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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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 Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 6:29 pm
"Haven is a small village in the Frostback Mountains.
It is not marked on most maps and is widely unheard of.
Privacy is very important to the villagers of Haven and they
do not welcome strangers kindly.
While traditions in larger, less remote
and more welcoming parts of Ferelden grew and
evolved over time, Haven's intense privacy concerns
means that they practice older traditions,
specifically religious ones,
that now seem strange to outsiders.
For example, they have a male priest,
which is not a convention allowed outside of the
Imperial Chantry." 
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:15 pm
The Beginning of the End The next thing she knew, she was waking up shackled in a dark room of cobblestone. Emari groggily glanced around the room, looking for an answer as to what was happening. Am I dead? I can't be....where am I...?
She slowly tried to move her body only to feel a searing pain coming from her left hand that traveled up her arm She cringed and stopped moving when she heard movement and indistinct whispering Get out and go stand with the guards. They'll keep an eye on you.
I really think it best I stay with her in case the mark...
I don't care. Leave. I'll handle this.She felt a sharp pain as a hand grabbed hold of her shirt from the back, dragging her away. She did what she could to fight and get away but to no avail. Before her stood armed guards and two women: one clad in a full suit of armor and the other in some strange veiled cloak."Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right now for what you've done. All those people: dead. Because of you." Cassandra growled.Emari laid there, confused and still dreary from having just woken.
"Wait...do you mean that explosion? At the Temple?""What else do you think I would be asking?" she snapped. "Everyone is dead except for you. And explain this thing on your hand!" she shouted as she grabbed at Emari's bound hands and exposed the glowing green mark on her hand."I...I don't know what that is..I just saw the explosion and then these things chased me...I ran...and there was a woman...and..."She was cut off when the cloaked woman spoke up, softly but sternly "You said there was a woman there? Cassandra, the soldiers, they said...""I don't care. She's clearly the one who caused the Breach"
"We need her still. You can't kill her yet" Leliana answeredEmari was somehow thankful for the semi-concern this hooded figure seemed to have. Though not comforted by all the weapons and accusations being thrown at her. "what...what's "the Breach"? Is that the explosion...?" she asked
Cassandra sighed and grumbled slightly, lifting Emari up by her bound hands and pulling her towards the exit. "It's easier if I just show you"When they stepped outside, Emari couldn't believe her eyes. There was a massive hole-tornado in the sky above the Temple. "That explosion..it caused this..?" she questioned. "I don't remember what happened..."Cassandra pointed to the Breach "We don't yet know how it came to be, but that is what we call the Breach. It is a portal through which the Fade can be exited. Exited by demons. Each hour it becomes bigger and more powerful. Each hour it releases more demons and tears new rifts in the Fade. Each time it grows, that mark on your hand and arm grows. And it's killing you, we know that much.""How can you know that if you don't know what happened?""An apostate mage came here as soon as the Breach opened. He claims to be an expert in the Fade and things like the Breach. I don't trust him but he seems to be telling the truth. He sat in your cell and kept that mark from killing you when you were unconscious. He thinks it has some connection to the breach. Even if you didn't cause it, which I still think you probably did, you're connected to it."
"What am I supposed to do? Just wait for it to kill me?""All I can promise now is a trial. We will figure out more as we learn." she pulled Emari along until they reached a group of soldiers surrounding a man. An elf. Emari had never been more relieved to see another elf in her life. He turned to face her and Cassandra and Emari stopped suddenly. I know him...I've seen him all around Thedas...could he be that elf? The apostate?
Cassandra turned to look at Emari "Stop being so stubborn. And you look as if you've just seen a ghost. You think you would be happier to see someone of your own kind""I...uh...." Emari stuttered, staring at the bald elf "Yeah...happy that's just what I am right now. Hole in the sky, demons everywhere, I'm dying and apparently killed some people....but hey here's an elf. Elfs are great...." she muttered sarcastically
Cassandra tugged on Emari's bindings "Now is not the time for joking. This is a serious matter". She paused for a moment, then continued "This is the mage I told you about. He's the one that watched you while you were unconscious. He studied the mark"That's not a creepy way to say that...Her reaction...she must remember...
