matter of factly tone as though there was no other option.
The golden warrior sighed to herself, walking less than enthusiastically towards the mortals who wearily eyed her. "Just because I have infinite amounts of time does not mean I should waste them with this..." She muttered to herself.
As they stared at the daedra resign herself to her task, the group shared various looks amongst themselves. "Can't say I've ever seen anyone command a demon like that..." Brianna said, voice lost in thought. "Or that one would look so beautiful"
A groan came from Neria as she rubbed her eyes; "Please stop ogling the demon woman Bri..."
"Briinah, you doubt I can watch these joor?"
Miara rolled her eyes at the mock hurt tone from the ruby dragon.
Levi quickly came up to Marcus; "I want to come with you."
"Are you sure?" Gin questioned as he came up beside him; "You can't fight"
"I know. But need I need to see what's in there. Need to know the truth. Please Marcus..."
The Cousland rubbed his chin; "stay behind us and duck for cover when any fighting starts."
Theron sighed; "Will make our work a bit harder. But understand, he wants to know his kin."
"Are we ready?" Sten questioned as he kept his gaze on Ihoura.
"Yup, let's clear out a fortress." Sofie smiled as she began striding ahead of the others.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Opening the large double doors the group came to long hall covered with dust and webbing. Old armor sets stood proudly on stands near the wall, tables and other furnishings laid about, some broken. And like before bodies lay about. This time only skeletons, some being wardens and other Ferelden soldiers.
"Maker, I'm starting to think the fighting occurred everywhere here." Alistair addressed in a solemn rebuke.
Miara kept her focus around the building itself; "This place is remarkably in a good condition."
Before anyone could speak back the air grew hazy once more as ethereal figures appeared. From human, elf, and dwarf; all were dressed in gear of the Gray Wardens. Serena took note that their gear had overall not changed much over the centuries. Soon the spectral figure of a man in warden mage gear came beside a woman in full plate armor.
"The men's morale is low. My spells are of no use in this matter commander." The mage spoke with remorse.
But the woman's gaze remained steely; "There is more to leading men than sorcery, Avernus. I will remind them that they are Wardens." The woman moved to the center of the room. "Men! I won't lie to you, the situation is grim!" Her eyes gazed to each person around her; "Our forces are outnumbered, our bellies empty. And our hearts are sagging."
Soon fire blazed in her eyes as she shouted; "But we are Warden! Darkspawn flee at the sound of our horns! Archdemons die when they taste our blades!" She paused as she glared; "So are we to kneel to mere human despot?! No!" Her men soon cheered; "I, for one will never give up! I, for one will never surrender just to dance on Arland's gallows!"
Her men cheered louder as the man nodded in agreement to their commander as her words roused them. "So I propose now, in these hallowed halls where generations of our brethren stood vigil against the Darkspawn and evil... That we send a message to that fat bastard! That in this sacred place; proud men, strong men, stood defiant! And would rather die than submit to tyranny!"
At that her men cheered as the vision soon faded.
Those had truly been inspiring words, even across the centuries, the party could feel the invigorating power behind them.
Levi looked on both proudly and humbled that his ancestor could command such loyalty from her warriors. "So brave, even against the odds..."
"Now that was a leader" Alistair said, his voice distant.
The Amell mage's brows furrowed in thought, "Wait, did you people catch that part about King Arland?" Brianna brought up. "She called him a despot, a tyrant. But in all my studies of Ferelden history never did I find anything that would point to Arland being a cruel monarch"
"Unsurprising" Marcus shrugged, "After Arland's death there was a terrible war of succession. A decade savage of infighting, many people died and a lot of records were destroyed. It was a dark chapter for the country, both with how gruesome it was and how little we know about it"
"Then... that means she had a reason!" The living Dryden exclaimed, a hopeful smile blooming on his lips. "You heard her, my ancestor must have led the Wardens to revolt against Arland because he was a tyrant!"
"I know you want to clear your family name" Sofie tactfully said, "But you don't know for sure what happened. Maybe Arland was very stern and harsh in some matters while he was more understanding in others. Some people would have hated him while others preferred his rule. History isn't always so black and white, one's tyrant can be another's champion" The nord knew that all too well, she had learnt those things from a young age with Stormcloak Rebellion.
Levi looked like he wanted to argue more, but instead a tired sigh escaped his lips. "I know, maybe I'm just being too hopeful. I'm just... my family has gone through very rough times ever since Sophia's rebellion. If I could clear our name then perhaps things could finally change for us"
"You put too much stock in the past to know your future" Morrigan commented disapprovingly. "That is a sure path to make sure you have neither"
Sarya smiled widely, "See, even Morri is concerned for you"
"I'm really not" The swamp witch's comment went ignored this time.
Marcus knelt down in front of a Warden skeleton; "The armor and even this place is well intact."
"My guess is the weather was just right on this mountain to preserve it so well." Serana clarified; "A few places in Skyrim had the same with only needing minor repairs."
Sarya crossed her arms; "This place will be a superb base for us! Once we clear the dead and thought constructs out."
"How about we save the renovation plans after this is done?" Alistair commented with a grin.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Exiting the front hall the group went fully into the fortress. In some areas they found the remains of battle and ruin, while other areas were untouched. One being an armory locked from the inside. It took both Sofie and Sten to break down one of the doors. Within they found a slew of weapons and armor. Sadly nearly all of it was worn and unusable; but for Miara's keen smithing eye she expressed she can make Warden gear by going over all these pieces.
"I can update everything you all have." The Dunmer stated with a grin.
Alistair looked down at his gear; "Think our stuff is alright."
"You'll think otherwise when I'm done and use Tamriel materials."
Sarya shook her head to the former Templar; "Just give up, when it comes to forging. Mom always wins."
Serana theatrically lamented, "Maybe one day she'll love me like that"
"All you need to do is heat up metal, breath out fumes and be two tons heavy" Sofie quipped.
The armory was a closed off room as they found, it did not lead anywhere else. So they backtracked through the larger room and continued forth. They ended up arriving at another large chamber, this one filled with multiple bookcases, most likely this place was the library. The books were in various stages of rot, while others had been badly burnt.
"Doesn't look like we'll get much out of this place" Alistair commented.
