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Co-Author and Beta: Etheral-23
Into the Fade: Act I
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Neria's body felt weightless but also heavy, her eyes strenuous to even open. Yet she willed them to only for her to find her surroundings blurry. She groaned as her hand came up to rub away the grogginess. She froze as something felt off, why did her hand feel smaller? Her eyes shot open as she sat up and found herself on an aged wooden bed inside of a shoddy room.
Her eyes were frantic gazing in every direction before finding a dirty mirror on a makeshift dresser. Sheer shocked etched in her amber eyes as the image before her was not herself as an adult elven woman, but as a child. Soon Neria surveyed more of her surroundings, where was... Recognition bloomed on her face.
The Thedosian elf knew this room...
She jumped as loud harsh knocking rang out. The door of her room swung open as her father rushed in, he looked much younger as he ran inside in a panic; "The Templars!" He shuddered in a fear as he slammed the door shut and ran to the nearest heavy object.
Light tears formed on the edge of Neria's eyes, she never had forgotten this day. But moreover she knew this horrible day was well in her past. And as much as it hurt then, what she saw now; "An illusion," her adult voice spoke softly.
In an instant her room vanished and found herself back as an adult sitting on the ever shifting ground that was the Fade. A shudder escaped her lips; she wiped away a few tears as she begun to stand and dust herself off. However her tears renewed as she remembered why she was here of all places; "Rolin..." her hands clasped her arms as she hugged herself. Pain surged in her heart, Rolin was the most gentle and kindest person she and Brianna had ever known in the tower. He was always there for anyone who needed advice or good ear to listen to.
Did he willingly become that or did Uldred force him?
No, she had to focus; "I need to find Brianna and the others." Regaining her composure drying away her tears on her sleeve. "And save Rolin if I can."
Neria knew she was just consoling herself, speaking out loud to gather some courage.
There was no saving Rolin, or any of the other warped abominations. They weren't cases like Connor, where the demon was influencing their mind but had yet to take root in their bodies. The twisted mangled flesh, the monstrous inhuman shapes, and the complete and utter lack of anything that remained of their personalities... they were dead. The demons were now wearing their bodies like a suit of clothing.
The weight of that knowledge fell heavily upon her. The dark skinned elf paused a moment to gather herself, rubbing her eyes and refusing to cry. This was not the time to break down.
Around her the Fade reflected her sorrow with a heavy stale air, cold crispy invisible winds, and the surroundings shaping themselves into the broken walls of the Circle library, where she had spent so long before... The memories may take physical form around her, but they never felt so distant.
"I'd turn back if I were you, Surana"
A familiarly dour voice caught her attention, her eyes shifting towards a corner of the dream conjured library, and saw a familiar mage with long wavy locks, and a perpetually downtrodden frown on his features.
"Niall?" Neria spoke up before smiling and rushing towards him. "Niall! It's so good to see you!" His eyes showed gratefulness that someone cared for him, even if his expression didn't. "Were you trapped by the demon's spell to?"
His mouth opened slightly before letting out a long exhale. "No. You must have not seen it when you reached the Abomination"
"What do you mean?" She asked in confusion, "Seen what?"
"My body... I'm dead, Neria"
The elf froze shaking her head; "No... How..."
"The trap that caught you had gotten me days ago. I've been stuck in the Fade too long and can't feel any connection to my body..." Before he could say more, Neria embraced him in a tight hug he slowly, shakily returned. "Not the end I was hoping for." His fellow mage's body shook unable to stop her tears this time. "Crying for me of all people, a weak Isolationist..."
"Stop it," her voice crack; "You were always a good man. Rolin was a good man, why did this have to happen?" it was all too much for her. "So many good people dead or turned into monsters. And for what?! What is becoming a blood mage and attacking people going to prove?!"
Niall gently patted the young girl's back in comfort. "Wish I had the answers for this mess."
Detaching herself from her fellow mage her eyes were red and puffy, failing to stop the tears; "Brianna and others friends of mine were trapped in here. I need to find them, stop Roli-" Her voice cracked rubbing eyes; "Stop the abomination and free us to stop Uldred."
"So the Abomination that killed me, and trapped you was Rolin?" Neria nodded to Niall's question. The older man shook his head; "Blast it... Neria I don't even know how you can free yourself from this much less stop Uldred. You know as well as I do the Fade is always shifting and changing like a maze. And then there are the demons in this place."
"They are obstacles, yes, but insurmountable ones" Neria stated, "Do you know if the Litany of Adralla is still intact?"
"I was retrieving it before I was struck down" Niall replied, "It should still be on my... my body" He stammered a bit, the thought still unnerving to him.
"Then there's still a chance"
She took her staff from her back and tried a bit of the clairvoyance Miara had taught her. The chaotic energies of the Fade were making it harder to work with than in the physical world, but even so it did manage to track one of the familiar signatures she's come to grown used to during their journey. 'I think I've got someone. Just need to make my way there.'
"I've got something" The elven mage said, making her way to the edge of the 'island', only for rocks to manifest before her, creating a path. "We'll meet up back here once I find more of my friends"
Niall watched her go, "You're... different, Surana" He merely said. "I thought you would be much more afraid in a situation like this"
Neria just let out a tired breath, "I don't have time for fear, I have a job to do" And with that, she marched off.
She has changed a great deal; "Be careful wandering the Fade, Neria. Despite how strange this place has been for whatever reason it is feeling even stranger..." Niall called out earning a quick wave from Surana. He sighed gazing around the library; "Or I've been here too long." the man muttered taking a seat at a table.
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Holding her staff at the ready Neria strolled on the rocky path towards what looked like stone grotto complete with a lake and odd statues. The clairvoyance spell showed whoever was walking around was getting closer.
"How in the name of the blood do you make heads or tails of this damn place?" Serana's voice yelled in frustration.
Relief grew in the elven mage as she ran into the grotto; "Serana!"
The Nordic vampire sharply turned beside a statue to see Neria running towards her; "Please tell you're not some strange illusion?"
"I'm real," Neria remarked breathlessly stopping a foot away; "I was stuck in an old memory but got free fast, was it same for you?"
"Well definitely goes for your nightmares, they tried to break me with my past. Hmph, did not even come close to the real thing or even my dreams." Serana huffed with her hands on her hips; "Now I don't even know where this is." She waves her hand around the grotto; "What's this area called?"
"Uh, we never explored the Fade like that."
"Okay, you answered my question." The vampire surveyed her surroundings, it felt like she was submerged in water yet it did not weight down on her. She looked at her hand, closing and opening it repeatedly. "Hmm, can't tell if we're not here physically"
"No, entering the Fade physically is impossible"
"Uh-huh" The vampire did not sound so sure about that, but didn't press on it. "I imagine the rest of our companions are trapped in similar situations"
"I believe so, yes" Neria nodded, "My experience with the Fade and spirits allowed me to be more self-aware and in control of my dream, I was able to be break out on my own"
"Then can we expect our mage friends to be free as well?"
