Dragon Age: Sundering

[GnomesAteMyCake]

((Ace is taking a breather from the fast pace of DA. Untill he wants to come back, Merwyn is mine, kay?))

Panting, Kain accepted the hand that Kennith offered, back on his feet and sword in his hands in seconds. Looking down at the creature on the floor, his heart hammering wildly, he gulped. Never had he seen such an abomination. Taking a step back from the thing as it's many legs twitched and rippled as the last of it's life began to drain away, he looked at Kennith as the sound of more creatures attacking and Kras happily fighting them back reached his ears.

"What - what are those things?" he stammered, his face white, betraying his fear. Kain never liked to ask questions; more often than not, he didn't need to, able to get the answers to any questions he might ask by simply watching what was going on around him. But this thing... it was so wrong. Darkspawn, Demon.... Kain didn't know what it was, but he wanted it's whole species wiped off the face of the earth.

Shooting a final stare at Kennith, he thanked Janne for her aid and shook his long hair out of his face, his sword raised as another creature bounded into the light and leapt for his face. Swinging the sword like a bat, he caught the creature in the middle, it's mad squealing filling his ears as it bounced across the floor, leaving trails and splatters of it's blood.

"Kennith, finish it!"

-------------

Panting, his heart hammering erratically in his chest, Merwyn planted his hands on his knees and was content to just breathe for a second. It hadn't been that far of a run, but the presence of the Slyvan had made it seem so much longer.

What have I gotten myself into? he thought mornfully to himself for the millionth time as Inali beckoned everyone to follow her deeper into the ruins. Straightening his hood, Merwyn hurried to catch up, falling into step with the Elf and keeping his eyes downcast, his hands touching at the daggers strapped to his belt. Not quite as comforting as his bow, but knowing that he was armed helped calm him. A little.

"Um..." he muttered quietly, looking up breifly at the Elven maiden's face before looking down again, his cheeks dusted pink. "Are w-we sure where we're going? Not that I d-don't think you do, Mistress Keeper, but..." Shrugging, he attempted a laugh. "These walls all look the same to me."

[Eva]

Kennith balanced a sphere of lightning in his hand and watched Kain. When he was given the order, he sent the sphere out, electrocuting the creature, killing it for good.

One of the creatures lunged at Janne, but she knocked it down with a kick. She beat it into submission with her shield before finishing it off with a quick sword strike. "Everyone! Move back into the light!" she shouted, backing up as she did so. The last thing they needed was to get swarmed in the dark, one by one.

Janne looked over and saw some light in the distance. It was slowly expanding, like a door being opened. The four of them were being swarmed, and it didn't seem like they would be able to hold out forever. "This is just a suggestion, but maybe we should head over there!" she shouted, gesturing to the new light. Another one of the creatures charged at Janne, and she subdued it, with somewhat more difficulty than before.

[Eva]

"I know where we need to be. It was clearly told to all of the mages involved, including myself. It's not much further in. I can feel the others...their power is surging. They are preparing the Joining ritual, I can feel it." Cora said, walking behind Merwyn. "In fact-"

The mage was cut off when the four encountered an obstacle. The wall stood, solid in front of them, with no door whatsoever. There was a decorative section in the wall, shaped like a door might be. "I know what this is. Stand back." Cora told them. She walked forward and lifted her staff, unleashing some magic. The slab of wall disappeared, the four were greeted with a savage sight.

Four mages kneeled, hands tied behind their backs and mouths gagged, in front of a stone table. A shining silver goblet sat atop the table, but that was not the most important thing going on. Several elves stood around them, weapons drawn. They immediately saw their intruders and prepared to attack. "Wait!" one of them shouted. A young female elf ran forward, up to Inali. "Inali! Inali, it's me, Solara! Everyone, weapons down, it's Inali!" she shouted to her fellow elves. They all lowered their weapons and smiled, running up to their clan mate. "What are you doing here?" one of them asked. Cora stepped forward, angry. "What are YOU doing here? Why have you...attacked these mages?" she demanded.

