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The road ahead stretched long, the sky still stained by the Breach's eerie glow. But for now, at least, they'd bought these people a chance.
The road from the border gate wound downward, cutting through rocky hills and patches of stubborn greenery that clung to life despite the chaos spreading across the Hinterlands. The refugees had long since disappeared ahead of them, their hurried footsteps marking the path to leave from Hinterlands. Daniel and his companions turn around and head back to Crossroad as they moved at a steadier pace, their eyes scanning the terrain for any sign of danger—or opportunity.
It was Varric who spotted it first.
"Hey, look alive," he said, nodding toward a half-hidden crevice in the rock face. "Another stash."
Daniel followed his gaze and saw it—a cluster of crates and barrels tucked away beneath an overhang, carefully concealed but not well enough to escape Varric's sharp eyes.
Cassandra didn't hesitate. "Gather what we can. We'll load it into the carriage."
The apostates' cache was modest but useful—blankets, dried meats, bundles of elfroot, a few vials of lyrium potions (which Solas examined with quiet disapproval before setting aside), and a small chest containing basic alchemical ingredients. It wasn't enough to sustain an army, but every bit helped.
As they hauled the supplies to the waiting carriage—already burdened with their earlier finds—Cassandra's expression remained grim.
"This still isn't sufficient," she muttered. "The Crossroads will need more."
Daniel wiped sweat from his brow. "Then we keep looking."
They hadn't gone much farther when the attack came.
The path narrowed here, the dirt track hemmed in by steep slopes on either side—perfect for an ambush. The first crossbow bolt whizzed past Daniel's ear before he even registered the movement above them.
"Take cover!" Cassandra barked, her shield already raised.
Five figures clad in tattered templar armor charged down the slope, their swords gleaming in the fading light. These weren't the disciplined warriors of the Order—these were desperate men, their eyes wild, their movements fueled by fear and something darker.
Varric ducked behind a boulder, Bianca already humming in his hands. "You'd think they'd learn by now."
Daniel didn't waste time with words. His staff came up, and a bolt of lightning lanced toward the nearest templar, sending the man spasming to the ground. The others barely flinched, their training (or what remained of it) keeping them moving forward.
Cassandra met them head-on, her sword a blur. The Enhanced Whirlwind Ring lived up to its name—every swing carried unnatural force, the air itself shuddering in the wake of her strikes. One templar went down immediately, his breastplate crumpling under the impact.
Solas hung back, his staff weaving barriers and frost spells in equal measure, slowing the attackers long enough for Varric to pick them off. One bolt took a templar through the throat; another pinned a second man's leg to the ground, leaving him howling.
Daniel focused on the last two, his mana still recovering from the rift battle. He couldn't afford another Chain Lightning, but Flashfire was another matter. With a sharp exhale, he slammed his staff down, and a wave of flame erupted at the templars' feet. They staggered, their armor scorching—and that was all the opening Cassandra needed.
Her sword flashed once, twice.
Then it was over.
Silence settled over the path, broken only by the heavy breathing of the victors.
Daniel's interface flickered to life:
[75 EXP Gained]
[5 Rogue Templars Defeated]
[Obtained: 6 Gold]
[Obtained: 1 Lambswool]
[Obtained: Plaideweave x3 – Common Rank Cloth]
[Obtained: Medium Adventurer Armor – Common Rank]
[61 Armor Protection]
[+2 Constitution]
Varric nudged one of the fallen templars with his boot. "You think they were after us specifically? Or just lashing out at anything that moved?"
Solas's mouth thinned. "Does it matter? They chose their path."
Cassandra wiped her blade clean. "We should keep moving. The Crossroads isn't far now."
Daniel crouched beside the Medium Adventurer Armor, examining it. The leather was sturdy, reinforced with metal plates at the joints, and while it wasn't as finely crafted as Cassandra's gear, it was a solid piece. He considered offering it to one of the soldiers, but a glance at their battered but serviceable gear made him reconsider. Instead, he stowed it in his pack—it might be useful for trade, if nothing else.
The Plaideweave was a rough, durable fabric, its pattern a simple checkered design. Useful for repairs or makeshift bandages.
As they resumed their journey, the terrain began to shift, the rocky slopes giving way to flatter, more open ground.
The battles were taking their toll. Daniel could feel it in the ache of his muscles, the way his mana reserves still hadn't fully replenished. Even Cassandra's steps, usually so sure, carried a hint of fatigue. Only Solas seemed unaffected, his calm demeanor unshaken.
Varric, ever observant, noticed it too. "You know, we could probably afford to take a breather."
Cassandra shot him a look. "We don't have time."
