Mercifully, Nightmare did not insist on tormenting them endlessly, and fell silent for a time. Romulus wondered if it was too busy torturing the others, wherever they were, or if perhaps it just realized that its efforts were wasted on the pair of them. Not entirely, of course; the demon knew his fears and he could not deny that they existed, but he could be strong enough to choose to ignore them. He had enough self control for that, at least.
He lacked in patience at the moment. It was entirely possible the others were somewhere else, waiting for them, and they were standing here, doing nothing, because they were also waiting. But this seemed to be as good a meeting spot as any, as neither of them had any significant connection to a graveyard, insofar as Romulus knew. So this was just some part of the demon's domain that wasn't worth the effort to shape into one of their fears. It would do.
In his wait, one of the tombstones caught his eye. The inscription upon it was clear, though he couldn't say if it had always been that way, or if it had merely changed when he wasn't looking.
Romulus
Became a Monster
How clever. Perhaps it was the lowest effort Nightmare could give and still toy with them. Just a reminder that they were still being watched, always under its scrutiny and mocking gaze. Romulus wondered what shape it would take when they found it. Something soft, he hoped. Vulnerable to being stabbed repeatedly. Out of curiosity, he glanced at the other tombstones.
Leonhardt E. Albrecht
Time
Kharisanna Istimaethoriel
Obscurity
Lady Marceline Élise Benoît
Nothing
Zahra Tavish
Abandonment
Vesryn Cormyth
Insanity
Estella Severa Calligenia Avenarius
Disappointment
Asala Kaaras
Loss
The last one was right at Cyrus's feet, and Romulus wasn't sure that he'd noticed it yet. He had to take a step to the left to see the inscription past his legs.
Cyrus Tullius Aquila Avenarius
Himself
Romulus sighed softly. "I suppose that makes two of us." Though it had phrased his in different words.
Cyrus's mouth pulled slightly to the side. “It does." His eyes fell to the stone, little more by appearance than a thin marble slab, set into the ground rather than raised much above it. “Rather morbid aesthetic selection, really." He averted his gaze out to the left, roughly behind Romulus, and visibly relaxed a bit.
“Ah, excellent."
The Warden and Guard Captain were approaching. They looked hardly worse for the wear, though there was a fair amount of tension in Nostariel's expression. “Romulus, Cyrus. I'm glad we found you. I don't suppose you've spotted the others?"
“Not as yet." Cyrus shook his head. “But if they intend to go anywhere near our mutual... friend, they will most likely pass through here. Static locations tend to draw all paths towards them." Of course, that didn't mean the waiting was a pleasant experience for anyone involved.
"What a wonderful meeting spot," Ashton deadpanned, his eyes flicking between a few of the grave stones. He must have seen a few familiar names, because one of his brows rose. "You think I can get him to decorate my office back in the Keep? I feel like it's missing a certain macabre aspect."
It took what felt like another ten or fifteen minutes for the last two to arrive. They easily looked the most haggard of the group; Estella's face and armor were smeared in some combination of mud and blood, but she wasn't walking in a way that suggested injury, only fatigue. As soon as she caught sight of them, she closed her fist over the violet light in one hand, letting her arm fall heavily to her side. She picked up her pace a bit, approaching them at a shuffling jog.
“You're alive," she breathed. There was nothing but relief in the declaration. It was clearly intended for all of them, but she took a moment to hug her brother tightly in particular. Cyrus obviously didn't care a whit for the dirt involved, embracing her solidly, with the minimal theatrics of the truly invested.
When she stepped back, she glanced for a moment at the gravestones surrounding them, furrowing her brows and returning her attention to the others. “So... what's the situation? We know we're in the Fade somewhere, and there's a creature called Nightmare here, but not much else."
“Hm." Cyrus took Estella's right hand, turning the palm upwards and narrowing his eyes at it. “It's still stable. How is it still stable? It should be trying to eat you from the inside out." He blinked, then glanced up at her face. “Better that it's not, of course, but..." His lips thinned.
He let her arm go. “It seems that you opened a rift of sufficient size to transport all of us here. It stands to reason that the same thing is our way out of here, but." He clicked his tongue against the side of his teeth, then spoke to the group at large. “The Veil was thin when we went through, due to Pike's meddling and the Warden's constant demon-summoning. While it might be possible for Stellulam to tear a rift in a stronger part of it, I don't recommend trying. It would be better to find another place where it's weak, and any such nearby location is going to be where Nightmare is. It's easier for it to see and influence the material world that way."
He pointed at Asala's tombstone nearby. “Clearly, it can. So it stands to reason that if we find it, we find our way out. Naturally, it's going to want to keep us."
"What happened to you?" Romulus asked, looking over Vesryn. He had a feeling that if Khari were here, she would probably take the opportunity to tell him he looked like shit. It didn't happen very often, after all.
