"Who are you?" A Dalish elf asked. The mark was to much for him to resist. Despite Thrasher being human. His dark red hair was something amongst his people. He was Junar. A Hunter that dies in Dragon Age II if a certain choice is made. "Hello."
*Sching!* Thrasher turned the axes into a deeper black with a slight curve in the hilt. A few swings for practice and he was set.
"Hello." Thrasher spoke in perfect Dalish. The Chasind mixed in the group were more surprised than the elves. Even more so when he turned to them and spoke ancient Alamarri. "Greetings."
Alamarri was the language of the humans back then. Damn near close to a mix of Low Gothic, Dutch, and Celtic.
"Who are you?" A Chasind man walked up to Thrasher. A sense of kinship from him cause his guard to drop more. "I am Corsu." The others felt the same as a slight thrumming went through them. Feeling more than just from Thrasher technically being a Barbarian class.
"Thrasher Skullsplitta." Thrasher gave him a handshake. "You may call me Thrash, Skullsplitta, or Warchief. Does not matter. Anyway, what happened to.. well your home?" Looking pass, he looked out at the camp. It was destroyed and had a lot of bodies scattered about. 'Huh, I was just outside the area fighting. That is something.'
"Another Warchief, just great." Junar said. "This will not end well with everything here. The Chasind are all but broken and are no more than refugees at this point. The last "Bann" fled like a coward."
"This is true, and the last attack from the darkspawn has left us almost.. done." Corsu said. His eyes were dim. A man close to almost giving up. "If he would have agreed with your Keeper, we would have been far away by now."
"So.. has a Grey Warden come through and spoke with you clan yet?" Thrasher asked Junar. Not wanting them to go in a direction conversation wise he couldn't use.
"Hmm, I think I saw him a few days ago while hunting. He looked to be on important business." Junar looked to be interested in what Thrasher knew of the Grey Warden. "Does he bring trouble?"
Thrasher spoke a lot on assumptions and what little he knew. Not painting the Grey Wardens in a good light. But not tarnishing them either.
Time would tell if it worked. The Chasind agreed to follow Thrasher for now. He taught them the history of old of the people. As well as a little to the Dalish. Reputation with them was going up steadily. He did not hand over the artifacts of course. That would be stupid at this point.
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A Day later-
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The trek back to the camp was more than eventful. Coming across a few of the werewolves and the spirit of the forest Witherfang was a treat. Thrasher moved to speak with her on his own. And wrapped her and the area with his domain.
He fought the spirit one on one. And had her pinned to the ground ready to rip her head off. But he spoke to her softly instead. And almost had her convinced to join until a sliver from the Will of the World boosted an angry werewolf nearby. It broke into the domain knocking him away.
"Awww, to bad." Thrasher spoke while still in his Lion Laguz form. "It is such as shame to deny me. I will not help you now. Witherfang looked a little sad at him as they fled. The close proximity while fighting exposed her to D.G. cells. Clearing her mind from the aggression inside from the pact that summoned her forth. "Have fun out there!" He gave a little taunt.
The magic that bound them was pretty powerful and would take a lot to break. A good way to do that would be to get them calm. Not his forte at all.
*Sching!* A light left Thrasher as he returned to normal. He gave a slight stretch as he needed to get use to changing back and forth again.
"That.. is some powerful magic." Junar speculated. The others nodding along in agreeance. They observed him more than anything during the fight. Picking up only a few things from it. "Can it be taught?"
"Nope." Thrasher talked as they continued to walk. Slight disappointment on the faces of the others. He grinned looking over his shoulder. "But it can be given by myself. Only to those who follow me of course. I am someone who likes to gain in the end. I am sure none of you are willing to leave your, current people."
"You.. are right." Junar said.
"I.. do not know." Corsu spoke for the Chasind that followed. They trusted his judgment since he was a caring man and a good enough warrior. "You love fighting and.. from what you say, there will be a lot of it if we were to come with you. I could not commit the Klan to that."
"Spoken like a fair leader. That life is not for everyone." As they walked, the group came across three humans fleeing for their lives. Tired and hurt, as if an unspeakable horror chased them. 'Hmm, so that happened already. They didn't kill them. Which is nice I suppose.'
"Should we help them?" Corsu asked. "Or.. run?"
"I hope they did not attack any of the encampments," Junar spoke gravely. Several groups of Darkspawn had reached out pretty far as of late. A number of the smaller Dalish were forced to flee. Some were picked up as they traveled. "If more warriors are gone, we will not survive the move."
"Nahh... ok maybe." Thrasher stroked his chin in jest. "Ah, hear they come."
The three humans made it and collapsed before the Chasind. Breathing heavy and looked to be infected by Darkspawn taint by a few of the marks on them. The eyes of one looked to be gone. How he was able to run, was beyond Thrasher. Then again, he could just see different because of the taint.
"They are so far gone." Corsu said solemnly. "It would be a mercy to end them."
In the wilds, they had seen enough people change to something horrific. The nightmares they had were the worse.
"No! Please.." One of them spoke. The hollowed eye one really. He looked from Corsu to Thrasher. "The.. light. You are radiant light! Please, by the Maker, save us!" To say Thrasher was confused, was an understatement. He looked himself over and noticed nothing.