"I... should hope so. It depends a lot on the emotional state of the mage; Morrigan will be fine but... Well I like to believe Brianna and Wynne are strong enough to resist. But after what we've seen in the Tower..."
"You were able to free yourself" Serana pointed out, "You've been able to maintain a much clearer head throughout this whole horrible ordeal"
"I just couldn't afford myself to waver in a time like this"
"You're stronger than you realize, girl. Do not doubt that"
Neria held staff close; "Thank you. But we need to focus and find everyone."
"That is easier said than done. This place is so damn confusing." Serana moved her head to look around ignoring a few wisps passing them by. "How should we look around here?"
A wisp flew around the young mage as she thought for a moment; "We might have to split up just to look for everyone. There is a place I came from can be where we meet up. Enchanter Niall, one of the Abomination's other victims is there. But he can't go back with us." Serana cocked a brow; "The connection between his soul and body is gone, he was in the Fade too long."
"Damn," the vampire quipped; "We can avenge him at least." She ran a hand through her hair; "So we split up then?" Neria nodded; "Okay so just which way should we go?"
Walking passed the taller woman, the elven mage could see a path that split into several directions; "We try that way." Serana turned to look where Neria was pointing to; "We pray to the Maker or someone that our friends are at the end of those paths." A grunt came from the elven girl from being patted on the head.
"See, you're more capable as a warrior than you think" Serana quipped brightly.
"I don't know about that" The vampire held back from rolling her eyes at the young girl's usual lack of confidence in herself, "I'm just keeping myself focused as much as I can in a moment like this"
"Still, an invaluable trait to have" Serana said, "Let's go"
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Neria did not know what to expect when venturing forth into the dreams of her companions. It felt... wrong. She was going to delve into their fantasies, their desires, their regrets. Things so private they most likely would not have told anyone. Alistair being heir to the throne came to mind, that had been a surprise to say the least... Although to be fair, Alistair made it clear the throne was the furthest thing from a dream to him.
Most of her knowledge of the outside world came from books, so she was aware about how the landscape of an active volcanic area would look like. Of course, reading about it and seeing it firsthand was a difference as wide as the space between one and a thousand.
The grey soot and ash that covered the ground and trees was not the peerless white of snow in winter, although she could see the frozen water mixed in with the volcanic dust. Amongst the tree line there was an opening that showed the horizon, where across the sea laid a great mountain spewing smoke.
Neria found its presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Looking around her eyes caught glimpse of a massive defensive wall with figures walking at the top. Steeling herself Neria moved towards the settlement and prayed whoever was here would be okay. Her boots crunched on ashen snowy ground pausing for only moments to see the strange fauna sprouting from the soil. Resuming her sojourn she came near a large open gate with guards standing watch, but the armor they wore strange plated armor that was tan in color. Even stranger were the helmets that did not resembling anything she has seen in books or traveling with her comrades.
The guards did not even seem to see her as she marched inside and walked down a dirt path into the settlement. But as she passed the gate she stopped as she took a full gander of the most alien looking structures she has ever seen! Were these places even houses? And who makes buildings like that?
The answer to her last mental question came immediately has she saw a slew of Dunmeri people, from children to adults roaming around the place.
So this was in Tamriel...
But compared to the small portion of Skyrim she saw with Brianna and Morrigan it was vastly different. Especially with the place having nothing but elves roaming about, with very few humans mixed in.
And since Serana was free from her illusion, this meant only two others this place could be for.
"Now what have I told you both about going inside the mine," a male deep accented voice caught her attention as she saw a bald Dunmer adorned in that weird armor, minus the helmet abolishing two young Dunmeri boys in plain clothes who shrunk under his gaze. "Especially you Oryrn, I know Miara works in there from time to time but it's too dangerous for children."
"Sorry Captain Valeth," both boys muttered.
Oryrn!?
Neria blinked taking a good long look at the boys and sure enough she could tell the features of the Tamriel Templar in question on the right.
"Now, you and Wyndus play around here but don't venture off outside Raven Rock. There are too many dangers out there and Miara would skin me alive." The bald headed Dunmer gave his final word before leaving the boys.
Once the man was a good distance away both boys ran off, "Come on Wyndus! Let's go to Hirstaang Forest!"
"Wait up Oryrn!"
"Oryrn," Neria called out before chasing after them. The two had run up a hill beside what had to be the mine in question. Following the boys reaching the top she found herself in a massive forest area draped in snow.
It was odd to see him so carefree; in the short time she's known him he always presented himself as a very serious and dutiful person. Even if he logically behaved like any young man at that age should, it was still unexpected for Neria to see.
And indeed, he and his friend did act like boys. Eagerly searching for places to explore, test the boundaries of what adults said was permissible, looking for adventure, using sticks to pretend they were warriors conquering dungeons and felling foul monsters.
Their laughter echoed in the trees, as though they were actually living such fantasies with utmost merriment. A scene Neria could not help but smile to witness.
Until a true horror came from out of the shadows of the forest. And their fantasy had become a nightmare.
It started with a low growl, garnering the boys and Neria's attention. Heavy resounding footsteps slow marching towards them. Then what slowly appeared behind a large tree nearly made the circle mage scream out in sheer fright. A huge bipedal bear-like creature, so massive and imposing. With large muscular limbs so strong that tearing flesh and bone might as well be like a man ripping paper. Blood soon flowing and staining the snow ashy grounds.
Oryrn's friend Wyndrus' screams were quickly silenced by the beast who grabbed the boy. All the while the young dunmer could only watch in frozen horror, his back pressed against a tree, chest raising and falling rapidly, at the massacre happening right before him. Unable to do anything.
Only watch in terror as his friend is being killed and eaten.
Blood dripped from the beast's maw as it turned its head towards a terrified and crying Oryrn. It let out a furious ear shattering roar that echoed the forest before charging. It was met with a blast of arcane energy sending it flying into and through a tree. That dispelled the illusion of the monster with a tearful Neria having raised her staff to stop it. Her heart pounded in her heaving chest at the terrifying nightmare she had just seen.
On his knees a foot away was Oryrn, back as his adult self but unmoving. His crimson eyes wide with terror, tears cascading down his cheeks. Like the wind Neria dropped her staff and ran over to the man kneeling down; "Oryrn," her voice rang with deep concern as her hands gently patted his cheeks. "Oryrn talk to me. It's okay, it was an illusion... Oryrn."
His eyes were so hollow as his head numbly looked down to hers; "I let Wyndus die," Her heart ached in how broken he sounded; "I suggested we play in Hirstaang forest. My mothers warned us, but I just wanted to be outside Raven Rock for bit. The werebears usually stayed on the other side of the island. Wyndus died because of me..."
Neria shook her head, by everything that was holy. For Oryrn to have lived through such an experience as a child; "No, you were just a little boy back then. You had no way to know that would have happen."
His eyes closed tightly, taking a deep breath as he slowly let it out along with all his frustrations and regrets. But they seemed to do a fantastic job at remaining inside him.
Oryrn's gaze opened once more, hard and pointed, as he looked at the elven mage. "This isn't real is it?" He asked, the pain in his voice slowly edging away and being replaced with a contained but fiery anger.