Tiredly, Vesryn shook his head. "Long story, and I'd rather not tell it here. Relevant details are that we're alive and still in fighting condition, though I'm not feeling quite up to my usual standards, if you catch my meaning." Romulus did, though he had no idea what the specifics of that would be. Probably part of the long story that they didn't have time for. "Nothing permanent, I hope." Vesryn glanced at Cyrus when he said so, though his worried look implied the hope wasn't so solid.
Cyrus clearly understood what the look meant, but though he frowned, he didn't reply. Perhaps he hadn't yet decided what, if anything, to say about it.
"Look," Romulus said suddenly, his attention drawn upwards. A steep staircase twisted down from a sheer black cliff face. As usual, Romulus was unsure if it had always been there, or if the Fade around him was constantly changing as it seemed so fond of doing. More interesting than the staircase, however, was the figure descending towards them. She was an elderly woman, garbed in pristine red and white Chantry robes magnificently adorned with gold, a great triangular cowl covering her hair, leaving only her face exposed. Her eyes locked on the group below as she reached the bottom of the stairs, and strode into the graveyard.
"Is that..." Vesryn began, squinting and blinking, as though the Fade was causing him to struggle focusing.
“Divine Justinia?" Estella pronounced the name slowly, with a hint of disbelief in her otherwise-modulated tone. “But... how? You're—you died. We were there." Her eyes flickered to Romulus for just a moment before they returned to the apparition, or spirit, or whatever she was.
"We've already faced demons that can change their shape," Romulus pointed out, regarding the visage of Divine Justinia evenly. Everything they had encountered thus far had been a trick. He saw no reason for this to be anything different. A trick of the Nightmare or one of its servants to lure them to their deaths.
"You think my survival impossible, yet here you stand in the Fade yourselves," Justinia said. Her tone was pleasant, pointing out the flaw in their judgement with kindness more than anything. "In truth, proving my existence either way would require time we do not have. You have already lingered here for too long. I am here to help you. Both of you."
Romulus realized that she was speaking specifically to him and Estella, the two marked individuals of the group. The ones that had supposedly been there when the Divine was killed, and the ones that survived the impossible when she and so many others did not. "You do not remember what happened at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, Inquisitors. I know this, for I have examined memories like yours, stolen by the demon that serves Corypheus. Stolen from you by the Nightmare." Justinia's eyes sought out Nostariel, her gaze sympathetic. "The false Calling that terrified the Wardens into making such grave mistakes? Its work."
“It wasn't Corypheus himself?" Nostariel seemed surprised by the revelation. “But I thought..." She shook her head, leaving the thought unfinished for the moment.
Cyrus picked up the thread, albeit in a different place. “You have examined these memories? With your permission, I could show us all what you have seen, but if you know where they are being kept, the direct approach may be better."
"Neither will be required," Justinia informed him, somewhat happily, before she looked between Romulus and Estella. "When the two of you entered the Fade at Haven, the demon took a part from both of you. Before you go further, you must recover them." She held her hands out to her sides, palms facing upwards, and small orbs of green light began to form. "These are your memories, Inquisitors. I have collected them for you. You need only touch them, with the marks that you share."
The orbs floated from her hands, drifting gently through the air until they settled at about waist height in front of Romulus and Estella. He was unsure at first, his hand remaining at his side. If it was another trick, it was far more effective than the last. He couldn't claim to understand anything that was occurring here in the Fade, but he sensed no deception from Justinia. Or whatever it was that took on her form. Still, he looked to Estella, to see if she was willing to place her trust in this.
She was looking right back at him, but after a tense, distended moment, she gave a tiny nod. Turning back to the orb in front of her, Estella reached out. Hesitating an inch from the surface, she curled her fingers back in towards her palm, then abruptly straightened them again. Decisively, her open hand descended onto the sphere.
Romulus reached with her, and the instant his mark contacted the magical sphere, the memory took over.
His domina had not sent him here for this.
Romulus kept repeating that in his mind, but it did nothing to slow him down. He supposed to observe, be unseen, and report back on how events in the south were unfolding. He had a feeling he was taking his mandate to "watch over" the Conclave much, much too far. But his domina had given him the freedom to operate as he saw fit. And what he'd seen in that temple chamber had horrified him. It would not end well, and it would mean disaster for the Conclave. He had to help.
But how? He was a Tevinter assassin, a slave to a magister, and just as likely to be identified as an enemy instead of someone trying to help. Not that the guards had been especially present here. He'd thought it was suspicious before, but it seemed downright damning now. All the same, it was for the best. If he raised an alarm, whatever was holding Justinia would know, and it would only end in her blood. Perhaps it was unavoidable now, and he was too late.
