As soon as she entered the Fade, she wasted no time in transforming the boundless plain before her into the Circle of Ostwick. Everything from the hot sunny weather to the smells, people, and their clothing were all meticulously fashioned from memory. Once it was stable, she called out to Dhara who materialized before her eyes in the middle of a large courtyard. As agreed upon, the two discreetly cut their signals into their arms, which were healed in seconds - all was set. Taking in the ambiance around them, she studied the young mage who looked about in awe at the architecture, gazing up at the height of the tower.
"I had no idea such tall buildings could be built by man! Ye said ye lived in a tower, but by Korth's beard, this is a tower!" Searching the courtyard, she spied the iron bar gate that led out into the city's market district, "Oh, is that yer city? How I'd love to see it!" She jogged and skipped over to it to see what little she could from there.
"Normally, the Templars would not allow us to approach the gate without an escort, but for the dream's purpose you are a new mage who I'm showing around so it's permissible." In her time as an Apprentice of the Circle, she had never had the chance to show new mages around because Ostwick was known more for its healing arts than offensive training. With the support of Bann Trevelyan, Knight-Commander Tobias had arranged for the famed Knight-Enchanter Croft to stay in the Circle to train her, having no others in their senior ranks who'd earn the title. Once her training was complete and Croft had gone back to his home Circle at Kinloch Tower, Evelyn's career picked up being assigned to missions. She didn't mind the taxing schedule though; the work was a freedom in itself being able to travel around Thedas doing the Maker's work.
Lost in thought, she caught Dhara approaching one of the Templars at the gate, creeping up on him like he was an animal she was hunting.
"You there!" The soldier grabbed his sword on his hip, "Step back, mage!"
Evelyn quickly grabbed her student's arm and spun her towards the tower, "Apologizes, ser. She's new." The man grumbled through his bucket helm and the two headed for the tall doors leading into the tower. As they walked away, she muttered quietly, "If you want to see a Templar close up, I have one you can meet, but I promise you, they are the same as any other men or women. Remember, this dream is as real as I could make it so don't do anything, well, just don't do anything." She had to remember the Avvar had no notion of what proper behavior consisted of here.
Reaching the doors, she spotted old Knight-Lieutenant Hayes manning his post. The man's mind had begun to deteriorate and though he was still strong, he needed to be assigned simple tasks. Some days he remembered her, other days he just politely nodded and opened one of the doors for her. "Good afternoon, Ser Hayes. Not getting too hot in that armor I hope; the sun is brutal today." Regardless of what he did or didn't remember, she was always kind to a man who had given his life to duty.
"Ah, Phoenix! Done for the day then, girl? It's bloody hot, but the Chantry Sisters have been doing me a kindness with rounds of water. Don't worry yourself about me, I'm a Marcher born and bred. It'll take more than this heat to break me!" Exchanging smiles the two mages stepped into the darkness of the Circle Tower of Ostwick.
Lit by mage lights, as the smoke from torches would choke its residents, the bright blueish glow cast cool light over everything in contrast to the warm sunlight. The temperature inside was much cooler as the stone walls were inscribed with runes keeping it from becoming an oven in the hot Marcher climate. Mages milled about both lazily and with purpose with arms stuffed with books or alchemical ingredients. Templars lined the halls like living suits of armor, spaced evenly apart. One mage in a particular rush, dropped all her notes that fluttered about like ashes blown from a fire. The Templar nearby looked around and then bent to help her. She thanked him for his help, and he simply grunted in response before she continued in her state.
"I expected them to be more like slavers," Dhara whispered over.
"Believe it or not, my Circle was the most sedate of all the others around southern Thedas. I have seen that same thing happen when visiting other Circles, and it went like this," Evelyn recreated the same scene before them.
The mage had jogged by dropping her papers again, but this time the Templar grabbed the girl by her wrists, "You casting blood magic on me, maleifcar?! Are you?"
"N-n-no, ser! I dropped my--"
"What's this?!" He held up the recently sharpened quill still in her hand, "Were you planning on slitting your wrists with it and think I wouldn't see it?"
"No!" She hollered desperately, "Please, ser! I'm just late to see the First Enchanter!" Begging for another few minutes, the Knight finally released her.
She frantically picked up her notes, but before she could leave, he grabbed her by the collar, "I'm watching you, go!" He spat after her under his breath, "Filthy mage." The pyromancers both sighed heavily as no words were needed to express their disgust at the latter scene.
