The Deep Roads
Nov. 23rd, 2013 12:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Varric does not like being underground.
He's said this before, plenty of times. It's a known fact. He hasn't mentioned it since five minutes after they stepped into the Deep Roads (how Blondie managed to secure those Gray Warden maps of the entrance he doesn't know, but he's grateful). It would be bad form, considering how much of this expedition was his idea in the first place.
But, Maker, it's been four days now- he thinks- and they're still picking their way downwards with no sign of treasure anywhere to distract him from the knowledge of just how much stone is positioned directly over his head. This... this is not his idea of a good thing.
They'd better find the good stuff soon. This is getting way too old for his liking.
He's said this before, plenty of times. It's a known fact. He hasn't mentioned it since five minutes after they stepped into the Deep Roads (how Blondie managed to secure those Gray Warden maps of the entrance he doesn't know, but he's grateful). It would be bad form, considering how much of this expedition was his idea in the first place.
But, Maker, it's been four days now- he thinks- and they're still picking their way downwards with no sign of treasure anywhere to distract him from the knowledge of just how much stone is positioned directly over his head. This... this is not his idea of a good thing.
They'd better find the good stuff soon. This is getting way too old for his liking.
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Date: 2013-12-14 05:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-12-14 05:59 am (UTC)"Darkspawn," says Varric, who's already got Bianca ready. "Well, it was going to happen eventually."
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Date: 2013-12-14 06:05 am (UTC)"I got my fill of dealing with Darkspawn a good while ago. I suppose it's inevitable, given our location."
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Date: 2013-12-15 04:48 am (UTC)Except for the parts where there aren't so many darkspawn as there are spiders larger than Merrill.
But mostly there are darkspawn, at least until Hawke and company have finished with them.
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Date: 2013-12-15 04:53 am (UTC)It's a good thing none of them are really afraid of spiders, aside from the general 'ah, it's trying to eat me' shtick that is.
That said, it still gives them pause when one drops from the ceiling that all three of them could stick leads on and ride at the same time.
"...Ugh."
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:02 am (UTC)"Bloody hell," agrees Isabela.
Merrill would agree, but she's busy making the monstrous spider burst into flame. It's good to have a mage on hand.
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-12-15 05:12 am (UTC)Maker's breath, that's a lot of fire.
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:15 am (UTC)Hawke spares a glance behind them, to makes sure they're not being snuck up on, before she returns her attention back to the burning spider.
She can't help but watch on in awe until.
"Merrill? Sweetheart, I think it's long dead, now."
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:23 am (UTC)"Come on, you three. Much as I'd love to warm my hands by the light of a roasting spider, there's probably darkspawn up ahead."
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:28 am (UTC)"Off to kill more darkspawn, then. It's probably for the best, because I'm fairly certain that spider is not supposed to smell appetizing."
Of course, they do run into more darkspawn, which is sort of a given at this point given that they're on their home turf, and mid-battle, Hawke gets a strange sort of glee in punting a skinnier looking fellow off of the cliff-side.
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:46 am (UTC)Varric's eyes travel up from the dead horrors to a single standing figure.
"Well, I'll be a nug's uncle," he says. "Isn't that Bodahn's boy?"
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:55 am (UTC)She was focused on the darkspawn before, but the wall on her right ends, the area opening up to reveal a frozen ogre in mid roar.
For one, horrifying handful of moments, she's back in Ferelden, and all she can hear is Carver screaming. A very undignified yelp is all she can manage, and she skitters backwards into Isabela.
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:59 am (UTC)The sound catches the pale-haired dwarf's attention. Sandal turns to the newcomers, smiles brightly, and says, "Hallo!"
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Date: 2013-12-15 06:05 am (UTC)Mentally shaking herself of the memory, Hawke releases the pirate's hand and steps forward, crouching down to Sandall's level.
"Well isn't this something. How did you manage to kill all of them?"
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Date: 2013-12-15 06:08 am (UTC)But then he nods solemnly and holds out a round grey stone engraved with a peculiarly glimmering dwarven rune on it. "Boom," he says.
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Date: 2013-12-15 06:12 am (UTC)It's simple enough, it seems.
"Good job," she praises, then, looks towards the frozen ogre. "What about that?"
There's another long set of beats, where it doesn't seem like the boy it going to answer. When he does, though, it's just as enigmatic as 'boom'.
"Not enchantment."
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Date: 2013-12-15 06:15 am (UTC)To Hawke and Merrill- mostly- he adds, "We can't keep him with us, and I'm not about to send him back on his own. Seems like he'll be all right here, though."
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Date: 2013-12-15 06:20 am (UTC)She straightens, looking down at Sandall.
"You'll remember that, right? S-"
The boy nods emphatically.
"Smart boy. Stay here."
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Date: 2013-12-15 06:26 am (UTC)And, preferably, away from that.... frozen ogre.
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Date: 2013-12-15 06:33 am (UTC)That ogre is just too damn unsettling.
She clasps the buy warmly on the shoulder before they head off, leaving him with a bit of food and her canteen for the moment.
"Let's go kill some more darkspawn."
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:32 pm (UTC)No, a paved floor. And here the pillars aren't stalactites and stalagmites grown together, but carven stone- dwarven work. The dim red glare of what's probably the lava-stuff again shows them at regular intervals, and some carvings of what might be old, old dwarven script.
No wonder there are darkspawn howling in the distance.
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:46 pm (UTC)"Well then, this looks pretty impressive. Think it means we're on the right track?"
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:48 pm (UTC)Naturally, the darkspawn sounds are coming from the left.
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Date: 2013-12-15 05:54 pm (UTC)Hawke just groans frustratedly at the noises.
"So, I'd like to make a motion. After this is all said and done, no more darkspawn or Deep Roads ever again."
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