Dragon Age: Inquisition

[NecroKnight]

"Wait! Your Varric Tethras?" squealed Grace in joy, like a fresh Andrastian girl. "Oh, I've read about almost all your books. From the Orlais' issues, to the Free Marches and even the rare copy of the Tevinter Saga. I almost fell out of a tree, reading the part on where Magister Avaden, didn't wear any underpants."


"It is also stated, that they are based on real issues - with eye-witness by you. Why aren't you the famous being in Thedas yet, I wonder..." spoke Grace, taking a liking to the dwarf already.

 

[Kestrel]

Cassandra cleared her throat. "If you are done...fangirling...we have work to do."


"Oh! Grace! I almost forgot!" Phoenix exclaimed. "I still need to return your book I borrowed. Swords and Shields."


Cassandra looked at Phoenix. "Have you read the latest chapter? It ended in a cliffhanger. Varric must be working in the next one. I'm sure of it."


Varric laughed. "I must have heard that wrong. I thought you just said that all three of you have read my worst romance serial? Ah, this is priceless."


Cassandra crossed her arms. "Pretend you don't know this about me."


"You'll be waiting for a while. I haven't finished it and I wasn't planning on it. That book is easily the worst I've ever written. The last issue barely sold enough to pay for the ink. I honestly thought a hole in the sky was the weirdest thing that could happen."


Cassandra gasped. "But...but you must! The guard-captain-"


Varric laughed harder. "If we get out of this alive Seeker, I'll finish it for you."


"Fine," Cassandra glared. "But you are not coming into the valley."


"Have you seen the valley lately, Seeker? Your men aren't in control anymore. You need me."


She scoffed and turned away. The bald elf stepped closer. "My name is Solas, if there are to be introductions. I am pleased to see you still live." He said to Phoenix.


"He means 'I kept that mark from killing you while you slept," Varric translated.


"Then I owe you my thanks," Phoenix said to him.


"Thank me if we manage to close the Breach without killing you in the process," He turned to Cassandra. "Cassandra, you should know that the magic involved here is unlike any I have ever seen. Your prisoner is a mage, and yet I find it difficult to imagine any mage with such power."


"Understood."


Being referred to as Cassandra's prisoner irked Phoenix. "I am Phoenix, of clan Lavellan. This is Grace, my...sister."


Solas glanced at Phoenix's ears, then at Grace's. "I see."


(Yes. Cassandra being a fangirl is canon. [media]



[/media]
[media]



[/media] Also, if you want, feel free to take over some of the NPCs.)

 

[NecroKnight]

(I'll take over the other when they arrive; your playing very good)


"Are you kidding me? Swords and Shields is a great piece - it combines that sultry pieces, oh, and with some believeable action. It doesn't sell much, because some called it corny - and most men don't buy cause its too much a 'girl-flick'," spoke Grace to Varric.


"And no, Sir Elven Mage, we didn't come from the same cabbage. I had done an idiotic thing and Phoenix here saved me. As such me and her are m'erhas," said Grace; meaning sisters-of-honor. Or battle-brother for that matter, if one would read its actual meaning.


"Anybody that doesn't like that can eat my dagger and go andulla 've 'pofa," replied Grace - although her insult of elven could use work; as fucking a potato, was her saying.

 

[Kestrel]

Solas' eyes widened, then he chuckled at Grace's 'suggestion'. "No, thank you." He finally said.


"Wow, you made him laugh! What'd you say?" Varric laughed.


Solas answered, "I do not think it would be appropriate to repeat what she suggested I do with a potato."


Varric laughed harder. "Well, now I have to know! Feel like sharing, Gracie?"

 

[NecroKnight]

"Uh ahamn 'ner do-da-per?" replied Grace - translating to something of rabbit pixie dust. "I have just repeated what my half-sister had spoken of. I don't know much about elven, although the language has been an interesting one, whenever I get Phoenix to open up and speak about it."


"Andraste freed us all from Tevinter rule - the best way we can honor that, is not be at eachother' throats and tear eachother limb from limb," spoke Grace. "I highly doubt, any Maker or Creator would support that kind of religion or rule."