Moseying along, they came upon the Mess Hall. The long room was lined with long tables with benches occupied by several groups of students cramming for their upcoming exam as Chantry Lay Sisters cleaned up from the most recently served meal.
"Trevelyan!" A deep brassy voice echoed through the Mess Hall. Dhara jumped slightly at it, but she just smiled and shook her head. Turning, a tall, dark handsome man with streaks of gray hair just above the ears strode up to them. His raven-black hair, tan skin, and charming smile disarmed many a mage and Templar alike in the Circle - including the Phoenix. "You're back, and just in time. Come here, I have news." Waving at them, the three walked back out into the hall and into a small reading enclave out of earshot.
"News about what, Henley?"
He opened his mouth to answer, but stopped to eye her companion instead, "Ah, who's your friend?" Dhara's eyes perked up as he eyed her wild clothing up and down.
Evelyn chuckled, "She's a friend of mine, you can speak freely in front of her." She turned to her sister mage, "This is my friend, Knight-Lieutenant Byron Henley. Feel free to gawk and gape, he loves that sort of attention, don't you?"
"Aye, and rightly deserved too. You may call me Dhara, Templar."
He chuckled with a flirty grin, "She talks funny. What Circle are you from, Dhara?" The young mage all but swooned at hearing her name.
"Any Circle ye'd like me to be from, handsome."
"Oh, for the love of…" Evelyn pinched the bridge of her nose. "Keep it in your pelts, D."
Henley chuckled, wiping a hand along his trimmed beard, "While I appreciate the compliment, you're a bit young for me, darlin'. I see Trevelyan has failed again to tell her so-called-friends about--"
"Nope, so shut it, big mouth before you find my foot in it." She gave her fellow Marcher a sharp look. Observant as ever, Dhara's eyebrows all but lifted off her forehead looking to Henley who gave her a wink. That was followed by a closed-mouth howl of pure glee at the discovery. "Look what you've done. This is why I don't tell people because you do it for me!" She thwacked his arm.
"Hold on, is this…," Evelyn winced at the turning wheels in her friend's head knowing what she was just realizing. "This is the Templar ye told us about at the Mead Hall after we got ye all saucy! Wait 'til I tell Ros I got to meet him!" She quietly squealed. "He certainly gives our Thane some competition," she elbowed her, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Who's Thane?" Henley balked at her crossing his arms.
"No one, forget it," she groaned, "what was it you needed to tell me, we have somewhere to be."
"Right, we've been called to help with a situation in Kirkwall. An ex-Templar by the name of Sampson is assisting mages in escaping the Circle. So far there are at least a dozen missing. They are requesting the aid of their sister Circle here in Ostwick. We leave in two days." He leaned slightly closer to speak in her ear, "We should be gone for some time, so um, bring something lacey." She shook her head at him as he popped his helmet back on and walked away with a grin.
When he turned the corner, Dhara looked as if she was a geyser set to blow. Bubbling up to her lips were thousands of comments and questions all halted when her mentor placed a finger on her lips, "So much no." The redhead deflated with great animation, "Let's not tell the Thane or his sister, or anyone in fact, about this until after the wedding. Or even better, after the Grey Wardens arrive and I leave with them, deal?" She nodded her head up and down enthusiastically. Hooking arms, the two continued on their tour of the Circle, all the while still focusing on the task at hand.
They got as far as the library when the Knight-Enchanter began to feel the cold hum of a demonic presence, "Let me show you the training grounds." She felt Dhara immediately tense, who still held her arm. They briskly made their way back down and out the front doors, saying hello to Ser Hayes who had already forgotten her name. The sun was setting and all the training was wrapping up for the day as the men and women all filed into their respective armor closets to store their gear. Usually, the only mage out on the grounds at this time, Evelyn was used to having the storage room to herself to change out of her sweaty practice armor. The space was small with a few old dusty weapons and armor racks. She had set herself up a nice little area as the room was exclusively hers.
Behind the only door in and out of the space were old crates and barrels the Templars likely threw in there not caring what the space was supposed to be used for. "Hide there," she pointed while the skinny mage wedged herself in behind the cover. Evelyn looked around at it from every angle making sure her bright hair could not be seen. Satisfied, she took her place in front of her armor stand and waited.
The cold shiver of his presence looming on the other side of the door pricked up every hair on her body. When the rusty click of the latch rang out, she dared not to look behind her. In order for the trap to be a success, she needed to feel the fear and despair, pushing away the memory of his death from her mind. Each clang of his armor made her twitch for her mana, but she couldn't, not here, not now.
