Janella would be sent together with Rind, the mage, on the mission. Months ago, three members of the team had been sent, a former Inquisition soldier, a warden and their stonemason. Neither had made it back and there had been no reports on them, nor could the Wardens spare the men. Thedas was still a dangerous place and Vimes allocated the search parties sparingly. There was only one instruction: Find out what happened to them and return alive.
A map would have been given to the two of them on Valammar. Past the sealed gates, inside the thaig, it was quiet and serene, filled only with the sounds of rushing water as daylight came through the yawning maw where the soil had collapsed into the thaig.
Unfortunately for both Wardens, as entered the cavern, they'd feel the stirrings of Darkspawn. Not near enough to be an immediate threat but several levels down.
A map would have been given to the two of them on Valammar. Past the sealed gates, inside the thaig, it was quiet and serene, filled only with the sounds of rushing water as daylight came through the yawning maw where the soil had collapsed into the thaig.
Unfortunately for both Wardens, as entered the cavern, they'd feel the stirrings of Darkspawn. Not near enough to be an immediate threat but several levels down.
The elf seriously doubted that any meaningful tracking could be done by now, but she could certainly do some investigations with Rind and try to figure out what happened. She had taken some time to rest after the spar and the Joining, the Darkspawn blood had not exactly settled on her stomach well. Janella was eager to go on the mission and figure out what happened whenever she woke up, and had packed and dressed accordingly. Admiring the scenery whenever they arrived, she entered the cavern with some reservations.
Keeping a careful eye on their surroundings, both for traps and for creatures, she detected the Darkspawn below. "Seems like we will have some hosts," she observed sarcastically.
Keeping a careful eye on their surroundings, both for traps and for creatures, she detected the Darkspawn below. "Seems like we will have some hosts," she observed sarcastically.
Rind was a mostly silent companion. Not really the sort who'd engage in idle chatter as they made their way through the Hinterlands. He was mostly thoughtful by nature and would take a while to answer any questions thrown his way.
The main pathway that usually connected the gate to the rest of the thaig had collapsed, with whatever remnants of the bridge held by vines. The bodies of dead darkspawn could be seen scattered at the other end of the broken bridge.
"Pity, I'm not one for enjoying parties. Do you think they'll object to us crashing?" Rind said as he studied the area.
"Do you see any way across?" It was a long fall down and the sounds of running water below could give them a good idea of what might have happened. But certainty was the question here. "I can make an ice bridge but it'll be problematic."
The main pathway that usually connected the gate to the rest of the thaig had collapsed, with whatever remnants of the bridge held by vines. The bodies of dead darkspawn could be seen scattered at the other end of the broken bridge.
"Pity, I'm not one for enjoying parties. Do you think they'll object to us crashing?" Rind said as he studied the area.
"Do you see any way across?" It was a long fall down and the sounds of running water below could give them a good idea of what might have happened. But certainty was the question here. "I can make an ice bridge but it'll be problematic."
Janella was not the type to talk constantly but she did like to converse some of the time to relieve the monotony and boredom. One could only be content with their thoughts for so long, in her view. She likely pestered him on occasion, but she didn't care about his discomfort over it.
"It's probably against their social customs, yes," she deadpanned in return. Some sort of retaliation would certainly be in order, she knew. Observing the bodies of darkspawn at the other end of the now collapsed bridge, her eyes traveled along the gap to look for anything they might use to get across. "Nothing that isn't just as precarious as an ice bridge. I've some rope and a hook, we might use that to try and secure our passage somewhat if we can secure it to something over there."
"It's probably against their social customs, yes," she deadpanned in return. Some sort of retaliation would certainly be in order, she knew. Observing the bodies of darkspawn at the other end of the now collapsed bridge, her eyes traveled along the gap to look for anything they might use to get across. "Nothing that isn't just as precarious as an ice bridge. I've some rope and a hook, we might use that to try and secure our passage somewhat if we can secure it to something over there."
