Deep Roads Diary

[igetthatalot]

Because when you're going after treasure, it's always good to keep notes.

Today there were dragons. Well, one dragon and a bunch of little baby dragons. I don't know if those count.

Considering what darkspawn taint does to anything that eats it, I have to wonder what dragons are actually feeding on down here. Somehow I can't see it being nugs and mushrooms, and there's not enough bronto carcasses to make up the shortfall.

--

A Lot Later - Today shit got weird. Really, really weird. Ancient dwarves building golems older than Caridin, kind of weird. Remind me to fill in the details later, after we clear out this next hallway.

--

A Lot Later Plus A Little Bit - OH FUCK YOU, BARTRAND.

No, seriously. Fuck you. You might be my brother, but if I get hold of you again I'm gonna take that lyrium idol you were so happy about finding and cram it up your *INKBLOT*

--

*MORE INKBLOTS*

- something called profanes, apparently they used to be ca*smear*

*several lines scratched out*

--

After That

Okay, there was a demon. Some kind of rock spirit wraith thing, but I think we all know a demon when we see one. It tried to make Hawke a deal to get us out of this stinking pit of an ancient thaig. She laughed in its face, and then she took a swing at it, a nice clean roundhouse punch. The result was the kind of violence I only wish I could adequately capture on parchment. I'm going to have to write about it properly once we get back to the surface. Because we can do that now. It's just going to take us a while, because treasure is heavy.

And there's a lot of treasure coming with us.

Comments

[birdofkirkwall]

Turns out it takes a good amount of time to get out of the Deep Roads if you don't really know where you're going aside from up. The demon was an interesting way of shaking things up, though. After that, finding the surface went relatively quickly and they'd managed to get their hands on a cart to haul their glorious loot.

Regardless, they still arrive back in Kirkwall a month after the Dragon Incident, tired, but victorious, and in sore need of a bath.

"Maker, I can't believe I'm looking forward to sleeping in that shack again."

[igetthatalot]

"I can," mutters Varric. "Right now, if it means I don't have to spend another morning waking up to the sight of tunnel ceiling, I can believe pretty much anything you say."

[birdofkirkwall]

"Really, just the prospect of not sleeping on the ground again is nearly enough for me to want to hug and kiss my uncle in thanks. Almost."

[igetthatalot]

"I can't wait to see his reaction," says Varric. "It doesn't get much more heartwarming."

[birdofkirkwall]

Hawke juts her chin down the street, grinning.

"Well, it's just down the way if you want to observe and say hello."

[igetthatalot]

"Sure, might as well," says Varric. "Not like I'm exactly looking forward to going home at the moment, anyway."

He's going to need to arrange an alibi, and those take time.

[birdofkirkwall]

"How gracious of you, good sir, to accompany a lady home. Especially since we were so rudely abandoned by our companions."

[igetthatalot]

"Well, someone's got to do the right thing in this family," says Varric. "Shall I knock?"

[birdofkirkwall]

Hawke nods, shifting the weight of her pack on her back.

"Go ahead and go on in."

[igetthatalot]

"All right, then."

Varric reaches up as far as he can on the door and raps sharply with his knuckles. "Anybody home?" he calls. "Not to intrude or anything, but..."

[birdofkirkwall]

Behind him, Hawke freezes, the sight of the armoured templar standing in her uncle's house enough to trip every danger sense in her.

"What's going on here," she says slowly, reaching for her dagger.

"Sister, no, please," comes Bethany's voice from somewhere behind the armoured figure.

[igetthatalot]

Varric's breath hisses between his teeth; he steps forward to get a better look.

(And possibly to make it harder for Hawke to do anything rash.)

[birdofkirkwall]

The templar draws himself up importantly, eyeing Hawke.

"Mistress Bethany is to be taken to the Circle of Magi in the Gallows."

The news hits Hawke harder than any blow she's taken, and for a second she thinks she's going to be ill all over the floor. A moment of looking stricken later, she draws herself up as well, squaring narrow shoulders.