Again he urged himself to leave it be, and get to safety. Get clear of this madness, and report to his domina that the south was nothing but trouble, far more trouble than they needed. But he continued to creep from hall to hall, checking his corners carefully, hood drawn around his face. He had no hope of stopping it alone, but he had to find someone suitable to—
There. It was pure luck that he found them alone, a trio of mercenaries. The Argent Lions, he identified by their equipment. He'd learned a bit about them over the past few days. A well respected organization. It would have to do. The one in the lead was a young woman, dark hair tied back away from a pale face with an almost-blank expression. The silver stripes on her sleeve seemed to indicate a rank of some sort. The other two were a gangly-looking man probably younger still, and a tall, powerfully-built woman with a dark complexion and wary grey eyes. The smaller woman was speaking.
“The others are on their way?"
The man nodded, rolling his shoulders a bit uncomfortably and shifting his shield around on his arm. "Evacuation, like you said. Quiet-like. Dunn said it'd take a bit, though."
She didn't seem especially comforted by that, but she nodded. “Okay. We need to... we need to figure out what's really going on here."
"Argent Lions," Romulus suddenly called out, only as loudly as he was willing to risk. He came fully around the corner and made himself visible to the three of them, well aware of how it looked. He didn't pull back his hood, still preferring if as few as possible got a good look at him. At least he hadn't drawn his blade, nor did he appear like a man prepared for combat in his stance... though he was.
He stopped perhaps ten feet from the woman of rank, his eyes darting between all three of them. "You must come with me, now. Your Divine is in grave danger."
"Uh... what?" The youth spoke first, his eyes moving frantically from Romulus to his officer and then back again. The tall woman frowned, but she didn't seem inclined to speak. "I dunno about this, Stel. Should we...?" His question trailed off, but the meaning was clear: he inquired about whether or not they should treat Romulus as a threat.
The woman named as 'Stel' shook her head faintly, but she wasn't unwary enough to take her eyes off Romulus. They narrowed for a moment; it was very clear that she was making some kind of assessment of him, perhaps searching for any sign of a lie. It didn't take long, in any case, and then a heavy exhale passed from her nose. “We're going."
Perhaps to their credit, neither of her subordinates gave so much of a syllable's worth of protest. The man shifted his grip on his sword and nodded. The woman picked the end of her spear up off the ground—both took positions slightly behind their leader, and she walked beside Romulus, giving him a couple feet of distance.
“What do you know?" she asked once they were moving.
Honestly, Romulus was surprised she didn't demand more from him first before following, but he wouldn't complain. He wondered if, even with the help of her and her two comrades, they would survive this. "Grey Wardens hold your Divine. A half-dozen, maybe more. All mages." He'd consumed a few tonics as soon as he expected a fight would occur. Still, six Warden mages was a tall order. Maybe if they were mewling children from a Circle, but the Wardens were supposed to be warriors all, talented and well-trained. And worse... "They answer to some... monster, I don't know. You will see." He did not know how to describe what he'd seen. Darkspawn? But he spoke as men did. He led them deeper into the temple, until they could hear his voice, the one leading them.
"Now is the hour of our victory."
The sound of a spell could be heard through the great wooden double doors ahead. Swirling, twisting magic, arcing through the air. Some kind of binding spell, Romulus knew. It held Justinia aloft inside.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, the fear apparent in her voice. "You of all people?"
"Keep the sacrifice still." There was a crackle of magical energy, like lightning, but with a more sinister undertone to it, like some beast growling, hungering or yearning for something. The light underneath the door they approached shifted from red to a bright green tint.
"Someone help me!" Justinia called.
The woman next to him made a sharp gesture; her subordinates fanned further out to her flanks. Two heartbeats passed; flame gathered at her fingertips. It burst forth, slamming into the door right at the locking mechanism, leaving scorch marks and hissing faintly.
That seemed to be the signal. As efficiently as if they'd practiced it beforehand, the other two rushed the door, the man with his shield and the woman with her shoulder. They hit at the same time; the door gave under the force and slammed open. Their officer strode through first, drawing a curved sword that appeared to have some kind of enchantment on it.
“What's going on here?"
A ritual of some sort was clearly going on, with Justinia held up in the air by twisting coils of some kind of red-hued magic from some of the Grey Warden mages, who did not look entirely present in their expressions. The creature they served stood before Justinia, equaling her in height despite her being elevated several feet into the air. Romulus did not know what descriptor to apply to him. Man, darkspawn, monster, all seemed to apply. He held a metal orb pulsating with bright green energy, energy which was beginning to envelop the Divine.
Justinia and the monster that held her both turned to look at the new arrivals to the room. "Run while you can!" The Divine cried, her gaze locked on Stel. "Warn them!"
But there was no time to run. The darkspawn-thing curled his twisted lip up at them. "We have intruders. Slay them." Immediately the Warden mages sprang into action, only the minimum of them remaining to keep Justinia aloft. Romulus's blade was immediately drawn and he ducked towards the first to approach. He was blasted in the chest with a spray of icy magic intended to slow him, but it washed over him like a wave, and with half the resistance. He burst through it and plunged his blade deep into the side of the mage, piercing several vital organs before he bashed the man away with the rim of his shield.