Rind would answer the questions quite honestly. He was a circle mage, had five siblings, taken when he was young and showed magic. He turned to blood magic to get back at a templar who had it out for him and became an apostate on the run during the mage and templar wars, but decided to join the wardens to find a place in life. He left out some details of course but those he would deflect politely.
"Ah well, we should have brought welcoming gifts anyhow," he said as he looked at her. "I think it might be better for you to try your roping skills. I'm not certain if the Darkspawn can sense magic and I'd need a good bit to actually make a bridge," the mage said as he stood back. Not as if he was any good with hurling things.
"Ah well, we should have brought welcoming gifts anyhow," he said as he looked at her. "I think it might be better for you to try your roping skills. I'm not certain if the Darkspawn can sense magic and I'd need a good bit to actually make a bridge," the mage said as he stood back. Not as if he was any good with hurling things.
Janella did ask people a lot of personal questions in general, as she did not like them much herself. Though they'd likely learn of one another, traveling together and all.
"Oh, we have some gifts for them," she said with a grin. The elf began to unravel her rope somewhat, looking across to see what she might be able to get a stable enough hook on. She didn't know if Darkspawn could detect magic or not but she always assumed the worst of everything and figured that they did. Doing her best not to look down into the dark maw beneath them, she flicked her wrist, sending the metal at the end spinning into a blur. Relying on momentum from the spin rather than strength, she sent it sailing across the gap. It landed on what was left of some railing, curling around it before the long, curved hooks caught as well. Janella tugged hard on it, putting her weight into it. She wanted to be sure it would hold.
Looking around for something she could tie the other end of the rope to, she found a pillar that was close enough and secured the rope with a knot. The elf was certainly nervous, but she looked confident . . . mostly. Most of the time she used a hook and rope to assist her with climbing a vertical surface, this was different. And it looked far more dangerous to her. Making sure that her weapons and other items were secured, she ventured out.
The elf was not nearly skilled enough to walk on a tightrope, but she did manage to hang from it and climb across. Her long hair hung down beneath her in an almost comical manner at times, before she swung her feet down and braced them against the other side to pull herself up and over the rails. She waited for him there, indicating that she would help him somewhat, whenever he got to the end.
"Oh, we have some gifts for them," she said with a grin. The elf began to unravel her rope somewhat, looking across to see what she might be able to get a stable enough hook on. She didn't know if Darkspawn could detect magic or not but she always assumed the worst of everything and figured that they did. Doing her best not to look down into the dark maw beneath them, she flicked her wrist, sending the metal at the end spinning into a blur. Relying on momentum from the spin rather than strength, she sent it sailing across the gap. It landed on what was left of some railing, curling around it before the long, curved hooks caught as well. Janella tugged hard on it, putting her weight into it. She wanted to be sure it would hold.
Looking around for something she could tie the other end of the rope to, she found a pillar that was close enough and secured the rope with a knot. The elf was certainly nervous, but she looked confident . . . mostly. Most of the time she used a hook and rope to assist her with climbing a vertical surface, this was different. And it looked far more dangerous to her. Making sure that her weapons and other items were secured, she ventured out.
The elf was not nearly skilled enough to walk on a tightrope, but she did manage to hang from it and climb across. Her long hair hung down beneath her in an almost comical manner at times, before she swung her feet down and braced them against the other side to pull herself up and over the rails. She waited for him there, indicating that she would help him somewhat, whenever he got to the end.
Rind couldn't help but smile at Janella's suggestion of gifts. The elf's humour was just up his own alley and he watched with some level of marvel as she used the hook and the rope. Rind himself was not much for that and he watched her cross the divide before it occurred to him that he had to do similar.
The mage looked nervous but he sighed and placed his staff over his back before he moved to hang on to the rope. It was easy to see from the rope movements that the poor fellow was trembling like a leaf as he slowly made his way across. Janella could hear him muttering quietly.