"Seeker, even you need to rest eventually."
Before she could retort, Daniel intervened. "He's right. Not a long stop—just enough to catch our breath. The Crossroads will have its own problems waiting for us. Better to face them fresh."
Cassandra exhaled sharply but relented. "Fine. Five minutes."
They found a relatively clear spot off the path, the soldiers keeping watch while the others took the chance to sit. Varric produced a waterskin, taking a long swig before passing it around.
Daniel leaned against a boulder, rolling his shoulders to ease the tension. The mark on his hand throbbed faintly, a reminder of what still lay ahead.
Solas settled beside him, his voice low. "You're holding up better than I expected."
Daniel snorted. "Is that a compliment?"
"A statement of fact." The elf's gaze was unreadable. "Most would have faltered by now."
Daniel didn't know how to respond to that, so he just nodded.
Cassandra, meanwhile, was testing the Enhanced Whirlwind Ring again, flexing her fingers as if feeling out its limits. The faint red glow pulsed in time with her movements.
Varric smirked. "Enjoying your new toy, Seeker?"
She ignored the jab, but there was a hint of satisfaction in her tone. "It's effective."
The five minutes passed too quickly.
The path curved sharply ahead, revealing a yawning entrance to what appeared to be an abandoned mine. But something was wrong. The mouth of the cave was sealed—not by rocks or debris, but by a shimmering wall of ice, its surface glistening unnaturally in the fading light.
Varric let out a low whistle. "Well, that's not suspicious at all."
Cassandra approached cautiously, her hand hovering near her sword. "This is no natural formation. Someone didn't want visitors."
Solas studied the barrier, his fingers tracing the air just shy of its surface. "A magical seal. Crude, but effective against those without the means to break it."
Daniel flexed his fingers, feeling the faint hum of his mana reserves. "Can we bring it down?"
Solas nodded. "Together."
They positioned themselves before the frozen barrier, staffs raised. Solas began murmuring in Elvish, the air around his staff growing thick with cold energy. Daniel mirrored him, focusing his own magic into a concentrated point.
"Now," Solas said.
Their spells struck simultaneously—a blast of fire from Daniel, a pulse of raw force from Solas. The ice barrier shuddered, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface. For a moment, it held—then, with a sound like shattering glass, it collapsed inward, leaving the mine entrance open.
A gust of stale, frigid air rushed out, carrying with it the faint scent of ozone and something darker.
Varric coughed. "Oh, that's lovely."
Cassandra drew her sword. "Stay sharp."
The mine was dim, the only light coming from the occasional flickering torch still clinging to the walls. The tunnel sloped downward, the air growing colder as they descended. Then, without warning, the shadows moved.
Shades—two of them—materialized from the darkness, their elongated limbs twitching as they lunged. Behind them stood a figure in tattered robes, his face gaunt, his eyes burning with manic energy.
"Apostate!" Cassandra barked, already moving to intercept the demons.
The battle was short but brutal. The shades moved with unnatural speed, their claws raking the air, but between Cassandra's enhanced strikes and Varric's pinpoint bolts, they didn't stand a chance. The apostate proved more troublesome, hurling spells with reckless abandon, his magic laced with something foul—lyrium, Daniel realized, the man's veins glowing a sickly blue under his skin.
Solas froze him mid-cast with a well-placed ice spell, leaving him open for Daniel's fire. The apostate screamed as the flames engulfed him, collapsing into a smoldering heap.
Silence returned, broken only by the crackle of dying embers.
Daniel's interface flickered:
[66 EXP Gained]
[2 Shade Demons Defeated]
[1 Apostate Defeated]
[Obtained: Keeper Ice Staff – Rare Rank]
[28 Cold Damage]
[+12% Barrier Damage Bonus]
The staff was a beautiful thing—sleek, carved from pale wood and capped with a crystalline focus that pulsed with frost energy. Daniel turned it over in his hands before offering it to Solas.
"Here. This'll work better for you than me."
Solas accepted it with a nod, testing its weight. "A keeper's staff. How... fitting."
Varric eyed the weapon. "You're not going to start calling yourself 'Keeper Solas' now, are you?"
The elf's lips quirked. "I think not."
Further into the mine, they found the apostate's stash—more supplies, carefully organized. Blankets, potions, even a few books on magical theory. Cassandra immediately directed the soldiers to begin loading what they could into the carriage.
While they worked, Daniel's perception prickled. Something else was here. He moved deeper into the cave, his eyes scanning the walls. Then he saw them—small, glinting nodules embedded in the rock.
Drakestones.