"Ummm.. you are really gone." Thrasher grinned. "What are you willing to do exactly?" He walked around and looked the three over. One looked good but the other two reeked of cowardice and.. shit. A dagger appeared in his hand as he handed it to the man. "Would you slit the throat of your friends here to live?"
"I.. no I would not!" The man pushed the dagger back into Thrasher's hand. Causing Thrasher to smile. Which was what he wanted. "The light turned brighter.. what are you?" Unknown to Thrasher, the symbol from before appeared on his head. The Dalish stared at him hard.
Eyes unflinching committing everything to memory.
"Settle down, jeez." Thrasher waved his hands casting a few spells. "Cure Disease, Cure Poison, Restore Health." The three were healed and started to spew out a black sickness. It burned when hitting the air. "Well, you ate something ghastly."
"Uggghh!" The youngest groan and fell over. A smile on his face as he stared up. "Another day of life. Hahaha never going into ruins again."
"Awe, but ruins are fun. And have such fine things in them. Can learn all sorts of stuff." Thrasher gave a little pout. "Can you tell me where these ruins are?" He was thinking about the small timetable he had to do things. Just a few days left. He wouldn't try to go and do things with the dwarves. To much stuff going on there.
"I can. No problem." The first of them said. "I am yours to command my lord!" A hint of fervor in the man's eyes. Thrasher saw that before. It was the look of a fanatic. Or a crazy person. No real change between the two others. He would know, he had the same look when going into battle, or any time he was excitied. "Volus is my name!"
"Oh." Thrasher felt the man connect to him as a Follower. Which was something he was grateful for. It would make things easier to explain. "Then welcome. First of my Pride." He used the term for a Lion's group, since, well he was a Lion beast wise. 'A level 4 slot should suffice.'
*Sching!* A bright light went around the man. When it cleared, he was noticeably bigger. Thicker muscles and a thicker build. Not bigger than Thrasher, but bigger than the Dalish outright. He shifted into a Lion and dropped to all fours.
"Raaaaar!" He gave a roar causing the birds to scatter. As well as his two friends to step back. The mark on Thrasher's forehead had also appeared on the man's back thigh. Very noticeable to the Dalish. "I feel so powerful. Thank you." His voice, a deep gruff as he spoke. His head reached up to Thrasher's chest. A quick exhale, he returned to normal.
"Takes some getting use to." Thrasher smirked. A wave of his hands magic poured out, and Volus had comfortable armor to wear. Good protection, and good flexibility. "The armor will come out every time you switch. So, you do not have worry about ending up naked."
"Yes." Volus gave a nod as he took the information in from the Auxiliary System. "I will take you to the ruins now."
"Welp, guess this is where we part." Thrasher waved at the others. He and Volus already started moving. A few minutes later, and several of the Dalish and all of the Chasind caught up to them. "Huh?"
"We will come with you to the ruins at least." Corsu said. "Junar and the others rushed back to the camp with the other two from Volus's group. He thinks the Keeper will want to speak with them."
"Mmk." Thrasher just kept moving. Part of his quest was inside a set of ruins. If it matched what the information Azul gave him, it would be interesting to get his hands on that mirror. 'Another piece to get me closer to the Fade. Or at least to some more magic.'
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Sabrae Clan-
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Junar and the other Dalish made it to the camp with extreme haste. On arriving, they were cross to find out the Grey Warden had already left with one of their own. One of the best Warriors, a Dalish Elf named after the late Sarel.
Husband of the current Keeper Marethari Talas. They also lost one of the other hunters, Tamlen. But he was lost to something else. Something old and wicked apparently.
"Junar, why do you bring them here?" Fenarel the now top warrior asked. He was injured and looked to be infected by the look of the dark blood dripping from his arm. Junar gave a quick glance before looking for the Keeper. "Well!?" Fenarel did not like being dismissed.
"They know a little of the ruins." Junar looked around spotting Merril after a bit. She as Marethari's First, would know what to make of this. As well as her penchant for Dalish information. "Find the Keeper!" He yelled over his shoulder. The others took off at once. Junar had kept alive while hunting Darkspawn. 'I need to tell her about Thrasher!'
After some time, the Keeper was found. She was with Maren, the clans Halla rearer.
Info: Halla were a amazing commodity of the clan. Used for moving carts, milk for food, and the horns use in traditions. In Tevinter, the items are worth a pretty penny. Mostly because.. well Tevinters are just bastards is all.
After much debate, Junar and Merril were sent to assist Thrasher. To bring him back at all costs to find out if he is someone to serve, or to flee from.
'Flemeth, has not passed through in a while..' Marethari thought concerned. 'This note suggests that she is tied to us more than she let on.' In Marethari's hand, was a letter she was given by Junar from Thrasher. Written in old Dalish that explained a bit about the past and what was going on with the current Blight. And that it will be worse than any before it. 'He promises to blend the old customs with the new. Bringing the Alienage city elves and Dalish clans together. A lofty goal. But that mark..'
*Woom!* Magical energy left the letter as it dissolved. The traces infecting her a little. Clearing her mind and passing a little information on understanding some of the older texts in the clan.