"It's the Fade, the demons are using your own memories against you"
He paused for a moment, taking in their situation. He stood up, standing taller than Neria as she stood back up herself. "Then let's be off then" He marched forward without any more preamble, the landscape of his memory dispelling as he did so. "We should find the rest"
"Are you okay?" She asked softly, walking up to him. "Do you need to talk?"
"This is neither the place nor the time. Nor do I wish to speak of this any time soon" Particularly with someone he did not know all that well, but that went unsaid.
"...Alright" Neria conceded with a nod retrieving her staff. She'd probably act the same way in his shoes.
With that, the two elves left.
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"Well, isn't this a cheery memory" Serana said with her usual snark. Staring unfazed with crossed arms at the image of the would-be assassin they recently added to their numbers, strapped to a torture rack, his bare torso marked with multiple burns and superficial lacerations.
She stood inside a torture chamber with every device one could imagine that could cause a person immense pain. No doubt the Crows were vast experts in the field.
"Ahhh is the little pup gonna cry?" One of his torturers, a man in leather armor, mockingly cooed as he pulled the wheel further.
"I can take it" Zevran grunted, sweat running down his brow. "I can be a Crow!"
"Oh we shall judge that for ourselves, boy" The other torturer said, "When we're done with you won't be singing that tune. Heh, you won't be able to talk at all"
Okay, that was far enough. "Yeah, no" Serana declared, a wave of her hand shimmering with dark red magic and she blew away the apparitions as though they were mist.
The rack Zevran was strapped to disappeared, and he now once more donned his usual leathers, all his weapons strapped around him once more. He panted repeatedly, looking up at the shifting 'skies' as the phantom pain slowly faded away. His gaze shifted to find the nord standing over him.
"I suppose I should thank you for that"
"For wanting to leave the Crows so desperately as you did, you sure were eager to prove you could be one of them" She bent down and offered her hand.
Zevran took it and stood up with a huff. "Well, let's say time changes your perspective on things"
"Hmph, don't I know it"
The Antivan elf cocked a brow; "Are we hiding a dark past my lady?" Serana only gave the man a sideways glance before walking ahead. Shrugging Zevran followed; "I wonder what the others are seeing."
"Hopefully not this."
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Oryrn tilted his head as he took a moment to stare at a large wooden boat of all things floating around where he and Neria were walking. The dunmer had barely spoken a word as they went to find the others lost in the Fade. Not that Surana could blame him, reliving a terrible memory like that would not have been something he ever wanted to do.
So the two pressed on with Neria at the lead and Oryrn following, with the Thedosian elf glancing back towards him every now and again. His gaze was hard, but she could see the anger glowing. As much as she wanted to help him, she knew she couldn't unless he asked or wanted to speak. Giving him space seemed the only course of action she had and so followed it.
They came to stop at large wooden doors. "Hopefully no demons in here," Neria muttered as she opened them.
Oryrn said nothing as they walked through the threshold to find themselves in a large decorated hall filled with portraits, chairs, and tables. Further at the end were steps towards a fireplace. Hope swelled in Neria's heart as she saw Marcus laughing beside a very beautiful and pregnant elven woman holding his arm. On his other side was a little elven girl who resembled the woman, beside them was several other people who were talking and laughing with him. Joy radiated from the Cousland's eyes as neither Neria nor Oryrn ever seen the man this happy.
He soon took notice of them, "Ah, my friends! You arrive just in time!"
Marcus' memory of them was not lost in his dream at least.
"Marcus?" Neria attentively approached.
"Ohhh so these are the companions you spoke so much about?" An older man walked in, sharply dressed, he possessed a certain likeness to the younger Cousland.
"Some of them" Marcus replied with a joyful smile. "Where are the others though? Bah, that bunch tends to get sidetracked so often though, they'll be bound to come to dinner at least"
"Well, introduce us, dear" The pregnant elven woman said.
He happily did so, "Oryrn, Neria, this is my family. Meet my father, Teyrn Bryce, and my beloved Iona" The elven girl giggled in his grip, "And this little terror is Amethyne"
"Your family..." The holy Templar said with distant tone, taking in the sight before him.
"Some of them at least. My brother is helping mother and his wife make the tea, for once"
"Let's be honest, the most he does is set up the teacups" The figure, the false image, of the man's deceased father, said jovially. "You know your brother lacks any sort of finesse for the kitchen"
Neria bit her lip slowly looking to Oryrn who looked back to her. This would feel like dagger in the heart of their friend, but as much as this moment was bringing immense happiness to Marcus, it was only an illusion. The elven mage's mouth moved but no words came for a few moments; she felt a knot in her heart just trying to speak the words. "M-Marcus," her voice nearly a whisper; "This isn't real."
The noble gave a curious smile turning to them; "Not real you say?"
Coming closer to the man, Oryrn placed his hand on Marcus's shoulder; "I'm sorry my friend." His hand pulsed with magic dispelling the illusion around them.
In a blink Marcus shot up from his chair that soon vanished. "No," he muttered walking around with his head moving wildly from side to side. "No, No, No..."
"It wasn't real Marcus," sadness glowed in Neria's voice as the man seemed to grow more and more into a panic.
Sharply Cousland Turned to Oryrn, the Dunmeri Templar had no to react before the human noble punched him in the jaw. Neria let out a light scream; "Bring him back!"
The dunmer quickly held the enraged man back, it would be so easy to push him away with a burst of magic, but did not do so out of fear of harming the Cousland. The elven mage came to his assistance, casting a rune underneath the Cousland which slowed his movements to a crawl; to the point it looked he was moving through water.
"I'm sorry, Marcus" Neria said regretfully, "Your father is dead, you know that"
"He was here!" The effect of the spell did not reduce the volume of his voice, nor the grief. "He was here, alive, and-!"
"At Highever, right?" Oryrn asked, waving with his hand. "Remember Marcus, the pain you felt that day, the demons here used it to show you what you wanted"
The man's breath ran ragged, his gaze shifting from place to place, tears streaming down his face. The pain of that fateful night is still a fresh scar in his heart. "...It felt like it was him" He muttered.
"It was the him you remembered, the one you held so close in your heart" Neria shook her head, "They showed you what you wanted so you would choose to remain here"
Marcus gnashed his teeth as he felt the strength to fight Oryrn leave his body. With a nod from the Dunmer the Thedosian mage dispelled the rune as the former nobleman fell to his knees. His elven friends were to his side knelt beside releasing a pain fueled scream he had buried deep in his heart since the attack on his family by Howe.
It broke Neria's heart seeing such an honorable, kind, and powerful man that has been their group's leader brought to this. "Don't lose heart Marcus. Do you hear me," she spoke gently but with firmness. He turned his tearful broken gaze towards her; "You have loved ones waiting for you. And your friends standing here right now are here."
"...I'm so... tired Neria..." Marcus's voice a shattered mess shaking his head. "Seeing father again. Hearing his voice... everything felt sane." His head hung forward; "But to lose him all again."