 

[Kestrel]

"Yes, I teach Grace all the bad elvish words," Phoenix said sarcastically.


"If you are done talking, we must get to the forward camp quickly," Cassandra interrupted. She began to walk away, followed by Solas.


"Well, Bianca's excited," Varric said. Phoenix followed.


Cassandra said, "It's this way. Down the bank. The road ahead is blocked," and led them back towards the frozen river. The path was indeed blocked by rubble and smoldering debris.


"We must move quickly," Solas said. Phoenix quickened her pace. Cassandra led them down a small, steep trail until the were back near the river, where there was a straight, more even path. A smaller rift appeared over the river, and demons began pouring out of it. The demons appeared to be led by a large Shade demon. Without hesitating, Phoenix pulled out her staff and began attacking the Greater Shade. Solas stood near her and launched ice magic at the Greater Shade. Cassandra and Varric targeted the Lesser Shades.

 

[NecroKnight]

Grace proceeded to through a bottle of freezer straight into the maw of the breach - just as a demon was slowly crawling out of it; in a nutshell, blocking their way in.


"Alright - hole blocked with a frozen demon. Wave that magic hand and close that thing, sis!" spoke Grace, cartwheeling into the fight with the Lesser Shades, then spinning into a whirlwind - slicing her daggers everywhere.

 

[Kestrel]

Phoenix lunged forward and stretched out her hand. Both the mark and the rift crackled, and the rift sealed. Once the rift was sealed, it didn't take long to dispose of the remaining demons. Cassandra looked around to get her bearings. "It's this way," and ran off, heading back up another path way from the river. As Phoenix got closer, she discovered the path was a set of man-made stairs, partially covered in snow. Phoenix took the lead, melting the ice and snow with fire.


"So, Phoenix, are you innocent?" Varric asked, turning towards the red-haired mage.


Phoenix made a conscious effort to be patient. "I honestly don't know. I don't remember much."


"I hope Leliana made it through all this," Cassandra said, sounding worried.


"She's resourceful, Seeker," Varric reassured her. Phoenix noticed that he didn't say she'd be fine.


"We will see for ourselves at the forward camp," Solas chimed in. "We are almost there."


The group reached the crest of the hill. The stairs opened into what appeared to be a courtyard, outlined by a fence made of wooden spikes. "Another rift!" Cassandra warned. Behind the rift, on the other side of the courtyard was a stone tower. The rift was larger than the others.


"We must seal it! Quickly!" Solas shouted.


Phoenix ran towards the rift, calling out "No! Really! I would have never guessed!"


A human male called out, "They keep coming! Help us!"


"I'm working on it!" shouted Phoenix back, feeling annoyed and impatient. She began sealing it, as Varric and Cassandra stood nearby, guarding her. Solas was on the edge of the battle, also covering her. If Phoenix was attacked, or otherwise distracted, she would be unable to seal a rift. Instead of collapsing on itself and disappearing, it changed into a glowing green mass of spikes. She tried sealing it again, and this time was successful.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Looks like your the next gardener - we got demons popping-out like pesky weeds and I guess your the one to cut them down," giggled the blond sister next to her.

 

[Kestrel]

Phoenix laughed at Grace's comment.


"The rift is gone!" Cassandra called out. "Open the gate!"


"Right away, Lady Cassandra," someone replied.


"We are clear for the moment. Well done," Solas told her. As reassuring as it was for Phoenix to have Grace at her side, it was nice to see another Elvish mage, even if Solas was confusing. He didn't appear to be Dalish, because he didn't have any Vallislin, and his accent was different. He very clearly was not from the circle, as he was very skilled in combat magic.


"Whatever that thing is on your hand, it's useful," Varric said.


The gate finally opened revealing a bridge and a crowd of people scattered across it. Weapon racks and supply carts lined the edges. There was a table with a good supply of potions for people to stock up on, but Phoenix declined. She would trust one of Grace's experimental or unofficial potions to an official one that followed a recipe any day. It wasn't that Phoenix disliked or didn't trust other potion-makers, she just trusted Grace more.

