279 réponses à ce sujet

[raging_monkey]

Boom

[Serelir]

You know, since I haven't published it officially, it can be undone.

[raging_monkey]

Id keep it just for us... peoples brains would explode from the hotness. *nudges you to publish it *

[Uccio]

Despite it being so magnificent piece of writing I have a slight feeling it could become censored. Maybe a little toned down version? (thought I hate the idea of taking parts of it away)

[raging_monkey]

Seems like a good compromise

[Serelir]

Well, we can keep it or pretend it didn't happen. If I did put it in the FF section, I'd just fade to black, or leave it at "And locked it."

 

The best part for me is the tension between Caius and Elowyn - they're like a binary star system.

[raging_monkey]

Sometimes fade to black is the best option let's the audience imagine the scene

[Serelir]

Spoiler

Even Vespuccio’s gripping Lives of the Demon Hunters couldn’t keep Elowyn’s mind from wandering back to her encounter with Caius. She found herself smiling as she recalled his masterful touch, his powerful body and indomitable will. His kiss! She felt transformed.

 

Contemplating her reflection in her mirror, she touched the revenant’s mark on the hollow of her throat. She’d arrived in Minrathous a naïve, unworldly young woman. Now she was a powerful mage, a Dreamer who could shape the fabric of the Fade, First Apprentice to a Magister. “Watch out, missy,” she told herself, “Don’t let Pride get you!”

 

She grimaced at the possible repercussions of giving in to Caius’ seduction. Jealousy had already reared its ugly self in the form of the slave Arine. Nazlik had been sent away for her own protection, and Elowyn had taken advantage of her absence. She liked and respected Nazlik, yet she had betrayed her. Perhaps it had merely been curiosity on Caius’ part. Now that he’d had her, he might lose interest and move on to the next conquest. She regarded herself coolly, her eyes darkening to a gloaming violet. She pulled her hair back and twisted it into a knot. She smoothed her black satin corset and hooked a glittering black obsidian earring into each earlobe. Long gloves – it wouldn’t do to go out without them. A velvet cloak with a hood. It was warmer in Tevinter than in Orlais, but the evening brought a cool breeze off the ocean.

 

She wondered if Guy would notice how she’d changed. How much to confess? She had to keep her special talent a secret, lest another Magister try to kidnap her. Why was Guy working for the city Templars and not for Magistra Aurelie? She straightened one of the flounces on her black organdy skirt and tightened the buckle on her left boot. A locket to cover the key-mark. There, ready.

 

It was a night full of possibilities. A misty breeze blew, loosening a few tendrils of her hair. She was meeting Guy at a pub near the Archon’s palace called the Staff & Dragon. The large moon followed her through the streets. Someone whistled at her, and she smiled. Attention from men didn’t scare her anymore. She shaped a coiled vine in her hand and dissolved it again. She could shape plants on this side of the Veil – could she shape animals, too? Maybe by summoning wisps and transforming them. She’d have to experiment.

 

She reached the pub and entered, spying Guy at a table in the corner. He was such a big man, and so handsome in a charming Orlesian way that he made her smile. It would be good to speak her first language again. She wondered if she’d speak it with a Tevene accent after all these months.

 

Guy smiled when he saw her. She doffed her cloak and sat down. “What are you having?” asked Guy.

 

“Red wine for me,” she answered, and he raised his hand and ordered for her.

 

“You look wonderful!” he said, admiring her.

 

She grinned. “Different?” she asked, turning her head side to side, setting her dangling earrings swinging.

 

Guy laughed. “You look all grown up, a proper Tevinter mage.”

 

“I like your Tevinter Templar armor,” said Elowyn. “It’s a pleasant change.”

 

“I’ll bet!” laughed Guy.

 

“Is it very different, not using lyrium?”

 

“It’s such a relief to break that addiction,” said Guy seriously. “I feel better physically, and mentally, too. Not being able to rely on lyrium-fueled powers has made me a better Templar as well.”

 

“How does that work exactly?” asked Elowyn.

 

“It’s not as simple as nullifying a mage’s mana, but there are techniques. I’ve had to study up on some new schools of magic and learn strategies. In fact, it’s been exciting! Especially working with the other Tevinter Templars – we have to coordinate in order to be effective. It’s more of a challenge, and I like that.”

 

“So Guy, how did you end up here? I… I really feel terrible about leaving you. Can you forgive me for that?”

 

“I was the one who told you to go. No apologies are necessary.” He squeezed her hand. “One of the grooms found me and brought me to my mother. She, ah… she’s a talented healer, let’s put it that way.”

 

“You mean she’s a mage, but never had to endure imprisonment?”

 

“The prerogative of the rich, yes – they find ways to keep their children out of the Circles. She had private tutors.”

 

“Now I know how she charms people so easily!” Elowyn laughed. “It’s magic!”

 

“Could be,” said Guy, taking a drink. “This wine is actually decent! I didn’t know one could get good wine outside of Orlais.”