Quickly her hands came to his cheeks lifting his head to look her in the eyes; "We will make it right against the man who hurt your family. But right now we need you. The man who pushed me out of my fears, and to fight back."
The Cousland remained silent.
"We need our leader with us"
The silence around them felt like eternity "...I'm with you" He said, the drive that Neria admired so much slowly returning. "Oryrn, I'm sorry" He apologized to the taller elf looking towards him.
"This realm plays with our emotions too much" Oryrn said, not holding it against him. "So far, all I see is that it's a vile place"
"It's not usually this bad" Neria argued.
"The faster we leave this place the better" Marcus spoke, reigniting some fire in his voice. "Let us move on"
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Serana really disliked temples, suffice it to say she had a sordid history with altars and places of worship. Even the benevolent holy grounds of Mara made her a bit uncomfortable, but that was likely due to her 'profane' existence clashing with the sacred sites' divine energies.
So of course, Leliana's dream was that of a Chantry. Serana disliked those for different reasons, so far all she had seen from the Chantry was hypocrisy and dogma meant to control the masses, the worship was second.
And another thing that bugged her; "Are all these Chantries so hideously gaudy," the Nordic vampire quipped. "Not even the Temples of the Nine look like these."
Zevran gave a friendly grin; "Oh you should see the chantries in Antiva or Orlais. Now they truly are wonders of over indulgence if I say so myself. All to worship and love for the Maker of course."
"All those ugly gold statues could be made into coin to feed the poor and give them proper housing."
"Ah a good eye my beautiful lady," the assassin winked; "Sadly the chantry believes in spiritual fulfillment than material. Just don't mind nearly all the holy mothers political scheming and their hands in every noble's pockets. All for the Maker."
Rolling her eyes the vampire did not doubt for a second their god had abandoned them like they preached so much.
Serana dryly stared at Leliana who prayed beside whoever that illusion was meant to be before glancing to Zevran who shrugged; "Our Leliana is a dutiful devote is she not?"
The Nordic vampire had no time for this nonsense, with a wave of her hand she vanished it all away, the temple, the shrines, even the woman whom Leliana was praying with.
"Dorothea?!" The redheaded archer said with a start shot upwards from kneeling, "Where-?!"
"We're in the Fade, Leli" Serana quickly intervened. "Remember, you joined up with us because you had a vision? Because you believed it was the right thing?"
She could see how Leliana's brain tried to catch up. "I..."
"Come on, Sofie's bound to be worried about you"
Those words seemed to magically make the bard fully return to them now. "Sofie?! Where is she, is she okay?!" She asked pleadingly, joining her hands together tightly in front of her chest.
Serana smiled smugly.
"Well now" Zevran's accented voice was laced with mirth. "You were not joking about her pining, my dear"
"Um..." Leliana's cheeks were quickly matching her hair.
Walking over to the pretty redhead Serana patted her cheek; "You're cute getting all flustered. And don't worry, Miara and I approve." She winked before strolling off with a laughing Zevran following.
"Tu fais!?" Leli squeaked before running to catch up.
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Walking down a path made of massive wrapped tendrils, Neria was at the lead with Marcus and Oryrn following. Given how neither man had any real understanding on this realm, both agreed their elven mage friend was better equipped and knowledgeable to guide them around to search for the others.
Much like Oryrn, Marcus had been relatively silent as they walked through the realm of dreams. And like before with their Dunmeri friend Neria kept herself quiet but ready if he wanted to talk. Though the Thedosian noble did make some queries heard; "I never knew the Fade looked like this."
"Unless you're a mage, regular people are usually not conscious of their dreams," Neria happily remarked.
Oryrn gave her a glance while looking around as they walked; "Have you always seen the Fade like this?"
The elven brunette thought for a moment; "Not until my magic manifested. I was a little girl then so it was more than a little scary." Her face grew sad but nostalgic; "Being brought to Kinloch Hold did help me..."
"How they brought you to the circle was deplorable," Marcus addressed. Neria did not make the circumstances a secret, Gin certainly provided outside perspective on what he remembered of the affair.
"It was," Neria's voice grew still.
"Compared to Brianna however you're not as angry as she is about it."
"Fighting it helps no one" Neria said, and wished she didn't phrase it in a way so defeated. "It only makes the Templars push harder"
"The Templars should be held to a higher standard, oppressing their wards and beating civilians are cowardly acts" The noble born said with reproach.
"The Chantry endorses multiple acts that go against the teachings of their prophet. Was it not them who supported Orlais during the Orlesian occupation?" Oryrn asked, sounding logical and detached from the issue.
At that, Marcus grunted. "The Chantry involves itself far too much in politics. The matters of the state and faith should be kept at a distance from one another as far as I am concerned. They claim their existence helps to bridge a gap between nations and their differences, a step to keep the peace. But look at all that has happened in this age alone, Orlais at war with Ferelden, Nevarra invading Orlais, grand clerics conspiring to usurp the Divine"
"I can't help but notice all of those examples involve Orlais in some fashion" Neria pointed out.
"The Chantry has emboldened them far too much; the Sunburst Throne sitting in their capital makes them believe they're the epitome of civilization. And that has made them many enemies" The younger Cousland took a deep breath, "And seeing the state of the Circle, the fanatical desperation in the blood mages, the state of Templars whose minds continue to degrade from lyrium use... I'm not sure the Chantry has kept its flock's interests in mind for a long time"
Oryrn hums; "From a perspective outside of these lands, alienating mages to the point of not seeing them as people is a large issue. And as a Templar it feels like a slight in seeing how some of these Templars act."
"You're nothing like them," Neria sharply reproached; "And despite what Bri might say there are good Thedosian Templars."
"I feel as though the many who are bad outweigh the few good sadly."
The young elven mage bit the inner part of her lip, as much as she wanted to say no, it would be a lie. From the stories she has heard about the Kirkwall Circle to Orlais, there was so much wrong in the Templar Order and the Chantry itself. She glanced to Marcus; "Think it could be fixed?"
"Possibly," the noble shrugged; "But a lot of factors would have to play out."
As they kept walking the trio soon found themselves within the vast open fields of the Hinterlands. Marcus paused as he turned to see the Fade behind them and looking back. "This is so strange."
"Who do you think would be here?" Oryrn questioned gazing around.
The answer came quickly as they saw Brianna off in the distance. And was she dancing; "The closest thing I have to a sister," Neria muttered with a sad smile.
Brianna was spinning around in the middle of a lovely forested area. She was conjuring her magic, making the wind pick up the fallen leaves and flower petals to create a swirling array of colors. She was smiling so widely
Neria knew Bri enough to understand the context of her dream. This Brianna as she always wanted to be, no Templar to detain her, no Circle to cage her, no Chantry to persecute her. This was the ultimate expression of the Amell's wish, her desire at its purest form.
Just to be free. Free from fear. From isolation. Free to use her magic, her natural born gift.
She looked so... happy.
Neria almost felt it was a cruelty to wake up her friends like this. But a lie was a fake mercy.