Solas went to outstretch his arm for a handshake when the guards around him pointed their weapons, demanding him to not move.
"Well, I tried to be more polite about introductions but seems I am a bit too dangerous and mysterious of an apostate elf for that to happen.
Cassandra waved to tell the soldiers to put their weapons down.
"I'm Solas. I am pleased to see you are still alive.""Yeah...me too, thanks" she said with a nod. "And thank you for taking care of me when I was knocked out. That must have been a pretty awful job""Not really. Fade magic intrigues me. I theorize that whatever magic caused the Breach is what caused that mark on your hand.""Does that mean I can do anything about that Breach though? Like close it or something? Maybe blow it up?"Solas smirked slightly "Blowing it up would not be wise, but who knows what you may be able to do. I wish to see for myself if my theory is right, but that means we both have to go to the small rift outside of the town." He glanced around at the soldiers and then Cassandra "But it seems our hands are tied. Well rather, your hands are tied. I'm just being threatened."Cassandra let out another growl "Do neither of you understand the situation? This is a serious issue!"Solas nodded "Yes, well it's hard to deal with a serious issue when one is unable to move or do anything freely or without threats." He's a witty one...
Emari shook her bound hands at Cassandra "If you want me to try and help, you've got to trust me.""And why should I?""Because my life is on the line"Cassandra drew out her dagger and cut through Emari's bindings. "Alright. We will go to the rift. But I require some soldiers to go with us. I cannot trust you two yet, and the demons coming from the rift are dangerous.""I'll need my weapons. You must have taken them when you threw me into your nasty dungeon" Emari grumbled Cassandra signaled for a solider to get her bow and other supplies. She then led Solas and Emari to the rift outside of the town. ~soldiers fighting demons at the rift~ Emari took out her bow and shot a few demons to get them away from the soldiers. A sudden cracking sound and blinding pain caused her to collapse onto the snowy ground. The mark on her hand sparked as she yelped."Each time the Breach expands, your mark does as well. And you feel it" Solas said, crouching down to try and help her back up. Soilders had killed the remaining demons and Solas took Emari's left wrist, flinging her hand above her head and towards the rift in front of her. With a loud cracking sound, the rift exploded, disappearing. "I'm glad I was right about that"
"Wait...what did you do?""Well I didn't do anything. You can thank that mark on your hand for that." he said, releasing her wrist and pointing to her hand. "I was hoping that the rifts and the mark were connected in such a way that you could close them the same way the magic opened them. It appears I was right.
He paused for a moment and looked solemnly at the Breach
"This could mean you could close the Breach"~time skip to the group being at the Breach at the Temple of Sacred Ashes~ "This rift...the Breach...it is already closed. But it will still linger here and open again. With your mark, I believe you could open the breach, and then seal it so that it cannot open again.""Open the breach? That sounds like a really bad idea to me..." Emari said "I mean that thing sucked people up and blew up this Temple""Opening the breach means it will attract attention from the other side, yes""So demons and weird s**t"
"If that's what you'd like to call it, yes""If that is the only way, we must try" Cassandra stated sternly"But I cannot promise your safety, Emari. Doing this could kill you""I'll try. Leaving it open without trying will kill me eventually too"~the fight against a rage demon, and then the sealing of the Breach for the time being~ Emari collapsed onto the rubble, blood running down her face and arms. The soldiers rejoiced at the victory, yelling and congratulating each other.
Solas hopped down from the rubble he was on and did as much healing as he could to her wounds, signaling for Cassandra to come to him. "She's still alive but barely, We should get her back to Haven as soon as we can"" We will get her there when we can" she stated sternly. "We still have business here"
"I do not think it wise for you to do this, but I will let you have your ways" he said somberly, lifting up Emari onto his back. "I will bring her back, then. You can finish your business"~~
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2015 9:01 pm
Emari awoke with a jolt. When her eyes opened and she glanced around the room she realized she was in a bed.
A bed...that's a real improvement compared to the dungeon floor...
she wiggled her toes and fingers to wake her body up slowly.
They even put me in a house
She paused for a moment
That means they're either going to send me to court and kill me or I did something they might have liked.