 

“There are some excellent varietals produced right outside Minrathous! Both Magistra Aurelie and Magister Caius have vineyards. Master even said I can name a new grape that he’s breeding. Err, that his winemaster is breeding, shall we say. Ummm, about Magistra Aurelie – didn’t your mother want to send you to work for her? What happened with that?”

 

“I could ask the same thing of you,” said Guy.

 

“Well, I did start out there. But Aurelie and Caius did a deal – Caius’ daughter Cassia is supposed to marry Aurelie’s son, Batzas. Cassia inherits her mother’s father’s Senate seat, and since Aurelie has one of her own, Batzas inherits. So the power will be consolidated. I haven’t heard much about the wedding plans, though, and now Caius’ youngest daughter has been promised to one of his apprentices. It’ll be wedding season here! Better practice your dancing.”

 

“Always!” said Guy. “But what do you think of Magister Caius?”

 

“Templars have him under scrutiny, do they? I’m not surprised. Well,” she tried to suppress a smile, “He’s a revelation! When I first met him, he had me shaking in my boots. He embodied everything the Orlesian Chantry warned us about: the dangerously powerful, unchecked Tevinter Magister. And he is that. But he’s also a father, and head of the largest family organization in Tevinter. He commands armies and prevents the Qunari from sweeping through Tevinter and laying waste to Orlais and Ferelden. It’s been quite an education working for him.” Elowyn couldn’t suppress a blush.

 

Guy gave her a sharp look. “Is he more than just your boss?”

 

Elowyn took a sip of her wine. “I admire him,” she said carefully. “So, do you work for Magistra Aurelie or not?” she asked, turning the tables.

 

“Officially, all Tevinter Templars work for Circle of Magi, and therefore the Magisters and ultimately the Archon, not the Chantry. So, Aurelia being a Magister, yes, she’s one of my bosses.”

 

“Complicated!” said Elowyn. “I suppose that makes Magister Caius your boss as well.”

 

“Yes, I suppose it does,” he said, sipping his wine.

 

She told him a condensed version of her adventures, and he talked about his journey north and all the wonder of seeing Minrathous for the first time. He was especially in awe of the Juggernauts.

 

“I’d give anything to see those in action!” he said like an excited schoolboy.

 

“Let’s hope we never have to see that,” admonished Elowyn, “though I admit I’m curious. They’re absolutely humongous! Imagine them hurling boulders at the Qunari. They could probably pick up whole buildings and throw them.”

 

“You know, I heard something about the damage to the Library’s dome,” said Guy. “People are saying a dragon did it?”

 

“Something like that,” said Elowyn, gazing into her wineglass.

 

“I’d love to see a dragon, too,” said Guy.

 

“Maybe you will!” said Elowyn.

 

They took leave of each other in the Orlesian fashion, with a kiss on each cheek, and Elowyn walked back to the manor, enjoying her walk under the stars. The Master would want to hear about the new Templar. She looked forward to seeing Caius again.

[Uccio]

Neither can he.

[Serelir]

Haha, they're not going to get any business done! Well, not that kind of business.

[raging_monkey]

Maker this is getting saucey

[Serelir]

Spoiler

A messenger brought a note from Caius ordering Elowyn to remain living at the manor. There was no explanation. “Either he’s going to tell me in person what’s going on, or he’s just going to pretend it didn’t happen,” thought Elowyn to herself.

 

In either case, she needed to get on with her project of tracking down the third victim before he expired. His name was Decentius Opilio, and he was a soporatus swordsman, a veteran of the war. He’d been discharged because of extensive injuries, apparently recovered, and then mysteriously fallen into a state of unconsciousness. His body was being tended in a veterans’ home. One of the healers brought Elowyn to Decentius’ bed.

 

“We’ve tried everything,” said the healer, “but he hasn’t woken up.”

 

“What were the circumstances surrounding his collapse?” asked Elowyn.  “Had he gone out, or had any visitors here at the home?”

 

“He had gone out by himself one evening. The veterans who are ambulatory can come and go as they please – the home is part of the benefits system. Most veterans choose to live with their families, of course, but some of the returning soldiers either don’t have families or their families can’t provide the extent of care they need for their injuries. Veterans can live here the rest of their lives, if they wish. We have a group of old soldiers here who tell the most marvelous stories.”

 

“I would love to document them!”

 

“I’m sure they’d be glad to regale you with their tales. The old folks don’t get many visitors, especially young ladies,” the healer smiled.

 

“So do you know where Decentius went that evening? Where was he found?”

 

“I’m afraid no one knows. We assumed he’d just gone to the pub, but he was found in the street. No one saw him collapse.”

 

“Do you think his body could have been left there by someone?”

 

“Ah, you think this might be the result of a magical attack? I don’t know why anyone would choose to harm Decentius. He didn’t have any enemies, as far as I know.”

 

“Does Decentius have any possessions here at the home? Any war mementoes or items he was particularly attached to?” Elowyn asked. The healer looked at her strangely. She probably thought Elowyn was one of those loonies who believe in seer magic – the kind of parlor tricks low-level mages perform to bilk coin from the gullible, such as making contact with departed loved ones.

 

“He has a few items in his chest there. You can take a look.”