Neria spotted a burnt book on the ground, feeling faint hints of magic in it. She knelt down carefully turned the pages with her magic. Most of the book was ruined but she could make out a few words here and there. It always saddened her to see lost knowledge like this, if only there was a way to-
The air grew hazy once more, as another vision settled.
Wardens retreated from the room, leaving behind them a barred door that was struggling to hold the battering from the other side. The sound of a battering-ram hitting the wood with the shouts of soldiers operating the siege weapon was heard. A mage woman approached an older Warden with fear in her eyes.
"The door won't hold Archivist"
"Almost done..." The older mage said in desperation. "The truth must be told"
"What does it matter? We're dead" She spoke despondently, having already given up.
"Our grand rebellion, so close..." The archivist despaired. "And to die here a stillbirth"
"We never should have done it!" She wailed, cursing their actions. "Wardens aren't supposed to oppose kings and princes!"
The old archivist had not given up his convictions however. "Should we stand idly while-"
The soldiers let out a warring cry as the door burst open, and so the vision ended.
"Anyone else is getting a headache from these things?" Gin groaned, rubbing his eyes.
Alistair shook his head, crossing his arm. "Sounds a lot of the Wardens here believed in Sophia's rebellion, saw it as a grand cause"
Both Mabari sniffed around as Levi was unsure how to feel; "Something had to be bad enough for the Wardens to act?"
"We're not meant to go against nations." Alistair retorted while Theron and Leliana looked through the shelves. "We might do odd jobs here and there but we remain neutral."
Marcus turned to his friend; "Then something happened that made neutrality no longer an option?"
"It would have to be something big. Too big for even the Wardens to ignore." Alistair stressed grimly.
"We should press on." Sten spoke up beside Sofie and Brianna.
A grunt came from Miara; "I agree we should-" An ear piercing shriek made most of them wince as a as the floor ahead of them glowed.
What leapt out was a towering humanoid creature with green skin, elongated limbs with claw-like hands, and a large mouth permanently open showing rows of teeth. Multiple eyes glare at them with malicious.
"What the hell?!" Sofie exclaimed drawing her sword along with Sten.
"Terror demon, annoyingly swift! Take it down fast." Morrigan remarked as she and the others mages launched fire, ice, and lightning.
It managed to let out a long shriek once, before the spells hit it, and yet that was enough to make the hearts of the party beat erratically, even with the heat of battle. True to its name, Terror inflicted fear and panic into them, a dangerous foe that could quickly break morale.
They wasted no time in taking down the creature, blasting it with spells and hacking away at its long limbs. The demon was brought down swiftly, black ichor coating the weapons of those who struck it down. Yet their minds had yet to settle from the panic they had felt.
Levi was huddled up in a corner, shielding his face with his arms and shivering violently. The demon's power had been too much for the poor man.
"Was never hit with magic like that before..." Marcus muttered, still unnerved.
The swamp witch commented, "That fact you're still standing, along with some of our allies, speaks a lot of your mental fortitude"
Serana sighed, approaching the cowering man who mumbled in incoherence to himself. "Don't worry, you'll be fine" She channeled illusion magics through her hand and casted it upon him. Levi stopped shivering, yet lurched his stomach's contents on the floor; the sudden shock wearing off still did a number on him.
He heaved, cleaning his mouth. His stomach slowly settling as a sense of calmness quickly put him at ease. "What did you do?"
"The demon hit us with fear, so instead I used magic to conjure calmness"
"Ohhhhh" Brianna's eyes lit up with interest. "In the Entropy School of magic we have spells to inspire fear or just disorient the target. But you say your magics include inspiring actual positive emotions or mental states?"
"Courage, calmness" Sarya listed off, "And even more aggressive emotions like rage"
"Depending on your skill of the school of illusion magic; you can quell a mob or insight a riot with the wave of a hand." Miara remarked as she had done both when situations called for it. Turning a large bandit camp on each other or stopped a large scuffle in one of Holds during the Skyrim civil war. The illusion arts were a handy skill.
Neria shuffled her feet; "And it's not blood magic?"
"Nope." Sarya remarked cheerfully; "Lovely isn't it?"
It made no sense to the elven Thedosian mage. You need blood magic to influence the mind like that! Just how advanced was Tamriel in the ways of the Arcane?
"Let's get moving." Gin remarked and the others agreed as they left the library.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Being thorough the group traversed every room, corridor, and crevice for undead and demons. Thankfully after the Terror demon the attacks grew less and were easy to dispatch. Moving through fortress they found the private chambers of the Warden Commander and Constable of the Grey (second-in-command Alistair had explained). Sadly the rooms were in disrepair like the library, with even Sophia's journals being ruined. Going further they found a large room with multiple broken beds that were once neatly together. Brianna openly commented it reminded her of the open dorms in Kinloch hold. Not much or at all any way for privacy.
While the group discussed the potential applications of the fortress and its various chambers. The ever focused and sharpened mind of the Qunari in their party found itself... drifting. That was a rare occurrence for the Sten, all of his life had been about discipline and focus, and to let his mind wander idle was a confusing and dangerous prospect. He found their conversations to be pointless dribble many times, and the distractions they created for themselves too many. It got to the point he tuned them out, but not even the battlefield could give him the focus he needed again.
A warrior must be disciplined at all times, as was expected of a follower of the Qun.
But that was the issue wasn't it? He wasn't a member of the Qun. Not anymore. He was not a savage and honorless Tal-Vashoth, but no longer was he the Sten of the Beresaad. Not since he lost his Soul.
His slaughter of that innocent family who nursed him back to health had proved it. He did not forsake his duty like the Tal-Vashoth, but the loss of his Asala had rendered him savage all the same, already he was failing the Qun. Were he a true Qunari, he'd have cut down these Saarebas who consorted with demons and profane magics. Even if the one who had sent him free was their family, dangerous things like them should never be allowed to roam free.
And yet he stayed his hand, for the lack of his Soul, the slaughter he carried out with his own hands, had shown him he was no longer fit to be Qunari, even if that was what he wanted to be. He could not carry out the judgement the Qun demanded.
And... There were other reasons as well.
These people from the far shores of Tamriel, what an enigma they presented. Dangerous without a doubt, in need to be contained and yet... they showed honor.
This... was not something he could understand. How this strange family were so heretical, dangerous, and yet noble. A low grunt escaped his lips as his attention came to his current company as they found a large reinforced steel door.