Surana stepped through the floating leaves and petals, reaching with her hand to stop Brianna's form from spinning any longer. Her bright blue eyes almost shined as she gave the elf a smile, laughing, taking a hand so she would join her.
But Neria did not; she merely gave her a sad yet understanding gaze.
Brianna's smile slowly diminished, until it was gone and replaced by a saddened frown. No words were needed for a talented mage like Bri to understand.
As the trees around them turned to dust, one of the petals gently fell in front of her, the human mage held out her hand to catch it, bringing it close to her nose before this one too disappeared like the illusion it was.
"Lavender..." She muttered, "My mother smelled of lavender... I think that's the only thing I remember of her"
Outside of her remembering her mother's painful screams to bring her daughter back to her when being taken away by the Templars. The human mage held back her tears before quickly embracing the friend and sister she cherished so. Marcus and Oryrn remained silent as the illusion of the Hinterlands faded around them.
However, instead of returning into the alien realm of the Fade. They found themselves inside a massive atrium of what resembled ancient ruins. Brianna and Neria let go of one another as they and Marcus looked around in confusion. "Okay," the Cousland muttered; "I feel really out of my depth here."
Brianna swayed her head around; "Aren't we out of the illusion?"
"We are," Neria muttered in bewilderment; "Why does this place look so mismatched?"
Indeed, the area around them looked like two ruins of contrasting architectures. One being of white stone with strange glowing crystals, the other grey with odd brass pipes in the walls and floor. One was made with elegance and refinement, the other geometrically perfect. Above them floated a giant glowing metal orb that faintly glowed like a sun.
"Impossible!" Oryrn loud declaration caught the attention of the others as he gazed around in shock. "How is-"
"Oryrn," Neria spoke with concern as she came over to him; "What's wrong?"
The Dunmeri man shook his head as Marcus paid close attention to the man's face; "You recognize this."
"It's..." The Templars paused as he paced around the group; "We're inside both Ayleid and Dwemer ruins."
Marcus frowned, "Aren't those cultures from Tamriel?"
"Yes" Oryrn did not bother explaining further. "You said my mother Serana was free right?" He asked Neria, who quickly nodded in reply. "Either we're close to my other mother or Sofie"
"I'm... not so sure about being close" Brianna slowly brought up. "We barely moved at all from where I was kept. Is the Fade in this area being altered already?"
"At this rate" Neria backed away from a shifting gear when suddenly it turned into a snow covered branch. "I can't think of something that would cause the Fade to shift so massively in such a fast pace. This is almost like a very old, very powerful spirit is reshaping this area of the Fade with their influence alone"
The roof upon their head was replaced with a cloudy sky, the sphere of light shifting into the sun as it hid behind them.
"This is far from normal, even for the Fade, isn't it?" Marcus rhetorically asked, eyes widening.
"We need to find the others," Neria declared staring up alongside her comrades.
Brianna continued; "And I think we might need to pick up the pace."
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Nostalgia felt like a double edge for Serana as she, Leliana, and Zevran had found a wooden door in their path and decided to enter it. Pass the threshold they found themselves standing in a place the Nordic vampire has been to several times. "Candlehearth Hall... We're in Windhelm" She muttered as she and the others stood inside the illusion of Eastmarch's most famous inn.
Leliana's eye rose with recognition; "Sofie spoke of this place. This was where she was from right?"
"There is no one here unlike last time," Zevran commented gazing around.
The redhead came beside Serana; "Could Sofie be here," worry laced in her voice.
A fierce war cry rang out from outside the inn.
"Oh that's her battle cry" Serana said, voice dropping with a touch of concern. "And it's an angry one, not the 'I'm enjoying myself' one" She sprinted towards the door, quickly followed by the others.
"You can tell them apart?" Zevran questioned, baffled.
"A mother knows"
The imaginary door was blasted outwards with a pure arcane energy from the vampire.
"Sofie! Are you o-Oh" All her concerns vanished instantly upon the seeing what was happening right before them.
"...Mierda" Zevran muttered, while Leliana gulped.
Outside in front of the tavern and near Windhelm's gates and the inn was demonic ichor and the vanishing limbs of demons scattered around as they vanished melted into their raw chaotic matter.
And at the center of it all was Sofie, her muscles noticeably enlarged with red scales growing from her skin, blazing veins bulging all the way to her throat, where the scales reached until the edge of her jaw. She knelt upon the chest of a large pride demon, and her might fists descended upon its multi-eyed face repeatedly, over and over, until its skull caved in.
Sofie's chest heaved wildly glaring at the now dead demon; "Don't you ever pretend to be Bjorum Hard-Hand! He was a fool but he still my father!"
Oh, they pulled that on her daughter for an illusion...
Serana faintly winced recalling the sorted history of Sofie's late family. Not the smartest of tricks given her eldest complicated feelings when it came to her father. Zevran only stared wide eyed at her side; "W-What is she?"
"My daughter," the Nordic vampire reproached flatly; "And will explain later." She leapt down the Inn's steps; "Sofie!"
Hearing her names she snapped her head to the side to see her mother, Leli, and the Antivan Crow. "Illusion or real?" Her voice guarded with her rage still boiling.
"We're real," Leliana cried out running up beside Serana; "Are you alright?!"
Sofie slowly nodded at the redhead; "Ask me later..." She kick the remaining torso of the demon before it finally faded away. "Had it took Scout-Many-Marshes or Ambarys forms it might have gotten me..."
Serana pursed her lips, "Do we need to have a conversation or-"
"I'm nearly forty" Sofie replies, cleaning the dark demonic ichor from her hands. "I'm not a child, I worked through my issues and I laid my past behind. I was just mad some half-rate daedra thought they could do something like that and get away with it"
"If you say so"
"I don't even like Windhelm, don't know why they thought they would get me with this place" Sofie quipped, letting the dragon's power fade away, her limbs slowly returning to normal.
"It was still your home once" Leliana gently put in.
"It was a small girl's home, and that girl doesn't exist anymore"
"Hmph, and here I thought I had a complicated childhood" Zevran quipped but not uncaringly.
The vampire let out a long sigh, "You're not the only one who puts to rest the person you once were, my dear" Her voice became a touch distant, "It's something of a tradition in our family"
Scratching the back of his head Zevran sighed gazing around the illusion of this Windhelm. "A dreary place to live for anyone." Serana could not help but agree as she had no love for the Nordic hold any more than her daughter, Miara, or the rest of her family. Only a handful of good people ever made it bearable.
The illusion of snow and wind danced around Leliana who came to Sofie's side as the taller woman was calming her erratic breathing. "Let's go find the others."
Sofie only nodded before realizing something; "Should this place still be here?" She looked around noticing the Skyrim hold having not vanished.
That drew the others attention as they now realized that the illusion indeed was remaining. Serana's hand glowed with magic waving it, but Windhelm remained. "Okaaay," the Vampire raised a brow. "Should have asked Neria more about this place before splitting up."
"Serana..." Zevran uttered in a breathless tone.