"Good evening, little bird," the slight rasp in his voice from a childhood injury gave it a sinister edge, "You did well today in the yard, I enjoyed the show."
"What do you want, Ser Aeron?"
He lifted her braid inhaling her scent. The same hand then pushed it in front of her shoulder before placing it back on her neck massaging slow circles with his thumb. "There was just one problem…" she held her breath knowing what was coming. His nails dug into her neck as he threw her against the wall. She caught herself in time before smashing her skull on the stone. He grabbed her there again with a bruising grip, forcing her to look up at him, "The problem is you don't know your place, you piece of abomination shit! You think you are so much better than the Maker's true children, besting those Templars."
She gritted out, playing along, "It was a friendly spar! Just practice, we are on the same side!" As she spoke his pupils exploded as they roamed from her eyes down the column of her pale neck. He kissed her hard, all but hitting teeth together. His mouth was overwhelming and his hand was firm as she tried to pull away. Finally parting for air, they panted though for two completely different reasons.
"The same side? A friendly spar? Do you not hear the lies that spill from your beautiful lips? You are Desire itself." He kissed her again, but this time bit her lower lip, tearing it open. He pressed his thumb hard on it making it gush before painting it down her chin. While he was distracted, she tried to gauge how close Despair was. The demon was close, but not close enough still watching from a distance. It was time to entice it.
"The only lies I hear are the dilutions that create your reality, you deranged cretin!" She spat blood back at him. Unfazed, he stared at her for a moment with an unnerving calm. His dead eyes betrayed nothing, but his jaw muscles tensed as she awaited retribution.
A swift fist to the gut had her retching down on all fours. Followed by a few kicks at her torso then back. "I'm a cretin, am I?" His rage bubbled over, "This coming from the irredeemable blight on humanity! The Maker's children have been forced to suffer because of your very existence! You corrupt everything you touch! Look at what you've done to me!"
"I've done nothing to deserve this treatment!" Willing the haunted memory forth easily with her demon's help nearby, her voice trembled slightly. "It is not as if I have put you under a spell!"
"Oh, but you have bewitched me, my love, and I can no longer deny my sin. Your gravity is too much for me to fight, and I hate it! You are the reason at the hour of my judgment the Maker and His Bride will turn me away. I should kill you now," his hand gripped her throat hard, "end both our misery, and yet I can't because I love you!" He pushed her away before backhanding her. She fell to the ground, but caught herself, feeling the sting of the stone under her hands.
"You don't love me, this is not love!"
Hulling her up against the wall, his hot breath battered her face, "Don't you see, you make me do this to you," she glared at his pointed blame, and he tightened his grip on her. "You could be obedient and try to repent for your taint, but you don't! You don't apologize for what you are, instead, you waltz around here like you're the fucking Divine!"
She gritted through her blood-stained teeth, "I have nothing to apologize for, unlike you." That did it. She watched the man before her quake so violently with rage, she was sure had this actually been a night terror, she'd earned herself a slow painful death.
Yet, the pain was nothing compared to the years of verbal abuse she had suffered from not only him but many others. The hate she battled wherever she traveled was always tiresome, but she was determined to show the world that not all mages were monsters. Each time she heard it, that rage ignited the fire in her, but soon she developed a thick skin able to ignore it at best. Modest in Temper, Bold in Deed. Sure, there were times she lashed out when it became too much, her Templar handlers reigning her back in on what little slack they gave her leash, but it was more than most mages had. Soon she learned The Game and how to play it even as insults flew at her like a spymaster's busy rookery. She may have had to play by their rules, but she had little to risk aside from her own reputation. The more she made friends with mages and Templars, along with those outside the Circle's influence using her noble lineage, the more the Chantry took notice.
Recreating her former home in the dream made her realize just how much of a prisoner she really was after living free all these months. Gods, she wished now she could go back just to shout from atop the Temple of Sacred Ashes the corruption and oppression the Chantry has condemned mages to. How they taught hate, for no child is born with it in their hearts, it is learned from the heavy influences in their life. It had always been the children who were most receptive to mages, but they twist their innocent minds, as they no doubt did Aeron's, against them. For what purpose, she feared to know. How some Templars like Henley came through their tutelage unscathed amazed her, though he was not the only one she had met. And yet, it would be those good men and women who are condemned to the slow deterioration of the mind for their service - the Chantry's gift to help them forget the abuses ordered upon their charges. That is, unless they enjoyed it, like Ryker Aeron.