 

[NecroKnight]

"So we got rid of that hole in the sky, and you got a glowing thing on your hand. Maybe we can figure out how this all got started in the first place," spoke Grace, currently in the process of picking her teeth with her dagger.


"However, Mr. Tethras, how did you and elven mage here met? You two don't seem the two, to hang out? Unless you two are fighting for non-human rights..." she added to that statement.

 

[Kestrel]

"Cassandra," Varric said. "Cassandra is how we met."


Cassandra opened her mouth defensively.


"Be quiet. This is my story," Varric scolded jokingly.


"Have I no say in this tale?" Solas inquired.


"Nope!" Varric answered sounding cheerful. "Anyway, Cassandra was interrogating me about the Champion of Kirkwall. One of her companions was a mage. He turned pyscho and boom! went the Chantry. I stuck around for the Conclave. Chuckles here showed up to help. Says he's a Fade expert."


"Chuckles?" Solas sounded confused.


"That's your nickname, because you never smile."


"Fine," Solas said. He must have figured out it would be pointless to argue with Varric.


"Grace, Phoenix, I'll get to work thinking of nicknames for you two. Maybe Fizzle for Grace," Varric said. Fizzle made sense to Phoenix, considering how much Grace loved potions.


"How about Bee?" Phoenix suggested.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Where?!" squealed Grace, clinging onto Phoenix like glue in a blink; having all of her limbs wrapped around Phoenix in such a quick and fast way, that Phoenix wouldn't even flinch from the sudden change of weight - while Grace looked around frantically for any bees in the vicinity.


"Oh, there better not be any bees here - else I'll scream louder than an archdemon for sure. I mean it, bees are not good for Grace!"

 

[Kestrel]

"Gracie, it's okay," Phoenix laughed. " I was jokingly suggesting that your nickname is Bee. There are no bees, I promise."


"Why would there be bees? It is too cold for insects," Solas inquired.


"Grace hates bees," Phoenix explained.


"Jinx," Varric said suddenly. "I'm calling you Jinx, Phoenix."


"Sounds good, Shorty," Phoenix retorted.


Varric threw his head back and laughed. "I knew there was something I liked about you and Fizzle, Jinx."

 

[NecroKnight]

Grace soon disentangled herself from Phoenix - before she drank an entire flask-full of some red liquid, soon burping out fire around her and a little smoke.


"Nothing keeps bees away than good ol' smoke and fire," said Grace, not being much affected of having drunken stuff that made her breathe fire, or the fact she drank an entire flask of it.

 

[Kestrel]

"I just said it was too cold for insects," Solas said, sounding annoyed.


"Get used to it," Phoenix replied stepping over a puddle of slush that Grace had melted. "Grace hardly ever listens."


By now they had crossed the bridge, where Leliana was arguing with a human. He wore a fancy red and white uniform with a matching cowl. "Ah, here they are," he said smugly.


"You made it," Leliana sighed, sounding relieved. "Chancellor Roderick this is-"


"I know who she is," he interrupted. Phoenix instantly didn't like him. "As Grand Chancellor of the Chantry, I hereby order you to take this criminal to Val Royeux to face execution," he said sounding full of himself. Phoenix gave Grace a warning look, hoping she'd take the hint and not incinerate him or something.


Cassandra stepped forward. "'Order Me?'" she said, gesturing towards him in disbelief. "You are a glorified clerk! A bureaucrat!" she said in disgust.


"And you are a thug, but a thug who supposedly serves the chantry!" He shot back.


Leliana finally intervened. "We serve the Most Holy, Chancellor, as you well know."


"Justinia is dead! We must elect a replacement and obey her orders on the matter!"


Phoenix had had enough. "Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" She snarled.


"You shouldn't even be here!" Chancellor Roderick argued. "Call a retreat, Seeker. Our position here is hopeless."


"We can still stop this, before it's too late," Cassandra urged.


"How? You won't survive long enough to reach the temple, even with all your soldiers."


"We must get to the temple. It is the quickest route." Phoenix had started off on the wrong foot with Cassandra, but the elf had to admit that the Seeker was stubborn and determined.