Shifting their eyes to the assassin they saw him pointing passed Candlehearth looking up. Following his gaze startlement bloomed on the faces of the three women as they saw an utterly enormous white tower ascending into the very heavens. It was so tall Zevran and Leliana felt their necks hurt looking up at it.
However for Sofie and her mother, both felt the hairs on the back of their necks stand; "Adamantine Tower?" The Nordic woman sharply looked to her mother; "That's in High Rock not Skyrim."
"Holy..." No sooner did Zevran finish his exclamation, the tower shrunk in an instant and turned into a rundown shack in the middle of snowy woods. "...fuck?" There still patches of a sandy beach at the edge of their vision, a wild contrast with the current landscape.
Serana narrowed her eyes, "And now this is clearly Skyrim, that... that is the hut where Miara found Meeko!"
"Illiac Bay, Skyrim" Sofie listed off, "These are places were mom has been"
"Bloody Oblivion" Serana swore, "We need to find the others, fast"
She had a horrible feeling about this.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
The white haired mage wept, all around her there was only carnage and ruin. Such senseless loss of life. Lives she had known since they were so young. Students she had mentored, mages she watched grown into fine people.
They were her charge, she was meant to protect them.
And now here they laid, their lives taken from them because she had not been fast enough, strong enough, to protect them.
"Wynne"
She could still hear them, calling out to her. Their voices were haunting.
"Wynne!"
Having taken a bit of some time to get out of the strange fusion of Ayleid and Dwemer ruins. Neria and the others had soon found themselves on the streets of Skingrad as Oryrn had explained. However he was quick to mention all the buildings surrounding them were a mesh of multiple places from all around Tamriel's nations.
Neither Neria nor Brianna understood what was going on any more than Marcus; trepidation however glowed from Oryrn's face as they hurried through the area. The elven circle mage actually felt relief when passing through an open gate and returned to a part of the Fade that looked normal. Yet it was short lived as the group did not get far before entering the ruined area of Kinloch Hold's library. They came to the horrific bloody scene of a dozen or more corpses of dead mages, and the center of it was Wynne.
Quickly Neria ran towards her old teacher's side calling out her name. But the elderly woman was lost in despair and hopelessness around her. Marcus bore a grim look gazing around them; "Is this what mages go through when being in the Fade?"
"Not all the time," Bri explained; "Only when demons are trying to trick or persuade us to take over our bodies." The beautiful brunette looked back where they came from; "Though I've been wondering why we hardly seen any since being here. Moreover why parts of the Fade are becoming areas of Tamriel." She turned her gaze to Oryrn who peered back to her.
"Teacher!" Wynne's eyes were glossed over with tears and pain. Not registering Neria grabbing her arms and calling out to her; "Teacher please, it's Neria."
Oryrn swiftly vanished the illusion around her, yet Wynne did not react. She hugged herself, trembling as she wept.
"She's trapped in her guilt" Brianna said, for once not being brash when referring to the older mage. "Neria, the Calm spells we learnt"
"But-" She was not used to casting those magics. It reminded her of the school of entropy, particularly those spells meant to inflict terror. Any magic that affected the mind went against her principles... but seeing Wynne like this, suffering so much under demons who fed on her pain. She couldn't just let Wynne suffer like this.
Together with Brianna, the two put what they learnt from the Tamrielic Illusion School and weaved gentle spells of peace and calm unto Wynne. The shaking stopping as a slowly a newfound sense of stability began filling her, vanishing dark thoughts and regrets.
It was jarring, to see Wynne go from a weeping wreck to the very image of control in such a short time.
"Neria, Brianna..." She muttered, cleaning the tears from her cheeks. "That is quite the useful spell you learnt"
Amell gave a rueful grin; "I think even you would be impressed with array of advance magic Tamriel has."
"They're Calm spells" Oryrn supplied, "Even if she was impressed she wouldn't be able to show it"
"Are you alright now, Senior Enchanter?" Marcus came up to the elderly woman with concern; "Do you need rest?"
Wynne only gave a mild snort; "I might be in my twilight years Lord Cousland but I can still carry my weight. I'll rest once Uldred is defeated and the tower is secure."
"Just Marcus ma'am."
"Then just Wynne for me Marcus, I'm not one for titles." Well that was one aspect Brianna respected from the elderly woman. Letting out a light huff the old mage paused at the sight of Oryrn who gave her a respectful nod; "I do hope I get the chance to speak with you and your family. Outside of being foreigners, choosing to stay and help us in these dire events shows tremendous honor and duty."
"We just strive to do what's right. For many that are a challenge, for others they simply refuse."
Wynne nodded; "So very true." She retrieved her staff from the ground. "Let us find the others shall we?"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Serana and company had a found a path out of the illusion of Windhelm and back to the Fade. However even that was changing as more and more areas around them became structures hailing from Tamriel. And the while Zevran along with Leliana had mounting questions, they were met with silence from the mother and daughter.
Thus why the undead woman felt actual relief when they stepped into the forest area that contained Flemeth's hut. There they found Morrigan, sitting on a stump beside the headless body that was the illusion of her mother. "T'is a about time. That did not feel nearly as good had she been the real thing." The raven haired woman droned
Leliana looked horrified at the sight; "Illusion or not that was still your mother."
"You clearly haven't met her," Morrigan quipped back.
Sofie peered around to gaze at the surroundings; "Why hasn't this place vanished?"
Her question was met with a shrug by the mage who finally stood; "It should have vanished by now but hasn't. Moreover I've noticed strange structures popping up all around, constantly shifting in form."
"They are reflections from Tamriel" Sofie said alarmed, "We've been seeing them already, something off is going on"
"Hmm, Tamriel huh?" The swamp witch mused to herself. "There can only be one possible answer"
"It involves Miara" The vampire finished, "I'm aware, now hurry up"
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Halls of heights seemingly impossible for the people who built them, mighty statues reflecting the glory of ancient times. Lines of heavily armored soldiers walked in perfect formation as they beat back the Blighters again and again, thaig after thaig recovered. A dwarven empire being rebuilt, a dwarven people saved.
Sereda smiled at the sight of another great settlement once more being filled with life, where once was Taint and death, there was now opportunity and growth.
"Come, sister!" The voice of her elder brother called out to her, a great warhammer resting upon his shoulder. "Bhelen is once again under the delusion he killed more! We need to compare notches!"
"Tell him he still owes us the last round of ale!" The princess of Orzammar laughed, "He needs to learn to take responsibility!"
Trian laughed, and went to join their younger brother, who was already spouting all manner of exaggerated feats to an audience of soldiers already wrapped in his far-fetched tales.
Sereda took a moment to relax. This was another victory, another day in which she saw her dream of a recovering Orzammar happening before her eyes.
So when the images faded out of her like volcanic vapor, she knew it was time to wake up.
Her smile, seemingly frozen in place, slowly cracked. Replaced with a grimace as she shakenly lowered her head, her jaw clenching tightly as she bared her teeth in a silent cry, bitter tears rolling down her cheeks.
On one shoulder, Marcus, her old friend, placed a comforting hand. On the other, Oryrn, the stranger who welcomed her when she had nowhere else to go, placed another.