Pushing her down to her knees, he held her in a hold to dislocate her arm. The pop and tear made her cry out, finally pulling tears from her. She fed the pain of both her physical and mental torment until the chilling presence was just outside the door. It reached into her mind feasting upon the devastation harbored there of the past and the things she could not change.
"Dhara, open the door now!" Kicking the empty creates out of her path, she pulled it open. Evelyn, using her good arm, grabbed the dagger she always had in her boot, slicing a surprised Aeron's throat deeply, before cutting the signal into her shoulder. Feeling the instant rejuvenating effects, including that of her shoulder being placed back into the joint, she listened to the heavy thud of the Templar's body hitting the ground. Her eyes though were trained on the hideous demon before her as she shook the forlorn feelings to steel her mind for battle, changing out of her Circle robe into battle armor.
Despair. It had indeed grown fat, the lanky disproportioned body hung out like a slug. It was the largest one she had ever seen, and it made her sick to know it had fed on her, Cullen, and the people of the Basin for years to become so. Its mouse-like face and beady eyes bore what she thought was surprise having been caught. Dhara had already cast a firey wall around them, trapping it as Evelyn molded the dream around them into an inescapable space where'd they do battle - The Harrowing Chamber. The great domed room provided the mages with space, but even the demon would have trouble escaping her now as she pulsated with lyrium consciously in her dream. The power of the combined pyromancers heated the metal holding up the roof's shape and tall windows. Despair winced at the increasing temperature radiating off the mages, becoming more agitated by the second.
Suddenly, a burst of ice cut through the room, staggering the mages back. "Barrier!" Evelyn called to her partner who had just shielded herself in time. The demon shot a stream of ice at them both, but despite its formidable strength, its power was divided and easily countered by the Phoenix. She fired her thick flames at Despair, overpowering the beam. The heavy black smoke had just touched the enemy when it shrieked an ear-piercing wail, making her cease her attack to cover her ears. Willing her eyes to stay open, it targeted Dhara, wanting to take out the weaker foe and thereby causing Evelyn no small amount of pain if it was successful.
The redhead had lost her footing after tripping on its ice splayed all over the ground. Down and vulnerable, Evelyn fade-stepped, spirit blade in hand ready to defend the moment she materialized. Sensing her next move, Despair faked making an attempt for Dhara, instead turning at the last moment sending the Phoenix flying backwards despite the appearance of her fiery wings. She skidded across the stone, limbs flying with her wing tucked about her. Coming to a stop, she groaned at the ache of her recently dislocated shoulder. Pushing through the pain, the demon was now after Dhara in earnest, but this time she was up and parrying as Evelyn had taught her. Seeing the opportunity, she fade-stepped to the slug-like body of the demon. Brandishing her spirit blade, she stabbed into the blue-gray fleshy mass. It wailed again in that high-pitched shriek, and as it did, she watched as her blade illuminated the inside of its body. To her horror, shadows of people appeared waving their arms as if calling out to her for help. The sight gave her a shiver that made her skin crawl as she struggled to make a larger cut into the demon to free them.
"Evie, watch yer asre!" Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Despair swing its front around to cast at her. Large shards of ice were forming in its hands as she continued to try and release those trapped.
"D, it has imprisoned people or souls, I don't know what, but they're inside! I'm trying to get them out, they are likely fueling this fucker! Light it up!"
"On it!" Running over to get a better angle, behind Evelyn a few paces, the young mage threw fireballs and streams of flame to try and counter its attacks. Sweating, having sawed through almost three feet of thick blubber and black demon ichor, she steeled herself to reach inside to grab whoever was there. The Knight-Enchanter was covered in the bile from her ears to hips reaching as far into the body as she could, but felt nothing.
Before she could try again, the pyromancers were hit by small dagger-like shards of ice. They were so sharp, it was like being cut by glass, as the dozens of slashes stung. Despair finally was beginning to take them as a serious threat, increasing the potency of its spells. Evelyn knew it didn't want to kill her, for she was a prime supplier of its power, but her Avvar companion was fair game.
Dhara cursed in Avvish, trying to shield them with a barrier but it was too late. Evelyn was no stranger to being hit by winter magic, but for the apprentice, it was a new experience though she bore it well. In fact, the veteran hadn't stopped from her current course of action before a wave of healing washed over both of them right on cue.
When her blade illuminated the belly of the beast again, she saw some of the shadows being sucked away. Looking at the demon, it was conjuring a powerful spell, "It's using the souls inside to feed its spells! We need to get them out. Distract it, I need to cut another foot or so!"