Solara looked at Cora and scoffed. "You shems took Inali from us! These mages had men with them, they were dressed like the man who took Inali. Templars." she said. Solara gestured to the side, where a few corpses were laid, dressed in templar armors. "But we have no ill will towards any of you. Let us take Inali home, and you can go on your way." she said. Cora looked over at Inali, frowning. "Tell them, Inali. Tell them why you can't go with them." she said.

[NicoJoe]

Orin’s journey past the great tree was a quick and undetectable one. He was the last to go, making sure he didn’t have to go back and save anyone from the beast and could easily just grab them on his way by. He was nearly a blur as he sprinted past the Slyvan and was soon entering the ruins, knowing he wasn’t seen. The rest of the group was already moving forward; toward what, Orin still wasn’t quite sure. He was still hazy on the plan and decided he would just stick close to Inali, who seemed to know what was going on.

The walk through the ruins was tense. Everyone seemed to be on edge and concentrated on getting wherever it was they were heading. When Cora mentioned the other mages, Orin began to understand what was going to happen. They would meet up with the others, do whatever it was needed to be done, and soon he would making his way out of the company of the shems and back to the wilderness and freedom. Maybe he’d kill the boy as he left, just so he had something to tell his clan.

When they reached the wall that blocked the end of their target, he drew his weapons. In his experience, mysterious doors that needed to be opened with magic never had anything good behind them. He was positive they wouldn’t encounter a nice lady with a box of candy and a bed. No. In all likeliness, there would some ravenous beast behind the door who was ready to rip their heads off.

So imagine his surprised when he saw a group of mages tied up and his fellow Dalish standing there greeting them. He was so surprised, he nearly dropped his daggers and ran up to hug one of them. Finally the liberation he was looking for! Of course, they weren’t there for him. They wanted Inali, but now he had the back up he needed to get the Keeper and himself out of this alive and in a timely matter.

“Elgar'nan delivers!” he shouted as he stepped to the front of the group. “I was going crazy with these damned shems.”

[Tusk]

Kras Had just finished the last of the three monsters he had killed with a simple quick stab. Janne motioned for them to go toward a new light and Kras merely growled. It was the only logical choice. He hated the idea of being killed by these ugly weaklings. He noticed that these things were coming from all angles. Cutting and running would mean that they would get to the exit quicker. They needed light so not to get ambushed in the dark. Kras was at the spot where the heaviest amount of these things were. Kras hated thinking, but he remembered a plan his old leader did.

It was a dark night in the woods as Dalish had them surrounded. You try sleeping in the woods and elves try ganging up on you because their ancestors lost to humans a thousand years back. Like it was the humans' fault that the elves were weaker. Still, they hunted with bows and closed in with swords. It was then His leader thought of something.
" Form a triangle around Dolem. THe Dalish will not target another elf first. Drogan and I will keep the circle moving until we are out of the woods. Kras, I want you to be the rear gaurd and make sure nothing attacks from behind. " Feveran said with a smirk. Kras only nodded and soon Feveran and the dwarf ran with the elf in the middle while Kras followed and stuck down any Dalish with in his sword's reach. The plan was flawless. Soon they were out of the woods and though they left their camping gear, they were all telling how funny the Dalish looked with a great sword coming at them.

Kras used his blade to run one monster through the head as he angerly shouted at the others.
" Mage give us light. Kain and Janne, keep us moving forward toward the light, I will keep most of them at bay until we get there! "
Thank the maker for his former leader and his brilliance. Thank the maker these people were ticking him off and thank the Maker these things were so ugly. Kras let his rage flow through him as he swung at anything that came after him. He also began pushing back, regardless if anyone had listened to his former leader's plan. There was no honor to be had dieing here.