"Don't look down, don't look down..." The sounds of running water didn't help and he placed one hand in front of the other, trying to get a good grip before he moved on. It would be slow progress but he'd make it over eventually to the other side. If Janella helped him, his hands were clammy cold and he had tears running down his face, although he said nothing of it.
Up close the bodies looked like they had been there for a while, in various states of decay. The smell wasn't pleasant either and there were a number of rats about and from the looks of the bites, deepstalkers and spiders were not off the menu. Some looked like they had been ripped apart by a sword.
The mage looked nervous but he sighed and placed his staff over his back before he moved to hang on to the rope. It was easy to see from the rope movements that the poor fellow was trembling like a leaf as he slowly made his way across. Janella could hear him muttering quietly.
"Don't look down, don't look down..." The sounds of running water didn't help and he placed one hand in front of the other, trying to get a good grip before he moved on. It would be slow progress but he'd make it over eventually to the other side. If Janella helped him, his hands were clammy cold and he had tears running down his face, although he said nothing of it.
Up close the bodies looked like they had been there for a while, in various states of decay. The smell wasn't pleasant either and there were a number of rats about and from the looks of the bites, deepstalkers and spiders were not off the menu. Some looked like they had been ripped apart by a sword.
Janella politely ignored the man's terror and the tears on his cheeks. It had been a very daunting experience for her but she was good at reigning in her emotions and keeping them hidden. One doesn't grow up on the streets in a life of crime and assassination to wear their emotions on their sleeves. Any other time her callous attitude might have led to her teasing him, but she thought this might not be a good time to antagonize her partner. She did not go so far as to offer comfort or encouragement, but she at least did not jeer at him. The elf helped him over the final bit, in any case.
Whenever both of them were safely on the other side, she devoted her attention to the remains. The elf left the rope for now, they'd need a way back across, after all. The former assassin took in the rent bodies of Darkspawn, trying to figure out if they had all died at roughly the same or at different times. Gesturing to a bite mark, she said, "Seems like they were killed by other beasts rather than from a blade or attack a person might use."
Whenever both of them were safely on the other side, she devoted her attention to the remains. The elf left the rope for now, they'd need a way back across, after all. The former assassin took in the rent bodies of Darkspawn, trying to figure out if they had all died at roughly the same or at different times. Gesturing to a bite mark, she said, "Seems like they were killed by other beasts rather than from a blade or attack a person might use."
Rind appreciated Janella's silence on his emotions. He would have denied it all over should she have mentioned it despite evidence. Once he was over, he'd take a minute to compose himself, wiping his face dry before he went over to examine the bodies. The mage wrinkled his nose in disgust at the smell.
It was hard to say if they all died at the same time, most of the bodies had been rotted or torn beyond recognition. Was it a genlock? A shriek? It was hard to say.
"Plausible, although the question is when... it's a bit hard to tell," Rind said as he studied the remains.
"I wonder if the Wardens even came here you know? Did they find the broken bridge and just turn back? But funny though. The darkspawn wouldn't come up this high otherwise. The sun touches some of the areas here," Rind said pointing to where the plants grew. "Least from what I know of them, the nights during the Blight were the scariest. You never knew if they'd come."
There would be pathways leading to the lower levels of the Thaig, and several doors leading to chambers. If Janella tested the doors, they'd open, revealing footprints in the dust, three different sets to be exact. There had been some movements about the room of course.
The stirrings of Darkspawn could be heard at the lower levels and more darkspawn remains could be seen scattered along the stairs to the lower levels.
It was hard to say if they all died at the same time, most of the bodies had been rotted or torn beyond recognition. Was it a genlock? A shriek? It was hard to say.
"Plausible, although the question is when... it's a bit hard to tell," Rind said as he studied the remains.
"I wonder if the Wardens even came here you know? Did they find the broken bridge and just turn back? But funny though. The darkspawn wouldn't come up this high otherwise. The sun touches some of the areas here," Rind said pointing to where the plants grew. "Least from what I know of them, the nights during the Blight were the scariest. You never knew if they'd come."
