Vigil's Keep

Reports have come to Commander Vimes' attention regarding the presence of straggling groups of Venatori left behind. Orlais has requested the help of the Wardens to assist.

NPCs:
Chevalier Percival

The newly appointed Chevalier sighed as he read the report. It was barely a report, but he had his orders to follow. Commander Vimes had not even bothered giving him that many wardens, sending just one, Javier, a young rogue. So far the two of them got on like fire and water, except Javier was completely oblivious that he was driving the Chevalier crazy with his constant babbling about birds.

Percival with all his grace, just smiled and nodded, glancing about to see if any others were willing to follow.

More than once, Selora had bemoaned the lack of common sense which seemed to pervade her countrymen. An excess of blood magic. Political maneuvering that favored family lines over true ability. A lingering sense of racism towards anything not human. And most recently... a cult that decided to follow a twisted creature, who was so obviously a Darkspawn, that it abandoned all sense. Enter the Venatori.

She knew Javier from their previous mission and had agreed to accompany him, along with the ever surly Lucius. The Chevalier might not be getting the best deal; an easily distracted Warden and now a Tevinter mage. But he was getting help at least, if a token gesture. Vimes clearly didn't place a high priority on this as Selora well knew the Warden-Commander could spare a more capable man than Javier. Still, despite his naive demeanor at times, Selora knew Javier could fight and handle himself. Besides, perhaps these Venatori had items of magical significance. Being an insane cult didn't mean they didn't collect some useful prizes. That and what better to defeat a mage but another mage?

Her master, Deracles, had never been a supporter of the Venatori. Had never seen them as fashionable or fun to observe. He was a man of sense, who recognized danger when he saw it. While not as liberal as Magister Pavus, Deracles nonetheless preferred some change to stagnation, and knew old cults like this only held the Imperium back. So it was he'd given Selora his blessing to help remove the infestation as his representative.

"Chevalier Percival." Selora had addressed the man after formalities; she never knew how a given him would react to her elven nature. "How many Venatori do you suspect linger?"

Javier was a wee bit more excitable than usual, mostly because this was his first so-called solo assignment without a senior Warden watching over him. Admittedly to the boy's credit, he was able to rein it in for the most part, unless they spotted a bird.

Selora was a lot more observant than her tainted counterpart, in recognising that Vimes had clearly not placed the mission as a high priority. It was just rumours after all and most of those remaining were stragglers. Javier may not be the best strategist, but he certainly knew how to fight and that was enough.

Percival had been ready to address Lucius until Selora had spoken, and there was a brief moment of confusion as he realised that the elf was the one who held rank over the warrior and warden. He had thought of her as a servant. He had expected the warden to take charge, but from the fascination Javier had over a passing bird at that moment, and wandered off to try and get a better view of it from a branch, Percival resigned himself to talking to Selora.

"Lady Selora, I confess I was expecting a bit more help when word was sent to the Wardens... or at least a warden of better calibre."

Thankfully Javier was out of earshot perched on a branch.

"Regardless, as to answer your question, there has been some sightings at the farmlands. Honestly it could even be bandits but I suppose one of the fastest way to get attention to the region is to claim there's Venatori presence... but we shall do what we can for the people of the Dales."

From his expression he clearly disliked talking to Selora, but he was trying his best to remain civil and treat her as an equal.

"The Warden-Commander has spared all he can to look into unsubstantiated rumors." Selora replied, enjoying the man's discomfort while also finding it irritating. "By your own admission, you claimed it was Venatori in an attempt to gain quicker attention to the matter. Now that we are here, we will look into it."

She could hardly defend Javier's current behavior; the man could make an attempt to be more professional. She also found the Chevalier's attitude and deception aggravating. It may be he was correct... or it could be the man was simply trying to use the Wardens to fix his own problems. A third option, that a conspiracy existed to try making the Wardens look bad, also existed. Hunting down bandits was not a traditional Gray Warden task, nor were Venatori even. Selora's impression of Chevalier Percival was not climbing.