The Lions moved as a unit, bursting forward on some unseen signal and taking the fight to the approaching mages. The man with the shield went first, catching the next spell—a stonefist—on the kite-shaped slab of metal, deflecting to the left rather than trying to stop it cold. The woman with the spear used it deftly over his shoulder, impaling the closest mage in the throat with the glittering end of the polearm.
Stel broke from the three-person foundation to cut down another, this one trying to skirt the edges of the fight to position himself at their flanks. Behind her, Romulus could see the darkspawn-thing look down at the orb he held. The green light around it grew brighter; from the way he directed his eyes out at them, he must have intended to strike him down himself.
"No!" Justinia threw herself forward against the magical bonds holding her with what seemed to be great effort. They gave just enough for her to knock the orb from the creature's hand. It landed on the ground with an almost-metallic clink, and began to roll.
Romulus didn't know what compelled him to reach, but the orb came within an arm's length of him, and he took the single step necessary to get his hand on it. He reached with his left hand, slapping his palm against the side of it. At the same time, another hand closed around the orb. He hadn't seen Stel going for it, but they reached the artifact at the same moment, and as they both attempted to either rise or pull their hands free, the orb remained, trapped between them. As though it had fused with the very skin of their palms.
He felt a powerful pain travel through his entire arm, saw the darkspawn-man rush at him in a fury, and then... nothing.
After a time of floating in darkness, he woke with a gasp of pain, and found himself somewhere terrifying, and wholly unfamiliar. The air swirling and foul green in color, strange black rock formations rising all around him. His entire body hurt, from a dozen wounds he didn't remember acquiring. Worst was his left hand, and by extension the entire arm. His palm crackled with a foreign green energy, sending rippling pain through him. It was all he could do to stay conscious.
The woman, Stel, was unconscious on the ground nearby, her palm crackling with the same strange energy. There was no sign of either of her subordinates, nor the orb that they had grabbed. Groaning, Romulus stumbled to her side, shaking her. He could hear skittering sounds somewhere behind him. Nothing that sounded friendly. "Wake up," he said firmly. She was wounded, too, but as far as he could tell, she wasn't dead. But if she didn't come to soon, she would be. Romulus could guess that much.
It took her a moment to come around, but her eyes snapped open at the same time as she took in a gasping breath. Almost immediately, her left hand went to her right wrist, gripping it with trembling fingers. “Ah! What—" She sat up, closing her right hand over a greenish tear exactly like his own. “The Fade?"
Something more urgent seemed to click into place, then; her eyes rounded and snapped to his. “The others."
"Not here," Romulus answered. He could understand her worry, but really couldn't bring himself to care. The noises behind them were getting louder. "Get up. We need to go."
It only barely occurred to him that she'd mentioned the Fade. He was too weary to really care, all his energy devoted to the fact that if they didn't move, something was going to kill them both shortly. It occurred to him briefly to leave her behind, even slash a leg if he had to. But he didn't need to, not yet. Grabbing her upper arm whether she needed the help or not, he hauled her up, just the first sources of the noise behind them were revealed. He couldn't make them out well, but what he saw horrified him. Small, skittering creatures, skinless and horned, with claws and fangs in equal measure. They crawled on all fours, leaving a steady trail of blood behind them.
"Run!" came a voice from above, that of Divine Justinia. She stood atop a steep staircase, a glowing green light of some sort illuminating her from behind, its source just out of sight. Romulus took off towards her, trusting that the other woman would keep up if she had sufficient desire to live. They were slowed by their injuries, and the path quickly became quite steep. The demons behind them closed the distance quickly, and while they too struggled with the inclined, they continue to gain on them. Justinia beckoned them onwards.
Just in time they reached the top, and Romulus laid eyes on a portal of some sort, or perhaps a gaping wound in the Fade itself. The three of them made a run for it, but the demons behind them were too fast. Justinia cried out and fell, grasping Romulus by the arm and pulling him back. He turned to see one of the creatures ensnaring her leg, pulling her ferociously. Others were gaining. He couldn't pry her free.
The Divine met his eyes, her own filled with far more peace than he was capable of. "Go," she said.
Romulus released Justinia, and she was pulled back by the demons, disappearing into a swarming mass of them. For a moment, they were occupied, offering Romulus and Stel a window to escape.
“Come on." Stel was still right there, despite not having been impeded in the same way. There was a drawn expression on her face, as if she felt something she would not quite let show. But the demons were many, and though she hesitated, eyes lingering on them a moment more, she did not try to insist that they stop and fight.
Instead, she made a quick gesture towards the jagged tear in space—it held mostly steady, whatever it truly was. “We should—we should go."