There would be pathways leading to the lower levels of the Thaig, and several doors leading to chambers. If Janella tested the doors, they'd open, revealing footprints in the dust, three different sets to be exact. There had been some movements about the room of course.
The stirrings of Darkspawn could be heard at the lower levels and more darkspawn remains could be seen scattered along the stairs to the lower levels.
Janella gave her estimate, "Looks like they've been dead for several weeks, at the least." She moved on to the matter of whether or not the Wardens had even come in here, looking back out through the exit and chewing on her lip in thought. "We defied death itself to cross the damn gap so we may as well have a look around," she said with a grudging sigh. She was cautious while she explored the place, listening carefully and moving as quietly as she could. She did not want to attract the attention of the Darkspawn in the lower levels.
Gesturing to Rind to call his attention to the footprints in the dust, the elf decided to follow them. She kept a lookout for other signs and clues, her search was quick but thorough. Eventually she spoke to Rind, her voice hushed and carrying just enough volume that he could hear it. "I wonder if we'll even be able to recognize them if we do find human remainds."
Gesturing to Rind to call his attention to the footprints in the dust, the elf decided to follow them. She kept a lookout for other signs and clues, her search was quick but thorough. Eventually she spoke to Rind, her voice hushed and carrying just enough volume that he could hear it. "I wonder if we'll even be able to recognize them if we do find human remainds."
"Perhaps... even if we don't we can at least determine by their armour. Those last longer than human remains,"
On following the footprints, it led to a stone door that had been blown off its hinges from the inside. The entire structure inside had collapsed in, with rock and debris strewn everywhere. At the far end, blocked by a fallen rock, something glowed a faint dull red.
Dull red veins crept along the floor, where broken red shards laid upon the dust.
"Red lyrium," Rind hissed. They could climb over the fallen debris to take a better look but it would be unstable to be on.
On following the footprints, it led to a stone door that had been blown off its hinges from the inside. The entire structure inside had collapsed in, with rock and debris strewn everywhere. At the far end, blocked by a fallen rock, something glowed a faint dull red.
Dull red veins crept along the floor, where broken red shards laid upon the dust.
"Red lyrium," Rind hissed. They could climb over the fallen debris to take a better look but it would be unstable to be on.
Janella nodded to let Rind know she had heard him. She wondered what had happened with the door, thinking there had been some kind of collapse due to weak structure. Whenever she saw the veins along the floor and Rind hissed about red lyrium, she decided it might be best not to investigate further.
"Might be best to turn around at this point," she didn't see the point in risking themselves, "trying to look further will probably get both of us blown up." The elf was good at finding things that were hidden or were just naturally hard to find, she gave the veins on the floor a wide berth. Janella decided to be absolutely sure they'd found everything they needed to. "If our search here turns up nothing, where will we look? Assuming they did see the broken bridge and turned back, I'm not sure what direction they would have gone in."
"Might be best to turn around at this point," she didn't see the point in risking themselves, "trying to look further will probably get both of us blown up." The elf was good at finding things that were hidden or were just naturally hard to find, she gave the veins on the floor a wide berth. Janella decided to be absolutely sure they'd found everything they needed to. "If our search here turns up nothing, where will we look? Assuming they did see the broken bridge and turned back, I'm not sure what direction they would have gone in."
Rind stayed where he was when he looked at the area.
"Red lyrium doesn't do this, but an explosion happened here... Assuming they survived. The only way is down with the stairs outside," the mage said frowning as he looked at the place. "Never did like Red Lyrium. Those things just... corrupt everything. Did you ever have the luck into running into red templars? They're... terrifying. There's those that are no longer human. Templars are bad enough. The red ones..."
Rind touched his scars and frowned. "Down the stairs is where the darkspawn are..."