"It's not the safest," Leliana added. Our forces can charge as a distraction so we can go through the mountains."


Cassandra shook her head. "We lost contact with an entire squadron on that path. it's too risky." Everyone argued for several more minutes until Cassandra turned to Phoenix, " How do you think we should proceed?'


"Now you're asking me my opinion?" Phoenix said in disbelief.


"You have the Mark," Solas pointed out.


"You are the one we must keep alive," Cassandra agreed. "Since we can't agree on our own..."


It wasn't a real choice to Phoenix. "We go through the mountains," she said decisively. "If there's any chance of finding survivors, we should try it. We must work together. We all know what's at stake."


Cassandra nodded in approval. "Leliana, bring everyone to the valley. Everyone." She began to walk away, leading the group to the mountain path.


"On your head be the consequences, Seeker."


Phoenix's feelings wouldn't be too hurt if Chancellor Roderick died. Painfully.

 

[NecroKnight]

Chancellor Rodrick soon found himself face-to-face with Grace, whom looked dis-approving of his attitude. She immediately started speaking to him in Orleasian - and in a very good accent too.


Mostly speaking on how Divine or not, the Seeker' were created to operate above where the Chantry couldn't. Indicating their objective of defending the Chantry from external and internal threats - also saying that as Chancellor, it was his task to keep to spread the Divine' will and not think in her absence.


Adding to that, she also said to him to get in contact, with anybody who is alive and start managing some relief and contact with others - as was his job, in the first place. While leaving the threat of a demon-invasion to them; as was their job.


"If you have any issues, I'm sure House Trevelyan would love to hear - how several of their sons and daughters are being killed still, by this damn Mage-Templar war. Me included," spoke Grace, returning to speaking simple common again. While her family wouldn't do much good, House Trevelyan still had influence in the Chantry - inside both Mage and Templar ranks; so the simple idea could provoke some sort of backing-down, from the obstructive bureacrat.


"Do your job, and the Seekers can do theirs."

 

[Kestrel]

As soon as Grace began speaking Orlesian, Phoenix gave up trying to understand what she was saying, As she only spoke fluently in Elvish and Common. She knew a few insults, threats and swear words in other languages, but that was it.


Chancellor Roderick blinked in shock several times. "Y-Yes, Lady Trevelyn." He stuttered, walking away.


"It's nice to see someone like that taken down a peg or two," Varric chuckled. "What'd you say to him Fizzle?"


"I too am curious as too what you told him," Solas said.


Cassandra and Leliana tried to look at Grace disapprovingly, but they were clearly trying not to laugh. "You should not have said that. He may cause trouble later. Although, I probably would've said the same thing," Leliana warned as she walked away.


They left the camp and headed out, hiking through deep snow until they reached a wooden tower with a ladder leading up to the top. Cassandra began climbing it, so Phoenix followed. "The tunnel should be just ahead," she called out. "The path to the temple lies just beyond it."


Solas gestured to the ladder. "After you, Lady Trevelyn." To Cassandra he asked, "What manner of tunnel is this? A mine?"


"Part of an old mining complex," Cassandra answered. "These mountains are full of such paths."


"And your missing soldiers are in there somewhere?" Varric asked.


Solas answered, "Along with whatever has detained them."


"We shall see soon enough," Cassandra said.


They all reached the top, and followed a path until the reached the mouth of the mine shaft. As the stepped inside. A greater Shade demon blocked the path. Cassandra leaped forward and slashed with her sword, while Varric, Solas and Phoenix stood back and attacked with their own weapons.

 

[NecroKnight]

"I merely told him, to let us do our job and for him to do his. And such clerks are always nosy - told him to do something about this Mage-Templar War before my family got angry," giggled Grace. "And even legally, he can't do nothing without a Divine' order - upto the point, any orders can be ignored by him, unless he has the Divine Seal on paper with orders. No Divine, no power - he could order the Templars to dance the Antivan' Mamba and they don't have to do much, but scratch their nuts at that."


When the shade-demon appeared, Grace jumped into the conflict immediately. Slashing at the arms of the demon with her blades.