She moved her head to the side slowly, feeling how stiff her muscles were.
Feels like I've been asleep for weeks.
She looked around the room she was in. She saw books, a table set, a chest, a caged bird and some fresh partially-eaten bread.
Wait...partially-eaten...someone has been in here recently?
Her heart raced slightly. Being unconscious around strangers really wasn't her favorite pastime. She looked further around the room until she saw him
"Finally awake, I see"
She nearly jumped out of her skin. Quickly moving away, she fell back over in pain "By the Dread Wolf, Solas, you scared my own spirit right out of me. You can just sit there in silence sitting all cross-legged watching and not say anything until I make eye contact."
"Well I didn't want to startle you if you weren't fully awake. I'd imagine that'd be much worse." he said, uncrossing him legs. "Glad they put you in an actual house this time?"
"Well I can say it's much nicer than that musty dungeon" she said with a sigh
"What happened with the Breach? I don't remember much..."
Solas got up and went to the bread on the counter, cutting some more up and grabbing a cup of water "We defeated the demon and you managed to close the Breach. At least for a while, that is." he turned and brought her over the cup of water and a piece of bread "Try and eat it. It'll help"
"Then y'all carried me all the way back down that mountain to here? That must have been a good time. Good thing Cassandra brought all those soldiers." she said, sipping some water. "They weren't too gentle though" she joked, pointing at a massive bruise on her arm.
Solas contemplated letting her believe that but decided against it. "Well the truth is the soildiers were too busy celebrating to bother getting you back down the mountain and into town"
"So Cassandra, then. She seemed pretty strong." she stated with a nod, drinking more of the water she was given "Man I'm thirsty"
"Well actually..." Solas paused and scratched the back of his head "Cassandra stayed on the mountain with the troops, investigating what was left of the temple looking for clues. So I carried you back down here after healing some of the wounds you sustained from the demon"
Emari stopped mid-drink and stared at Solas. "You carried me? All the way down that mountain after defeating a demon? Are you nuts? You could have gotten yourself killed. Or worse, ME" she said sarcastically, sitting up slightly in the bed. "Thanks for that. That was really kind of you. Trying to repay a favor, perhaps?"
Solas glanced toward her. He knew this would come up, it was unavoidable.
She turned to look at him again. This time she seemed as if she was staring into his soul. "Why have you been seemingly following me everywhere? The first time I saw you it wasn't even in reality. It was in the Fade. While I was asleep. And then I saved you from those Templars when you were just waking from sleep. You just happened to be in my hunting area that day. And then I saw you roaming around after that. It's getting kind of creepy and weird"
"To be honest I am not following you. We just have a knack for always being in the same area at the same time. Some of it is my intrigue with you and your abilities, some of the history of the areas your clan travels to." he paused for a moment "But my biggest question from all of our chance meetings is how do you keep getting into the Fade? And the same area of the Fade that I'm in, regardless of position?"
Emari shrugged "I just always assumed you were being creepy and following me but I guess I was wrong. I guess something keeps bringing us back together. Maybe it was so we could close the Breach together or something" she stated, eating the piece of bread. "You're still kind of creeping me out though. Now I wake up and BAM there you are."
"I want to learn more about the mark. And to make sure you are okay"
"Well that's sweet of you. Uh...thanks?" she pointed at the bread "Not to be greedy but can I have some more of that? I'm hungry"
He grabbed some more pieces and handed them to her "You should be. You've been out for three days now"
Emari stared at him blankly in disbelief
"So I'm guessing we're friends now? I'm no longer the "creepy elf you see in your dreams and occasionally out in the wild"?"
"I'm sorry did you just say I was out for three days?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 7:58 pm
Nora wondered into town, book in her hands and a confused look apon her face. She refused to admit she was lost just yet but, this town was not on her maps. She furiously fliped threw the pages then sighed, closeing the book with a loud slam.
"Alright.... First food.... yes. Then find out where I am." She muttered looking around. A small nervous smile streched across her face as she looked at the buidlings trying to figure out if any where a baker maybe a shop. Heck an Inn would work too. Though mystery was just half of the fun of travel she did hate looking like an idiot.