"Red lyrium doesn't do this, but an explosion happened here... Assuming they survived. The only way is down with the stairs outside," the mage said frowning as he looked at the place. "Never did like Red Lyrium. Those things just... corrupt everything. Did you ever have the luck into running into red templars? They're... terrifying. There's those that are no longer human. Templars are bad enough. The red ones..."
Rind touched his scars and frowned. "Down the stairs is where the darkspawn are..."
The elf looked back at the red veins, "I doubt any but a dwarf would be interested in getting around the stuff. If Red Lyrium does not cause this, wonder what caused this. I've never come across red templars, but I've heard some stories on them."
She noted how he touched his scars, but had other concerns at the moment. Her gaze slid over to the stairs, "Of course they are," she sighed, weighing their options. Janella did not want to go back without some answers, but going down a dark staircase to meet some Darkspawn also wasn't appealed, either. The place felt like a death trap to her. "Shall we go and say hello, then? Just have a look in," her facial expression was bland but there was a definite note of sarcasm to her tone.
She noted how he touched his scars, but had other concerns at the moment. Her gaze slid over to the stairs, "Of course they are," she sighed, weighing their options. Janella did not want to go back without some answers, but going down a dark staircase to meet some Darkspawn also wasn't appealed, either. The place felt like a death trap to her. "Shall we go and say hello, then? Just have a look in," her facial expression was bland but there was a definite note of sarcasm to her tone.
Rind glanced at the stairs and shrugged.
"Why not? It's either that or tell the rest of the wardens we're too chicken to face Darkspawn... you know the only job we have as wardens," he said with a sigh as he readied his staff. "I'll bring the flaming cocktails. Might be good to bring a little entertainment to their lives."
"They weren't really that much of a problem when I went to get my vial of blood but there's a lot more here than I had encountered back then... maybe we just need to be smart about it."
The mage lit the end of his staff. Veilfire. He'd take the lead, lighting their way as they descended. There were remains of dwarves in armour, in a worse state of decay than the darkspawn. These were long dead bodies. Down the stairs at the end, they'd sense a good horde of darkspawn. If it weren't for the sense of wrongness they felt from the taint, the view was almost beautiful as sunlight streamed through the holes.
The debris from the broken bridge laid at the bottom, forming a pathway towards the Deep Roads. From the amount of dried blood there had been a fight, but there was no evidence of corpses. The darkspawn laid inside the tunnels... as did the trail of dried blood.
"Why not? It's either that or tell the rest of the wardens we're too chicken to face Darkspawn... you know the only job we have as wardens," he said with a sigh as he readied his staff. "I'll bring the flaming cocktails. Might be good to bring a little entertainment to their lives."
"They weren't really that much of a problem when I went to get my vial of blood but there's a lot more here than I had encountered back then... maybe we just need to be smart about it."
The mage lit the end of his staff. Veilfire. He'd take the lead, lighting their way as they descended. There were remains of dwarves in armour, in a worse state of decay than the darkspawn. These were long dead bodies. Down the stairs at the end, they'd sense a good horde of darkspawn. If it weren't for the sense of wrongness they felt from the taint, the view was almost beautiful as sunlight streamed through the holes.
The debris from the broken bridge laid at the bottom, forming a pathway towards the Deep Roads. From the amount of dried blood there had been a fight, but there was no evidence of corpses. The darkspawn laid inside the tunnels... as did the trail of dried blood.
Janella didn't fancy walking further into the place, since there was a chance they may not walk back out. She bit back a suggestion they just say they found the mangled bodies of the wardens and return. Going down the stairs was against her better judgment, but she wasn't going to chicken out. The elf was somewhat reassured about having a magic user to help her out.
She only took a moment to enjoy the view, her attention diverted toward the splatters of blood that became a trail. "Doubt anything could have made it far, losing blood like that," she gestured. Janella had overcome a lot of her reservations. She reminded herself she'd come out of tricky situations before and managed to slip away.
She only took a moment to enjoy the view, her attention diverted toward the splatters of blood that became a trail. "Doubt anything could have made it far, losing blood like that," she gestured. Janella had overcome a lot of her reservations. She reminded herself she'd come out of tricky situations before and managed to slip away.