Romulus did not need to be told twice. Grimacing under the weight of his wounds, he staggered forward, and threw himself into the tear.
He lacked in patience at the moment. It was entirely possible the others were somewhere else, waiting for them, and they were standing here, doing nothing, because they were also waiting. But this seemed to be as good a meeting spot as any, as neither of them had any significant connection to a graveyard, insofar as Romulus knew. So this was just some part of the demon's domain that wasn't worth the effort to shape into one of their fears. It would do.
In his wait, one of the tombstones caught his eye. The inscription upon it was clear, though he couldn't say if it had always been that way, or if it had merely changed when he wasn't looking.
Romulus
Became a Monster
How clever. Perhaps it was the lowest effort Nightmare could give and still toy with them. Just a reminder that they were still being watched, always under its scrutiny and mocking gaze. Romulus wondered what shape it would take when they found it. Something soft, he hoped. Vulnerable to being stabbed repeatedly. Out of curiosity, he glanced at the other tombstones.
Leonhardt E. Albrecht
Time
Kharisanna Istimaethoriel
Obscurity
Lady Marceline Élise Benoît
Nothing
Zahra Tavish
Abandonment
Vesryn Cormyth
Insanity
Estella Severa Calligenia Avenarius
Disappointment
Asala Kaaras
Loss
The last one was right at Cyrus's feet, and Romulus wasn't sure that he'd noticed it yet. He had to take a step to the left to see the inscription past his legs.
Cyrus Tullius Aquila Avenarius
Himself
Romulus sighed softly. "I suppose that makes two of us." Though it had phrased his in different words.
Cyrus's mouth pulled slightly to the side. “It does." His eyes fell to the stone, little more by appearance than a thin marble slab, set into the ground rather than raised much above it. “Rather morbid aesthetic selection, really." He averted his gaze out to the left, roughly behind Romulus, and visibly relaxed a bit.
“Ah, excellent."
The Warden and Guard Captain were approaching. They looked hardly worse for the wear, though there was a fair amount of tension in Nostariel's expression. “Romulus, Cyrus. I'm glad we found you. I don't suppose you've spotted the others?"
“Not as yet." Cyrus shook his head. “But if they intend to go anywhere near our mutual... friend, they will most likely pass through here. Static locations tend to draw all paths towards them." Of course, that didn't mean the waiting was a pleasant experience for anyone involved.
"What a wonderful meeting spot," Ashton deadpanned, his eyes flicking between a few of the grave stones. He must have seen a few familiar names, because one of his brows rose. "You think I can get him to decorate my office back in the Keep? I feel like it's missing a certain macabre aspect."
It took what felt like another ten or fifteen minutes for the last two to arrive. They easily looked the most haggard of the group; Estella's face and armor were smeared in some combination of mud and blood, but she wasn't walking in a way that suggested injury, only fatigue. As soon as she caught sight of them, she closed her fist over the violet light in one hand, letting her arm fall heavily to her side. She picked up her pace a bit, approaching them at a shuffling jog.
“You're alive," she breathed. There was nothing but relief in the declaration. It was clearly intended for all of them, but she took a moment to hug her brother tightly in particular. Cyrus obviously didn't care a whit for the dirt involved, embracing her solidly, with the minimal theatrics of the truly invested.
When she stepped back, she glanced for a moment at the gravestones surrounding them, furrowing her brows and returning her attention to the others. “So... what's the situation? We know we're in the Fade somewhere, and there's a creature called Nightmare here, but not much else."
“Hm." Cyrus took Estella's right hand, turning the palm upwards and narrowing his eyes at it. “It's still stable. How is it still stable? It should be trying to eat you from the inside out." He blinked, then glanced up at her face. “Better that it's not, of course, but..." His lips thinned.
He let her arm go. “It seems that you opened a rift of sufficient size to transport all of us here. It stands to reason that the same thing is our way out of here, but." He clicked his tongue against the side of his teeth, then spoke to the group at large. “The Veil was thin when we went through, due to Pike's meddling and the Warden's constant demon-summoning. While it might be possible for Stellulam to tear a rift in a stronger part of it, I don't recommend trying. It would be better to find another place where it's weak, and any such nearby location is going to be where Nightmare is. It's easier for it to see and influence the material world that way."
He pointed at Asala's tombstone nearby. “Clearly, it can. So it stands to reason that if we find it, we find our way out. Naturally, it's going to want to keep us."
"What happened to you?" Romulus asked, looking over Vesryn. He had a feeling that if Khari were here, she would probably take the opportunity to tell him he looked like shit. It didn't happen very often, after all.