"A little tour is just fine," she says, desperately trying to add some humour to the situation (because the look on her mother's face reminds her of losing Carver and she can't lose another sibling if she can't help it.). "But not for good, I hope. I hear the service there leaves something left to be desired."

[igetthatalot]

"On the contrary-"

The templar goes on. There's a formula for this, and the forms must be obeyed whether anyone likes them or not.

Varric's not commenting. He hasn't got words that'll lighten this up.

[birdofkirkwall]

They're actually doing this. Going to take her little sister away and lock her up like a dangerous criminal.

"...Her cooperation sees that your family is not charged for harbouring a dangerous mage." the templar finishes as Hawke tunes in again.

"I-" Hawke starts, and finds herself needing a moment before going on. "Can...you give us a moment? I've only just gotten back, and I'd like to say my goodbyes."

[igetthatalot]

"Very well," says the templar. "But be quick about it."

Leandra buries her face in her hands. Varric quietly moves forward to murmur something consoling, he doesn't know what.

[birdofkirkwall]

Varric ends up with Leandra hiccoughing into his shoulder while Hawke throws her arms around Bethany, who hugs her tightly in turn.

"Just say the word," Hawke hisses lowly, squeezing her sister tight. "We can take him, get you aw-"

"Sister," Bethany starts, then has to cut in again as Hawke keeps rambling. "Marian. It's okay. I'm...tired of running. It...It can't be all bad, right?"

Hawke lets out a bark of a laugh that sounds suspiciously like a sob. "If they mistreat you, I...I'll tear the damn tower down to it's foundations to get you out."

[igetthatalot]

It's times like these Varric wishes he carried a flask. Leandra could probably use it. Maker knows he sure could.

The templar sighs faintly, in the manner of one who has done a thing a thousand times and seen it happen the same way.

[birdofkirkwall]

Once the templar starts making grumpy noises, Bethany steps back, looking up to regard her sister.

"You'll look after mother for me, won't you?"

"Of course," Hawke responds, trying and failing to manage a crooked grin. "I'll keep her safe."

Bethany nods, seemingly satisfied, and steps over to the templar. Draped over, and clinging Varric's coat, Leeandra makes a broken noise.

[igetthatalot]

Varric pats Leandra on the shoulder as best he can; it's an awkward angle. "Hawke," he murmurs, "I think, ah... I think your mother needs you."

[birdofkirkwall]

Hawke's gaze snaps from the door Bethany just left out of, to her mother, whom she rescues Varric from as she pulls her into a hug.

"Shh, Mother, Bethany will be just fine, you'll see."

Leeandra gives something between a sob and an angry noise, shoving Hawke away.

"How can you say that? Your little sister- my baby girl has been taken away," her voice rising and gaining a slightly hysterical tone. "Because you were away! How is this even remotely okay?"

[igetthatalot]

On the one hand, Hawke could use some support. On the other hand, this is a family fight, and Varric knows as well as anyone that those turn ugly quickly.

"Hawke," he murmurs, "I'm just... gonna step outside, all right? I'll be there when you need me."

[birdofkirkwall]

Hawke turns a stricken look to Varric before nodding, squaring her shoulders to endure her mother's lashing out.

"Alright. Thank you, Varric."

[igetthatalot]

Varric nods, says, "Afternoon, ser," to the templar, and "Take care out there, Sunshine," to Bethany. If he can get away with it, he'll give her a hug before stepping out to wait for the storm to blow through.

[birdofkirkwall]

Bethany hugs Varric warmly in turn, quickly ushered out by the templar.

Once outside, Varric is privy to muffled shouting from inside. Mostly from Leeandra, and only as muffled as the shack allows.

Sometime later, Hawke emerges, shoulders stooped.

"C'mon," she tells Varric, patting his shoulder without looking at him properly. "I need a drink."

[igetthatalot]

"Me too," says Varric. "I'm paying."

It's only fair.