"Fear not, Chevalier Percival." She looked to the man as she re-mounted her horse. "We will soon see to the truth of this matter."

Selora smiled.

"And if it truly is Venatori, I'm sure Orlais' finest soldiers will be proud to assist in their destruction? I have heard tales of the valor and bravery shown by the Empire's armies during the events with Coryheus. It would be a sight to behold a small part of that glory in action. It would be an honor to see those under your command demonstrate why Orlesian soldiers are reputed to be some of the finest in all of Thedas."

Selora was no fool. Depending on the size of the opposition, bandit or Venatori, they would need more than the three of them. She hoped Percival's ego would compel him to agree with her statement for the sake of honor.

Percival let out a soft sigh. It was clear neither Orlais or the Grey Wardens held the mission a priority.


"It wasn't me who claimed the Venatori, and I hardly have any experience in dealing with them." He tried to defend himself, realising how much of a fool he was looking right now with that claim before he sighed.

"I apologize for my behaviour Lady Selora... I am thankful for your presence, along with your friend over there, and our fellow warden. Let us pray that it is just bandits and we have nothing to worry about. I am confident of my abilities but I am certainly no templar or mage. Hopefully steel will do well enough."

Javier was taking a fair bit of time among the treetops and he came bounding down looking fairly contented.

"Well there's some ruins with smoke coming out from them in the direction mentioned in the reports. I'd say we head on there soon enough. Either it is a forest fire, or a camp fire, or a Dalish camp, either way, best to head on there." He'd get onto his own pony, and started down the road ahead of them... while Percival stared at Javier slackjawed.

Selora's own look at Javier wasn't as slackjawed as the Chevalier's but it was certainly... dumbfounded. Compared to his performance when his Dwarven companion, Skaldrin, was present, Javier was at risk of seeming juvenile. She may have felt some guilt at falsely calling the Chevalier out for the misleading report but it was tempered by the man's initial attitude towards her as an elf. In the end, she was happy to ride after the young Warden even if Lucius' silent derision followed her.

"Have a care, Javier." She pulled her horse up next to his pony as they moved in the direction the other had indicated. "This is your first mission on your own and you are the ranking Gray Warden here. Impressions are important."

Selora knew he was a capable fighter but sheer martial prowess wasn't all that comprised a battle. Nor was strictly arcane might for that matter. The Chevalier was one man but one man who would also talk to others.

"I'm only an observer, officially. Even if this is something of a wild nug chase, the possibility remains there truly are Venatori here." Her eyes looked to the smoke on the horizon. "What's your plan if we do find remnants of the cult?"

Javier looked at Selora and smiled.

"Oh I do have a care... but I can't be bothered dealing with the noble lot. It's why I left home," he said with a smile. He knew perfectly well what he was doing. "That being said Lady Selora, I don't like how he's behaving. Impressions are important but I rather be reported as being rude than someone who's getting the blame for messing something up... that there's a grey-breasted thrush's call... but knowing his kind, he's bound to stick us with the bad part of it while playing the good part of his up."

No bad Javier, seizing up a man before he had even gotten to know him properly. Percival just rode behind them, seething quietly at the turn of events though... but he pulled his horse forward, catching the last question on what they would do.

"If it's only a few of them, I think it would be best to ambush them. If it's a large group, it's probably better to head to one of the Orlesian outposts about the Dales," Percival replied to that as he thought about things. Javier just glanced at the chevalier as he listened. It was a sound enough plan.

"I suppose one of us would have to remain behind to watch them if that was the case," Javier said frowning. "Either way my orders are just to ascertain their presence and report back to Commander Vimes for further instructions." He carried with him a raven in a cage.

"And leave a threat present in the Dales?" Percival asked with surprise.

"I'm not saying that we cannot attack them Chevalier Percival, but I am no mage, nor expert at dealing with them. Are you?"

Javier's question was met with silence from the warrior.