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:26 pm
Emari started to sit up finally.
"I can't believe I was out for three days" she mumbled, shaking her head
"When you consider that you were blown up, thrown into the fade, fought off a demon, closed a rift and then sealed the Breach all in one day, it seems it would make sense to sleep so long. Maybe even longer" Solas stated, offering his hand to her. "I hate to do this since you're still healing but Cassandra demands you meet her and some of her political guests at once. Come, I'll help you get there without collapsing or hurting yourself"
"Well you better hope you do" Emari muttered "Creepy egg-head elf"
Solas frowned "Come, now. I haven't been following you on purpose. We just both keep ending up together. Might as well try and be friends while we have the time" he stated, extending his hand further''
Emari sighed and reached out to his hand "If I fall, I'll kill you"
"If you can't even walk without falling, I have my doubts you could do much damage." he chuckled, slowly helping her get back onto her feet.
Emari was a bit wobbly and had to use him as support for a while, making her even grumpier about the entire situation. She mumbled an elven cuss under her breath and finally got her balance. She was more sore than she had ever been in her life. She felt as if she had just wrestled a Great Bear.
"Do you know what Cassandra wants me for?" she asked. She was worried about the "trial"
"To be completely honest I am unsure. Even after sealing the Breach she has not been very trusting in me." he said with a sigh, helping Emari walk towards the door.
"Hopefully not about the supposed 'trial' I am supposed to have, to prove me guilty of opening the Breach and killing the Divine" Emari muttered, looking down at the floor. "Be honest with me, Solas. Do you think I did it? Opened the Breach?"
"Of course not." he stated quickly. "I never suspected you would have opened the Breach. Just because of the mark on your hand, other's assume the worst. But if they thought more deeply they would understand"
"Uh...." Emari paused. She was not expecting that. "Thank you. I appreciate that" she slowly shuffled to the door and opened it. "I think I can walk on my own now" she said, starting to leave the house.
Cassandra stormed out of the Haven Keep and towards the small wooden house Emari was staying in.
"She better be up by now. It's been three entire days" she grumbled, speed-walking on the road
She bumped into a girl who was standing in the road. She looked at her to see which citizen it was. She didn't want them to see Emari without their permission. She could be dangerous. "What are you doing? You're supposed to be at home."
She paused for a moment when she realized she didn't recognize the girl. She put her hand on her sword quickly
"Explain yourself? Who are you and what are you doing here?"
Emari and Solas spotted Cassandra yelling at some girl in the road.
"I don't think I want to go meet with Cassandra right now..."
Solas sighed and shook his head "I truly hope she is not like this all of the time. I do not know how long I would last here if she continues like this"
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:41 pm
Nora jumped back with a frown hand going to the hilt of her sword seeing the other reach for hers. "Woah! Calm down. I'm just a wondering traveler. Ever hear of a 'Hello' or 'Hi'?" She narrowed her eyes and takeing a few more steps back. Perhaps she had come to the wrong town at the wrong time.
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:47 pm
Emari sighed and shuffled her way to Cassandra, hoping to stop whatever brawl was about to happen. Solas followed close behind, making sure nothing bad happened to emari. Or the stranger.
"Cassandra, why are you about to attack her?" Emari asked, seemingly frustrated. "She just looks lost to me"
Solas remained silent and stood slightly behind emari, keeping his eyes on both Cassandra and the stranger. Both seemed like they could be dangerous at this point.
"Solas also told me that you wanted to see me. But first you need to stop attacking villagers or travelers" emari muttered
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:54 pm
Casandra turned to look at Emari and Solas. "And what if she is a wondering thief or mercenary?"
" Then if someone offers me coin I would gladly lend my sword if it involved gutting you." Nora chuckled tightening her grip on her blade. " Though I am no thief nor assassin for hire. Mercenary yes if the pay is good and job is interesting enough."
Cassandra shot the girl a glare. "She is no villager.... and how would a traveler find this place...."
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 8:59 pm
"I found my way here without a map of some sort." Solas said sternly. "She could possibly be a nomad or traveler looking for a place of safety in these dark times"
"Just question her in a less threatening way and maybe she'll be more compliant to answer your questions" Emari said with a sigh. "The last thing we need is another death"
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2015 9:11 pm
"...that proves nothing and I can ask questions however I please..."