Tiredly, Vesryn shook his head. "Long story, and I'd rather not tell it here. Relevant details are that we're alive and still in fighting condition, though I'm not feeling quite up to my usual standards, if you catch my meaning." Romulus did, though he had no idea what the specifics of that would be. Probably part of the long story that they didn't have time for. "Nothing permanent, I hope." Vesryn glanced at Cyrus when he said so, though his worried look implied the hope wasn't so solid.
Cyrus clearly understood what the look meant, but though he frowned, he didn't reply. Perhaps he hadn't yet decided what, if anything, to say about it.
"Look," Romulus said suddenly, his attention drawn upwards. A steep staircase twisted down from a sheer black cliff face. As usual, Romulus was unsure if it had always been there, or if the Fade around him was constantly changing as it seemed so fond of doing. More interesting than the staircase, however, was the figure descending towards them. She was an elderly woman, garbed in pristine red and white Chantry robes magnificently adorned with gold, a great triangular cowl covering her hair, leaving only her face exposed. Her eyes locked on the group below as she reached the bottom of the stairs, and strode into the graveyard.
"Is that..." Vesryn began, squinting and blinking, as though the Fade was causing him to struggle focusing.
“Divine Justinia?" Estella pronounced the name slowly, with a hint of disbelief in her otherwise-modulated tone. “But... how? You're—you died. We were there." Her eyes flickered to Romulus for just a moment before they returned to the apparition, or spirit, or whatever she was.
"We've already faced demons that can change their shape," Romulus pointed out, regarding the visage of Divine Justinia evenly. Everything they had encountered thus far had been a trick. He saw no reason for this to be anything different. A trick of the Nightmare or one of its servants to lure them to their deaths.
"You think my survival impossible, yet here you stand in the Fade yourselves," Justinia said. Her tone was pleasant, pointing out the flaw in their judgement with kindness more than anything. "In truth, proving my existence either way would require time we do not have. You have already lingered here for too long. I am here to help you. Both of you."
Romulus realized that she was speaking specifically to him and Estella, the two marked individuals of the group. The ones that had supposedly been there when the Divine was killed, and the ones that survived the impossible when she and so many others did not. "You do not remember what happened at the Temple of Sacred Ashes, Inquisitors. I know this, for I have examined memories like yours, stolen by the demon that serves Corypheus. Stolen from you by the Nightmare." Justinia's eyes sought out Nostariel, her gaze sympathetic. "The false Calling that terrified the Wardens into making such grave mistakes? Its work."
“It wasn't Corypheus himself?" Nostariel seemed surprised by the revelation. “But I thought..." She shook her head, leaving the thought unfinished for the moment.
Cyrus picked up the thread, albeit in a different place. “You have examined these memories? With your permission, I could show us all what you have seen, but if you know where they are being kept, the direct approach may be better."
"Neither will be required," Justinia informed him, somewhat happily, before she looked between Romulus and Estella. "When the two of you entered the Fade at Haven, the demon took a part from both of you. Before you go further, you must recover them." She held her hands out to her sides, palms facing upwards, and small orbs of green light began to form. "These are your memories, Inquisitors. I have collected them for you. You need only touch them, with the marks that you share."
The orbs floated from her hands, drifting gently through the air until they settled at about waist height in front of Romulus and Estella. He was unsure at first, his hand remaining at his side. If it was another trick, it was far more effective than the last. He couldn't claim to understand anything that was occurring here in the Fade, but he sensed no deception from Justinia. Or whatever it was that took on her form. Still, he looked to Estella, to see if she was willing to place her trust in this.
She was looking right back at him, but after a tense, distended moment, she gave a tiny nod. Turning back to the orb in front of her, Estella reached out. Hesitating an inch from the surface, she curled her fingers back in towards her palm, then abruptly straightened them again. Decisively, her open hand descended onto the sphere.
Romulus reached with her, and the instant his mark contacted the magical sphere, the memory took over.
His domina had not sent him here for this.
Romulus kept repeating that in his mind, but it did nothing to slow him down. He supposed to observe, be unseen, and report back on how events in the south were unfolding. He had a feeling he was taking his mandate to "watch over" the Conclave much, much too far. But his domina had given him the freedom to operate as he saw fit. And what he'd seen in that temple chamber had horrified him. It would not end well, and it would mean disaster for the Conclave. He had to help.
But how? He was a Tevinter assassin, a slave to a magister, and just as likely to be identified as an enemy instead of someone trying to help. Not that the guards had been especially present here. He'd thought it was suspicious before, but it seemed downright damning now. All the same, it was for the best. If he raised an alarm, whatever was holding Justinia would know, and it would only end in her blood. Perhaps it was unavoidable now, and he was too late.