Selora understood his position but still felt Javier was acting not entirely properly. The Gray Wardens reputations after the incident at Adamant were still... nebulous in some people's minds. They were under no obligation to be pawns, naturally, but allies were not always in abundance. The Chevalier was but a rung in the ladder which could be climbed. Then again, Selora thought, she was not an expert in Orlesian politics. She did smile faintly at an amusing quirk of Javier's speech; he couldn't be bothered to deal with the noble lot yet he still called her Lady Selora.

"Venatori mages would complicate matters, but as the cult is Tevinter in origin, their magic is unlikely to catch me by surprise." She was well aware of some of their tricks. "All the same, as you say Javier, much will be dictated by the nature and numbers of our enemy."

For now, until they knew what they were up against, all they could do was speculate.

Javier was still new though, and at least he wasn't behaving in the manner involving blood magic and what not. Then again, the fellow didn't care much about reputation, but he was a young fellow after all and unaware of how the world sometimes worked. The Free Marcher nodded his head as they continued.

As they neared the fires, Javier would pause at least several miles away, before he dismounted, promising he would be back. Percival looked skeptical at Javier's competence and his expression said it as much, but he bit his tongue on his own thoughts, glancing over at Lucius for most part. On some level, he still looked to the other as holding the most authority among the trio who had joined him.

The boy returned soon after, guiding them towards a small crevice, well hidden between some rocks and a place for the horses to rest.

"I'll scout on ahead towards the fires. Having too many might alert any patrols around the area. This place seems safe and hidden enough so no one should be at risk... If I'm not back by sun down... assume the worst," the boy said grimly before he departed, leaving his horse behind. It was easier for him to sneak about without one.

Percival's skepticism had been partially allayed by Javier's planning. He'd take out a flask of wine, taking a sip from it, before passing it towards Lucius first... then actually thought better of it and passed it to Selora. He'd then take a biscuit, breaking it apart to share with them.

"He's not exactly... the kind of warden I'd imagine I'd be meeting but it seems he does know something. If anything, he seems good at not leaving tracks."

There was no sign where the Free Marcher had trod to exit.

Selora stopped when Javier did. The rogue was far more knowledgeable about matters of stealth than she was and one of the many tactics which had kept her alive was to let people do what they were good at. She brought her horse to a halt, dismounting as well, and gave a nod to Javier. Her staff rested easily in one hand as she pulled it out of its mount by the stirrups and she took it upon herself to inspect the general area.

Lucius dismounted as well and gave Percival a long suffering look, only briefly, before securing his and Selora's horses. The armored warrior moved with a distinctive metal-sliding-on-metal sound but it wasn't so noisy as to broadcast their presence for miles. Selora intentionally didn't light a torch or fire, lest they betray their position, and as an elf she was having no difficulty seeing in the darker environment.

"No, thank you." Selora declined the wine, favoring her own waterskin. She didn't think Percival was keen on the idea of an elf drinking from his flask at any rate. "I rarely drink alcohol."

She was willing to share a measure of her own provisions however. Bit of dried jerky and nuts that she'd brought with from Vigil's Keep, high protein and high energy fare. She did accept some of the biscuit but delayed taking a bite until after she saw Percival try some.

"I've traveled with Javier before. What he lacks in decorum he makes up for in ability." Selora answered Percival's statement. Then, as if an admission. "He does possess a flare for the dramatic."

"More than a little." Lucius' hollow voice echoed the sentiment. "But yes. The boy may seem a fool but he can swing his blades the right way."

Percival looked relieved when Selora turned down the wine, he'd then offer it to Lucius. He ate his own biscuit, wasn't poisoned or anything. It wasn't like those frilly cakes Orlais had but it was better than the kind Vigil's Keep had. The Chevalier accepted a bit of jerky and nuts.

He looked vaguely amused when Selora mentioned the flare for the dramatic. "Flare for the dramatic? Whatever happened?" he asked to chat as they passed time away as he took out his whetstone to sharpen his sword while waiting. "I do certainly hope he comes back with no news though. A futile trip but I do not like the idea of dealing with the Venatori. They've done enough during the war."

"Nothing more than the immortality of youth." Selora answered the Chevalier's query. "The Joining didn't completely stamp it out of him."