"A Warden Vault." Alistair runs his hand over the door.
"Vaults usually mean money and treasure." Sarya summarized with her hands on her hip.
"You would be right. Money, documents, certain relics or gear is stored here." The former Templar looked closer; "Looks like someone tried to get in but couldn't."
Miara tapped her chin; "So whatever is in there stayed. We can try to open this later."
"Agreed, lets finish clearing this place," Marcus quipped as the group pressed onwards.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
"Are you sure it's coming from here?" Miara questioned Amell who nodded back.
"Definitely, the Veil here is weakest than anywhere else in the fortress so far"
Thanks to their mages, the Wardens and their allies knew they were nearing to the source of the tear in the Veil. Most likely the place where the most desperate and chaotic fight had taken place. Their path lead them to a very large room that was mostly empty, except for the large chimney they saw the moment they entered.
A few steps took them to the upper level, and there they found something much more unnerving. Four circular sigils built upon the ground, standing in a perfect square from each other, the corner of the room was pulsing with a sick purple miasma, crackling with violet arcs of electricity as though it was a localized storm cloud.
"Holy- The Veil is even more messed up than I thought" Brianna exclaimed, eyes wide open.
"No wonder the entire fortress is like this. Those things on the ground" Neria pointed out, "They must be part of some ritual the Wardens did here"
"And the result was THAT?" Gin said, pointing at that unnerving moving mass of darkness at the corner of the room.
"That's a very unstable Veil Tear" Morrigan supplied, "It's so large that demons are able to manifest freely"
"You're saying you could cross into the Fade through it?" Serana asked.
"Hah!" The witch barked a laugh, "Crossing physically into the Fade? Impossible. You'd require an ungodly source of power to even attempt something like that"
Sarya clicked her tongue. "Uh-huh, yes, impossible" Miara arched an eyebrow at her daughter, she knew that tone. Her daughter had done something 'again' that would bring them more trouble down the line. Ugh, curse her realm jumping abilities...
"And that only happened in legends" The Amell added.
"Not sure the Chantry would appreciate you calling their beliefs legends" The senior Warden among them slowly said.
"And you know how I feel about that"
Suddenly, once more a vision assaults them. This time they were in the middle of a battle, Sophia and her Wardens fighting off the king's soldiers. "Make them pay for every inch, men!" A soldier charged at her with a cry, his blade was swiftly parried away and his throat slit. "Hold the flank! Avernus," She turned to the mage they had seen before in a previous vision, "we need you!"
The mage began casting in an arcane tongue, "Nelatep obresooth net bekon!"
Their eyes widened as fire erupted from the ground, and from it emerged a rage demon.
The soldiers in the visions back away in fear, "Andraste's blood! W-What?!"
Sophia was not deterred by the sudden appearance of demons, instead... "More Avernus, whatever it takes!"
"Kaelee ai benfotus victus!" This time a Shade manifested from smoke, roaring.
"Press them, press them now!" Sophia commanded.
The demons attacked, but not just the enemy soldiers, they struck down Sophia's own Wardens. A female mage was thrown back against a wall, blood spluttering behind her head. A Warden who tried to run away found himself cut down by the Shade.
"No!" Avernus shouted, "I command you, fight the king's men!"
The shade turned its bale gaze at him, "Fool! So much death, suffering, and oh yes, blood" The demon said with relish. "The Veil is torn now" The monster loomed over the mage, forcing him to take a step back. "Your soul is mine, Avernus"
The mage staggered back in fear, "Acolytes, retreat now! The battle is lost!" And so he escaped, running up the stairs and deeper into the fortress.
"Avernus!" Sophia called out for soldiers who choose to run, anger in her words and disappointment in her eyes.
Then, the vision ended, leaving a very stunned group of Thedosians.
"And that" Sarya said, arms crossed under her bust, "Is why you learn how to properly bound any creature you summon"
"They got so desperate they summoned demons." Alistair sighed as he shook his head.
Leliana gripped her necklace as she spoke a small prayer. "Well this is a mess." Theron murmured as he looked at the sigils and miasma; "How do we-" He stopped speaking as Sarya went over to the sigils; "By Mythal please tell me you're not going to try something?"
The Dunmer interlocked her fingers and popped them; "As a member of House Telvanni I was taught to handle such trifles." Arcane energy glowed from her hands.
Neria came quick to her side; "You can't close it alone!" The power coming from this was immense, it made her wary. "And we don't know what might stir if someone messes with this."
"I have been training in the arcane since I was six. Taught by my mothers, Master Alfe Fyr, and Master Neloth. I am a proud member of the Dunmeri House Telvanni and eleven years your senior."
"We suppose to know those names?" Gin questioned to Sten who grunted.
Marcus came up to Sarya's side; "You can seal this?"
"Without any doubt. But we will have company most likely, the unwelcoming sort."
"Don't you at least want our help to close it?" Neria worriedly asked.
"I don't need it" Sarya merely replied with a shrug, prompting a snort and a roll of eyes from the dalish of their party.
"Sarya" Miara said in a tone one would use for misbehaving children, "What did we talk about humbleness?"
"Humbleness is the excuse of individuals' weak of will and power" She said as though she was quoting from a book.
"You really need to stop copying Neloth..."
"That was Master Alfe's words actually"
"Well she's not any better when it comes to it!"
"Anyway" The youngest daughter of the family stressed, "I also think it'd be best if you and the others get into position, this place is about to release demons the moment they feel the tear is closing"
The group wasted no time getting a position ready for the coming battle. Miara and Serana stood in front of their youngest to protect her, with Sofie at the rear with Sten. Marcus and Alistair were on the sides with Theron (much to his annoyance) beside Sarya, and the Thedosian mages in the back with Gin and Leliana ready. "Does Sarya know anything about the Arcane works done in Thedas?" The former Bard questioned out loud.
"I bought nearly every book I could at the Arcane shop in Denerim and studied what the Dalish keepers were willing to teach me." Sarya quipped with a grin. Both Loke and Bran stood ready as they snarled. Levi wisely ran to a safe place within the room and quickly hid.
"My sister is a quick study," Sofie lamented as she held her sword. "And she is the smartest person here."
"Ha! An actual compliment sister?!" Theron only muttered in elven; "You know I understand Elvhen now right?"
Frost danced in Serana's free hand; "Just start it dear."