Again he urged himself to leave it be, and get to safety. Get clear of this madness, and report to his domina that the south was nothing but trouble, far more trouble than they needed. But he continued to creep from hall to hall, checking his corners carefully, hood drawn around his face. He had no hope of stopping it alone, but he had to find someone suitable to—
There. It was pure luck that he found them alone, a trio of mercenaries. The Argent Lions, he identified by their equipment. He'd learned a bit about them over the past few days. A well respected organization. It would have to do. The one in the lead was a young woman, dark hair tied back away from a pale face with an almost-blank expression. The silver stripes on her sleeve seemed to indicate a rank of some sort. The other two were a gangly-looking man probably younger still, and a tall, powerfully-built woman with a dark complexion and wary grey eyes. The smaller woman was speaking.
“The others are on their way?"
The man nodded, rolling his shoulders a bit uncomfortably and shifting his shield around on his arm. "Evacuation, like you said. Quiet-like. Dunn said it'd take a bit, though."
She didn't seem especially comforted by that, but she nodded. “Okay. We need to... we need to figure out what's really going on here."
"Argent Lions," Romulus suddenly called out, only as loudly as he was willing to risk. He came fully around the corner and made himself visible to the three of them, well aware of how it looked. He didn't pull back his hood, still preferring if as few as possible got a good look at him. At least he hadn't drawn his blade, nor did he appear like a man prepared for combat in his stance... though he was.
He stopped perhaps ten feet from the woman of rank, his eyes darting between all three of them. "You must come with me, now. Your Divine is in grave danger."
"Uh... what?" The youth spoke first, his eyes moving frantically from Romulus to his officer and then back again. The tall woman frowned, but she didn't seem inclined to speak. "I dunno about this, Stel. Should we...?" His question trailed off, but the meaning was clear: he inquired about whether or not they should treat Romulus as a threat.
The woman named as 'Stel' shook her head faintly, but she wasn't unwary enough to take her eyes off Romulus. They narrowed for a moment; it was very clear that she was making some kind of assessment of him, perhaps searching for any sign of a lie. It didn't take long, in any case, and then a heavy exhale passed from her nose. “We're going."
Perhaps to their credit, neither of her subordinates gave so much of a syllable's worth of protest. The man shifted his grip on his sword and nodded. The woman picked the end of her spear up off the ground—both took positions slightly behind their leader, and she walked beside Romulus, giving him a couple feet of distance.
“What do you know?" she asked once they were moving.
Honestly, Romulus was surprised she didn't demand more from him first before following, but he wouldn't complain. He wondered if, even with the help of her and her two comrades, they would survive this. "Grey Wardens hold your Divine. A half-dozen, maybe more. All mages." He'd consumed a few tonics as soon as he expected a fight would occur. Still, six Warden mages was a tall order. Maybe if they were mewling children from a Circle, but the Wardens were supposed to be warriors all, talented and well-trained. And worse... "They answer to some... monster, I don't know. You will see." He did not know how to describe what he'd seen. Darkspawn? But he spoke as men did. He led them deeper into the temple, until they could hear his voice, the one leading them.
"Now is the hour of our victory."
The sound of a spell could be heard through the great wooden double doors ahead. Swirling, twisting magic, arcing through the air. Some kind of binding spell, Romulus knew. It held Justinia aloft inside.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, the fear apparent in her voice. "You of all people?"
"Keep the sacrifice still." There was a crackle of magical energy, like lightning, but with a more sinister undertone to it, like some beast growling, hungering or yearning for something. The light underneath the door they approached shifted from red to a bright green tint.
"Someone help me!" Justinia called.
The woman next to him made a sharp gesture; her subordinates fanned further out to her flanks. Two heartbeats passed; flame gathered at her fingertips. It burst forth, slamming into the door right at the locking mechanism, leaving scorch marks and hissing faintly.
That seemed to be the signal. As efficiently as if they'd practiced it beforehand, the other two rushed the door, the man with his shield and the woman with her shoulder. They hit at the same time; the door gave under the force and slammed open. Their officer strode through first, drawing a curved sword that appeared to have some kind of enchantment on it.
“What's going on here?"
A ritual of some sort was clearly going on, with Justinia held up in the air by twisting coils of some kind of red-hued magic from some of the Grey Warden mages, who did not look entirely present in their expressions. The creature they served stood before Justinia, equaling her in height despite her being elevated several feet into the air. Romulus did not know what descriptor to apply to him. Man, darkspawn, monster, all seemed to apply. He held a metal orb pulsating with bright green energy, energy which was beginning to envelop the Divine.
Justinia and the monster that held her both turned to look at the new arrivals to the room. "Run while you can!" The Divine cried, her gaze locked on Stel. "Warn them!"
But there was no time to run. The darkspawn-thing curled his twisted lip up at them. "We have intruders. Slay them." Immediately the Warden mages sprang into action, only the minimum of them remaining to keep Justinia aloft. Romulus's blade was immediately drawn and he ducked towards the first to approach. He was blasted in the chest with a spray of icy magic intended to slow him, but it washed over him like a wave, and with half the resistance. He burst through it and plunged his blade deep into the side of the mage, piercing several vital organs before he bashed the man away with the rim of his shield.