He'd been reeling after their last mission and even the veteran dwarf, Skaldrin, had difficulty with what they'd found. When she returned to Vigil's Keep, Selora would have to inquire about the survivor. Vimes talents as a Spirit Healer... those had been something to behold. The man piqued her interest and his craft even more so.

"I first worked with him on a rescue mission for some of his missing fellows. I had a chance to see him in action then. He did not disappoint."

Lucius was more than willing to drink the Chevalier's wine. Any pretense of superiority that might have been displayed were nonexistent. Lucius, unlike Selora, enjoyed stout drink and even had a taste for the Qunari stuff. The last bit was something he didn't readily admit to, as the conventional Tevinter stance was that the Ox-Men were savages to a one. Selora was aware of his preference but personally didn't care. If keeping Lucius from stabbing her relied simply on looking the other way regarding his possession of contraband, then that was an easy cost to pay. She wasn't a member of the Magisterium except by proxy through Deracles, as his representative. It wasn't her job to enforce such laws.

"If they are Venatori, in manageable numbers, I do not mind erasing them from the face of Thedas." Selora agreed with Percival's sentiments. "As you say, they've cause enough problems for everyone."

Percival looked vaguely amused at that Javier had at least earned the rest of the warrior. He had to admit, from what he had seen so far, Javier was definitely a decent tracker and knew the forested world well enough. He'd pass the time with idle banter, sharing with Selora and Lucius how he became a Chevalier. The man wasn't in line to inherit his father's lands but figured he should do something about it, earning honour to his family as a Chevalier. Unfortunately he had accidentally slighted one of his superiors, while over drinks, bragging about his abilities as a fighter. Wanting to knock him down a peg, he had been assigned the mission with instructions to work with the Grey Wardens.

The sun had yet to set when Javier returned, covered in a good bit of foliage, though he didn't look that happy.

"It's the Venatori all right, I counted a total of six of them, including a lookout. Definitely a small group..."

There was a slight pause. "And a pride demon." The last part was said with a fairly sombre tone.

A small group of Venatori was one thing. A Pride Demon was quite another. Such a monster was no mere Shade or a mindless Rage Demon, it was one of the more dangerous and powerful entities from the Fade to cross over. The Veil must have been weak or perhaps it was a remnant that slipped through during the Breach. Worse, perhaps there was a Fade Rift still open somewhere nearby. Selora knew of no way to close one herself, that knowledge had belonged to the Inquisition alone.

"We may be able to defeat them but it will be a dangerous fight." Selora spoke the obvious aloud. "The demon is the biggest threat."

She was adept at area attacks and if the Venatori were grouped together, it was possible she could unleash enough devastation in a short enough time that she could remove them from the fight. The problem would be not getting eviscerated by the Pride Demon while she was doing so. Six Venatori were still six on one odds; the she-elf was confident but not (overly) arrogant. Her lips pursed as she thought about the situation tactically.

"Describe the area they're in. There may be terrain we can use to our advantage." Including simply knocking a tree down on top of their enemies if a large enough one were available. "The lookout... could you kill them without altering the others, Javier?"

Percival listened quietly and he frowned as he glanced at his companions. Venatori were one thing, demons were a whole other lot... he had the same thought as Selora on that.

Javier nodded his head along with Selora's assessment.

"Unfortunately they've picked a fairly open field. There's an abandoned farmhouse nearby which they're using, but beyond that it's been flat ground. There's a good bit of fields between the forest edge and them, bout two fields worth," the rogue said. "I stopped mostly at the edge. Their lookout was located somewhere up on a small hill. Not exactly terrain we can use," he said as he knelt down in the ground, drawing the layout of the land in the soil.

"I can definitely kill him without alerting the others, but that would still leave five Venatori and the demon. Question is, should we call for backup?" he asked gesturing to the raven at his horse.

"That one will fly back to the Keep... and it'll be a few days before other wardens can get here. Are there any Orlesian outposts?" Javier asked looking at Percival.

The man looked surprised and nodded his head. "It'll be a day or two travel, and another back."