"Isn't it death that makes life more buisy for others though?" Nora chuckled darkly. "Kill me then you give the grave digger a job, coffin maker a job, priests get to pray and say nice things about some stranger. Or just drag my body out into the woods for a shallow grave. Then you are giveing animals and trees free food. Either way death gives life no? Gives something to do. Wars and killing endless cycle of life."
{color=darkred]".....What?" Cassandra frowned.
"Just take yer hand off the hilt of yer blade before I get too antsy and cut yer arm off." Nora sighed.
"After you remove your hand from yours."
"HEY! You started the hostility! You prove you are safe before I do!"
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:09 am
"Cassandra, I doubt she has any connection to the Breaxh, if that is what you are assuming. She seems to be no mage and possesses no abilities that could have caused the Breach or any of the smaller rifts" Solas said sternly. He was not a fan of unnecessary confrontation.
Emari chuckled slightly at what the stranger had said. "She's a clever one. Looks like you defeated her" Emari said, smiling at the stranger.
"Cassandra, we have much bigger things to take care of right now. She is just looking for something or someone most likely. I can spot a nomad a mile away." She paused for a moment. "Though it does surprise me that you're a human rather than an elf. Humans tend to just stick to towns and cities. Too stressful to move around"
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:11 pm
Cassadra muttered something takeing her hand off her blades hilt and glareing. "Fine... But lets get going then...." She growled.
"Less stressfull liveing in a town? Try more stressful. Haveing to be nice to people, locking doors at night or frearing people takeing things, hell fearing kids running on your lawn crushing your plants... no thank you! Anywhere I roam, where i lay my head is home. Much less stressful!" Nora laughed.
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2015 6:17 pm
"To each their own" Emari said, shrugging. "I just rarely stumble upon human nomads unless they're thieves. Being Dalish I move a lot, too" she paused and looked over the stranger and reached out her hand "I'm Emari. Sorry about Cassandra being so...blunt. She's been like this the whole four or five days I've known her" she said with a slight frown
Solas sighed and crossed his arms.
She's pulled through the fade, blown up, brought back to life, seals the Rift, is basically dead for three days, angers a strict Seeker with connections to the Divine and is just casually greeting strangers in the street of a town she has never been to...
Emari caught Solas staring at her and stared him down with her hand still outstretched to the stranger "Solas, if you've got something to say I advise you to say it now or I will kick your bald a**..."
Solas quickly interrupted her with "You can barely shuffle your way across this small town; what makes you think you could do more than possibly fall on top of me on accident?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:41 pm
Nora shook the others hand with a smile. " Its ok... Kinda normal for nomads to be greeted with hostility. I don't think I really count as a thief...Well there was this one time back in this town but the dude did say 'I dare anyone to steal from my shop' so I took him up on the offer.... Fun times." Nora laughed.
"Are we all done haveing our tea and cakes so we can get on with our day?" Cassandra growled glareig at them. "Or have you all forgoten we have things to do?"
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crayolapenguin Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:08 pm
"Well, Cassandra, I was out for three days so maybe I have a bit of amnesia. I should be back there resting up..." she said, gesturing to the small cabin "But Solas tells me I'm supposed to have some rather important business with you"
"I was only relaying what I had heard from others. I'm sure you were bound to send a heavily armed guard to come get her at some point. Or, if I am correct, you were storming down the road to come get here now when you ran into Emari's new...friend"
She's strangely friendly for someone who I've observed being hostile to strangers. She must be trying to irritate Cassandra..,
"You're probably hungry from your travels" Emari said to Nora "Theres a new loaf of bread in that house over there if you wish to have it"
Now she's offering food to strangers...
"And as for you Cassandra, I have a few things to say. First, I require I am told where I am going before you drag me along. I do not want to end up in that musty jail cell for crimes I did not commit again. Second, I require you to let me bring him with me today. You're going to have to trust him and me if we are to get anywhere. I mean, he is the one who carried me down a mountain while I died" she stared at Cassandra with a slight fire in her eyes.
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