[Rose]

Inali blanched and her eyes flicked around the room in some odd mix of joy and sorrow, comfort and regret. She looked to Solara, an old, dear friend of hers. The girl stared at her expectantly, the faces behind her mirroring her eager expression. This was Inali’s family, men and women she had grown up with, ones who had been preparing to follow her as a Keeper one day. They were warmth and love and safety while the shems around her were a boiling cloud of darkness and uncertainty. And yet…

“I….I…” Inali stammered, for once in her life lost of all thought, unsure of herself. She choked on her words and could barely breathe past the lump in her throat. “Solara…”

The young elf looked over her First in confusion, the joy in her eyes slowly draining away at the unexpected reaction from the woman they hoped to save. She shook her head slowly, eyeing the humans.

“Inali, we will protect you. These shems won’t be able to harm you.” Solara looked to Orin, nodding at him. “We can all go home. Together.”

“Solara, it is not that I fear these humans, but…” Inali trailed off, biting her lip. Her mind refused to process the situation quickly enough. Her heart screamed for her to join her clan, but something kept her rooted to the spot.

“Then what is it, Inali?” The girl shook her head and took her future Keeper’s hand. “It doesn’t matter. Come, the clan waits for you-”

“No.” The single word sounded so deceptively confident. It hung in the air, making the whole room still. Every eye was on Inali, expectant, waiting. She shook her head firmly, but her hands balled into nervous fists and she felt like ice had settled into her veins despite the bead of sweat trickling down her forehead.

“Solara, it is hard for me to make you understand this, but… I cannot return home with you.” The Keeper’s face dripped with remorse. The words tasted bitter in her mouth even as she said them so strongly. “I have been conscripted to join the Gray Wardens. I know the name doesn't mean much to you, but Keeper Dvain will understand.”

Inali felt like she might faint on the spot. Her knees were weak and all the blood seemed to drain from her face. Was this really what she wanted? No… it wasn’t at all what she wanted, she thought. But a Keeper’s duty wasn’t always desirable.

“It is my job to lead you, to guide the clan, but I feel there is a greater path here…I feel the Creators have a greater plan for me,” Inali went on, trying to draw herself up proudly despite the sinking feeling in her chest that weighed her down. “Becoming a Warden will give me an opportunity no Dalish has seen for longer than most can remember. I will travel outside the forest, but I will be free from harm at the hands of the humans, and I will never be confined to an alianage. I will walk strong and proud for my people, for you, for my clan.”

The other elves stared at her silently, their faces blank, or perhaps she just couldn't focus on them. What was there to say? It was obvious in the strength of her gaze and the tone of her voice that there would be no swaying Inali. The Keeper swallowed hard and let out a long, resigned sigh. She felt her entire past fade away with the breath.

“I believe the path before me will give me the chance to bring a name to our people, one that says nothing of savages or servants. I cannot make a difference confined to our forest. I must go with these future Wardens.”

Inali couldn’t bear to look at her clan any longer. Her eyes strayed away, seeking out the bodies lying slaughtered on the stone floor. Oh, what Kain and the rest of the Templars would think of her people now.

“Go, my family. Go with my love, my title- for I am no longer your First- and go with my promise that I am making the right choice. Leave here….and do it quickly.” Inali closed her eyes mournfully. “I will make sure no harm comes to our clan for the deaths of these men.”

[GnomesAteMyCake]

Parrying the attack of one of the creatures, Kain gave a nod that he knew Kras didn't see, nor did he need too. Grabbing the back of Kennith's robes non-too lightly as he danced past, fire errupting from his hands, and pulled the mage behind him.

"Janne, get on his other side and do as Kras says!" he shouted to the knight, taking his eyes off the approaching enemies for a second to search her out, his face set a small line of blood running down his face and the drool of one of the creatures around his neck and shoulders from where the first one jumped him.

Positioning himself to the right of Kennith, the mages light creating a bubble around them, Kain began moving towards the light, keeping pace with Janne across from him as his fought of the creatures that avoided Kras' fury.

"We're almost there, Kras," he shouted to the Qunari, looking ahead at the light they had very nearly gotten to; it wasn't the hole to the surface, but someplace else. Steeling himself, holding his sword tightly, Kain readied himself to face what might be hiding in the light and hoping that it wasn't worst than what they were fighting now.