"That might be a better option... but it'll mean some of us staying here, while you go and get the men needed," Javier said as he outlined their options. "Although Commander Vimes was quite explicit in his instructions that I was not to engage until I had updated him on the situation..."

Selora studied the sketch as Javier made it; open ground was not entirely to their favor. The Venatori, if they had mages, could destroy an opposing enemy with area attacks and little risk to themselves. It was very likely they had mages.

"No... don't kill the lookout yet. That will only let them know they've been discovered." No use tipping their hand early. "I would follow the Warden-Commanders orders in this regard. Update him. The Venatori will be here a day or two from now."

Which was the next order of business.

"Sir Percival, can you think of any features of this area which would attract them?" The elf looked to the Chevalier. "A Pride Demon and a group of six Venatori suggests they're here with a purpose beyond mere banditry."

A shame she didn't have lyrium; a scouting mission into the Fade might have proven beneficial.

Javier nodded his head and set about writing a message to Vigil's Keep, sending it back via a raven. Hopefully word and help would come eventually.

Percival glanced over at the drawing before heading over to his own mount to pull out a map of the location. On it there would be some penciled writings, indicating travel routes of some of the Dalish clans. It took a while but he worked out their location, and where Javier saw them. It wasn't hard, Javier had done a good job in surveying and drawing the rough features of the land enough for him to pinpoint.

"An old Dalish Burial ground is nearby to the west. It would be good to survey the area, and keep an eye on the Venatori as well while waiting for word from Commander Vimes." Percival himself, while resenting that they had to wait on the Warden-Commander's answer, knew better than to go against it and suggest ideas. The Pride demon unnerved him more than anything.

"Dalish burial ground..." Selora mused aloud. "As you say, Sir Percival. It would be good to survey the area while we wait for further word."

There was no guarantee Vimes would commit forces to battle the Venatori and a demon; this wasn't truly a Grey Warden problem. The Warden-Commander's decision to investigate it, however, suggested he would take the matter more seriously now that Venatori presence had been confirmed. It would be a day or two before they heard news and there was no sense being idle.

"Let us see this burial ground. If it holds what the Venatori are after, I presume we'll see some sign of it there. Are any of the Dalish clans in the area?"

Percival checked the routes, and he'd have to do a bit of calculation there for sure.

"I'll see if I can figure it out," the Chevalier said as he studied the map. It was useful certainly, but with all the usual migration routes marked, he had to do some mental calculation on the days and what not.

Javier returned from releasing the raven, hoping for the best honestly. He had doubts the four of them could take the whole lot of them on without some casualty... much as he had faith in his companions, he had faith that things could go awry too.

The boy then sat down, opened a bit of his pack to munch on some food and down some water, the scouting having exhausted him to a degree.

Percival looked up eventually.

"There should be one that recently passed through the area, the clan named Revanan. They shouldn't be far off... based off the map though, they're somewhat dangerously close to the Venatori... it's just a couple of hours walk. Perhaps we could enlist their help."

Javier studied the Chevalier for a bit. "Pardon me for asking but what were your orders from Orlais?"

"To check the rumours and to deal with whatever I find Warden," came the curt reply.

"I see..." While his own had been to sit and wait, Javier could understand Percival's desire to seek out help.

"The Dalish may or may not be willing to ally against the threat." Selora said. "They may look on this as an Orlesian problem. Orlais and the Dalish do not possess a friendly history."

No human nation did with the elves. The Imperium was worst of all, perhaps. Selora didn't expect a fond reception from the clan, even if they did locate it. Her being an elf wouldn't suddenly make her Dalish or blind them to the Tevinter style of her robes. If anything, they were more likely to consider Percival more warmly than her. It was just as well; Selora had little desire to meet the Dalish herself.

"It may be best to see if their burial ground has been tampered with before approaching the Dalish, if you wish to do so, Sir Percival." She looked to the Chevalier. "If it has been, it may give them a stake in ending the threat. A warning about the Venatori may also garner some good will."

She thought a moment.

"Or we could see if they are attacked, then come to their aid."