Without another word Sarya begun to pour arcane energies into the sigils and she spoke several incantations. The miasma only grew thicker before all could hear several unnatural growls. Soon a roar echoed as shades, Terror, and a towering corpse dress in strange robes as it hovered in the air. Behind it stood a Desire demon that only smiled before raising her arm and pointed. At that the demons charged as they roared.
"So I imagine the horned lady with her tits out is some lust demon or something!" Sofie shouted as she chopped down Shade the moment it approached.
"Desire Demon!" Brianna explained as she slammed her staff and called upon frost to freeze over a small rage demon. "Not much of a difference really!"
Miara's form shifted into a mass of arcs of electricity, moving with supernatural speed through several green ghostly apparitions, the energy discharging as she phased through, stunning the incorporeal creatures before she cut them down with Dragonbane, their spectral forms falling all the same before the enchanted edge into piles of ectoplasm-like substance. "And the big guy?!"
"Arcane Horror!" Neria shouted as she conjured forth a barrier over Alistair who was battling said Horror, his Templar training served him well he dispelled the moment he saw the horror casting. "Possessed corpse of a mage!"
Alistair held his shield up, swiping a strike at the towering demon, this one backing away to avoid the sword. Rendered temporarily silent in its abilities to cast spells, the Horror swiped with its long clawed hands, scratching the shield. It's ability to cast spells soon returned, can rather than risk another Dispelling, the Horror blasted a telekinetic wave that sent Alistair flying backwards, crashing into Gin. The two falling to the ground.
Marcus bit back a swear as he cut down a Shade with his blades, slashing its throat, black ichor coating his weapons. The desire demon called forth more ghostly apparitions which casted bolts of green arcane energy at him. The Cousland was swift enough to dodge, yet a few impacted upon him, only to crash against an invisible barrier covering him like waves against the shore.
"You desperately find new targets to forget the one that truly deserves your blade Marcus" The desire demon spoke, her voice musical and malicious. "You know he must pay, yet you waste time playing leader when you should not have too. Your nation's would-be 'saviors' are naught by inept children whose hands you constantly need to hold"
Marcus grunted as he shook off the pain; "As tempting as whatever offer you want to propose, my lady. I respectfully decline." He held his swords at the ready; "And I could never live with myself if I did nothing and the Darkspawn destroyed everything."
That only seem to amuse the demonic woman; "A true noble warrior. What I like in men like you, the most fun to break." She purred before shifting her head to avoid a spike of pure ice. Her purple eyes peered ahead to Serana who took down a Shade with her father's sword. "Such power. The glory to become what you are."
"You would fit right into Coldharbour honey." The Nordic vampire hissed as she and Marcus went to charge the demon woman.
"Desire demons nearly rival Pride demons in power!" Neria warned as she sent several blasts of lightning into approaching wraiths.
Theron grunted as he took down any approaching demon with the aid of Loke and bran; "Think you can pick up the pace?!" He quipped to Sarya as the demon pressed ahead.
"Want me to tell Merrill you talk in your sleep!" Sarya retorted back
Gin shook his head as he sat up and looked to his fellow Warden who was just as groggy; "You okay?"
"Define okay?" the former Templar groaned as he and Gin helped each other up. Both soon dodged several blasts of arcane energy as the Horror shrieked. "Guess he wants to play with us."
Gin drew out his daggers; "Aren't we lucky."
Sten tried to charge at the Horror, but a flick of its wrist and flash of magic commanded the very floor to turn against him. The stone under his feet broke and molded around him like a carapace, rendering his body immobile no matter how much he struggled, only his head remained mostly free, his expression showing the irritation he felt and the exertion as he tried to break free.
Gin took out one of his grenades and threw it at the demon. It exploded in green mist around it that quickly dissipated, revealing the demon to be completely unaffected by the alchemical concoction. The city elf bit back a swear, unsure if the poison didn't work because it was a demon, or because it was 'the possessed corpse of a mage' as Neria had said.
Theron quickly took out his bow and aimed, letting loose several arrows against the Arcane Horror, these just bounced off it from an invisible barrier, and the demon fired a stream of blaze at the dalish who quickly rolled out of the way.
Alistair gave a quick prayer to the Maker, calling upon the vestiges of lyrium in his blood. It took far more effort than it did before, a bead of sweat rolling down his head, he thrusted his blade high and called upon a Holy Smite upon the Horror. A blaze of sacred light fell upon the towering demon, crashing its barrier and hitting it with immense power. The Horror shrieked, its levitation ceasing as it stumbled over the ground, falling to one knee.
The senior Warden fell to one knee, panting. Gin did not waste any more time and ran towards the demon, with a long leap he buried his daggers right upon the creature's head.
In one swift motion he severed the corpse head from its neck. Black ichor spewed as it was finally dead. Gin spoke a quick prayer before running back to Alistair; "You alright?" As he spoke Sten broke free since the power that held him was not gone and resumed the battle.
"I'm fine, go help the others!"
Giving a nod the elf dashed over to Leliana and Morrigan taking down several shades. "Thank you!" The redhead chimed as she shot as many arrows she could into every demon in her sights.
Morrigan several spikes of ice at any foe that came close; "This is getting tiresome!"
"Aw, not having fun!?" Miara quipped as she sliced through a wraith.
A small bead of sweat came to Sarya's brow as she slowly grinned; "Almost done!"
The desire demon proved to be a strong foe for both Serana and Marcus as it attacked and dodged with cunning and skill. While at the same time attempting to tempt both with offers of power.
"There is something inside you!" A burst of arcane magic swatted Marcus away, the demon grinned at the vampire with euphoria. "Dark, profane, and so very thirsty" Bolts of lightning flew from the demon's fingertips, Serana held them at bay with a ward, the energy crackling around it. "Show it to me, let it all out, and do not hide it any longer!"
"That... is where you are wrong!" The vampire hissed, letting the ward fall down, the lightning seemed to pierce through her body, this one crumbling apart, but in truth she had turned into pure mist, moving through the air and reforming right behind the desire demon. This one turned sharply, trying to strike her down with her claws. But Serana was faster and caught her arm, her vampiric strength allowing her to easily bend it until a crack was heard.
The demon howled in agony, but her cries were swiftly silenced by Serana's blade piercing her throat. Her dark eyes widened, the pain somehow lessening as she lost control of her body.