[Eva]

Solara looked at Inali, stunned. "I...I suppose. If this is truly what you believe is best...Ma nuvenin, lethallan. " she muttered. Solara looked at her other clanmates. "It's time to go, then. Release the mages." she ordered. While the other elves went to free the mages, Solara looked back at Inali. "You know that you may return whenever you feel it is best. Here." Solara took a ring from her finger and gave it to Inali. "To remember me by. To remember your clan by." she told her. Solara turned to Orin and gave him a bow. "You are both welcome." she added. Solara gestured for the other elves to follow her. "We will not intrude upon the Grey Wardens any long. Let us go." she said. With that, the elves left, leaving the recruits and mages alone.

"Thank the Maker you came when you did! Those elves were going to kill us!" one of the mages said, rubbing her wrists. "Those of us who aren't elves, you should say." another said, clearing his throat. "It doesn't matter. You're all safe, and the elves are gone." Cora interrupted. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Salutations are in order, Grey Wardens. I am Karana, an Enchanter from the Circle." the female from earlier said. "You may call me Salin." the man said. The other two, both elves, said nothing.

"Before we can begin the Joining, we need everyone here." Karana said, showing the Warden recruits the altar. The goblet was hidden, safe. "More than just that." Salin looked at the recruits. "The archdemon blood needed for the ritual is underneath these ruins. That is why the ceremony is to be held here, and not someone safer." he explained. "Selphina wanted us to wait, so that everyone could go in a group, but...I thought it would be better if we got here sooner. Less time to waste." Karana explained. "And that is why our templar guards are dead, you see." Salin interrupted.

"Well, we can't go looking for that blood alone. We should wait for Selphina." Cora replied.

[Eva]

The light began to grow smaller, and Janne panicked. "Hurry!" she shouted, falling slightly behind the others due to her heavier armor. She watched as Kain and Kennith worked together, sticking with Kras. Several of the creatures lunged at her, and she barely knocked them away with her shield. While before there had been only a few, now the creatures were pouring out from all directions, trying to swarm the group. Janne was in the weeds, trying to keep them away from the others.

As the three men neared the light, a voice came out. "Stop tarrying and hurry! We can't keep the barrier open forever!" It was female, and distinctly dwarven in sound. A few shadows poured from the light, all small, and rushed towards the three men. About a dozen dwarves had emerged, and were pulling Kras, Kennith, and Kain with them into the light. Several feet ahead, Janne tried to keep the creatures at bay. "Lass! Hurry up!" one of the dwarves shouted. "I can't! They'll overrun us!" Janne screamed back. She let out a loud taunt, drawing the creatures to her.

"Janne! Come on!" Kennith shouted, trying to resist the dwarves as they pulled him and the others into the light. "Go! I'll hold them off!" Janne swung her sword, slicing one of the creatures in half. Finally, the dwarves managed to get the three men inside.

"Sealing the barrier door." the female dwarf said. She activated the mechanism, and the barriers dropped down. Just as the first one was closing, one of the creatures tried to lunge in, but was blocked. All of the barriers sealed, and no more sounds were heard of the creatures, or Janne.

The room the group had been pulled in was made of stone and lit well. It was large, and probably consisted of more than just the area they were in. The female dwarf looked at Kras, Kennith, and Kain with a sad expression. "Deepest apologies, boys. We tried our best." she told them. She, like all the others, was clad in gold colored armor. "We're the Legion of the Dead. We were defending this tunnel until a short time ago, when we tracked a group of darkspawn heading up to the surface. We followed them to this outpost, and we were swarmed by those things you just encountered." she explained. One of the male dwarves nodded. "This outpost- if you could call it that- stretches all the way down into one of the thaigs. It's a series of rooms that leads all the way down there. We chased the darkspawn through the rooms leading up to here, and we got outside to where you were when those things- we call them The Children- attacked. We had to retreat back into this area." he added. The female nodded as well. "We lost more than you did. I'm Amalthea, in case you were wondering." Amalthea gestured for the men to follow her.