No words needed to be exchanged.
She eventually walked forward, their hands offered no resistance as they fell from her shoulders. "I don't know what surfacers like so much about dreaming" She spat, "Fuck the Fade"
"Incline to agree my friend," Oryrn lamented.
Bri leaned in; "Who was that man if I may ask?"
"...My older brother," The dwarven woman remarked before keeping silent.
Neria's gaze kept a close watch of their surroundings before noticing more structures forming in the distance. Like before they were a mesh of multiple buildings likely from Tamriel. Looking back to Oryrn he was also seeing this but remaining quiet. She shook her head; they need to keep focused on their companions before trying to figure out what was happening to the Fade.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Alistair let out a bright laugh as he sat beside a cheerful Duncan at a table in a modest house with a several small children joyfully running around. "Honestly you're going to spoil them brother," a lovely looking woman in a simple dress with long brunette hair walked into the room from the hall.
The former Templar waved it off; "Oh it's fine sis."
"I'm glad we had the time to visit Denerim," Duncan remarked sipping his glass of ale. "Our work as Wardens has kept us busy for some time."
Alistair only smiled; "Just glad I finally dragged you here to see my family."
This was the scene Serana and the rest found as they walked through a door to find their warden comrade. Sofie felt a ping in her heart; "I am really hating this place."
"I shouldn't be surprised when it comes to Alistair should I," Morrigan questioned in mocking.
Zevran gave an understanding grin; "Sometimes I wish I could have met my mother. Sadly she died giving birth to me."
"No one cares" The swamp witch droned.
"Now that's just hurtful"
"Morrigan's attitude aside. Zevran, you just arrived, and you tried to kill my mom. You're too new to start opening up to us" The nord warrior woman pointed out.
"Fair enough"
The vampire ignored them, instead focusing in the scene before her. She was not the best when it came to complicated family issues (her own family being the text-book definition of it...), she could talk to her children, to her beloved, but when it came to other people and their personal lives, Serana liked to give them distance. She knew she preferred privacy when it came to her own past. She wasn't Miara, she was... better at this. So perhaps she could give it a try, but would not press on.
The moment the children ran up to play with their uncle, Serana had dispelled the illusion. Leaving Alistair with a confused and terrified look on his face, before he slowly sobered up with saddened disappointment. "Oh..." He muttered in realization on what was going on. He turned to see Serana coming up to him.
"You want to talk about it, lad?" The vampire gently asked.
"No I... I don't think I want to for now" He said sheepishly.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Brianna cocked her head; "Now when it came to this fellow I half honestly expected..."
"A brothel full of naked women catering to his every need," Oryrn quipped dryly with Sereda's eye twitched.
"Yes."
Amell's remark did have merit considering Faren's unique personality. Neria mentally trying to be polite about the roguish dwarven man despite his more lecherous and thieving nature that did not help him much. Instead they found their companion sitting at a bar in a tavern sharing a few laughs with other dwarves and barkeep.
"The company you're keeping is rather colorful," Wynne remarked beside her former student.
Turning his head Faren waved upon seeing his friends; "Hello~! What kept you? Is this what you folks call dreams?"
Neria paused for a moment; "You know it's an illusion?"
"That what it is? I just woke up on the floor and then ordered a pint." Sereda fought very hard not to slap her forehead as her fellow dwarf took a large gulp of his alcohol. "Who knew dream ale was so damn good!"
The young elven mage deadpanned; "It's not real."
"Well it's the best not-real ale I ever had!" Faren laughed with a smile. Marcus rubbed his eyes with a loud sigh. "Seriously try some!"
A wave of his hand, carrying a flash of magic, an Oryrn vanished the dream, evaporating it like mist.
Faren fell from his sit with huff; he looked down at his empty hand and could only whine in disappointment.
"Come on" Sereda offered him her hand, "I'll buy you a pint next time we're in a tavern"
"I'll hold you to that, damn that ale was good"
The moment he stood up with her help, they all noticed their environment had changed completely again.
They now stood in a huge grassy field, the sight of the farmlands was unmistakable, but what surprised the Thedosians was the massive walled city standing proudly in the distance, built over a chain of small islands in the middle of a great lake. With a prominent marble tower standing up majestically above even the great walls like Fort Drakon did in Denerim.
"...Maybe too good" The dwarven rogue muttered.
"What is that place?" Wynne muttered; she had never seen such a city like that before.
"The Imperial City, the capital of the empire" Oryrn said, realization came to him instantly upon seeing it. "This is Cyrodiil"
"Does... Cyrodiil have deserts?" Brianna asked.
The question took him by surprise, "No. Why-?" He turned to see what she was looking at, and at edge of the landscape, where the farmlands ended; immediately gave way to a vast desert of dunes. "That's... either Hammerfell or Elsweyr. Neither of those deserts should be so close to the Imperial City"
"Why is the Fade reacting so strongly to Tamriel?" Neria questioned in disbelief. "I know Serana is free, but I can't see Sofie's own dream being responsible to affect things so much. Does... Does this have to do with Miara?"
"It's... very possible" Oryrn admitted, carefully choosing his words. "The Dragon Soul is an immense thing. Its primal power surpasses far that of any other soul. The Fade must be reacting to the sheer weight of it..."
Confusion bore on the senior enchanter's face; "Dragon soul? I'm sorry what are you talking about?"
Neria looked wide eyed over to Brianna who scratched the back of her head. Marcus made an uncomfortable clearing of his throat; "We can explain on the way. At least he can since Miara is his mother." He weakly pointed to the dunmeri Templar.
Already Oryrn felt this was going to be bit of a discussion.
And a headache...
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Birds chirped in an open modest vineyard while the sun glowed gently overhead. Resting against a tree Gin could not help but smile as he watched his father and Shianni joyfully running around, playfully chasing a young elven child. Close by were Soris and Valora laughing at the sight while holding an infant in his arms.
Walking into the vineyard Alistair cursed under his breath as he watched the redheaded elven woman run over to Gin sitting with him and kissing him tenderly. "These blasted demons..." He mournfully smiled; "though have to admit I like this place. I didn't know Gin had dreams like this."
"Considering he came from the alienage this would be paradise," Morrigan addressed with a hand on her hip.
Leliana sniffed; "Even the air smells sweet here."
Serana leaned a bit forward paying close attention to the elven woman with Gin before her brow shot upwards as she recalled who that was. And for Gin's privacy kept her mouth shut before dispelling the illusion.
As the images before him vanished like mist, the city elf's hands grasped at the air where he once held his lady. Disappointment shone in his eyes, his mouth pressing into a thin line, as he cast his gaze to the floor, full of bitterness and pessimism. "Of course..." He muttered.
"No time for tears, kid" The vampire said. "We have urgent matters to attend to"
"Then let's stop wasting time" He said, channeling the mounting anger he felt towards the demons who had kept him locked up with vision of a life he knew just wasn't possible.
XxX ~ xx ~ XxX
Niall was sitting at a table of the fake Circle library, when two large doors manifested from both sides of the room, opening and revealing Neria leading one group of people, including Brianna and Wynne, while the other group was filled with others unfamiliar to him.