His interface confirmed it:
[Obtained: 10 Drakestones]
Varric joined him, peering at the stones. "Huh. Not bad. These'll fetch a decent price."
Daniel pocketed them. "Or be useful for crafting."
The mine didn't end with the cache. The tunnel continued, sloping deeper into the earth. Curiosity (and caution) drove them forward.
Then they saw it.
Red lyrium.
The stuff crawled up the walls like a malignant growth, its jagged crystals pulsing with an eerie, bloody light. The air here was thick with its presence, a metallic tang coating the back of Daniel's throat.
And at the center of it all, slumped against the largest cluster, was a dwarf.
Dead. His skin was gray, his eyes wide and unseeing, his hands still clutching at the lyrium as if he'd tried to pull himself free in his last moments.
Varric went very still. "Red lyrium," he muttered, his voice uncharacteristically grim. "Whoever this poor bastard was, he was in over his head."
Daniel crouched beside the body, careful not to touch the lyrium. A scrap of parchment peeked from the dwarf's belt. He pulled it free—a schematic, intricate lines detailing what looked like modifications to a crossbow.
His interface identified it:
[Obtained: Schematic for Bianca Arms 1]
He handed it to Varric without a word.
The dwarf's expression was unreadable as he studied the design. "Huh. Not bad work." He tucked it away, his usual humor absent. "We should burn this place to the ground."
No one argued.
Destroying the red lyrium wasn't easy. Normal fire wouldn't touch it—they had to rely on Solas's magic, purging the corruption with carefully controlled bursts of energy. The crystals shrieked as they shattered, the sound like nails on stone.
By the time they were done, the cave was clear, the air marginally cleaner. Daniel's interface noted the last of the drakestones he'd managed to pry free during the process:
[Obtained: 3 Drakestones]
As they emerged back into the open air, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The carriage was now heavily laden with supplies, the soldiers looking weary but satisfied.
Cassandra surveyed the mine entrance one last time. "We should seal it."
Solas obliged, summoning a fresh barrier of ice over the opening. It wouldn't last forever, but it would keep the curious out long enough for nature to reclaim the place.
Varric exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. "Well. That was *fun.*"
Daniel couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not.
Cassandra sheathed her sword. "The Crossroads awaits."
They set off once more, the weight of the day's discoveries heavy on their shoulders. The red lyrium, the dead dwarf, the apostate's fate—it all spoke of a deeper sickness spreading through the land. But for now, they had supplies to deliver and a war to fight.
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Name : Daniel Carter
Race: Elf
Level 3 : 952/1500 EXP
Professions: Mage
Gold Coins: 1146 Coins
Weapon: Staff of the Dragon
Armor: Light Armor of the Dragon and Templar Scribe Scowl
Accessories: Lifeward Amulet
Inventory: Acolyte Ice Staff, Morning Star, Stiletto, Hunting Longbow, Fire Resistance Cowl, Mercenary Coat, Acolyte Fire Staff, Disciple Lighting Staff, Sigil of the Gamordan Stromrider, Apprentice Armor, Qunari Battleaxe, Amulet of Magic, Raider Hatchet, Disciple Fire Staff, Amulet of Willpower, Apprentice Mail, Qunari Buckler, and Medium Adventure Armor
Crafting Materials: 27 Elfroot, 44 Iron, 2 Blue Vitriol, 1 Dawn Lotus, 11 Silk, 4 Lambswool, 1 Royal Elfroot, 10 Ram Leather, 23 Drakestone, 3 Fire Essence, 3 Blue Vitriol, 3 Canine Leather, and 4 Plaidewaive
Valuables: 2 Aquamarine, Silver Bracelet, 2 Figurine of Maferath the Betrayer, 2 Shadow Essence,
Gurn Gallstone Charm, Braid of Rank, Glass Halla, 1 Weapon Fragment, 1 Silver Necklace, 1 Ram Horn, 1 Bride's Blood Vial, 1 Silk Handerchief, 1 Glass Fox, 1 Silver Earring, and 1 Dreamer Rag
Potions: Lesser Health Potions x8, Lesser Regeneration Potions x5, and x5 Lyrium Potion
Skills: Chain Lighting, Flashfire, Barrier, and Winter's Grasp
Armor Schematics: Shokra-taar Schematic, Antaam-saar Schematic, Avvar Armor Schematics Acquired, Stone-Bear Armor Schematics, Vanguard Coat Schematic,
Weapon Schematics: Curved Dagger Schematic
Potion Recipe: Lesser Regeneration Potion recipe and Lyrium Potion Recipe
Bottles of Thedas: Vint-9 Rowan's Rose