There were several dwarves in the room, at least two dozen, along with two elves and a human. "Have you come to save us? We've been stranded here for weeks!" one of the elves said, upon seeing the men. She was wearing Circle robes, and looked very tired. "That's Jocasta. If you're injured, she can patch you up. Isn't that right, Jocasta?" Amalthea said, looking up at the elven woman. "Joke if you will, this is a serious situation! Those things are going to starve us to death!" Jocasta snapped. She sat back on the stone, face hard. Amalthea stopped and looked at the men. "She's right, though. We are all stuck here until we can kill the Broodmother that's causing all of this. Hopefully you can help us." she said. "Help? All they've done is caused more harm!" one of the Legion snapped. He charged up to the three men, angry. "Now that they've got the girl, we're going to have to deal with even more of those things!" he looked at each of them. "Too soon, Malarch. They just lost their friend. Now go sit down." Amalthea ordered. She turned back to the Warden recruits. "He's right, though. Your friend won't be killed. The darkspawn will turn her...into a Broodmother." Amalthea's gave them a determined look. "All the more reason to attack them as soon as possible. If we hurry, we might be able to save her before they start the process. And we can kill their Broodmother while we're at it."

Kennith looked at Kras and Kain. "I don't know what either of you plan to do, but I'm going with them. Selphina has told me about the Broodmothers. I am NOT leaving Janne to that fate." he said. Kennith turned to Amalthea. "Just give me the order, Captain, and I will follow."

[GnomesAteMyCake]

"Why are they called the Children?" Kain asked in an expressionless voice, his eyes on the Dwarf in charge, Amalthea but not really seeing them. All that was playing through his mind was Janne's terrified face as the door had closed, sealing her off...and sealing her fate. He was fond of the young woman; she was brave and true, two trates not many people could boast having.

Kennith's words reached him, but they didn't quite compute. Shaking his head slightly, black hair whipping about his shoulders, Kain sharpened his eyes and attempted to pay attention. "Kennith...what is a Broodmother? You know something more than you let on; I see it in your eyes." Turning to face the mage head on, Kain put his hands on his shoulders. "I want to help Janne too, or avenge her if nessessary. But I will not loose another person, Maleficar or no." he tried to smile, but the expression felt foreign on his face, so he stopped. "Tell me what this Broodmother thing is, or you're not going anywhere."

He could see the rage on Kennith's face growing, and he readied himself for a possible blow, and readied his magic to combat the Mage's own. He knew he was asking a lot, but he meant what he said; Janne may already be dead, and he would not watch another friends face transform with that level of fear when they knew they were going to die.

[Eva]

Amalthea shrugged. "We call them The Children because we don't have any fun names for them. All we know is that they came from a Broodmother." she explained. Next to her, Kennith had his arms crossed, defiant. "You two don't need to know anything. You're staying here." he said, eyes narrowed. Amalthea shook her head. "We need as many people to fight as we can. The wounded and invalid are safe behind the barrier doors." she said. Kennith remained silent. Amalthea looked up at Kain. "A Broodmother is...well, they make darkspawn. But broodmothers aren't born, they're made. From women." she explained, her voice a bit unsteady. "When the darkspawn come across people, they capture them if they can. Men are eaten, or killed, but women are...turned into those things." Malarch approached the group from behind. "Notice that there aren't many women here wearing Legion armor." he said. Amalthea nodded. "Women are encouraged not to join the Legion precisely because of this. If there's any chance of us getting captured, we do whatever we have to in order to prevent it." Amalthea's tone conveyed exactly what she meant to imply.

Kennith sighed. "It doesn't matter. We should have a plan." he interrupted. Amalthea nodded. "Any ideas?" she asked everyone in the room.