 

The healer kept an eye on Elowyn as she searched through Decentius’ chest. It contained some carefully-folded military uniforms and toiletry items such as boot polish. There was a small chest of medals. Elowyn examined them closely, but didn’t feel any enchantments emanating from them. At the bottom of the chest was an empty scabbard. Elowyn held it out to the healer.

 

“Is there a sword for this scabbard?”

 

“Not that I know of. We did wonder why he kept an old, empty scabbard, but he was attached to it – wouldn’t let us toss it out.”

 

After freeing the first two victims, Elowyn had a better idea of how the mage tricked each person, and this scabbard practically cried out to her. Now she just needed to get a moment alone with it so she could cross into the Fade.

 

“Would any of his friends here know why he kept this scabbard?”

 

“You’re welcome to ask. He was buddies with Olybrius Visellius. He’s probably in the dayroom playing cards.”

 

“Mind if I take this to show him?”

 

“That old thing? He doesn’t need it, wherever he is now.”

 

Elowyn thought that perhaps he did, but she wasn’t about to explain the situation to the healer. Sure enough, Olybrius was playing cards with some friends. She was surprised to discover that he wasn’t an old man. He was only a few years older than Caius, by her estimate. She’d assumed that veterans in the home would all be elderly, but she supposed that some of them were invalids. Come to think of it, perhaps Decentius wasn’t as old as she’d thought, merely wasted from being ill.

 

She begged Olybrius’ pardon for pulling him away from his game.

 

“S’okay. Was losing anyway!” he chortled. She handed him the scabbard and asked if he knew anything about it. He took it and ran a hand over the leather. “Now this,” he said, “has been with him through many a battle.”

 

“What happened to the sword?”

 

“Ah, now there’s a story! Decentius’ patrol was ambushed, and he was left for dead on a beach in Seheron. A squad discovered him a few days after the battle – he was wandering, incoherent. They took him back to camp, to the infirmary. The sword had gone missing, probably taken as a trophy by one of the horned bastards.”

 

“And he never woke up?” Elowyn asked, concerned that she was on a wild nug chase. Perhaps Decentius hadn’t been one of the mage’s victims after all.

 

“Oh, no, that was years ago. He was invalided out and wound up here, where I got to know him. No, he was a hearty fellow – had his aches and pains from his war wounds, right enough, the occasional bad spell. But he hadn’t any family left, ye see. The military was his family. Sure was troubled about that sword though.”

 

“Did he have any friends from outside the home? Anyone in town?”

 

“He went out on occasion. Man’s business, if ye know what I mean.” Olybrius winked at her. She hoped she didn’t blanch, thinking of the brothel and what went on there.

 

“Did he mention any of them by name?”

 

“The girls?” asked Olybrius, giving her a strange look.

 

“Any men? Friends, I mean, not… umm…”

 

“Oh, huh,” Olybrius laughed. “There was one. I remember him talking about the Master, what was it… the Master of Knots, I think he said. I just figured it was some fancy mage title, place is crawling with ‘em. No offense!”

 

“None taken! I’d never seen so many mages in my entire life before I came to Minrathous.”

 

“Ah, I could tell by your accent that you were Orlesian. Who did you say you worked for again?”

 

“Medical Examiner’s Office,” Elowyn responded, thinking it was sort of true. In a sense. She had confirmation that Decentius had been mixed up with the sadistic mage. But finding the sword sounded almost impossible, especially if it had fallen into enemy hands. Maybe she could interview his old squadmates and see if any of them had more information.

 

“What was his squad? I’m hoping to track down his mates,” she asked Olybrius.

 

Olybrius shook his head at Elowyn’s ignorance of Imperial military organization. “His Legion was the 8^th Carastes. You’d want to talk to his Centurion, though she’s probably been promoted by now: Aquilia Crispina.”

 

“Thank you very much for your help, Olybrius.”

 

“It’s not every day I get a pretty female visitor! Come on back if you have more questions. Hope you can do something for poor Decentius.”

 

Elowyn smiled, “I’ll try.” She took her leave of Olybrius, and when she got to a quiet hallway with no one in sight, she stepped into the Fade to investigate the scabbard.

[Uccio]

Elowyn has knack of being a detective.

[Serelir]

She might need Caius' advice on military matters. And other things.

[Uccio]

Well, he is at her disposal. I will put some ground work before that.

[Serelir]

I've been running to the wiki for information on Roman legions - this is going to get complicated! It may involve a few field trips as well.

[raging_monkey]

Well looks like thedas has a Batman

[Serelir]

Holy Moly, Robin! I mean, Monkai. 

[raging_monkey]

Lol good old 60s Adam west

[Serelir]

Yes! BLAM!

[raging_monkey]

Pow!

[Serelir]

ZING!

[raging_monkey]

Crap can't remember anymore

[Uccio]

Kapow?

[Serelir]

Yes! Zok! and who could forget BIFF?

 

I'm not getting a thing done today. I've been wrestling with reinstalling iTunes instead of writing, and waiting for my mom to be done with her test so I can get her from the hospital.