Rind tested the pathways and nodded his head when the bridge felt secure enough, although he moved about carefully. "Aye... but we should at least have confirmation. I suspect that our wardens made it down here at least... judging from the damage," the mage said as he reached the end of the bridge. The sounds of darkspawn could be heard echoing from the tunnels.
"Well... if we can set up an ambush that might be helpful if we lured them out... Assuming they don't try to do the same to us," Rind said with a sigh.
"So how much experience do you have on that front?"
"Well... if we can set up an ambush that might be helpful if we lured them out... Assuming they don't try to do the same to us," Rind said with a sigh.
"So how much experience do you have on that front?"
Janella walked out on the pathways as well, but she looked like she was trying to keep her steps as light as possible. The elf said, "I am curious about what happened, now that we've come this far . . . some strategy and tactics would certainly be for the best." She'd managed to handle multiple opponents in a circumstance she'd made favorable for herself before.
"I could go in there and then lure them back out, and you could blast them with some magic? I've been made to be the bait several times before," she suggested. "Not the most original idea, but effective. I'm also fine with throwing something or making some sort of noise that alerts them to our presence. It'll be easier to handle them if they're coming out of a narrow space."
"I could go in there and then lure them back out, and you could blast them with some magic? I've been made to be the bait several times before," she suggested. "Not the most original idea, but effective. I'm also fine with throwing something or making some sort of noise that alerts them to our presence. It'll be easier to handle them if they're coming out of a narrow space."
Rind raised an eyebrow at her. "I could. It would take a while for me to build up enough energy to cast some of the more devastating spells. That being said, it would be a good idea for you to be behind me when that happens."
The mage moved to the side where he would be harder to spot but was still within attacking range. Inside there would be about six hurlocks, two archers among them, and an alpha. They were just milling about and speaking to each other with their darkspawn speech, breaking apart a dead spider to eat.
The mage moved to the side where he would be harder to spot but was still within attacking range. Inside there would be about six hurlocks, two archers among them, and an alpha. They were just milling about and speaking to each other with their darkspawn speech, breaking apart a dead spider to eat.
Janella worked out the details of just how long a 'while' was before she entered the tunnels. Once inside the darkness and long shadows, she was completely within her element. Anyone looking might have thought her a shadow, her boots didn't make a whisper of noise once. The Darkspawn could still feel her, just as she could feel them, due to the taint. They thought that another Darkspawn was approaching. The six of them looked around.
The elf approached the alpha. Moving in a crouch, knife held in a downward grip in her right hand, she crept up behind the alpha. Her dagger found the back of his neck and then slid out again, as smooth as it had entered. He didn't even scream as he died, just slumped down. The others looked around and saw Janella running away into the darkness. She'd moved so fast none had seen her fling at a dagger at one of their faces, where it sank into the eye of one of them. It wasn't quite enough to kill it, but it certainly seemed to make it angry. All of them reacted as one: scream and run after her to kill her.
Breaking into an all out sprint, she headed back toward the exit where Rind was waiting. The noise would most likely herald their arrival, she thought to herself. She burst out of the tunnel, with the Darkspawn trailing behind her.
The elf approached the alpha. Moving in a crouch, knife held in a downward grip in her right hand, she crept up behind the alpha. Her dagger found the back of his neck and then slid out again, as smooth as it had entered. He didn't even scream as he died, just slumped down. The others looked around and saw Janella running away into the darkness. She'd moved so fast none had seen her fling at a dagger at one of their faces, where it sank into the eye of one of them. It wasn't quite enough to kill it, but it certainly seemed to make it angry. All of them reacted as one: scream and run after her to kill her.
Breaking into an all out sprint, she headed back toward the exit where Rind was waiting. The noise would most likely herald their arrival, she thought to herself. She burst out of the tunnel, with the Darkspawn trailing behind her.