Serana leaned in, and licked away the black blood falling from the demon's neck. "I never hide my true nature"
Oddly the Desire demon smiled; "Magnificent..." She purred before her body became limp and fell to the floor dead as Serana pulled out her sword. The Desire demon's body soon faded.
"Hmm." the vampire licked the blood on her lips and off her fingers; "tastes like wine."
Marcus gave her a wary look before glancing to see the sigils glow; "I did it!" Sarya cheered as the miasma begun to fade and demons soon followed. "One Fade tear healed!" The dunmer giddily smiled as she lower her hands and magic faded.
Finally as the battle ended, and all breathed a long sigh of relief. Levi, who had watched it all from his hiding spot, only looked in awe at the people in front of him. "You lot are bloody amazing!"
Alistair weakly chuckled before groaning; "I could go for a pint right now."
"What have a you done!?" a distorted feminine voice shrieked as the group turned at the ready as a corpse dawned in familiar warden armor ran out from a long hall behind them. A few paled as they all recognized the face. Warden Commander Sophia Dryden...
Or what was left of her. Now what stood was a rotting walking corpse. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural hue.
"Maker..." Neria cupped her hand over her mouth; "She's possessed!"
"Oh, that's what she is?" The dragonborn snidely commented, never letting go of the firm grim on her katana. "I thought she just needed a little make-up..."
Indeed, the woman was one step away from being a zombified creature. Her eyes pale, her skin blistering and blackening, her flesh sunken in. The woman very much looked like a reanimated corpse, of that there was no doubt.
"G-Grandmother?" Levi tentatively spoke; distressed by the fact he was seeing his ancestor in such a state.
"That's not your grandmother, Levi" Brianna firmly said, eyes narrowed as she readied a spell in case she needed to act fast. "That's a demon possessing her corpse"
"Or she's really let herself go..." Bless the man; at least he still managed to hold onto his sense of humor.
"Silence!" She commanded in that deep unnatural voice, "This one will have words with you! You have no idea what you've done!"
"Yes, definitely possessed" Morrigan droned, "No mortal refers to themselves as such"
Sofie perked up, "Oh right, we never told you about the khajiiti language pronoun conventions"
"Enough!" The possessed woman once more demanded, clearly enraged she was not taken seriously at all. "This one demands you answer for what you did!"
"No" Sarya strongly spoke, growing irritated by this point. "You demand our attention. And I am just DONE of dealing with dumb temporal thought forms for the day. So be a good like sprite" Purple magic shined in her hand, "And stop wasting our time!"
She casted a bolt of energy at the possessed woman, the late commander stumbled, the expression growing to one of horror and shock. With a flick of her wrist, Sarya commanded the spirit to come out of the body. A red spectral wraith phased out of the corpse, Sophia's body crumbled to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
Neria, Brianna, and even Morrigan were in shock as they just seen something that was impossible! The crimson wraith struggled but was all for not as Sarya's hold over it was unbreakable. It roared in defiance; "T-this one... is Ambition! N-None-"
"Shut. Up;" Sarya quipped steely as the wraith soon froze. Soon its posture laxed before bowing its head to the Dunmer; "That's better. And now I have something to work with here."
It took a full minute for Neria to find her voice; "H... H-h-h-how did you that..."
"That's... impossible..." Brianna shook her head with Morrigan in agreement with her.
Sarya only grinned back at them; "This is what happens when you cultivate and nurture magics to a high degree instead of condemning them."
"Uh," Gin slowly walked up beside the Dunmer; "What are going to do with it?"
"The thought construct is mine now. Learn more of the Fade from it, and then do some experiments." Sarya tapped her chin; "Maybe find a way to make it whole without possessing a mortal body."
"Before that, maybe it can tell a bit what happened here." Miara stressed as she knelt beside Sophia corpse Alistair came beside her. "We can give all the bodies' proper burials once done exploring. The armor?"
The former Templar shrugged; "We take it, it can send it back to Weisshaupt Fortress once this mess is done. History shouldn't be forgotten, regardless of what happened here."
"And might get some answers from our new friend here." Sofie gestured to the wraith that peered at her; "Got a feeling it's really pissed right now."
"It is." Sarya remarked. The Telvanni mage forced the spirit to talk. "Now 'Ambition', would you kindly tell us about if the claims of the woman, whose body you rudely possessed, were true? Was this 'King Arland' a tyrant?"
"All I know" The demon's echoing voice rasped, unable to resist the dunmer's command. "Was what she believed true, and what she saw. There were deaths, fear, and oppression" The wraith let out the last word in a snarl, its non-existent eyes glaring at the one who had taken control of it. "Her goal of... deposing the king, it called so strongly that it drove me to find her body. Her ambitions. I know not if they were just or wrong by mortal standards, nor do I care..."
"Hmm" Sarya pursed her lips, "I guess that's as closer to the truth we'll know"
"It must know something else" Levi asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
"Release me!" The wraith demanded. "You cage me like, bound me to your desires, and I... I...!" The spirit shrieked, its form breaking and reforming of all sudden.
Sarya tilted her head, "Well that's sudden"
"You denied it its nature" Brianna explained, "Spirits and demons are beings of changes. When their nature is perverted they change into something else. Faith spirits can become Pride demons for example. You are taking away its ambitions so it's... breaking apart"
"Hmm..." The mage grew thoughtful, her eyes narrowing before she closed them in concentration. The shifting mass of the spirit reformed, becoming whole once more, now less like a spectral aggressive entity and more like a vaguely humanoid shape suspended in the air.
"How may I serve you, my lady?" The voice was completely different now, tame, yet still carrying the same presence and energy of before.
"Wait" Neria stepped forth, looking at the demon wide eyed. "What did you do?"
"Fade spirits are beings born of mortal perception are they not?" Sarya hypothetically asked, "So, I merely shifted my perception of it from an annoying pain in the ass, to a hopeful and helpful spirit. In short, I turned it from an aggressive demon to a passive spirit"
"And I offer my sincerest thanks my lady. My former self was most antagonistic." The new spirit spoke humbly in a polite tone. "I am now Humility, I shall offer what aid I can."
Serana grinned; "Well that's a nice change of pace." A grunt came from Sten who remained a good distance away.
Once more the Thedosian mages were dumbstruck at the impossible feat just shone to them. Sofie only pointed to her sister and mouthed; 'really smart' with a snort that came from Theron who rolled his eyes.