[Rose]

(( I'm leaving to get the brother from Ft Knox, so you guys can GM Inali if you need to. I think you get how she acts. I might be on Friday night, maybe, but chances are good that I won't see you until Monday night. Loves you all ))

[Tusk]

Kras had swung wildly at the creatures, each swing fueled by spurts of rage. He did not even notice the dwarves pulling him into the tunnel. He almost killed a dwarf until he relized that they were not as ugly as those monsters. Janne stayed behind as Kras muttered when the portal shut.
" That fool. There was no honor to be had staying behind. "
Though most of his anger for the day had been spent, He still growled to himself as the dwarf spoke her appologies.
" Idiot woman not thinking and trying to play hero, " He muttered to himself until the male dwarf tried sounding to be tough.
Kras was not one to back down.

However, he was cut off by Amalthea when she spoke of something called a Brood mother. Kennith wanted to go and Kain was hesitant. Kras grew irritated rather fast. He cleaned off his great sword and growled as they argued. He wished he had Ham. Ham would of at least understood how pointless this all way.
" I am going. "
Kras spoke bluntly as he put his greatsword on his back. Time to smack some common sense into his annoying allies.
" Janne has not proved to me that i should place any faith in her as a leader. Even staying out there in some pointless attempt in being our hero has made me doubt her judgement. However, I refuse to go back to the warden with our leader dead. Even if I do not like her, the dwarf does and I am honor bound to the Dwarf. I refuse to stay here and cower like that dwarf who tried to act tough to us. If we are called to die, we will die, but I would rather die with a sword drawing blood than die staying here. "

Now he looked directly at Kain, His great sword drawn again, pointed right at Kain.
" Now you have two options I see. Either you can grow a pair and follow us, or you can die here. The way I see it, if you want to cower in here like that dwarf, " He pointed to the male dwarf who had shouted at them, " and die in here without honor, I will cut you down now and save me the headache of hearing you whine and complain that there are too many of those things to save our foolish leader. You can go back to the dwarf and she will probibly kill you too. I, on the other hand, will gladly die out there by our enemy. I would rather have a chance of dieing by a broodmother, whatever that is, then going back to the Warden without Janne. So make your move. Die here with no honor, or maybe die out there with the honor of fighting along side your team. If any one of us die out there, then we will have died with honor and if we live, we can face the dwarf with our idiot leader. "

[Wendy Ann Beckett-Jolina]

Aranel's eyes grew wide as the informant slumped over in mid sentence, eyes glassy. Following Selphina out of the pub, she was about to ask what happened, but the dwarf beat her to it, already explaining what had happened. Though it made sense that it was what she had to do, she was a little upset that it had to come to such extremes. Shutting her mouth, the elf merely nodded in acceptance, following her back to the base.

Finally, they reached their destination, and she was surprised to find that she was actually happy to be back. Selphina, who had just been advising her to rest, stopped as she saw what seemed to be a regular squirrel, but it seemed odd on closer examination. Its eyes were far from a normal color, and it seemed to twitch every few seconds. The Grey Warden beside her seemed to understand the meaning behind it, and she watched as she yelled at the two other Wardens to follow her before running out in quite a hurry.

Concerned, Aranel followed her, the wind whipping at her hair as she sprinted behind. Whatever was going on, it was bad...

[Rose]

Inali stared after her old friends as they disappeared, their footsteps silent and their departure swift. Her wild, free nature left with them. She took in a deep breath and turned away, her eyes locking instead on the altar. Inali wouldn’t look at Orin. She wouldn’t look at anyone.

“Let’s hope that our Warden arrives here soon, then,” she muttered, her voice low and distant. “I don’t wish to stay here any longer than I must.”

Inali didn’t want to stay there at all. In Denerim, her whole body ached to be back beneath the trees. The sight of their green peaks in the distance had stirred an eager, childish playfulness in her before, a thrill that felt like escaping death and finding life again. But now the Keeper wanted nothing to do with the place. She wanted to be as far from her clan as her duty could take her.

Inali glanced down at her hand, twisting the ring around and around. She slipped it onto her finger with a sigh, then folded her arms over her chest. She didn’t need a ring to remember her best friend, her clan, but the small token was all she had from them now. She’d guard it with her life.

(( Shit post because I had nothing to go off of, sorry. ))