"Aye, I'll try, but my mana is getting low!"
With a foot planted on the side of its body for leverage, she poured more mana into her blade. Forward and back her shoulders sliced. She paused to vomit once, having got its black blood into her mouth, but continued at a feverish pace. Every now and then the demon slashed and clawed at her when it got away from Dhara, but the lacerations were swiftly sealed. Finally, having made a large enough incision, she stowed her hilt on her belt and grabbed the slimy flesh with her nails. With all her strength she pulled open the wound. A gush of demonic ichor flooded out, followed by arms reaching out screaming for help.
"Dhara! Come help me! I'll put up a barrier!" The agile Avvar dodged Despair's next few attacks, grabbing the first hand she seized. A spherical barrier formed around them as one by one, each soul was freed. Many quickly morphed into a ball of energy fleeing the dream through a small hole she created in the Harrowing Chamber's ceiling where the demon could not reach.
As the men and women emerged, she remembered how the demon was taking infants, one man lingered just off to her side and she called to him, "Hey, you!" He turned looking a bit distressed, and for a moment a jolting shock reverberated through her. Staring back at her was a man who, while nearly double their age, bore a stark resemblance to the man she was about to marry. His facial bones were more prominent, creased with wrinkles, no scarred lip but there were two striking lines by his left eye. Upon his examination of her, his shared eyes with his eldest son narrowed in that familiar way at her. She swallowed hard, "Why are there no children or infants with you?"
The spirit of this man was clearly disoriented, but the weight of her question fell upon him with such force, she thought him close to tears, "The demon always consumed the weaker ones first." Now she couldn't help the glassy sheen over her eyes, as she shared this profound revelation with Cullen's father.
"You need to go," her voice cracked, "follow the others. Find your wife in the sky with Our Lady." She groaned, still holding pulling back the flesh and concentrating on the weakening barrier Despair was desperately trying to break. Glancing back at him, time slowed as the two exchanged knowing looks. He didn't know who she was, but she knew of him, "Shall I give your love to your children?"
The thought seemed to pain him, but she saw the affection brighten his countenance, "Yes, and I ask for their forgiveness."
Even as she lost her footing in the black gore splayed about the floor and her body, she never broke eye contact, nodding. "Go, please!" Turning and shrinking into a ball of blue light, he fell in line with the others as they escaped for good to finally be united with their gods and loved ones.
"I think that all of them," Dhara was panting heavily and now painted black as well from helping the souls out. A loud crack made them jump as the demon finally broke through. Enraged, it clawed the redhead's back up fiercely before the Phoenix could react, slipping about.
Her own rage boiled over at the thought of this demon consuming infants to fuel its evil. "Shield yourself and stay back," her tone was grave, "and don't follow me." With a final look to her partner who glowed with healing magic, she pushed through into Despair's body. Passing through the blubbery folds, she heard Dhara cry out for her, but she saw only red.
Though it was dark, her pulsating blood lit the moist interior of membranes and nerves. They twitched and tensed at her every movement. With a firey hand, she pressed it to the side of the wall listening to the creature scream. She was going to enjoy torturing the cause of her night terrors; of Cullen's; of the entity that had caused so many mothers and fathers to weep. Sensing her plan, the demon hit its own body trying to dislodge her, but she crouched in the center protected by the same slimy blubber that had imprisoned the helpless innocent souls. The heat of her aura grew as she began smelling something akin to burnt blood.
When its physical attacks on her failed, it resorted to mental ones. As she squatted inside it, a sensation like she was drunk suddenly made her sway like she had been swallowed by a whale. Visions of painful memories flashed through her mind accompanied by a hammering headache that forced her eyes shut. Forgetting where she was for a few moments, she fought it as it threatened to bring her to the depths of its trickery. It knew her weaknesses intimately, as it highlighted every low in her life. It was only Dhara's voice, yelling to her from the outside that broke the trance.
Evelyn's eyes snapped open, remembering where she was. With a deep breath, she began crafting a bomb between her hands. The flames rolled and glowed as she poured her mana into it. The woman on the other side stopped her calls, no doubt now able to see the Phoenix's silhouette against the light emanating from inside. Despair invaded her mind causing her no small amount of agony with every probe, but she would never let it win. Unable to contain the growing fire bomb in her hands, she shot it toward the front of the slug-like form, before casting a barrier and curling up into a fetal ball. It had occurred to her only then that she hadn't fully thought this plan through…