Levi came close to the new spirit; "Is there anything more about my grandmother?"
"I am afraid there is not. As my former self address sir, however there is another person here who might know what you seek. Avernus." Nearly everyone perked up as the names was spoken.
"The mage who fought beside Commander Sophia?" Marcus questioned; "But, that was two hundred years ago. No way he can still be alive?"
Humility shook its head; "I know not how he extended his life, but he has done so. He stays within the tower; he had placed nearly a dozen wards and traps to hold my former self at bay." The spirit looked down as it noticed Loke and Bran sniffing around it.
Gin glanced over to Neria and Bri; "Can someone do that?"
"We never heard of such a thing." The Amell addressed with uncertainty.
"It can be done in Tamriel." all turn to Miara who crosses her arms under her bust. "Mostly with mages, they're not immortal like Serana. Through the arcane they slowed their aging to an immense degree, allowing them to live for hundreds, even thousands of years."
"Some people really want to live that long?" Alistair remarked warily.
"When you're a mage in the pursuit of knowledge, you don't let something as trivial as age stopping you." Sarya spoke reciting something master Alfe told her once. "I think we learned what we can from our new friend. Humility, I'll be sending you to a place outside the Fade. With any luck that place will make you a whole being and no longer fall prey to turning like you did before."
"Oh! I would be most thankful my lady." With a short bow to the group Sarya's hand glowed as the new spirit vanished in purple light. Absently she reminded herself to check on Valor when getting a chance. Moonshadow is a nicer and safer place than the Fade by miles.
"I... I can't just ignore what happened right before my eyes" The dark tanned elven mage muttered. "I will be needing a thorough explanation to even understand. How did you change a spirit so easily?"
"It wasn't 'easily'" Sarya said, doing air quotations. "I just did it understanding the Fade spirits are very malleable entities, so long as you understand their existence is not fixed. Now, I doubt the same can be done with a spirit too ingrained into their role and possessing enough power like a Pride. Regardless, I would have thought you mages would have dealt with things this way before"
"Circle and Chantry teachings make things harder" Brianna said, "If spirits are what we perceive them to be, it's no wonder most people only see demons"
Serana looked at the now closed off Veil Tear; there were still strong traces of ambient magic. "You know, I think this would be a great place for the fast travel system. The energy would flow better here than in other places of the keep, I reckon."
"Ahhh good point, mom" The youngest daughter filed that away for later. "Now, I believe we should go speak with a centuries old mage"
"Yes" Alistair nodded firmly with an edge to his tone. "I very much would like to know why Sophia allowed the summoning of demons"
"You're just not going to let that go aren't you...?"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
The rest of their journey throughout the keep was uneventful; the Veil stable once more meant no more demons and maddened spirits. The only things they had to concern themselves over were the magical defenses left in place, most likely by Avernus, which the mages of their group were carefully dismantling every time they neared one.
They reached the great bridge that connected to the other area of the keep; a few couldn't help but stop and take in the sight. "Ahhh look at this place" Miara smiled, appreciating the natural beauty of the mountains. "Always said a good fortress needs good scenery to match"
Sofie whistled as she smiled; "Reminds me of those old forts back home." Beside her Leli closed her eyes taking a deep breath with the wind flowing around them.
"That breeze feels nice;" Gin murmured garnering a nod from Theron.
Marcus looked back to the group; "Keep focused." He turned to Neria; "How do we spot any arcane traps?"
At that the young thought for a moment before placing her hand on the bridge. Ever so gently she let a pulse of magical energy flow outward ahead of them. Before their eyes several sigils begun to glow in varying colors. "Avernus wasn't playing around was he?" Bri quipped with a cocked brow.
"How do we cross that?" Theron asked out loud; "Would it destroy the bridge?"
"No but would hurt one of us in a nasty fashion." Miara mused as she moved ahead of the group near a sigil. She stopped just shy of it; "Thankfully not pressure sensitive."
"I barely heard any steps from you." Sten remarked in his monotone.
"Years of stealth training make it hard for most to hear me." The dunmer spoke casually, but also impressed Sten could hear her steps. "We're going likely have to ignite these to get across." She walked back with lightning buzzing in her hands; "everyone get a good distance back. And cover your ears, this might be loud" Everyone followed her order as went back near the door to the fortress.
The energy discharged from her hands in a long guided stream through the ground, swiftly traveling over the bridge from end to end. Along its path, all the sigil traps lit up brightly and detonated in quick succession. The bridge trembled as blasts of arcane energy blazed over it in violent bursts of light, their power crackling and leaving the air hissing.
She was not kidding, it had been very loud.
"Ugh, curse my good hearing" Theron never thought he'd found himself saying that as he tenderly rubbed his pointy ears. Neria, Sarya, and Gin were not spared either as they did the same.
Marcus massaged his eyes, having made the mistake of watching the blasts take place and witnessed the glare. He shook his head as if to dispel the black spots hanging on his vision. "I can never make up my mind on magic. It always sounds very useful, but now every experience I have with it involves it trying to kill me at every opportunity..."
"I think it balances out all the times our magic has helped this party" Brianna pointed out.
"Heh won't deny that" The Cousland watched Miara inspecting the bridge again, making sure there weren't any remaining traps. A thumbs up from her indicated it was safe to cross, so the noble born warrior motioned for the others to follow him. "I cannot help but wonder what this Avernus has been doing for so long"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Crossing the bridge the group entered the tower. While nearly most of the furnishings were either broken or in disrepair, the tower was in remarkable good condition. However the mages of the group went still; "Oh there is a mage here." Brianna gripped her staff; "Can you feel it?" She turned to Neria who nodded.
"To live for nearly two centuries you wouldn't be weak." Miara digressed as they explored the few rooms as they ascended upwards. They kept to caution after Alistair accidentally tripped a fire sigil that was in a spare room with modest supplies.
Marcus and Miara got him out just in time before the entire room exploded in flames. Sarya and Serana were quick to douse the flames with frost. "I assume stealth training was skipped when you became a Templar?" Morri drawled earning an eye roll from the senior Warden.