The Lions moved as a unit, bursting forward on some unseen signal and taking the fight to the approaching mages. The man with the shield went first, catching the next spell—a stonefist—on the kite-shaped slab of metal, deflecting to the left rather than trying to stop it cold. The woman with the spear used it deftly over his shoulder, impaling the closest mage in the throat with the glittering end of the polearm.
Stel broke from the three-person foundation to cut down another, this one trying to skirt the edges of the fight to position himself at their flanks. Behind her, Romulus could see the darkspawn-thing look down at the orb he held. The green light around it grew brighter; from the way he directed his eyes out at them, he must have intended to strike him down himself.
"No!" Justinia threw herself forward against the magical bonds holding her with what seemed to be great effort. They gave just enough for her to knock the orb from the creature's hand. It landed on the ground with an almost-metallic clink, and began to roll.
Romulus didn't know what compelled him to reach, but the orb came within an arm's length of him, and he took the single step necessary to get his hand on it. He reached with his left hand, slapping his palm against the side of it. At the same time, another hand closed around the orb. He hadn't seen Stel going for it, but they reached the artifact at the same moment, and as they both attempted to either rise or pull their hands free, the orb remained, trapped between them. As though it had fused with the very skin of their palms.
He felt a powerful pain travel through his entire arm, saw the darkspawn-man rush at him in a fury, and then... nothing.
After a time of floating in darkness, he woke with a gasp of pain, and found himself somewhere terrifying, and wholly unfamiliar. The air swirling and foul green in color, strange black rock formations rising all around him. His entire body hurt, from a dozen wounds he didn't remember acquiring. Worst was his left hand, and by extension the entire arm. His palm crackled with a foreign green energy, sending rippling pain through him. It was all he could do to stay conscious.
The woman, Stel, was unconscious on the ground nearby, her palm crackling with the same strange energy. There was no sign of either of her subordinates, nor the orb that they had grabbed. Groaning, Romulus stumbled to her side, shaking her. He could hear skittering sounds somewhere behind him. Nothing that sounded friendly. "Wake up," he said firmly. She was wounded, too, but as far as he could tell, she wasn't dead. But if she didn't come to soon, she would be. Romulus could guess that much.
It took her a moment to come around, but her eyes snapped open at the same time as she took in a gasping breath. Almost immediately, her left hand went to her right wrist, gripping it with trembling fingers. “Ah! What—" She sat up, closing her right hand over a greenish tear exactly like his own. “The Fade?"
Something more urgent seemed to click into place, then; her eyes rounded and snapped to his. “The others."
"Not here," Romulus answered. He could understand her worry, but really couldn't bring himself to care. The noises behind them were getting louder. "Get up. We need to go."
It only barely occurred to him that she'd mentioned the Fade. He was too weary to really care, all his energy devoted to the fact that if they didn't move, something was going to kill them both shortly. It occurred to him briefly to leave her behind, even slash a leg if he had to. But he didn't need to, not yet. Grabbing her upper arm whether she needed the help or not, he hauled her up, just the first sources of the noise behind them were revealed. He couldn't make them out well, but what he saw horrified him. Small, skittering creatures, skinless and horned, with claws and fangs in equal measure. They crawled on all fours, leaving a steady trail of blood behind them.
"Run!" came a voice from above, that of Divine Justinia. She stood atop a steep staircase, a glowing green light of some sort illuminating her from behind, its source just out of sight. Romulus took off towards her, trusting that the other woman would keep up if she had sufficient desire to live. They were slowed by their injuries, and the path quickly became quite steep. The demons behind them closed the distance quickly, and while they too struggled with the inclined, they continue to gain on them. Justinia beckoned them onwards.
Just in time they reached the top, and Romulus laid eyes on a portal of some sort, or perhaps a gaping wound in the Fade itself. The three of them made a run for it, but the demons behind them were too fast. Justinia cried out and fell, grasping Romulus by the arm and pulling him back. He turned to see one of the creatures ensnaring her leg, pulling her ferociously. Others were gaining. He couldn't pry her free.
The Divine met his eyes, her own filled with far more peace than he was capable of. "Go," she said.
Romulus released Justinia, and she was pulled back by the demons, disappearing into a swarming mass of them. For a moment, they were occupied, offering Romulus and Stel a window to escape.
“Come on." Stel was still right there, despite not having been impeded in the same way. There was a drawn expression on her face, as if she felt something she would not quite let show. But the demons were many, and though she hesitated, eyes lingering on them a moment more, she did not try to insist that they stop and fight.
Instead, she made a quick gesture towards the jagged tear in space—it held mostly steady, whatever it truly was. “We should—we should go."
Romulus did not need to be told twice. Grimacing under the weight of his wounds, he staggered forward, and threw himself into the tear.