The moment the two groups gazed upon each other, myriad emotions formed on everyone's faces as many of them race to meet in the middle of the room, making sure the others were alright.
"I am fine" Oryrn said with a warm smile as his Nordic mother's hands cupped his cheeks; he grasped her wrists and gently lowered them.
"I'll be the judge of that" Serana replied firmly as she looked all over him.
"Maker is it good to see you" Alistair grasped Marcus' forearm tightly, which the young Cousland return.
"Same to you, my friend, same to you" He smiled as he patted the senior Warden's armored shoulder.
Wynne came quickly over to Niall's side upon seeing him; "Neria told me. I'm so sorry old friend."
"I'm coming to terms with it myself. If you can find a way out of here take the litany and stop Uldred. I'll rest easy knowing I helped in some way." The late enchanter spoke with mild grim acceptance to his fate. "You should be proud of Neria; she has grown a great deal since I had last seen her."
The elder enchanter could not help but smile; "I am, greatly."
"We still need to find Miara," Leliana mentioned after giving a quick hug to Neria. "And our sweet Mabari hounds."
Niall gave an inquisitive eye towards the unknown people walking around, namely the gray skinned elves and towering Avvar women. "Fascinating company you have."
"If we weren't pressed for time I'd explain more," Neria remarked coming to Wynne's side before quickly introducing everyone to the deceased man. Shocked glowed in his eyes when being told of the foreign origins of the strange elves and tall women. "Niall have you seen anything strange happening around you?"
"Outside of weird structures propping up and disappearing around this place?" He quipped rhetorically. "I told you the Fade is acting strangely. And you can feel it if you concentrate."
With her eyes closed Brianna let her sense expand; "Niall's right, at least in this area of the Fade I can feel an immensely powerful aura engulfing the place." She opened her eyes to look right at Serana, Sofie, and Oryrn; "This is Miara isn't it?"
"And you have been rather evasive in our questions about this 'Dragon Soul' business young man," Wynne spoke up next gazing to Oryrn.
"Miara is a century old elf with the literal soul of a dragon. With all the raw arcane power you could imagine that comes with it" Serana said, finding no point in sugar coating it. Miara was potentially in peril, more than that, they had no idea what her presence would do to this realm. Better to tell the truth now to the elder human mage and deal with the rest afterwards.
Wynne looked at the tall woman for a moment, blinking repeatedly, mouth opening and closing as she tried to formulate the words. "I... see" She said hesitantly, clearly still wrapping her head around the concept.
"The point is; Miara's soul is a massive thing. The Fade is shifting according to its sheer presence. If she stays here long enough there's no telling how much the realm could change"
"Then we need to find Miara" Marcus said with resolute, once more stepping to take charge. "Before the Fade shifts into something we cannot escape from" Credit where credit is due, he was following the logic behind this better than he was before when it came to arcane matters.
"Mom's soul is a big deal, for the demons to keep her trap they must be devoting all their efforts to contain her, and in great numbers" Sofie said, "No wonder we faced so little to no opposition so far"
"That would make sense" Neria agreed, "Perhaps if we follow the distortions in the Fade we'll be able to find her. The more the Fade shifts to reflect Tamriel, it could mean the closer we're getting"
"I feel really out my depth with all this," Faren muttered scratching his head. "I miss the good old days."
Sereda only rolled her eyes ignoring the man; "So finding this duster should be easy right?"
"Afraid not small one," a deep masculine voice rang out that made everyone tense and ready in a blink. "You will find the path towards the one you seek most difficult."
While the others held a weapon or magic at the ready for a fight, Neria looked deep in thought. She knew that voice, recognition so came to her as her eyes brightened; "Valor!"
In a flash of light the spirit that had helped Surana during her harrowing appeared in his ethereal armored form. "Indeed, we meet again young Neria."
Before the others could stop her, the young elven mage ran up to the spirit; "It's good to... see..." Her voice went from cheerful to a hush as she had a good look to Valor's right arm; "What happened to you?"
The question came in part that his right arm was now solid with amber skin and claw-like fingers. With that was a beautiful White embroiled gauntlet and pauldron. Valor shook his head; "I grew careless with my curiosity and had gotten close to the epicenter of the power that is changing the fade. It started with my hand and slowly progressed more. No matter how hard I fight it, it seems I will be changed."
"Changed?"
"He's turning into a daedra" The mages turned to Serana in alarm.
"A what?" Wynne frowned, once more feeling very confused. She went unanswered for the time being.
"A daedra?" Neria repeated, her worry growing. "But they are-!"
"The embodiment of change" The vampire said before she could finish, "I wager a daedra's existence is not much different from that of a spirit of the Fade. But unlike its denizens, daedra do not depend on the mind of mortals to take shape"
The elven mage turned to the spirit who helped her in her Harrowing. "What will happen to you?"
"I do not know" The spirit said, but true to his name, there was no hesitation in his voice. "But whatever happens to me, I'll meet my fate head on"
That was comforting at least.
"But if you are looking for your companion, I believe I met someone who can help you"
"Another spirit?" Alistair asked.
"Indeed" He waved his golden hand to seemingly no one, "Come, Adventure, these people are in need of your aid"
Much like Valor, another spirit appeared in a flash of light. This one looking more solid than the ethereal-looking knight, but was no doubt another spirit of the Fade. Clad from head to toe in the darkest of armors with multiple golden accents, a long tabard reaching all the way to the knees, this new knight spirit was female in appearance, giving the shape of the armor around the chest and waist.
Her voice came booming from behind her helmet, "Hail wayfarers! Seek ye perils and thrills? Damsels to rescue? Ruffians to vanquish? Then seek no further, for I, Adventure, shall take you to quests unending!"
They couldn't help but notice her loud and overly dramatic voice sounded a touch like Miara's.
"Wait, I think that's a set of armor Miara used to wear" Serana frowned, staring at the spirit in recognition.
"…Oh my gods" Sofie threw her head back and droned miserably. "You latched onto the image of my mother didn't you?" A chorus of sighs and groans rang out amidst their party.
"Indeed!" Adventured posed heroically, one fist on her hip and the other raised. "For who embodies the spirit of adventure, the desire for sights unseen, for new challenges to face, more than Miara Redoran, Dragon of the North!"
"Great, she's got a fan now..." Serana deadpanned. As if her beloved didn't have enough back home.
"Ahhh the things she's done! The monsters she's slayed! The dungeons she plundered! The secrets she uncovered!" Adventure banged an armored fist to her chest plate. "Be it by blade, bow or spell, she claimed glories and treasure by the hundreds!"
"Enough to write down multiple volumes of a book" Serana said impatiently as she crossed her arms. "Can you take us to her?"
"I can feel her shining like the sun over yonder" Adventured pointed at distant convergence of architecture foreign to Tamriel. "I believe we shall also find your brave hounds on the way"
That made Neria and Marcus breathe easier. "Good, that's good…"
"Now follow me, not often does his warrior need rescuing, onwards!"
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Hope you enjoy!