Steadily they reached the top to a large room that reminded some of a laboratory. Various jars and potions were strewn on tables, shelves next to old books and tomes. Miara took note of the dry blood on the floor before her red eyes when to a small upper room with no wall. More potions and books laid about as an elderly man, adorned in old Warden Mage's robes, stood before them. "How were you able to reverse my work and repair the Veil?" His voice was deep and aged; the years had taken its toll, with pure shock in his tone. They all recognized him from the visions. "You even slew the demon in Sophia."
"Avernus..." Marcus spoke up with awe. The spirit was right, he was actually still alive…
"Impossible!" Neria came beside the Cousland; "How did you survive for two hundred years?!"
"The Chantry fears what we can do" The ancient mage spoke, his old wizened voice filled with contempt. "They know not what we can achieve, once we pour our minds into it"
"I'm sure the blood sacrifices helped" Serana said, sniffing the air in the room. Oh yes, this place reeked of blood magic. "Absorbing other's lifeforce is a good way to extend your own life"
"Blood sacrifices?!" Alistair exclaimed in outrage, a sentiment shared by many in the group.
"You... are quick to deduce my craft" He said to the vampire, rather surprised. The mage's features softened, he looked a bit guilty. "I will not deny my dabbling in the blood arts allowed me to live for so long. But I never did this out of selfish reason" He sighed, "But I see the judgement in your faces"
"Hard not to" Brianna scoffed, "The only people in this place you could have taken blood from were your fellow Wardens who survived" She vaguely gestured at the room. "I see no one else here but yourself"
"My comrades were already at death's door, when I used their blood to extend my own" He said, there was still respect in his voice for his brothers and sisters of the order. "Experimentation was needed, to further my research"
"You experimented on your own brethren in the order?" Theron snapped with this disgust. "All so you could live longer"
"Spare me your sanctimonious attitude, dalish" The elder mage cross his arms, directing a glare at the elf. "The work of centuries has been placed into my research for the benefit of the Warden order"
Neria shook her head in disapproval, "The ends justify the means, then?"
"We are Wardens, girl, or are you so new into the order that you've yet to experience the kind of sacrifices we have to do?" His words were like those of a harsh teacher, but soon his tone morphed to a soft nostalgic one. "I envy you, in part, to still be able to believe your hands can remain clean in this line of duty" He soon pushed aside the brief moment of sentimentality. "Condemn me all you like, my work speaks for itself does it not? Here I am, two centuries later, the Taint has not claimed me yet"
That... was true. If he had spent centuries a Warden, then forget about ghoulification, the man before them should either had died many years ago, or become a full Darkspawn by now.
"You don't hear the Calling?" Alistair whispered in astonishment.
"Hear it? Young man... I feel it every single day in my dreams. I may have pushed the corruption back, but my will is the only thing that keeps me from answering the Calling" He did not speak with despair, but rather a grim acceptance of his fate being inevitable one day, regardless of all he achieved. "And yet somehow, my dreams have gotten worse, I have never felt the Calling as strongly as I do now. Tell me, are my suspicions true, is there a Blight going?"
"There is." Gin spoke up; "though with Ferelden almost ready to go to a civil war, people are ignoring it."
At that the ancient mage shook his head; "I see much hasn't really changed in two hundred years." He turned his gaze to Miara and Sarya; "And I had wondered when Tamriel would come to these lands..."
His words sparked shock in many while the Dovahkiin cocked a brow; "I wondered why you did not react to me and my daughter's appearance."
"We knew of Tamriel?!" Brianna exclaimed as she came up beside Marcus and Neria.
"Sadly no, I only learned of it by traversing far beyond the Fade. With my long years of seclusion I spent much on my research but also meditations within the Fade. Yet, through the centuries I felt something... Something beyond the realm of dreams. Through my years of persistence I found a way to escape the Fade... And discovered realms no words can explain. Till I encountered a member of your elven kind. A Dunmer whom I conversed with for quite some time before we parted. He was curious of my lands as I was of his, I never saw him again after that."
Sarya felt the hairs on her neck stand, "Did he offer his name?"
"Divayth Fyr,"
It had to be magic, that was the only explanation as to how Sarya cleared the distance between herself and the old mage so quickly, grabbing his shoulders to the point of shaking him.
"You met Master Fyr?!" Her red eyes were wide, had they been outside, her voice would have echoed through the mountains. "What did he tell you?! Did he say where he was going?!"
"C-Child, please!" Avernus grunted as he made her let go. "I barely met the man in passing; I have no clue of where he is"
Sarya grew extremely disappointed, her gaze downcast as she sighed. "Of course. Thinking on it more, you must have met him a long time ago rather than recently"
"You lose track of time after you live for so long, but I can tell you that was much over a century ago"
Neria leaned in to Miara and whispered, "Who's Divayth Fyr?"
"Old powerful mage. Long story, tell you later" Miara whispered back.
"If we could get things back on tract" Alistair spoke, the volume on his voice rising up. "We have other questions; why did the Wardens rise up against a king? Our Order doesn't take sides, and certainly doesn't stage rebellions"
"I-I would very much like to know that too, Ser mage" Levi stepped forth, a touch nervous. "I'm Levi Dryden. Sophia's my great-great-great grandmother"
"Ahhhh, you're a Dryden then, how the cosmos have a sense of humor!" Amusement rang in his voice as recognition shone in Avernus' eyes. "You finally wandered through the mist; I knew you'd hear my call"
Confused looks were exchanged, "Your call?" Leliana asked.
"Indeed. You remember, don't you lad" The ancient mage nodded to the man, "when you were a child, and you wandered through the tunnels under the Peak one time. I felt you, I called you through your dreams to seek out the Peak, to finally bring deliverance to this place" He looked at his companions, "And you have done very well"
"You haven't answered our question" Marcus pointed out, "The Dryden's name has been dragged through the dirt for generations after what Sophia did. Levi came here seeking answers, something that would clear their name"
"We saw those... visions" Levi said, "My ancestor, the other Wardens; they all said King Arland was a tyrant. Was that true?"
Genuine rage and disgust was evident his features as his expression twisted, no doubt remembering the king in question. "He was a despot who ruled with fear and poison! Ferelden suffered under his rule!" He slammed his hand on his table in front of him as he sighed; "Before joining the Wardens Sophia was Arlessa and cousin to Arland. Both held claim to the throne but the court chose Arland for his age, and presumed he would easy to control. Only Sophia saw the monster hiding within that boy. In the years of his rule he had begun slaughtering anyone who defied him. From peasant to nobles, he butchered countless families. Arl Ruahn and his entire family were slaughter, as were several members of the Couslands who defied him".
