The Dwarven Embassy, Minrathous
The dwarven embassy was monumental. Where the Minrathous Circle was light and airy, seeming to reach up and embrace the sky, the dwarven architecture was solid and heavy and dark. Elowyn felt dwarfed herself by the giant statues of the paragons that lined the entryway. Aminia approached a receptionist, who gestured for a guard to lead them to their meeting. The darkness felt oppressive and airless to Elowyn as she followed Aminia and the guard down a series of staircases and hallways. She felt as if she were being buried. She thought of the amount of earth above her head and shuddered.
“First time underground?” Aminia whispered to her.
“It’s like being in the cells at the Tower – bad memories,” Elowyn told her.
They entered a room which, to Elowyn’s relief, was well-lit by glowing panels set into the walls. Aminia introduced her to the dwarven man and woman waiting for them.
“Elowyn, this is Bjarte and Heidrun.”
“Please to meet you,” said Elowyn, shaking their hands. The man, Bjarte, had an impressive beard. The woman, Heidrun, was a bit older, as far as Elowyn could tell. She had a serious demeanor, whereas Bjarte smiled broadly at Elowyn and winked. There it was again, the winking! What did it mean?
Heidrun spoke first, “Aminia tells us you are here to learn about lyrium. I trust you’re familiar with its use by mages?”
“Yes, and by Templars – I’m not sure you have them in the Imperium?”
Aminia answered, “We have them, but they don’t use lyrium here.”
Elowyn said, “My understanding is that the dwarves use lyrium to create magical constructions like runes and golems, but that they are resistant to its effects. It’s well-known that dwarves can’t wield magic. I would like to know about how dwarves developed resistance and whether they may have had magical abilities before they began working with lyrium.”
Heidrun answered, “According to the Shaperate, we have always worked with lyrium, and we have never had magic. If there is a relationship there, you must draw your own conclusions.”
“But you aren’t able to nullify magic, either, like the Templars?”
“No, we don’t have that ability,” said Bjarte. “Only the mining caste handles raw lyrium. It’s dangerous even for most dwarves. It can kill a mage outright. Once it’s refined, we can use it in many ways, but no one actually consumes it.”
“In the Templars, it causes addiction,” said Elowyn. “Too much refined lyrium can result in paranoia and other adverse effects. Even in mages, overuse can cause physical deformities.”
“They say the Maker fashioned the world from lyrium,” Aminia chimed in.
“We do not believe in your Maker,” said Heidrun.
“If he existed, he was probably a dwarf,” laughed Bjarte, “No one else could handle that much lyrium!”
Elowyn and Aminia laughed at this, too, but Heidrun’s face remained serious.
“We are the Children of the Stone. We came from the Stone, and it sings to us,” she intoned.
“It sings? You mean, like the archdemons sing to the Wardens and the darkspawn?”
Heidrun looked offended. “It is not the same,” she said.
Bjarte spoke up, “The Archdemons are tainted by the Darkspawn,” he said. “It’s not the song of the stone.”
“But what is the taint, exactly?” asked Elowyn.
“It’s different,” Bjarne said, “It’s not lyrium.”
“There was a researcher who studied the taint,” said Aminia. “I’m not sure what happened to him. Got corrupted by it, probably.”
“Would it be possible for me to talk to a member of the mining caste?”
“No,” said Heidrun. Bjarte looked uncomfortable.
“I meant no offense,” said Elowyn, “I’m unfamiliar with your customs.”
Bjarte said, “In order for you to talk to a Miner, you’d have to go to Orzammar, and that wouldn’t be possible for a surface-dweller.”
“Could I ask my questions in writing?”
“You can ask, but they may not answer,” said Heidrun.
“I will send you a scroll to pass on to them. It was an honor to meet both of you!”
“We do a good business with House Caracalla,” Bjarte said. “We value our relationship with them.”
“Then on behalf of the house I serve, thank you for meeting with me,” said Elowyn. Bjarte made a small bow, and Heidrun merely nodded her head. Aminia took Elowyn’s arm and led her back to the surface.
Elowyn took a big breath of fresh air when they reached the plaza outside. “Well, that was different!” she said.
“Heidrun’s a little intimidating, isn’t she?” asked Aminia.
“For a small person, she has a big presence!” agreed Elowyn. “Bjarte seems nice though.”
“Oh, he’s more than nice!” laughed Aminia. “That beard – so sexy. I just want to run my hands through it.”
“What? Are you kidding me? But he’s like half your height!”
“You know what they say about dwarves, don’t you?”
“Umm, no. Not many dwarves in Orlais. I met one once, but he didn’t have a beard.”
“They say they’re just the right height.”
“For what?”
“You know,” said Aminia, waggling her eyebrows.
Elowyn shook her head, confused.
Aminia sighed, “You have so much to learn!”
“Better get started!” laughed Elowyn, taking her friend’s arm as they headed for the gondola.
Retour en haut