 

[Kestrel]

"You have a colorful way of describing things, don't you Fizzle?" Varric chuckled approvingly.


Before the could kill the demon, several ghost-like figures appeared and attacked them. The wraiths were green, like the mark, leading Phoenix to believe that they had come through a rift. After the demon was dead, they continued through the tunnel. It was dark, so Phoenix summoned a ball of fire and held it in her hand. She found a staircase and headed up it. The hallway it led to was filled with an fog, but it seemed harmless. The stone floor was cracked and partially frozen.


A Lesser Shade was standing in the hallway, and Phoenix set it on fire. Three wraiths appeared, but were easily dispatched. Phoenix broke into a run when she saw the light outside up ahead. Varric looked around. "So the missing party must be holed up ahead somewhere?"


"Our priority must be the Breach. Unless we seal it soon, no one is safe," Solas replied.


"I'm leaving that to our elven friend here."


They walked along the snow covered path until they found another rift. Phoenix immediately began sealing it, leaving the demons and wraiths to everyone else.


"Lady Cassandra!" someone called out.


"Lieutenant! Your alive!" Cassandra sounded surprised, but relieved.


"Just barely."


Another group of tree-like demons poured out of the rift, and it closed behind them.


"Oh, great," Phoenix muttered, pulling out her staff.

 

[NecroKnight]

"Atleast they aren't bees," replied Grace, starting to fight the tree-demons - using her fire flasks for this sort of jovlb.

 

[Kestrel]

Phoenix finished sealing it. "Sealed. As before," Solas said. "You are becoming quite proficient at this."


"Let's just hope it works on the big one, Jinx," added Varric.


"Thank the Maker you arrived when you did, Lady Cassandra," a human woman said. "I don't think we could have held out much longer."


"Thank our prisoner, Lieutenant. She insisted we come this way."


"The prisoner?" The lieutenant sounded surprised. "Then you?"


Phoenix rolled her eyes and sighed. "So I'm still 'the prisoner' then? Sounds fair. After all, to you I'm just an elf. But, it was worth saving you if we could."


"My apologies. I do not mean to appear ungrateful. You have our sincere gratitude."


"The path behind us is clear for the moment. Go, while you still can."


"At once. Quickly let's move," she ordered.


"The path ahead appears to be free of demons as well," Solas said.


Cassandra nodded in agreement. "Let's hurry before that changes."

 

[NecroKnight]

"Any idea on who and why did this?" asked Grace. "And don't say, look next to me."


"I know Phoenix, and unless the entire Conclave and Divine called her the unmentionable - she wouldn't harm a pixie at that. Its bad even for the Dalish to have Templars and Mages running around without overwatch."


"As such, who would have the might, magic and wish to keep this war going? Beside Tevinter, cause that I thought of already. So?" asked Grace from Cassandra, egging her for answers.

 

[Kestrel]

"We do not belief the elf-I mean, Phoenix did it on purpose. She is our only suspect, however," Cassandra said.


"I do not belief a mortal could wield that much power," Solas said.


"So lemme get this straight," Varric said. "You have no idea who caused this how or why?"


"Not at the moment," Cassandra admitted.


"Okay, I was just checking. Holes in the Fade don't just accidently happen, right?"


"If enough magic is brought to bear, it is possible," Solas explained.


"But there are easier ways to make things explode."


"That is true."


"We will consider how this happened once the immediate danger has passed," Cassandra said.


They walked towards a ledge. "Down the ladder," Cassandra ordered.


The reached a clearing outlined by broken stone and rubble. "The Temple of Sacred Ashes," Solas said.


"What's left of it," Varric muttered.


Cassandra pointed, "That is where you walked out of the Fade and our soldiers found you. They say a woman was n the Rift behind you. No one knows who she was." As they walked, they found burnt bodies. Many were still standing, scorched where they had stood. Phoenix felt sick. Small fires still burned on the ground. There was no way Phoenix could have enough power to cause all the destruction.

 

[NecroKnight]

Grace hugged Phoenix, as they walked through here - wanting to ease any pain, she might be feeling.


"Its not your fault Phoenix."