"My family were involved as well?" Avernus peered to Marcus who spoke up, surprise clear in his features.
"Ahhh so you're a Cousland, I am glad to know at least your family survived. But is nothing remembered during of that time?"
Brianna shook her head; "Nearly most of the documents of that time were lost, the war of succession that came upon Arland's death was very chaotic, a whole decade of infighting erased a lot of records. The only thing never forgotten was the Wardens' rebellion against Arland and their exile from Ferelden. It was only in recent years were they brought back by the late King Maric." Her shoulders slumped; "But a lot has happened since then."
"I can only imagine by your grim expressions." Another sigh escaped the old mage before looking back to Levi; "I assume you came for something that will help you absolve your family, then"
"Is there anything to clear Sophia and my family's name? This could even help the Wardens knowing all of this."
By the gaze from Avernus, he only bore sad news; "I am afraid the only one left who knows the truth is the man before you. Time and Arland has likely destroyed anything that would have told the truth you seek. I am truly sorry lad."
Levi's shoulders sagged, his head hanging in defeat. "I had hoped there could be something, anything... But I guess you were right before, I'm not going to clear my family's name by digging in the past. All we can do now is work for the future" He took a deep breath, slowly letting it all out. "We've come this far, ain't no other choice but to keep moving forward"
Various amongst their party nodding in approval, finding wisdom in his words.
"I guess all that's left" Alistair said, crossing his arms and pointedly looking at Avernus, "is to decided what to do with him"
The old mage merely raised a brow at the younger Warden, not feeling intimated by the threatening tone in his voice. "You want me to answer for my 'crimes', lad?"
"You called upon demons" The former Templar raised his hand the moment Sarya looked like she was about to argue, "You experimented on your fellow Wardens"
Neria found herself agreeing, "Those are serious crimes he must answer for"
Things were getting heated, Leliana's gaze shifted from Warden to Warden before settling Marcus. The noble caught her pleading look and could do naught but shrug. "This is a Warden matter; I have no say in this"
They turned to the others to see their opinion on the matter. Gin scratched his head, unsure on how to reply. "I dunno, I mean... his circumstances back then weren't the best. Desperation can make people do anything"
"He still did foul things to his comrades, all for his own ends" Theron firmly said.
"His 'own ends' as you call them were for the benefits of the Wardens" Brianna argued back, resting a hand on her hip. "Think of what he learnt"
The elven mage shook her head, "Bri, you're letting that Tamrielic outlook on magic cloud your judgement too much. You're ignoring his crimes"
Sarya let out a sound of indignation, followed by muttering under her breath in dunmeri. Morrigan didn't understand it, but she imagined the dunmer shared her own exasperation at those naive words.
"I'm choosing to see what you all are ignoring" The Amell banged her staff on the ground in defiance. "Look at him! Two centuries old, two centuries of bearing the Taint, yet here he is!" She softly shook her head. "Don't you see what this means for us, for every Warden who will inevitably die from the Taint one day?"
"But how he did-"
Brianna interrupted her longtime friend; "Yes it was reprehensible. But what he achieved, being able to resist the Taint! I for one would prefer staying alive longer than thirty damn years!"
When Theron heard of that horrifying truth from Alistair, next to the difficulty of having children. He felt a hot knife dig into his heart. Not possibly being able to spend all of his life with Merrill... to have a family with her. But still; "Should we ignore what he's done?"
"No, but we don't ignore all the work he has amassed for two centuries."
"This was always meant for the Wardens." Avernus expressed with a steely gaze; "My research was always to find methods to not only strengthen us, but to keep good Wardens alive much longer. Not to the lengths I have gone, but at least enough to allow Wardens to have a more semi-full life. We lose far too many good warriors and mages thanks to that blasted Taint."
A long sigh escaped Alistair as he ran his hand through his hair. "Right or wrong." He looked over to Gin; "His work could help the wardens in the long run."
Sofie grunted as she crossed her arms beside Sten who did the same. Miara and Serana spoke not a word as they watch their young friends. A low whimper came from both Loke and Bran who looked at everyone.
"...Very well" The former Templar finally decided after what felt like an eternity of silence. "Like it or not, Avernus' research could spare many Wardens' lives before their time" It didn't sit completely right with him. But Alistair remembered all too well how Duncan told him he recently had started feeling his dreams becoming more frequent, that it might be the start of his Calling.
It chilled Alistair to the core, thinking the man who had given him everything would just disappear from his life to meet his end at the Deep Roads. He thought of the lives that been drafted into the order. Brianna and Neria, still very young, of Gin who had family in Denerim, of Theron who wanted nothing more than to return to his clan one day.
They were here, risking their lives to save Ferelden, and yet being a Warden demanded of them a very short life.
It didn't seem very fair in Alistair's mind.
"But no more unethical experiments" He said firmly to the ancient mage.
"I'll dedicate the time I have left to improve the Wardens' life expectancy" He gave the Wardens a grateful nod for sparing him. "And if my research is right, I may actually yet find a way to decrease the Joining's mortality rates"
"Might even lead to the day Wardens don't need to keep it secret anymore" Brianna optimistically pointed out. Jory and Daveth's deaths were a tragedy, there had to be a better way.
"So..." Levi, feeling rather out of his depth once again, awkwardly stood to the side, having watched these tense events unfold. "I guess that's it then. Soldier's Peek is yours"
Marcus let out a soft chuckle, "Not yet my friend. We have quite the work ahead of us to make sure this place can accommodate us"
Sarya clapped her hands eagerly, "I'll start right away on installing the fast travel system! Would you like to see Avernus?"
"I never say no to studying magic" The old mage pleasantly said as he followed after her.
Miara sighed as she came to Levi; "What will you do?"
"Have a lot of thinking to do. But for now I guess I can offer some help cleaning this place up. I know good people who are loyal to the Wardens and can be discreet."
A grateful nod came from Alistair; "Appreciate that, once the Blight is done along with dealing with Loghain I can send a message to Weisshaupt. Might be able to get this place back to its old purpose."
"I'd say it already has" Miara smiled.
This fortress now belonged to the Wardens once more, and from here they would pour all of their efforts to stop the Blight.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Enjoy your time at the Peak?